Wendy Jo Peterson - Meal Prep Cookbook For Dummies

Glass: Glass storage containers are heat and cold safe. Glass is incredibly useful for storing prepped items and can be stacked neatly in the refrigerator for clean storage and food identification.

If you enjoy meal-prepping lunches, consider bento-box-style food storage containers like the ones from Bentgo ( https://bentgo.com ).

Mason jars are great for food storage and as a cooking vessel in both the oven and microwave. You can also save glass jars, such as pickle jars or jam jars, and use them for food storage, but don’t assume you can heat them in the microwave or oven. Wide-mouthed Mason jars are great for soups and salads in a jar!

Never heat or cook in jars that aren’t tempered and oven safe. If you aren’t sure whether your jar is oven safe, just use it for food storage.

Some kitchen tools make your life easier, but they aren’t absolutely essential for meal prep. On the other hand, it’s always nice to get a shiny new kitchen gadget… . So, if your family is asking for suggestions for your birthday, or you’re just looking to treat yourself, read on.

A mini mandoline is useful for quickly slicing fruits and vegetables. The OXO V-Blade Mandoline Slicer ( www.oxo.com/oxo-good-grips-v-blade-mandoline-slicer.html ) is a time-saving tool for fast meal prep.

Spiralized hard fruits and vegetables are fun and popular in the meal-prep world. This tool is fun, but not necessary, especially if space is limited. Don’t fret if you don’t have the space; you can find many pre-spiralized vegetables at grocery stores.

The silicone version of parchment paper is easy to use, easy to clean, and good for about two years of regular use. It’s best to only heat up to 450 degrees when using a silicone baking mat. Silicone is a nontoxic polymer made from sand. Silpat ( www.silpat.com ), a popular brand of silicone mats, can run from $15 to $30 per mat.

This can be a splurge for many households, both in terms of price and space. But a high-powered blender or food processor is a time-saving tool for making salsas, soups, sauces, and smoothies. If space is limited, consider a handheld immersion blender (also referred to as a stick blender). Find one that fits your budget. Good brands to consider are Black & Decker ( www.blackanddecker.com ), Cuisinart ( www.cuisinart.com ), KitchenAid ( www.kitchenaid.com ), Ninja ( www.ninjakitchen.com ), and Vitamix ( www.vitamix.com ).

A food vacuum sealer removes air and vacuum seals food in plastic bags for long-term storage, whether freezing or in the pantry. Vacuum sealers are also useful for resealing cereal bags or cracker bags to keep them from going stale. My family buys our meats in bulk, and we use a vacuum sealer to help store them in our deep freezer.

If you have the space, a vacuum sealer can be useful. You can find a good one for less than $100.

If you love to take sandwiches to go, pick up beeswax wraps or make your own! This is a great way to ditch single-use plastics.

To make your own beeswax wraps, you need 100 percent cotton fabric, scissors, beeswax pellets, a baking sheet, parchment paper, and a spatula. Then follow these steps:

1 Cut the fabric to your preferred size.

2 Place a piece of parchment paper on a baking sheet and preheat the oven to 180 degrees.

3 Place the fabric on the parchment paper, and sprinkle with 2 to 3 tablespoons beeswax pellets.

4 Place another piece of parchment paper on top of the beeswax pellets.

5 Place the baking sheet into the oven for 3 to 4 minutes or until the pellets have melted.

6 Remove the baking sheet from the oven and, with the parchment paper still on top, use a spatula to spread the beeswax.

7 After the beeswax has cooled, remove it from the parchment paper.

You can wash the towels in cold water up to 50 times before you need to toss them.

A multicooker utilizes pressure to quickly cook food. It’s a useful tool to get your typical slow-cooked foods on the table in a fraction of the time. If you’re cooking for two people, a mini 3-quart pot can be sufficient; if you’re cooking for a larger family, you may want to invest in an 8-quart multicooker.

For most of the recipes in this book, I used a 6-quart Instant Pot. Even if budget isn’t an issue, I still recommend the basic Duo Instant Pot over the newer, more expensive models.

When using a multicooker be sure to read the user manual that comes with your appliance. Pressure cookers take time to come to pressure and time for the pot to depressurize after cooking. This time varies based on the temperature of the food you’re cooking and your altitude.

Chapter 3

IN THIS CHAPTER

Discovering a variety of markets for food shopping

Stocking your refrigerator, freezer, and pantry with meal-prep goods

Modifying your shopping based on the season

Navigating a grocery store has changed a lot over the past couple decades, and even more during the pandemic. In this chapter, you explore different avenues for shopping. I also give you tips for shopping on a budget. After you’ve figured out where to shop, you’re ready to stock your kitchen!

In this section, I dive into the variety of grocery stores available in the United States. Of course, this information will vary if you live in a more a rural setting versus a major metropolitan area, so keep those differences in mind.

Your neighborhood market is close and ready to serve you. Standard grocery chains often highlight their deals with bins, placement in the markets, or with weekly ads. You can also save a lot of money by becoming a free member, if it’s offered. Taking the time to compare prices and plan meals based on what’s on sale is a great way to keep your grocery budget in check.

You can bargain-shop at almost any grocery store, as long as you pay attention. If you happen to have a bargain grocery store near you, such as a warehouse market or a discount grocery chain, be sure to watch their weekly advertisements for the best buys. These markets may require you to become a member.