When life is busy, you are trying to save money, or you just want to try and eat healthier, batch cooking can be a lifesaver.
Batch cooking can remove the stress from deciding what to eat every day, and you will spend less time in the kitchen throughout the week as all the meal prep has been done. It’s also a great way to explore new meals and recipes.
If you are wanting to cook healthier, batch cooking is a great way to support your wellness goals. No chance of reaching for an unhealthy quick meal because you have already prepped everything.
What is batch cooking?
To keep it simple, batch cooking is where you prepare all your meals for the week in one day. Most people will set aside 1-2 hours a week (normally on a weekend) right after a big supermarket shop. No freezing is required since you will be eating these fresh meals throughout the week.
Scroll down for our top tips to get you started on batch cooking.
Create a Menu Plan
Make a list of all your favourite recipes, and one or two new ones, then look for common ingredients. Do a couple include chicken? How about rice? Do they all need onions? Now make your shopping list.
Don’t forget to mark on your weekly plan when you are going out for the night, or have lunch with friends planned.
Choose a day to cook
You won’t need an entire day but set aside 1-2 hours. This will obviously depend on the meals you have chosen to cook too.
It’s a good idea to schedule your food shop delivery, or a trip to the supermarket on the same day. Prep everything before you pack it all away in the cupboards.
Think about the timings
Start by cooking the meals that will take the longest. It’s also good to think about the different ways you are cooking your ingredients. We love to use an air fryer and the hob so we can cook a few meals at once.
Then store all these cooked ingredients easily in the fridge. They can be reheated easily every day.
Prep a salad
A big salad prepped and kept in the fridge can be used throughout the week. It’s a quick item to grab for lunch or a side. You can even add extra ingredients like protein to make it more of a meal. How about frying up one chicken or tofu in curry spices, for a delicious curried salad?
Let us know how you get on with batch cooking and share your recipes with us on Instagram by tagging us @bangcurry