Have you gotten into batch cooking yet? You probably feel like it’s difficult, but I assure you it’s not. There are some batch cooking essentials you can have in your kitchen that will make the process super easy!
I mean, what mum among us doesn’t want to save time on our busiest days and avoid spending money on unhealthy takeaway meals?
Who would say no to something that allows you to eat a varied diet that supports your health and wellness goals while minimizing waste?
And who doesn’t love opening up the fridge or freezer to find healthy homemade meals ready to eat?
So, yes, batch cooking is one of my favourite mum tips ever. While it’s affordable and easy to start, I’ll tell you about some batch cooking essentials you need in your kitchen to make meal prep easier and more efficient! Here’s a look.
1. Large pot and pan
Since batch cooking often entails doubling or tripling something you were making anyway, you’re going to need a large pot and pan – and I mean really, really large.
I can’t tell you how many times I had to carefully transfer part of a pot of hot soup into another vessel halfway through cooking so I’d have enough room to add in lentils or some other bulky ingredient. Guess what? It’s messy. And soup is hot! So I eventually wised up and invested in bigger cookware, and it’s been a treat. Batch cooking is supposed to be efficient, and having the right pot or pan makes all the difference.
2. Even better: A large slow cooker
A large pot and pan are essential, but if you have the budget and space, I can’t recommend a large slow cooker highly enough. This genius appliance is the main reason my family doesn’t starve most days. It’s just so versatile and so perfect for batch cooking. Since it’s mostly hands-off, it is just so easy to start something in it while I’m batch cooking something else on the stove at the same time for the ultimate in multitasking!
3. Digital scales
I don’t mind making recipes where everything is listed in cups and tablespoons, but have you ever tried to triple a recipe involving measurements like 2 tablespoons of chili powder? It means you’re going to need to scoop the chili powder out 6 times, and all it takes is for Nina to suddenly come in the kitchen and ask a question for me to lose track of whether I was on the 4th or 5th tablespoon.
A digital scale a much quicker and more reliable way to measure ingredients when you’re batch cooking. It’s also useful for measuring out portions to save and freeze when you’re making something that’s hard to divide evenly by sight, like pizza dough.
4. Ziplock bags
Since the whole idea of batch cooking is having extra food to save, large zip lock bags are going to be your new best friend. Yes, there are other freezer-friendly food storage options out there, but zip lock bags fit so much better into your freezer. After filling them, you can lay them flat and stack them on shelves or in drawers, or you can bend them however you need to fit into whatever little space you have left in a packed freezer. Plus, they’re the best freezing container to avoid freezer burn! Freezer burn happens when food is exposed to air in the freezer, causing it to dry out and develop icy
crystals. While it’s still safe to eat, the texture, colour and taste suffer. One of the best ways to prevent
freezer burn is to remove as much air as possible from your freezer bags before sealing shut.
5. A good plan
After reading this list of batch cooking essentials that can’t be missed in your kitchen, it’s also important to have a plan. All the right equipment in the world won’t help if you don’t know what you’re cooking. Before diving in, take time to plan what you’re going to batch cook and how you’ll do it. You can create your own plan or find one online. This is the best way to ensure you have the right ingredients and can prepare and store the right portions efficiently.
6. Recipes the family loves
If someone in your house isn’t a big fan of seafood, you still might be able to get away with sneaking in a fish dinner every once in a while if you pair it with sides they love. But when you’re batch cooking, you better make sure you’re making something everyone adores because they’ll be having it a few times in the coming weeks or months. I like to create a whole category for batch cooking meals my family loves in my recipe app so I can find inspiration easily when I need it.
7. A focus on simplicity
Finally, keep it simple. I know nothing about this sounds simple when you first start out, but the beauty of batch cooking lies in its simplicity. Remember: you’re cooking things you’d cook anyway, you’re just making more of them at once. Don’t overcomplicate it, and don’t let it overwhelm you. Approach it methodically, follow your plan, and look forward to all the nights you won’t have to cook thanks to the effort you’re making now!
DO YOU NEED HELP WITH BATCH COOKING?
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