Saving time, managing the grocery budget, less frequent trips to the supermarket, avoiding food waste, and efficient weekday cooking have always been hot topics in the kitchen.
Meal prep and batch cooking are excellent ways to help you organise and prepare your meals in advance. Whether prepping a large batch of soup for the week, spending part of your weekend preparing lunchboxes for the kids, or doubling up on a batch of lasagna so you can stock up your freezer…Cookidoo® has got you covered. Meal prep and batch cooking shouldn't be considered opposite methods of food preparation - everyone has their own lifestyle and routines and these two concepts follow similar journeys and don’t always have clear boundaries!
Let’s take a closer look at each technique. The definitions are simply guidelines, and the advantages of each method differ for each individual according to their routines, needs and objectives!
Batch Cooking refers to cooking in batches, more specifically, preparing several different ingredients or recipes that can be used for multiple dishes. The aim is to cook larger quantities, so that you don't need to spend as much time in the kitchen during the following days. Usually one preparation day is chosen (often on the weekend), and one or several base recipes are prepared (often in larger quantities). This allows you to use the prepared ingredients in several different meals throughout the week. Each prepared ingredient is usually placed in separate containers in the refrigerator or freezer. When ready to be enjoyed, the various preparations are mixed together or with other freshly made elements and, if necessary, the recipe is finalised. Watch the video for more inspiration.
Meal prep is a broad term that can cover a variety of methods for preparing meals in advance. These include: preparing entire recipes, preparing a part of a recipe, preparing recipes to freeze and batch cooking. Meal prep often refers to a preparation method where all the various components of a meal are prepared and combined together in advance and distrubted into "meal bundles" or indidivual portions. These portions are then ready to eat in the following days! Watch the video for some meal prep inspiration.
Whether you choose batch cooking, meal prep, or a mix - the most important thing is that you choose what works best for your lifestyle!
