Time Saving Meal Prep Tips

Most of us have a list of things to do as long as our arm, so after a busy day at work the last thing you want to be worrying about is what’s for dinner. Our lovely Marketing Manager Kathrine Scott has helped us with a few simple steps so you can fill your freezers with wholesome meals, have a clear plan for the week ahead and some extra free time on your hands. The great thing is, you have everything you need right to hand.

Plan: Work as far in advance as you can whether it’s doubling a recipe to pop into the freezer or simply writing down what you would like to prepare for the meals of the week. How far you can plan might change each time you prep so don’t worry if this varies. This not only helps for your big shop, but also gives you backup meals to defrost on days when you’ve been extra busy.

Cook in bulk: Wherever possible, make extra and either pop it in the fridge for the next day or freeze it. This also works really well for lunches where you can make a few days’ worth at a time. It means less to worry about when the morning rush happens!

Freezer space: In other words, your new best friend. Never underestimate this chilly member of the household. Jot down some family favourites that are easy to make in bulk and pop in containers to freeze for another day (you’ll be surprised with how many things can be frozen).

Time savers: To save yourself time cooking dinner, you can get ahead by chopping, peeling and storing ingredients that are quite fiddly. Mincing your garlic and storing in an ice cube tray in some oil makes for easy-to-grab garlic. You can also do this with herbs to avoid wastage, so give it a go with ginger, chillies, lemon zest and juice.

Storage containers: Try to keep your Tupperware the same size so you don’t need to go hunting for the matching lid (we’re pretty certain there is a lid thief in every house!). They also stack well in the freezer making them easier to manage, and you can even pop a label and date on them. Re-using plastic takeaway containers is a great way to reduce your plastic waste and foil containers work well for putting straight in the oven. Just remember to wash and recycle the foil and the lid (if your local recycling service allows). 

Meal board: This helpful tip takes only moments to do but removes the stress from thinking up a meal on the spot. Note down what you and your family will be eating for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day (whatever meals are applicable) and that way, you know exactly what to buy in advance or what to take out of the freezer. You can leave this in view for everyone in the kitchen so when tummies start to rumble, they know what to look forward to. 

Whether you take away all of the above or have picked up a few extra tips, we hope we’ve helped lessen your daily load, and made mealtimes less of a stress.

p.s. Check out our wide range of food storage bits online to help you get started. Happy cooking!