The 14 Best Kitchen Tools for Meal Prep, Vetted & Tested by Time-Starved Editors

Meal prep would not be complete without a place to put your freshly cooked food–enter this food storage set from Caraway. When you ship this food storage set, you’ll receive small, medium and large containers, in addition to dot inserts, dash inserts, container racks and straps. PureWow food editor Taryn Pire is a fan for several reasons: "They're pretty, easy to clean and come with organizers for stackable storing. They can also go in the dishwasher, microwave and oven."

In terms of aesthetics, the food storage set comes in six colors including cream, sage, gray, mist, navy, and terracotta. And, they’re free of the stuff you don’t want contaminating your food including BPA, heavy metals, PFTE and PFAS. Still not convinced? PureWow’s former senior food editor Katherine Gillen raves about the brand’s quality and clever design as well, having given its cookware a 90 out of 100 points in a PureWow100 review.

Although this eight-in-one slow cooker might be more of an investment piece, you’ll notice it levels up your meal prep game as soon as you take it out of the box. With a six-quart capacity, PureWow associate editor Marissa Wu encountered no issues cooking in bulk during testing. "I always cook in batches and only do it once a week if I can help it!,” she says. “I love this for a hefty supply of pot roast or soup." Whether you choose to make chicken bone broth (like Wu) or another meal, this tool shines when it comes to its non-stick abilities and easy cleaning process, thanks to its state-of-the-art design and proprietary nonstick (and PFAS-free) coating made from Thermolon.

What makes it truly exceptional for meal prepping is how it cuts down on dishwashing afterward (which, BTW, the pot itself is dishwasher-safe). It can be used to brown, roast, sauté and steam, minimizing all the kitchenware you need to take out to complete a recipe. (After all, how annoying is it to plan on a set-it-and-forget-it slow cooker dinner, only to find out you need to sear the meat first?!)

“If you also see yourself making use of the brown/sauté and steam functions, I think those are convenient add-ons, since browning food is a great way to impart flavor, and the steamer basket makes it easy to whip up everything from (my favorite) soup dumplings to whole fish and sticky rice,” adds Wu. And, you’ll never have to worry about how much time is left on your meal, as it features an LCD and will beep when ready.

Adding vegetables to your meals (especially your meal-prep ones) can be a great way to ensure you’re receiving those essential vitamins and nutrients. That said, you can forgo having to manually cut individual slices with a knife (that can be ever-so time-consuming) and instead do so with this editor-approved brushed stainless steel vegetable chopper from Cuisinart.

With a 14-cup capacity, this gadget is suitable for chopping everything from produce to other ingredients, such as cheese and dough."I have never sliced a vegetable or block of  cheese faster than with this food processor,” notes Wu.

Despite its longer assembly time and slight jumpiness, editors found this nearly 17-pound  gadget intuitive to use via its feed tube and handle (both BPA-free). It also features a 720-watt motor that works quickly to save you time and effort. Just make sure to note that you cannot place its motor base in the dishwasher during cleanup.

Although a fruit slicer might not be the first kitchen tool that comes to mind when thinking about the best kitchen tools for meal prep, you shouldn’t rule it out.

"Whether I'm prepping salads or chopping grapes for my kids' lunches, this makes chopping through a whole pint of fruit a breeze,” explains VP of editorial content Candace Davison. At first, I laughed at such a specific tool, but I wind up using it every week."

Made with stainless steel, this gadget is equipped to cut fruit such as grapes and cherries into two or four pieces, depending on your preference, with a simple movement of the blade down the middle–just make sure to watch your fingers.

"When you're cooking entire meals in advance, you don't want to be babysitting one portion of the dish—especially at the expense of the others,” says Davison. “The Meater takes the guesswork out of cooking meat, so you can grill a perfectly juicy yet well-seared batch of chicken breasts, thanks to its Bluetooth-enabled app."

Yes, that’s right—when you use this meat thermometer, you can connect it to its corresponding smartphone app so you can receive a notification when your meat has been thoroughly cooked and is ready to be served (or in this case, stored).

Whether your preferred cooking gadget is a grill, stove or slow cooker, this meat thermometer is equipped to handle it (and internal meat temperatures up to 212°F).

Whether you’re preparing some low-carb zucchini enchiladas or some zucchini pasta, this handheld spiralizer from OXO can help. All you have to do to see the effects of this gadget is push and twist your desired food item into the blade–just make sure to keep your produce straight.

"If you're trying to go low-carb, or you just really love zoodles, this handheld spiralizer is a must-have,” says Davison. “It's so compact that it takes up as much space in your cabinet as a mug, and you can zip through whole zucchinis while binging your favorite show." Plus, you won’t have to worry about accidentally cutting your hands with the stainless steel blade, as it’s equipped with a multi-pronged vegetable-holder.

In terms of saving time, an Air Fryer almost always beats preheating and waiting around for the oven. And the Ninja Double Stack is a great choice for meal preppers, given its 10-quart capacity (large enough to fit two five-pound chickens) and dual baskets to let you air fry two dishes at once.

“The Ninja’s various cook modes are convenient, and the Double Stack can handle a number of tasks that can replace the need for messily searing, broiling and baking for easy cleanup,” says Wu. To that end, this air fryer comes with removable racks that can be placed in a dishwasher–you can say goodbye to manually scrubbing them.

The only downside Wu noticed during testing was its short power cord, which measures just less than 30 inches. Considering this gadget’s intuitive nature and wide-ranging abilities, it does not come as a surprise that Wu rated it 93 out of 100 points in her PureWow100 review.

Scoring 96 out of 100 points as rated by PureWow’s assistant commerce editor, Natalie LaBarbera, the Wonder Oven from Our Place impressed us with its array of features considering its tiny-but-mighty stature.

“The Wonder Oven is just so easy to use,” LaBarbera. “As someone who has always been intimidated by all of the buttons and settings on standard air fryers, I was excited to find that this oven required nothing more than placing my food in the air fry basket and flipping the switch to the correct mode. And, I'm happy to report, it definitely lived up to the hype of pre-heating and cooking super-fast.”

LaBarbera also noted that its steam function was simple to use and able to enhance some croissants. “I was skeptical that this would make a difference in reheating, but after just a few minutes of warming, my stale, store-bought croissants—that honestly weren't that amazing to begin with—were noticeably fresher and fluffier,” she adds.

Whether you plan on air frying, roasting or steaming your upcoming prepped meals, this gadget can do it all–and do so for less than $200.

For a versatile blender, I recommend adding the Vitamix Ascent 3500 to your cart ASAP. “If you’re willing to splurge on a blender that can make just about anything without breaking a sweat, the Vitamix Ascent 3500 is worth every penny,” says Pire.

Offering a 48-ounce capacity, this BPA-free brushed stainless steel blender features five settings that you can adjust depending on the type of meals at hand (soup, liquids, ice cream, etc).

As far as ease of use goes, its touch screen makes it straightforward even for those who have never cooked (or meal-prepped) before. Weighing just about 15 pounds, it can be moved around without expending too much energy. Best of all, most pieces can be tossed into the dishwasher after you’ve completed your cooking. Just make sure you have counter space free for this blender, as it is on the bulkier side.

Although this blender may not be the meal prep tool for you if you plan on making any soups or recipes involving hot ingredients, it’s suitable for making other types of meal prep meals such as smoothies (and cocktails if you count that as a meal).

“It was incredibly easy to make a frozen drink,” notes PureWow assistant editor Delia Curtis. “I decided on frozen strawberry daiquiris, and it took about 45 seconds to blend everything together. The crushed ice took about 60 seconds to turn powdery—no scraping or tampering to get the job done.” If you’re new to meal prepping (or even if you’re not), this tool features BlendSense Technology to adjust the speed and time spent blending as needed—a pretty neat feature, if I do say so myself.

In addition to the 72-ounce pitcher, you’ll receive two 24-ounce single-serve cups with lids within which you can store your beverage (or chopped vegetables).

“The KitchenAid Artisan is great for adventurous bakers who tend to make breads, bagels and hearty doughs,” says Davison. Want to know why? Well, for starters, it features a five-quart bowl and 59 touchpoints that provide an even and thorough mix.

Thanks to its tilt-head design (which Davison found a bit heavy), adding ingredients as needed is not difficult. And with 10 speeds, this gadget can be adjusted to ensure you’re not making any avoidable messes. It’s also incredibly durable—Davison has owned hers for more than a decade, using it weekly, and it’s still going strong.

All of this to say, if you’re the next-level meal prepper who bakes their own bread for sandwiches (or bagels for an on-the-go BEC),or shred chicken or pork super fast, you’ll want to look into this baby.

A solid sauté pan is a must-have in general, but this design is a PureWow favorite for meal prepping. “We love the sauté pan for cooking vegetables for the week ahead, or a big batch of pasta or beans,” says Pire. When you use this non-stick pan, you won’t need to coat it in a great deal of oil or butter (unless you want to).  In addition to using this pan to sauté, you can also put it in the oven, as it can withstand up to 550°F.

Although this pan is accompanied by a higher price tag, its 4.5-quart capacity is particularly helpful for cooking large quantities. And, at 4.1 pounds, it’s hefty but not too heavy to handle. Plus, its lid can be placed flat, taking up less storage space. Just note that you shouldn’t place this pan in the dishwasher.

If you want to purchase nearly everything you’ll need to start meal prepping, it’s hard to go wrong with this 12-piece set from Hexclad. When you purchase this set, you’ll receive three fry pans, two saucepans and a pot along, with their accompanying lids. With its range of sizes, you can tackle multiple meals at once, knocking out a whole week (or two), depending on what you’re cooking.

"I actually thank HexClad aloud (even though they can't hear me) every time I use these pans because they're scratch-resistant, so my husband—who does most of the cooking in our house—doesn't scold me and I don't panic when I use a metal utensil in them,” says PureWow’s senior director of special projects and royals Rachel Bowie.

When you get into meal prepping, all that buying and storing in bulk puts fridge and freezer space at a serious premium. Using resealable bags to store prepped ingredients (and leftovers) is an easy way to save on space. “I do this with cookie dough, so I always have some on hand if people pop by—or when a craving strikes,” Davison says. “Ziploc started selling a ‘freezer cookbook,’ with dividers so you can store a freezer bag full of ingredients for each meal, making it easy to choose one each night, heat and enjoy. You don’t necessarily need the cookbook, but the concept is so helpful for streamlining your week—without simply making one giant meal and eating it for five days straight.”

This style, with its “stand-up bottom” is particularly useful for meal prepping, since it—as the name implies—can stand upright and stays open, allowing you to pour in ingredients easily.