We Guarantee You’re Meal Prepping the Wrong Way, so We Asked a Professional Chef for Some Pointers

It’s never too late to refresh your typical routine, whether it’s with a new skincare product or a new approach to meal prepping. Meal prep is a convenient way to plan and prepare breakfasts, lunches, and dinners for the week without having to spend time in the kitchen for days on end. While it may seem straightforward, there are many ways meal prepping can go awry. Thankfully, we spoke to Dennis Littley, Chef and Recipe expert at Ask Chef Dennis, to gather a few techniques and products that can make the process more streamlined. 

“Meal prepping doesn’t need to eat up your entire Sunday,” Littley tells Real Simple. “If you’re focused, you can knock out a solid week’s worth of meal prep in about one to two hours. Start with the items that take the longest (like roasting vegetables or cooking grains), then move on to chopping, portioning, and assembling ingredients. Efficiency is all about having a system, once you’ve done it a couple of times, you’ll get faster.” 

Technique and approach matters when meal prepping, but having the right tools, cookware pieces, and gadgets can certainly go a long way too. Chef Littley shared his top kitchen must-haves to help make meal prepping a breeze now and throughout the year. Scoop up his favorites, and ours as well, from $8. 

Chef-Approved Meal Prep Kitchen Tools

• Ello Duraglass 3.4-Cup Meal Prep Set, $50
• Victorinox Fibrox Pro Chef’s Knife, $50
• MuellerLiving Mandoline Slicer, $30
• Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Multicooker, $120
• Amazon Basics Rectangular Silicone Baking Mat (Set of 2), $13
• Drkio Glass Overnight Oats Containers with Lids, $17 (was $19)
• Ultrean Digital Kitchen Scale, $10 (was $15)
• Fullstar Vegetable Chopper, $25 with coupon (was $50)
• Suretivian Chicken Shredder Tool, $21 with coupon (was $23)
• Vitever Stainless Steel Sauce Cups With Lids, $8 (was $10)

Ello Duraglass 3.4-Cup Meal Prep Set

“Glass containers are durable, don’t retain stains or smells, and are safe for the oven, microwave, and freezer,” Chef Littley shares. This set from Ello includes five heavy-duty, tempered glass containers with BPA-free, leak-proof plastic lids to keep your food safe in place. Each container is wrapped with a removable silicone sleeve to help protect the glass from chipping or cracking with use. Not to mention, the microwave- and dishwasher-safe containers have a 3.4-cup capacity, making them perfect for salads, pastas, snacks, and more. One five-star reviewer shared, “These are the perfect size for our lunches throughout the week. I love that they stack nicely and they are easy to take on the go.”

Victorinox Fibrox Pro Chef’s Knife

“Prepping efficiently starts with a sharp, reliable knife,” Chef Littley explains. “The Victorinox Fibrox Pro Chef’s Knife is a great, affordable option. It makes chopping, slicing, and dicing quick and safe, and the comfortable grip means you can tackle a lot of prep without fatigue.” The knife, made from stainless steel, features an 8-inch blade that allows for easy prep of veggies, fruits, herbs, and more. Thanks to its sturdy and ergonomic handle, your hands will never get tired. Plus, it’s dishwasher safe for easy cleanup when you’re finished. “Very sharp but the handle makes it easy to grip the knife safely,”  one five-star shopper wrote, adding, “I’m no professional but this knife makes me look like I know what I’m doing.”

MuellerLiving Mandoline Slicer

No one really wants to be on their feet for hours chopping, slicing, or julienning vegetables, but this handy mandoline can save you time and energy as you meal prep. “If you want to speed up slicing vegetables (and get uniform results), a mandoline is your best friend,” says Chef Littley. “It’s great for prepping cucumbers, zucchini, or even potatoes for meals like salads or casseroles.’’ The slicer comes with five interchangeable 420-grit stainless steel blades, including a slicer blade, shredder blade, grater, wavy blade, and coarse shredder to prep your veggies with ease. It features an adjustable thickness dial, nonslip feet, and a box to store blades when they’re not in use. One five-star customer shared, “So easy to slice with this mandoline! I’ve sliced veggies as well as cheese and it’s wonderful!”

Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Multicooker

Do the work of seven kitchen gadgets with Instant Pot multicooker. “It lets you quickly cook large batches of grains, beans, soups, or shredded meats that can be portioned out for the week. Plus, it saves you time by combining slow cooking, pressure cooking, and steaming into one tool,” Chef Littley explains. The Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Multicooker can pressure cook, slow cook, saute, steam, and warm your food in one convenient appliance. It features 13 smart programs to seamlessly cook soups, poultry, rice, beans, and even yogurt, and it has an 8-quart capacity to easily prep large-scale meals for the week. “This is the most useful and versatile small appliance around. It’s the one that stays on the counter all the time because I use it so often,” one five-star reviewer wrote. 

Amazon Basics Rectangular Silicone Baking Mat (Set of 2)

Silicone mats are a must-have in any kitchen, especially when you’re meal prepping—just ask Chef Littley. “These reusable mats are perfect for roasting vegetables, baking chicken, or even making granola,” he shares, adding, “They’re easy to clean, eco-friendly, and prevent food from sticking, making cleanup a breeze.’’ For meals that require time in the oven, these mats can replace parchment paper and aluminum foil thanks to their nonstick material. The set includes two silicone mats that measure 16.5 inches by 11.6 inches and are safe in oven temperatures up to 480 degrees Fahrenheit. A final five-star customer shared, “I’ve had these mats for two years now and they are still working. I love them so much.”

These tools and gadgets aren’t the only pieces you need in your kitchen for meal prepping. For more useful Amazon finds to add to your cart, keep reading! 

Drkio Glass Overnight Oats Containers With Lids

Ultrean Digital Kitchen Scale

Fullstar Vegetable Chopper

Suretivian Chicken Shredder Tool

Vitever Stainless Steel Sauce Cups With Lids