8 Essential Kitchen Gadgets to Simplify Your Meal Preparation

After a long day at work, cooking dinner is often the last thing on anyone's mind. Weekend meal prep can become a tiresome chore over time. To ease the burden of Sunday preparations and weeknight cooking, here are eight indispensable kitchen tools that will help you avoid the stress of deciding what to cook.

1. Weekly Meal Planning Pad; $12

Effective meal preparation requires planning ahead and considering what meals you’ll crave throughout the week. The Two Tumbleweeds weekly meal planning pad simplifies this process by helping you map out your meals and compile a practical shopping list. This 6-inch by 9-inch magnetic notepad includes 50 pages, each featuring the days of the week on the left for easy organization. Additionally, it has a detachable grocery list for convenient shopping trips.

2. Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Pressure Cooker; From $70

The ultimate meal-prep gadget is a versatile tool that handles cooking tasks while you focus on other activities. The Instant Pot Duo offers seven-in-one functionality, enabling it to slow cook, prepare yogurt, and cook rice effortlessly. Available in 3-quart, 6-quart, and 8-quart sizes, it caters to households of all sizes. With nearly 140,000 reviews, many users highlight its versatility for one-pot meals and side dishes, though they note a slight learning curve to master its features.

3. Vegetable Chopper; $27 with on-page coupon

Chopping vegetables can be risky for those with joint problems, knife anxiety, or when involving kids in the kitchen. This vegetable chopper ensures safety while delivering precise and consistent cuts. It includes four interchangeable blades for small dicing, large dicing, spiralizing, and creating ribbons. The built-in compartment collects all sliced vegetables, keeping your workspace neat and organized.

4. Rubbermaid 42-Piece Set Food Storage Containers; $29

Once your vegetables are chopped and ready, storing them properly is key. This 42-piece Rubbermaid container set offers a variety of sizes to suit any recipe. The lids are designed to fit multiple containers of the same size and can be stacked for efficient storage.

5. YouCopia StoraLid Food Container Lid Organizer; $17 with on-page coupon

With an array of new containers, keeping your storage organized is essential. The YouCopia StoraLid acts as a filing system for your lids, ensuring you can quickly find the right one during meal prep. No more frustration from mismatched lids and containers—this organizer keeps everything in place.

6. Stasher 4-Pack Reusable Storage Bags Bundle; From $36

For those who prefer packing meals without the hassle of bulky plastic containers, Stasher bags offer a lightweight and eco-friendly solution. Made from flexible, reusable silicone, these bags are perfect for storing sandwiches, snacks, and other meals. They’re ideal for meal prepping school lunches, helping you reduce plastic waste while keeping food fresh.

7. Bee's Wrap Assorted 3-Pack; $14 with on-page coupon

Fed up with disposable cling wrap for covering leftovers like avocados or baked dishes? Bee’s Wrap offers a sustainable, reusable solution to reduce your environmental footprint. Crafted from 100% organic cotton and natural beeswax, these wraps are washable, biodegradable, and can last up to a year. This set includes three sizes—small, medium, and large—available in a honeycomb pattern or other charming designs.

8. Souper Cubes; $37

On chilly winter days, a hearty bowl of soup is both comforting and a convenient meal prep option. Souper Cubes, made from freezer-safe silicone, function like ice cube trays but hold four 1-cup portions of soup or broth, ready to thaw whenever hunger strikes. The transparent lids seal tightly to protect against freezer burn.