Last Updated on February 13, 2024 by TheMealPrepNinja
Hello, there foodie! Want to save time, money, and calories while avoiding unappetizing fast food? Meal prepping is the answer! Here are 25 meal prep hacks that will save you time and money.
You don’t have to cook a whole week’s worth of meals on the weekends, just organize leftovers for a fantastic breakfast or lunch. To make it easier, I got some amazing meal prep hacks just for you. So put on your apron and let’s make some magic.
Check out this article for some time-saving meal prep hacks that will leave you with more time to savor your delicious creations!
Always “FIFO” your fridge and label everything
FIFO stands for “first in, first out” and it’s a kitchen hack that ensures you don’t forget about food before it goes bad. Label your prepped meals with the date so you know which ones to use first. It also makes cleaning up more manageable because you don’t have to guess which food is the oldest.
By labeling all of your meals you can easily keep track of what needs to be eaten first and what will last longer. Here are 6 tips to meal prep faster.
Cut corn with a Bundt pan
This hack is perfect for quickly cutting corn kernels off the cob. Place your ear of corn in a Bundt pan, then slice it down with a knife. The Bundt pan will catch all of the kernels so you don’t have to worry about them spilling! You can keep them in a sealed plastic bag.
Dedicate a day to meal prepping
Set aside a day (or even half a day) specifically for meal prepping. You’ll be able to get into the groove and move quickly, which will save you time in the long run.
I set aside a few hours on Sunday to grill some chicken and cook some white rice with veggies. This helps me avoid having to cook every night after work and saves me a lot of time in the kitchen.
Separate eggs without the mess
Separating eggs can be a messy task, but you can make it easier by using a plastic water bottle! Alternatively, you can use the empty eggshells to do this task. Crack the egg into your hand and pour the yolk back and forth between two halves of the shell until all of the whites have been poured off.
I refer not to separate my eggs. I like to buy liquid egg whites and add them to a bowl with whole eggs. This saves me from having to throw away my egg yolks. This prevents food waste.
Look for crossover ingredients in your recipes
When meal prepping, it’s important to look for crossover ingredients in your recipes. This means using the same ingredient in multiple recipes so you don’t have to buy a ton of different ingredients.
I usually make things like stir-fry or tacos with protein and vegetables, as they are easy crossover meals that can incorporate many of the same ingredients. I also like to buy multiple types of protein so that I can switch up my recipes and keep them interesting. Meal prep does not have to be difficult.
Try our new meal prep recipes
Here are 3 easy-to-make to make meal prep meals that only take 25 minutes to make. The best part is that it only takes a few simple ingredients to make these recipes.
Healthy Shrimp Meal Prep Recipe G Hughes Sugar Free BBQ Sauce
Chicken and Rice That Tastes Amazing
Healthy Burrito Bowl Meal Prep Ground Chicken Recipe
Prep your produce right away
To save time and energy, try prepping your produce as soon as you bring it home from the store. This will help prevent it from getting over-ripened or going bad before you get a chance to use it. I like to wash and cut up all of my raw vegetables so they’re ready to go when I need them later in the week. Roasted vegetables are another way to prep your veggies.
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Invest in freezer-safe bags and containers
For meal prepping, you’ll want to have some high-quality, freezer-safe bags and containers on hand. These will help keep your food fresh for longer and make it easier to transport your meals if you need to take them with you. This will help you to save money.
Deli containers are perfect for storing salads, grains, and dressings in
Deli containers are perfect for storing salads, grains, and dressings. They’re also great for transporting food to work or taking your meals on the go. These containers come in a variety of sizes so you can find the perfect one for whatever meal you need to store.
Use mason jars for smoothies and protein shakes.
Mason jars are a great way to store and transport smoothies and protein shakes. They’re easy to use, affordable, and have a lot of room for your ingredients. Plus, they’re great for on-the-go snacking!
Make freezer-friendly meals
If you have a lot of food to meal prep, it can be helpful to make freezer-friendly meals. Freezer-friendly meals are great for storing leftovers and keeping them fresh longer. This also eliminates the need to cook every night after work – all you have to do is defrost and reheat your meal!
Some of my favorite freezer-friendly meal ideas include lasagna, chili, and burritos. These dishes are easy to make ahead of time and store in the freezer for later! I like to use starchy vegetables for these types of recipes.
Here are 2 of my favorite meals that are freezer friendly:
Healthy Chicken Chili Slow Cooker Recipe
Healthy Ground Chicken Chili Recipe Meal Prep
When meal prepping, it’s important to choose vegetables that won’t go bad quickly. This means avoiding softer vegetables like mushrooms and bell peppers and opting for heartier veggies like broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and sweet potatoes. These veggies will not only last longer in your fridge but also taste great when cooked up in a variety of recipes. I hope you are enjoying these meal prep hacks. There are more to come.
Don’t rinse your pasta
This may come as a surprise, but you should never rinse your pasta after cooking it. Rinsing your pasta can remove the starches that help sauces cling to the noodles and make them taste better.
Instead, just let the hot water from the pot sit on top of your noodles for about a minute before draining. This will help the sauce adhere better and give you a tastier dish. This should not affect the cooking time.
Stock up on spices
Spices are essential for any meal prepper’s pantry. They can take boring meals from bland to delicious in just a few shakes! Some of my favorite go-to spices include garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, and Italian seasoning.
Make breakfast the night before
Making recipes like overnight oaks is a great way to make sure you have a healthy breakfast ready in the morning without having to put in too much time or effort. All you need is a few ingredients, some oats, protein powder, and the milk of your choice. Mix it all together the night before, store it in an airtight container, and voila – breakfast is served!
This will save you time in the morning. You can warm it up or just eat it cold. You can make a big batch or just for the next day.
Preserve fresh herbs
You can preserve fresh herbs by freezing them in olive oil or butter. Simply wash and dry the herbs, chop them up finely, then mix them with a bit of oil or butter and store them in an airtight container. This will help keep your herbs fresh for months so you can always have some on hand for cooking!
You can also preserve herbs by drying them out in the oven or sun. This will allow them to last longer so you can always have fresh herbs ready for your meals.
These are just a few of my top tips to meal prep and storing food on the go. With these tips, you’ll be able to make delicious meals and transport them with ease!
Stash some jar salads in the fridge
Jar salads are a great way to make sure you always have some nutritious options on hand. Simply fill up your mason jar with layers of different ingredients such as greens, proteins, grains, and cherry tomatoes.
By doing this, you’re able to create delicious salads that you can grab and go!
Additionally, storing salad in jars helps to keep it fresher for longer.
You don’t have to worry about soggy greens or wilted veggies because the jar will help maintain the crispness of your salad.
Invest in reusable containers
Reusable containers are essential for meal prepping and storing food on the go. Invest in containers that come with dividers so you can easily portion out meals and store them in the freezer or refrigerator.
These will help to keep your food fresh and tasty, plus they’re a great way to reduce waste.
You can also use different containers for different meals to help you keep track of what’s in each one.
For example, you can use smaller containers for snacks and larger containers for main dishes. This will make it easier to grab what you need when you’re on the go!
Don’t use plastic containers
Don’t use plastic containers if you can afford glass containers. Plastic containers are not ideal for storing food because they’re more likely to leach chemicals into your food.
Glass is much better at preserving the freshness of your food and preventing the absorption of any unwanted chemicals.
Plus, glass containers are sturdier and easier to clean compared to plastic alternatives. So if you can afford glass, make sure to invest in some containers for your meal-prepping and storing needs!
Buy lots of bagged frozen veggies and fruits
Buying bags of frozen fruits and veggies is a great way to make sure you always have some healthy ingredients on hand. Frozen produce is often just as nutritious as fresh and can last longer. Plus, they’re easy to portion out and store in the freezer so you can grab them when needed!
You can use these frozen items to make smoothies, stir-fries, salads, and more!
Use appliances to save yourself time
Using appliances such as a slow cooker or Instant Pot can help you save time in the kitchen. You can use these devices to cook meals quickly and easily without having to spend too much time prepping or monitoring the cooking process.
This will give you more time to enjoy your meals and do other things! Plus, these appliances are great for making large batches of food so you can easily store and reheat leftovers.
Repurpose simple ingredients
If you’re short on time and ingredients, repurpose simple items to make a delicious meal. For example, you can use leftover grains or proteins from one meal and mix them with fresh veggies for an easy stir-fry.
Cut soft foods with an egg slicer
If you need to cut soft foods, such as boiled eggs or avocados, use an egg slicer. This is a great tool that will help you quickly and easily slice up food without making a mess.
Plus, it can help make your meals look more appetizing by creating uniform pieces.
Pre-bag smoothie ingredients
If you’re a smoothie lover, pre-bag your ingredients ahead of time so that all you have to do is dump them into the blender.
Just mix up some frozen fruits and veggies in a bag and store it in the freezer. Then when you’re ready for a smoothie, just grab the bag, dump it into the blender, and you’re good to go!
This is a great way to make sure you always have a healthy snack or meal on hand. Smoothies are a great meal plan snack.
Cook several ingredients in one pan
Rather than cooking several ingredients separately, cook them all in one pan. This will help to save time and energy while still giving you delicious meals.
Plus, it’s much easier to clean up after only using one pan! Just make sure you have a good non-stick pan that won’t stick or burn your food. You can also use a food processor to make sauces.
Peel garlic with a mason jar
If you need to peel garlic quickly and easily, use a mason jar! Just place the whole clove in the jar and shake it. The skin will come off in one piece without any mess or fuss.
This is a great time-saving hack that can save you from sticky fingers while prepping meals!
Final Thoughts – Meal Prep Hacks
These meal prep hacks should save you a ton of time and money in the kitchen. With the right tools and planning, you can make your meal prep faster, easier, and more enjoyable. Here are my top meal prep hacks that I use every week to stay on track:
Don’t forget to grab my favorite meal prep containers.
Jim Lopez, the founder and editor of The Meal Prep Ninja, shares his journey from a passionate bodybuilder and fitness enthusiast to a certified nutrition coach. Certified by Precision Nutrition, Jim aims to empower others with knowledge on meal prep and nutrition, offering resources for busy individuals to enjoy low-calorie, tasty foods. His blog is a community for sharing healthy eating habits and meal prep recipes
