Are you tired of spending hours every day cooking and cleaning up after meals? Do you want to save time, money, and effort when it comes to meal prep? Then, you should consider one-pot meal prep or batch cooking!

One-pot meal prep involves cooking everything in a single pot or pan, which saves time and makes clean-up easy. Batch cooking refers to preparing large quantities of food in advance and storing them for future meals. In this blog, I’ll share some tips and tricks for one-pot meal prep and batch cooking that will help you save time, money, and effort while still enjoying healthy and delicious meals.

Choose the Right Size Pot or Pan 🍳

The size of your pot or pan matters when it comes to one-pot meal prep. You need to choose the right size to accommodate all the ingredients without overcrowding. Overcrowding can lead to uneven cooking and result in a mushy mess.

Before you start cooking, make sure you have the right-sized pot or pan for the recipe. It’s better to use a bigger one than a smaller one, as you can always adjust the heat and cooking time to ensure the food cooks evenly.

A photo of a pot with a measuring tape around the rim

Prep Your Ingredients Beforehand 🥕

Meal prep is all about saving time, and one of the best ways to do that is by prepping your ingredients beforehand. Chop your vegetables, measure your spices, and marinate your proteins in advance. This way, when it’s time to cook, you can simply add everything to the pot and let it simmer.

By doing this, you can save precious time and effort and avoid cutting corners while cooking, such as trying to cut onions quickly. This can be a dangerous way to speed up the cooking process and even sometimes leads to kitchen accidents. Prepping your ingredients beforehand is a key tip for one-pot meal prep!

A photo of diced vegetables in bowls

Batch Cooking Saves Time and Money 💰

Batch cooking is a great way to save time and money while still enjoying healthy and delicious meals. By cooking in large quantities, you can freeze or refrigerate leftovers for future meals. This means you won’t have to cook every day and can save money on ingredients by buying in bulk.

When it comes to batch cooking, focus on recipes that freeze well, like stews, curries, and soups. These dishes are easy to reheat in portions, making them ideal for meal prepping. You can also add some staple ingredients, such as rice or pasta, to stretch your meals further.

A photo of several Tupperware containers neatly organized in a freezer

Use a Slow Cooker for Effortless Meals 🐢

A slow cooker is a great tool for one-pot meal prep or batch cooking. Simply add all your ingredients to the slow cooker and let it do the work for you. Slow cookers are ideal for meat dishes as the low heat helps to tenderize tough cuts of meat, making them fall-off-the-bone tender.

Slow cooker meals are also perfect for busy days when you don’t have time to cook. Simply prep your ingredients the night before and set the slow cooker to cook while you’re at work. When you get home, dinner is ready!

A photo of a slow cooker full of beef stew

Invest in good quality storage containers 🍱

Storage containers are an essential part of one-pot meal prep and batch cooking. Look for airtight containers that are freezer and microwave safe. This will help to keep your food fresh for longer, and you can easily reheat the food without having to transfer it to another container.

Investing in good quality storage containers will also help you reduce waste. You can use the containers again and again, so you won’t have to rely on single-use plastic containers and bags.

A photo of a stack of reusable plastic containers

Conclusion 🌟

One-pot meal prep and batch cooking are great ways to save time, money, and effort when it comes to meal planning. By following these tips and tricks, you can easily prepare healthy and delicious meals in advance and enjoy more free time.

Remember to choose a pot or pan of the right size, prep your ingredients beforehand, and use a slow cooker for effortless meals. By investing in good quality storage containers, you can also reduce waste and save money in the long run.

Now that you know the basic tips and tricks, give one-pot meal prep and batch cooking a try! Your taste buds (and your wallet) will thank you!

A photo of a person happily holding a container of food in their hand, surrounded by other colorful containers