Meal Prepping FAQs

What is Meal Prepping?

Meal prepping is preparing ready-made ingredients or meals. Meal prep looks different for everyone and can change each week. After choosing recipes or meals you’d like to eat, you can batch cook ingredients and (1) save them as fully prepared meals ready to eat or (2) prepare large batches of single ingredients, like shredded carrots, potatoes, or Brussels sprouts, to throw together in a quick stir fry or salad when you’re ready to eat.

Benefits of Meal Prepping

1. Helps save time by reducing cooking and cleanup time.
2. Helps save money by planning ahead.
3. Reduces stress from last-minute or rushed decisions on what to eat.
4. Reduces food waste by making sure you prepare everything you buy.

Who Should Meal Prep?

Whether you want to prepare all your meals at home or just breakfast, dinner, or snacks, everyone can participate in meal prep to help reduce the stress from last-minute decisions on what to eat.

How Long Does Food Last?

Most prepared meals can last up to three days but can vary based on the storage. Large-batch single ingredients, such as cooked grains or raw carrots, can last longer depending on how they’re prepared. This site provides a helpful guide for building a plan. Learn how to maximize your food and reduce waste by Tackling Food Waste at Home.

What Containers Should You Use?

Use microwave- and freezer-safe containers. Using both microwave-safe and freezer-safe containers can help save you time in the long run. If you make a large batch of meals, but only want to eat them twice a week, freeze the rest. Microwave-safe containers allow you to easily reheat with no added dishes for clean-up. If you’re making batches of single ingredients, reusable bags may be another option to store prepared veggies. Learn more about the best storage solutions here.

Tips for Proper Produce Prep

The magic bullet^® Kitchen Prep comes with a slice/shred disc and a chopping blade. These blades reduce the time and stress it takes to chop fruits and veggies.

Prepare fruit and veggies before inserting them into the Kitchen Prep:

• Peel or remove the skin as needed.
• Chop food items down to the right size.
• Remove rind or seeds from the fruit before putting it into the bowl.

Foods that should never be used in this appliance:

• Thicker foods that do not chop, grate, slice, or shred into discrete pieces.
• Any frozen fruits or vegetables.
• Stone fruit unless pits or seed stones have been removed.

Best Ingredients for Slicing, Shredding, and Chopping