10 Chef-Approved Meal Prep Tips to Save Time and Elevate Your Cooking Game
Life gets busy, and when you're in the middle of a busy week, you don't always have time to think about whether you want chicken piccata or honey-glazed salmon for dinner, let alone go shopping and cook your recipe of choice. Embark on the wonderful world of meal prepping.
It may sound simple, but meal prepping can be daunting for those who haven't done it before. You may wonder which recipes keep well in the fridge or freezer, how to prepare a week's worth of meals without spending hours in the kitchen, and what are the best food storage containers for meal prepping. We asked six professional chefs to share their best meal prep tips, and their advice is great for beginners and seasoned chefs alike.
1. Skroam 10-Piece Glass Meal Prep Container Set — priced at $31, down from the original $38
| Original Price | Discounted Price | Buy Link |
|---|---|---|
| $38 | $31 | Buy at Amazon |
2. Bluapple Produce Saver — Ethylene Gas Absorber, 2-pack, priced at $17
Gallagher’s second piece of advice for meal prepping is to use dedicated produce keepers or refrigerator-safe ethylene absorbers to help greens and fruits stay crisp while slowing down ripening. The Bluapple works to keep berries and vegetables fresh whether they’re stored in the fridge, fruit bowls, or pantries. She explains that these absorbers extend the shelf life of produce by minimizing odors and excess moisture — a big win in the fight against food waste.
| Original Price | Discounted Price | Buy Link |
|---|---|---|
| $ | $17 | Buy at Amazon |
3. FoodSaver Compact Vacuum Sealer Machine with airtight bags, priced at $115
Roberto Alcocer, executive chef at the Michelin-starred Valle and a 2025 James Beard semifinalist, emphasized that mastering freezer storage is essential, as it helps prevent freezer burn and preserve food quality. He suggested using this vacuum sealer to keep food fresh for longer while optimizing storage space. Once sealed, items can be kept in the freezer or refrigerator, or even cooked sous vide by placing them directly in a pot of water.
| Original Price | Discounted Price | Buy Link |
|---|---|---|
| $ | $115 | Buy at Amazon |
4. OXO Good Grips GreenSaver Herb Keeper, priced at $17 (down from $18)
“Keep herbs and greens dry,” advises Marissa Stevens, recipe developer and founder of Pinch and Swirl. For storing washed greens and herbs, she recommends the OXO Good Grips GreenSaver Herb Keeper, which features an inner basket that promotes airflow and an outer shell that holds water to keep herbs hydrated in the fridge. The only exception, she notes, is basil — which should never be refrigerated. Instead, she suggests placing the OXO container on the counter when storing fresh basil.
| Original Price | Discounted Price | Buy Link |
|---|---|---|
| $18 | $17 | Buy at Amazon |
5. Souper Cubes 1-cup silicone freezer molds, set of two, priced at $40
For prepping meals in advance, Stevens recommends Souper Cubes for freezing broth, beans, and sauces in perfectly portioned sizes. Made from silicone, they’re easy to clean, and the frozen cubes release effortlessly — no more banging a plastic tray on the counter to free your soup. She also advises leaving about half an inch of space at the top when freezing, as liquids expand. Notably, the 2-cup version of Souper Cubes was also chosen as our top pick for ice trays to store leftovers.
| Original Price | Discounted Price | Buy Link |
|---|---|---|
| $ | $40 | Buy at Amazon |
6. OXO Good Grips Smart Seal glass food storage container, priced at $13
Stevens’s go-to option for storing leftovers is the OXO glass food storage container, which she favors because it stacks neatly and resists staining. She advises letting leftovers cool completely before sealing them to prevent steam from shortening their shelf life. For those needing multiple sizes, there’s a 16-piece OXO set that’s safe for the freezer, oven, and dishwasher — costing less than $4 per container and designed to nest compactly in your cupboard.
| Original Price | Discounted Price | Buy Link |
|---|---|---|
| $ | $13 | Buy at Amazon |
7. Caraway 14-piece glass food storage container set, priced at $265
Tieghan Gerard, recipe developer and founder of Half Baked Harvest, says she “loves” her Caraway containers for both leftovers and meal prep. The set’s pieces can be arranged to form customizable bento boxes, and they’re safe for use in the fridge, freezer, microwave, and oven — meaning no extra dishes are needed when it’s time to eat. Gerard also highlights that they’re made from non-toxic ceramic and glass, so there’s no concern about chemicals leaching into food.
| Original Price | Discounted Price | Buy Link |
|---|---|---|
| $ | $265 | Buy at Amazon |
8. Suretivian Chicken Shredder Twist Tool, priced at $8 (originally $20)
Gerard shared one of her top meal prep tips for a whole rotisserie chicken: shred the meat and add it to recipes, rice bowls, or salads for a major time-saver. This handy tool can shred large cuts of meat in seconds, eliminating the wrist strain that comes with using a fork. She also recommends preparing proteins like chicken, ground beef, or hard-boiled eggs in advance to make assembling salads quick and easy throughout the week.
| Original Price | Discounted Price | Buy Link |
|---|---|---|
| $20 | $8 | Buy at Amazon |
9. OXO Good Grips Salad Spinner, priced at $30
Sandra Maestas, founder of Cookin’ Kiddos, advises drying produce thoroughly before storing it, as moisture can cause mold even in airtight containers. With the OXO salad spinner, you just press the center button, and fruits, vegetables, or herbs are dry within seconds. Maestas calls it essential for drying leafy greens both efficiently and gently, adding that it stays stable on the counter during use.
| Original Price | Discounted Price | Buy Link |
|---|---|---|
| $ | $30 | Buy at Amazon |
10. Splf reusable gallon freezer bags, set of six, priced at $13 (down from $14)
Meat can be tricky to store, but Dagan Lynn, executive chef at Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner, shared his method for keeping bulk purchases fresh. He recommends placing the meat in plastic freezer bags and removing as much air as possible, noting that this approach — particularly when using a vacuum sealer — can keep steaks and roasts fresh for up to a year.
| Original Price | Discounted Price | Buy Link |
|---|---|---|
| $14 | $13 | Buy at Amazon |