Getting started meal prep guides
Start here: how to plan a week, which containers to buy, how long food keeps and the mistakes most beginners make.
How to label and date meal prep
Write what it is and the date it was cooked. Tape and a marker are enough. What to write, where, and how to use food in order.
The kitchen tools you need for meal prep
Two sheet pans, a large pot, a sharp knife and five containers cover almost everything. What is essential and what can wait.
Batch cooking or meal prep: what is the difference?
Batch cooking makes a lot of one dish. Meal prep portions complete meals for the week. Which suits you, and how to combine them.
Meal prep for one person without wasting food
Cook four-serving recipes, eat two or three portions and freeze the rest. How to meal prep for one without wasting food.
How to stop meal prep rice from drying out
Cool it quickly, seal it once it stops steaming and add water when you reheat. Why rice hardens in the fridge and how to reverse it.
What size meal prep containers do you need?
About 3 cups for a main meal, 2 cups for breakfast and 1 cup for snacks. A size guide in cups, ounces and millilitres.
Meal prep ideas for when you are bored of chicken and rice
Change the sauce, the format or the cuisine and keep the same method. Ways to vary meal prep without learning new skills.
Nine meal prep mistakes beginners make
Most first attempts fail from doing too much, not too little. Nine common mistakes and the simple fix for each one.
How to meal prep a week in one afternoon
Order your cooking by what takes longest. A two-hour plan that covers breakfast, lunch and dinner for four days.
How long does meal prep last in the fridge and freezer?
Most cooked food keeps three to four days in the fridge and two to three months in the freezer. A table by food type, and how to tell when to throw it out.
Glass or plastic containers: which should you buy?
Glass for anything you reheat. Light plastic for cold lunches you carry. What to look for, and how many to buy first.