This right here is a list of everything that I use in my meal prep setup! You probably have a good amount of this stuff in your kitchen already… but this isn’t your average cooking. It’s meal prep. We’re making a lot of macro-intensive food here.
So just run through my checklist below & make sure you have everything! If you don’t, I have recommendations that balance price & quality since I’ve been doing this for YEARS. At the end of the day, I want you to have a setup that works for you, I just want to make your life easier!
Large Cooking Equipment (~$85 altogether)
2 Large Baking Sheets (~$25)
12-inch cast iron skillet (~$30)
12-inch jumbo cooker (~$30)
Cheap Cookware (~$40 altogether)
Cheap Pot (for pastas… costs ~$15)
Cheap saucepan (for simmering sauces… costs ~$15)
Mesh Colander (for straining rice & pasta… costs ~$10)
Knives (~$30)
Click here to check out my preferred set (~$30)
The key knives that you need are:
Various Utensils (~$50 altogether)
This looks like a lot, & it is, but you’ll be set for any cooking you do ever again. If you buy your utensils in a set, you can cover literally everything except the liquid measuring cup (don’t ask me why they never thought to incorporate that into any utensils set on the entire internet).
Click here to check out my preferred set (~$40)
Otherwise, you’ll need:
- Rubber spatula
- Turner
- Tongs
- Serving spoon
- Slotted spoon
- Pasta server
- Whisk
- Basting brush
- Can opener
- Potato peeler
- Measuring cups (1 cup, 1/2 cup, 1/3 cup, 1/4 cup)
- Measuring spoons (1 tbsp, 1/2 tbsp, 1 tsp, 1/2 tsp, 1/4 tsp)
- Liquid measuring cup (Up to one cup)
Miscellaneous (~$80 altogether)
Mixing bowls (A set of 3, preferably erring on the side of large… costs ~$20)
Cutting boards (Preferably wood because they more durable & knife friendly… costs ~$20)
Meal Prep Containers (I prefer glass for less microplastics & more durability… costs ~$40)
So there you have it! That’s a super comprehensive list of everything you might need to make any of my recipes (& basically any recipe on the internet).
That was the setup needs, here are some supplemental gadgets I’ve found useful:
Garlic Press (~$15)
- I have an irrational hatred for mincing garlic… but I love garlic so much. I’m talking clusters at a time. This is a must for garlic lovers.
Rice Cooker (~$30)
- I used to cook all of my rice on the stovetop. That’s totally a valid way to do rice. However, I must say that this thing is a GAME CHANGER. You just put the rice in with water, press some buttons, & then it cooks the rice perfectly every time. Rice cookers make life way easier & free up crucial stovetop space.
900W Bullet Blender (~$80)
- I’ve found there is no better way to hit your nutrients goals in the morning than utilizing a blender & making protein shakes. I can’t do the frozen burritos thing, I don’t like meal prepped breakfast foods, but having a big ‘ol shake with fruit is my sweet spot. In fact, I’m working on a line of protein shake recipes to help share this strategy with you all! My recommendation is a 900W name-brand blender. I know this is expensive, but I consider it an investment. You buy this, you’ll never have to worry about buying a blender again.
Additional 32oz Bullet Blender Cups (~$20)
I hate having to clean my cups in the morning, so I snagged a few extra to always have a supply of clean ones!