ADVERTISEMENT

Meal prep typically ranks somewhere between filing taxes and watching paint dry on the fun scale. But since we can't survive on takeout and protein bars forever, we've found 23 solutions that transform Sunday prep sessions from kitchen punishment into something almost enjoyable. Whether you're tired of sad desk lunches that make your coworkers feel sorry for you or just trying to adult better this year, each find helps you graduate from chaos cooking to organized food boss.

Picture spending less time wrestling with leftovers that never quite fit in containers and more time actually enjoying the fruits (and veggies) of your labor. Gone are the days of mystery meals lost in the back of your fridge or containers that leak everywhere except where they're supposed to. From tools that cut prep time in half to storage solutions that make your fridge look like it belongs to someone who actually has their life together, these finds prove meal prep doesn't have to feel like a second job that only pays in tupperware anxiety.

Brown lunch bag with "Whatever" text, perfect for making meal prep simple and fun.

Review: "A very cute and functional lunch bag that is also very well made. keeps food cold (with an ice pack), and is very spacious. The included metal spork is high quality. Definitely recommend this, and am very glad I purchased." - fleshnuget

amazon.com , Bethany McNeal Report

RELATED:

    Vegetable slicer on a kitchen counter with neatly arranged meal prep ingredients.

    Review: "This Mandolin Slicer is of the highest quality and works great! It is very easy to use and has good safety features. It suctions to your counter or table so it does not move when you are using it. The blade is very sharp and cuts with ease." - Over the Hill

    amazon.com Report

    Hippopotamuses
    Community Member
    7 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It does look safer than the traditional style of mandolin.

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #3

    Shred Happens! Make Meal Prepping Chicken A Breeze With This Chicken Breast Shredder Tool – Because Ain't Nobody Got Time To Hand-Shred A Flock Of Fowl

    Shredded chicken in a black bowl, perfect for efficient meal prep, displayed on a wooden table.

    Review: "This device saved me so much time!!!! What usually takes me awhile, this device had things done in minutes!!! I wish I could have figured a way to video the action so you can see how easy it is to use. Pulling the meat off of a rotisserie took me longer than shredding the chicken. No strength needed to move the lid back and forth. The spikes on the bottom and on the lid take care of things for you. I didn't think it would stay in place since there is no suction cups on the bottom. No worries, suction cups not needed. I stood up and used the product. So, the force of moving the lid back and forth keeps the product in place. I plan on buying this item for Christmas gifts. Don't hesitate." - Paula

    amazon.com , Paula Report

    XenoMurph
    Community Member
    7 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I usually do this with a fork, but i saved nearly 30 seconds shredding my chicken with this device, and it only took me 15 minutes to clean the gadget!

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT

    Meal prep containers filled with assorted fruits and vegetables in a refrigerator.

    Review: "Top quality and really keeps food air tight. I’m certain it will work ay for itself in time by keeping food fresh longer. I like how they stack and they work great for freezing food. Very happy we bought them." - KMick

    amazon.com , Lorie Ann Report

    XenoMurph
    Community Member
    7 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I only spent £150 on these, and so far I've saved a massive £0.15 in cling film!

    Onion slicing tool simplifying meal prep on a kitchen counter with lemons and juice.

    Review: "Very well made; SHARP and strong tines, and handle. Easy to use. Even slices." - SteveR

    amazon.com Report

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Cooking with a pink strainer over a pot, simplifying meal prep tasks.

    Review: "This product was a gift and I absolutely love it. Run, don’t walk, to purchase one. It works to drain water and grease. On multiple sizes of pots. It’s a dream to use and clean. Recommend 100%." - Kara

    amazon.com , Kara Report

    Pharmtechgurl
    Community Member
    7 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I hate mine it always falls off the pot

    #7

    Unlock The Secrets To Tasty, Stress-Free Meals With This Meal Prep Recipe Book , Your Guide To Becoming The Beyoncé Of Brown-Bagging It

    "Meal prep book cover with colorful food containers and fresh ingredients by Chungah Rhee."

    Review: "I am addicted to this book!! Simple ingredients, easy to navigate, and my favorite part... it has a picture for every recipe!!! Good for beginners or pros." - Deanna Lynn

    amazon.com , Deanna Lynn Report

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Cut vegetables and knife on a cutting board, simplifying meal prep.

    Review: "Sturdy, easy to clean, nice sharp edge good for cleaning counter after bread making or scooping cut veggies and herbs. Edge marked with inch measurements. Rubber handle gives a good grip. Another perfect design from OXO." - Amazon Customer

    amazon.com , PDC Report

    XenoMurph
    Community Member
    7 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "How can I make a knife less safe, and harder to use?? I know!"

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT

    Kitchen efficiency reaches new heights as we explore more ways to make future-you thank present-you for actually planning ahead. Whether streamlining your chopping game or revolutionizing your storage strategy, these next finds turn meal prep from chore to score.

    #9

    Ground Control To Meal Prep, We Have Liftoff! Make Bolignese Night (Or Any Ground Meat Dish) A Breeze With This Hamburger Grinder Utensil , Your New Secret Weapon For Perfectly Prepped Meat And Beyond

    Pot of steaming ground beef on stovetop with a meat chopper, simplifying meal prep.

    Review: "I’ve looked at it so many times but I finally decided to buy it and I have to say I love it I made crispy tacos the other night and it worked great just what I wanted." - Nancy cherry

    amazon.com , Nancy cherry Report

    Stacked containers in fridge, enhancing meal prep efficiency.

    Review: "Mighty but small, I love these containers. I am a food blogger and so often I have a small amount of leftovers that are too good to dispose of. Chopped nuts, salad dressing, toasted breadcrumbs...you name it! I have been so eager to get rid of as much plastic as possible in our household. I love stainless steel and they are pretty enough to put on the kitchen table. The colorful lids are very thick, well made and pliable. They won't crack like other tops. A bargain too." - 4waystoyummy

    amazon.com , 4waystoyummy Report

    Meal prep container with vegetables on a bamboo mat.

    Review: "The two compartments are separated to prevent the smell from mixing, which is a very considerate design." - Meaden

    amazon.com Report

    #12

    Ditch The Kitchen Chaos And Embrace Your Inner Culinary Scientist With These Stainless Steel Magnetic Measuring Spoons, Because Precision Is The Spice Of Life (Or At Least A Really Good Casserole)

    Measuring spoons on a kitchen counter with coffee granules and sugar, perfect for simplifying meal prep.

    Review: "This set of measuring spoons has all of the smaller sizes of measurement, in addition the magnetic feature keeps them together and well organized and not scattered in a drawer. They are excellent quality and available in a number of colors for the magnetic portion. Should be very durable. They are also marked in milliliters in addition to spoons." - Paul Roberts

    amazon.com , RK Report

    Egg cooker on a countertop for easy meal prep efficiency.

    Review: "Easy to use. Fiddly with the right water level but once figured out, easy! Faster than boiling in a pan. They come out perfect and EASY to peel the eggs, every time! Also love the compact size." - Beth Ann Gunkie Baker

    amazon.com , Marcia Sieben Report

    Hannah
    Community Member
    7 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    When did civilisation get to the point where a gadget is needed in order to boil an egg?

    View more comments
    #14

    Greasing The Wheels Of Culinary Greatness Just Got A Whole Lot Easier With This Olive Oil Sprayer That's Like A Fine Artist's Brush For Your Cooking

    Hand holding an oil dispenser, a useful item for efficient meal prep.

    Review: "This sprayer/oil dispenser is pretty amazing. I’ve seen others like it and they typically do pretty poorly performance-wise. That isn’t the case here. This dispenser sprays a fine mist that is perfect for coating a pan or veggies before throwing in the oven. Its design prevents drips and while there is some very minor seepage around the seam in the plastic top, it’s not overly greasy and doesn’t actually leak down the side. Holds a ton of oil and is actually quite fetching looking siting by my stove. A great gadget get!" - Brian R.

    amazon.com , Brian R. Report

    XenoMurph
    Community Member
    7 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ok this might actually be ok.

    Raspberries in a paper cup on a food scale, ideal for efficient meal prep.

    Review: "Great scale for Diabetic carb counting! Highly recommend easy to use!" - Alohalovelesley

    amazon.com , Alohalovelesley Report

    XenoMurph
    Community Member
    7 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Remember people, the code for raspberries is 1149. Only 9999 other codes to memorise!

    Hand holding a pink kitchen timer, a helpful tool for meal prep efficiency.

    Review: "They’re pretty durable too. You can prop them up and they are magnetized. Great but, worth the cost." - Christina

    amazon.com , Christina Report

    Boris Long-Johnson
    Community Member
    7 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Does this author just shill for Bezos - I don’t think I’ve noticed them doing any non-infomercials.

    View more comments

    The path to organized eating brightens with tools that understand your Sunday shouldn't be sacrificed to the meal prep gods. From time-saving innovations to stress-reducing solutions, these upcoming finds prove that planning ahead doesn't require giving up your entire weekend.

    A meat thermometer, an essential meal prep item, displaying a temperature of 91.9°F on a wooden table.

    Review: "I really, really like this thermometer. Easy to use and I feel readings are accurate! It's nice having the light." - Jenny P

    amazon.com , Jenny P Report

    See Also on Bored Panda
    #18

    When Life Gives You Lemons, Squeeeeeze! Make Meal Prep A Citrusy Breeze With This Sturdy Lemon Squeezer – Because Nobody Has Time For Rogue Seeds Ruining Their Culinary Masterpiece

    Lemon squeezer and sliced lemons on a cutting board for efficient meal prep.

    Review: "It works beautifully and is very durable. I love that it is metal. Squeezing lemons and limes has never been easier and the stones/seeds are removed so no longer an issue." - Hawkeyehiker

    amazon.com , rwbenson Report

    Mel in Georgia
    Community Member
    Premium
    7 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    These are great! Squeezes all the juice out.

    View more comments

    Salad spinner with strawberries for efficient meal prep.

    Review: "I never realized how much I would use a salad spinner until I bought one three months ago. The first one's bowl cracked (different brand), so I purchased this one as a replacement. I'm glad I spent more money on it than the last one. The pieces of the spinner are thick and feel sturdy. It's easy to use, and I like the brake option it has to stop the spinning. I use it for lettuce and other veggies as well as fruit. It removed a lot more water from food than my other spinner, too. The only annoyance I have is you have to make sure food is moved away from the middle of the basket so the "pusher" that creates the spin has a place to go when you put the lid on. Otherwise, it is a great addition to my kitchen!" - BC

    amazon.com , BC Report

    Garlic press in use over a bowl, enhancing meal prep efficiency on a granite countertop.

    Review: "Yes, it is a professional and durable garlic mincing tool. I have tried it several times and it has proven to be strong, durable and rust-resistant. It holds a good amount of garlic. It also comes with a garlic peeler and a cleaning brush. Of course, when you use it, you feel comfortable, your hand does not get tired when using it, and you do not need a lot of energy to apply pressure. Because its handle is comfortable." - M Khalaf

    amazon.com , M Khalaf Report

    Emilu
    Community Member
    7 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I just buy jarlic. Sorry not sorry.

    View more comments

    Diced tomatoes and cucumbers in a meal prep container, using a vegetable chopper for efficient meal preparation.

    Review: "Right out of the box I immediately tested! excited and immediately tested dicing Persian cucumbers and cherry tomatoes." - AGL

    amazon.com , AGL Report

    Stainless steel food container on a kitchen countertop, ideal for easy meal prep solutions.

    Review: "Bought this for my son to take to work. Tested with hot food, works great. Keeps food warm for hours. We even tested overnight. Good size and with 3 containers you can separate foods. Place hot water in bottom tray, food on top. Recommended." - MarioG

    amazon.com , Susan Shalabi Report

    Pink smoothie in a clear travel cup, ideal for efficient meal prep on-the-go.

    Review: "I had this mini travel blender that broke on me after only having it for a little while. I didn’t realize how much it wasn’t blending well until I got this. Literally the easiest to set up. I don’t like to do a lot of clean up after making smoothies so that’s why I never really made them before. This blends so well and really fast! Only a few seconds & it was completely done. Just popped then sip lid on & rinsed off the blade and took it with me on my drive to work. Took me about 5 mins to make in total, so worth it. The price is very reasonable as well. Just get it !!! And if anything were to happen, there is a 1yr warranty on it." - itsJenaBena

    amazon.com , itsJenaBena Report