10 Chef-Approved Meal Prep Tips and Tricks

Life gets hectic, and when you’re in the middle of a crazy week, you don’t always have time to debate whether you want chicken piccata pasta or honey-glazed salmon for dinner, much less go grocery shopping and cook the recipe you settle on. Enter the wonderful world of meal prep.

It may sound straightforward, but meal prepping can be daunting to people who have never done it before. You may be wondering which recipes keep well in the fridge or freezer, how to put together a week of meals without spending hours in the kitchen, and what the best food storage containers are for meal prep. We asked six professional chefs to share their best tips for meal prep, and their advice is great for both beginners and seasoned pros.

Professional Chef-Recommended Meal Prepping Tools

• Skroam Glass Meal Prep Containers, Set of 10$31, originally $38
• Bluapple Produce Saver Ethylene Gas Absorber, Pack of 2$17
• FoodSaver Compact Vacuum Sealer Machine with Airtight Bags$115
• OXO Good Grips GreenSaver Herb Keeper$17, originally $18
• Souper Cubes 1-Cup Silicone Freezer Molds, Set of 2$40
• OXO Good Grips Smart Seal Glass Food Storage Container$13
• Caraway 14-Piece Glass Food Storage Container Set$265
• Suretivian Chicken Shredder Twist Tool$8, originally $20
• OXO Good Grips Salad Spinner$30
• Splf Reusable Gallon Freezer Bags, Pack of 6$13, originally $14

Skroam Glass Meal Prep Containers, Set of 10

If you’re new to meal prep, stocking up on good containers is the perfect first step, according to Joanne Gallagher, recipe developer and co-founder of Inspired Taste. “For meal prep pros and new cooks alike, good containers are a real game-changer and keep your efforts super rewarding,” she said. “My go-to system starts with investing in airtight glass containers or BPA-free plastic containers with tight-sealing lids.” She recommends this 10-piece glass meal prep set that “consistently keeps food fresher, doesn’t stain, and stacks neatly in the fridge or freezer.”

Bluapple Produce Saver Ethylene Gas Absorber, Pack of 2

Gallagher’s second tip for meal prepping is to “use special produce keepers or fridge-friendly ethylene absorbers to keep greens and fruits crisp and slow the ripening process.” The Bluapple keeps berries and vegetables fresh in the fridge, in fruit bowls, in pantries, or wherever you keep your produce. According to Gallagher, they “extend the life of produce by reducing odors and excess moisture, which is a serious win against food waste.”

FoodSaver Compact Vacuum Sealer Machine with Airtight Bags

When we talked to Roberto Alcocer, executive chef at Michelin-starred Valle and a 2025 James Beard semifinalist, he said that it was a “necessity” to “master your freezer, since proper freezer storage prevents freezer burn and maintains food quality.” He recommended this vacuum sealer to maximize freshness and storage space. Once sealed, the food can be stored in the freezer or fridge, or even dropped in a pot of water for cooking sous vide.

OXO Good Grips GreenSaver Herb Keeper

“Keep herbs and greens dry,” said Marissa Stevens, recipe developer and founder of Pinch and Swirl. When it comes to storing washed greens and herbs, Stevens said “the OXO Good Grips GreenSaver Herb Keeper works well for this.” The internal basket allows for airflow, and the outer shell holds water to keep herbs hydrated in the fridge. She said this method has one exception: basil. “You should never refrigerate fresh basil,” said Stevens. She instead suggests keeping the OXO container on the counter.

Souper Cubes 1-Cup Silicone Freezer Molds, Set of 2

If you’re planning on prepping for a later date, Stevens suggests looking into Souper Cubes for “freezing broth, beans, and sauces in perfect portions.” They’re made of silicone, so they’re easy to clean, and cubes pop out with little effort — no need to bang a freezer-burned plastic tray on the counter to defrost your minestrone soup. One trick Stevens made sure to share was to “leave room when freezing — about a half-inch of headspace — since liquids expand as they freeze.” We also named these Souper Cubes in the 2-cup size our favorite ice trays for leftovers.

OXO Good Grips Smart Seal Glass Food Storage Container

Stevens’s “everyday choice” for storing leftovers is this OXO glass food storage containerbecause they “stack well and don’t stain.” When storing leftovers in airtight containers, she recommended completely cooling them off first to avoid trapping shelf-life-shortening steam inside. Looking for a variety of sizes? This freezer-, oven-, and dishwasher-safe set comes with 16 OXO containers. It’s a steal at less than $4 apiece and will nest neatly in your cupboard.

Caraway 14-Piece Glass Food Storage Container Set

Tieghan Gerard, recipe developer and founder of Half Baked Harvest“loves” her Caraway containers for “both leftovers and for meal prep.” The pieces of this set can be assembled to create customizable bento boxes. They’re safe to put in your fridge, freezer, microwave, and oven, so you don’t need to dirty any extra dishes when it’s time to eat. Plus, it’s made of non-toxic “ceramic and glass, so you don’t have to worry about any chemicals getting into your food,” said Gerard.

Suretivian Chicken Shredder Twist Tool

Gerard also shared her “best tricks” for meal prepping a whole rotisserie chicken. “Shred the meat and use it in recipes, or toss it into rice bowls and salads,” she said. “It’s such a time saver!” This nifty tool shreds entire cuts of meat in seconds, sparing you from the wrist pain of hacking away at a chicken carcass with a fork. She also suggested prepping proteins “like chicken, ground beef, or hard-boiled eggs” ahead of time for “quickly building salads throughout the week.”

OXO Good Grips Salad Spinner

“Dry produce thoroughly before storage as moisture breeds mold, even in airtight containers,” suggested Sandra Maestas, founder of Cookin’ Kiddos. To use it, simply press the button in the middle, and your fruits, vegetables, and herbs will be dry in seconds. Maestas said the OXO salad spinner is “essential for drying leafy greens efficiently and gently,” so it “won’t fly off the counter when you use it.”

Splf Reusable Gallon Freezer Bags, Pack of 6

Meat can be a little harder to store, but Dagan Lynn, executive chef of Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner shared his tricks for keeping it fresh when buying in bulk. “For longer storage, place in plastic freezer bags, removing as much air as possible,” said Lynn, attesting that this method — especially with a vacuum sealer — keeps steaks and roasts fresh for up to a year.