Batch Cooking for Beginners: Tools and Ingredients You Need

What is Batch Cooking?

Alright so here’s how I think of batch cooking at home. It’s a tactic – just a strategy to enjoy tasty meals in many different ways whether that’s using freezer meals or big batch recipes. It’s also prepping wholesome individual ingredients too.

Batch cooking usually means preparing large quantities of food at once, which can then be portioned out & stored for later use. (Sorta like preserving, but without necessarily getting deep in the weeds there.)

Essential Tools for Batch Cooking

To get the most out of your precious time spent on the floor, here’s the essential batch cooking tools to keep around.

1. Large Pots & Pans & Bowls

We’re talking about batching. And that means big (or bigger) portions than your uzhe. So large pots, pans & casserole dishes are must-haves. A stockpot is ideal for soups, stews or even boiling a ton of pasta, while a Dutch oven works great for slow-cooking meals like roast chicken & hearty stews. Get you some. Here’s my IKEA cookware set that I love & use daily.

Likewise, a great set (or two) of large sized bowls will help with prep or mixing or even storing.

2. Food Storage Containers

You’ll need a variety of containers to store your cooked meals. Glass is my go-to, but there are BPA-free plastic container options too. Just be sure you have airtight lids since that works best for storing food in the fridge or freezer. Freezer-safe bags & glass jars are also great for storing smaller portions of food. As always, make sure to label & date your containers to keep track of what’s inside & when it was prepared. And if you want a gold star, log that info in a kitchen logbook for inventory so you don’t then forget what you put away for later. Personally, I love using my Food Saver for vacuum sealing foods (in bags, but also jars).

3. Slow Cooker, Instant Pot or Electric Roaster

For set-it-and-forget-it batch cooking (which is a gem), a slow cooker or Instant Pot is a lifesaver. Now, I don’t have an IP & haven’t used one. I personally don’t like the idea of “quick cooking” because I just think food was meant to be an experience. And cooking is part of that experience, even if it takes time. But you might feel different & you don’t need my permission, hello. 

Either way, you can usually prepare large batches of soups, stews & even beans or rice with minimal effort. The best part? These devices allow you to cook hands-free while working on other tasks. Depending on your needs/family size, it might even be worth investing in a roaster. I use my 22-quart roaster oven mostly for large preservation activities (like my near-yearly caramelized onion event) but a smaller sized one could come in handy for batching. 

4. Sheet Pans

Think beyond cookies here. Sheet pans are perfect for roasting vegetables or cooking large quantities of meat in the oven. Like, if you come home with a couple trays of chicken thighs, these would be perfect for that. You can prepare whole meals in one go, such as roasted chicken with sweet potatoes & carrots, saving you both time & effort. The only caveat is it needs to fit in your oven. But even if it doesn’t (& you don’t wanna return it) they work beautifully for laying things flat that you then put into a chest freezer! Here’s some large baking trays I absolutely love.

5. Food Processor or Blender

One of these two items will make quick work of prepping all these veggies I just recommended you make at once. But they’re great for making sauces, dips or spreads too. These tools cut down prep time dramatically, making meal prep more efficient. So if you’re not inclined to mince 5 lb of garlic by hand or cry while dicing 10 lb of onions, this could do the trick. 

Must-Have Ingredients for Batch Cooking

After getting into batch cooking tools like those pretty glass mixing bowls & whatnot, let’s talk about the ingredients you’ll wanna keep stocked. Batch cooking relies on versatile, long-lasting staples that can be used in a mix & match scheme to create different meals throughout the week or month. But when you’re making like 6 bags of the same meal, it’s still nice to know that the case of canned black beans you got can be used for other meals too.

Here are a few essentials to have in your kitchen:

1. Grains & Legumes

Whole grains like white or brown rice, quinoa & lentils are great for batch cooking. They can be used as the base for a variety of meals, from grain bowls to stir-fries. Cook a large batch & store them in portion-sized containers for easy use during the week if you just wanna stay on the smaller end of batching. Keep them on hand for larger meals/casseroles where you can make several dishes at once. 

2. Proteins

Your protein options are endless when it comes to batch cooking. Chicken, beef, pork & plant-based options like tofu or tempeh can be cooked in large batches & used in different ways across multiple meals. Beans (& lentils again) are also protein sources that store well.

3. Vegetables

You might not be a veg-believer, but if you do eat them, they can make batch-cooked meals nutritious & tasty. Heart-healthy veggies like sweet potatoes, carrots & broccoli can be roasted in bulk & used as side dishes, in salads, or blended into soups. You can also use seasonal produce for cost savings while maximizing on the flavor & freshness. (Foods preserved – think frozen or otherwise preserved – as close to their harvest date as possible have the BEST nutrient profile, texture & flavor.

4. Pantry Staples

I talk about this so much, lemme just give you the Spark Notes version. Keep your pantry stocked with essentials like tomato sauce, peanut butter, pasta, rice & canned beans. And honestly, any other items that you/your family regularly eat. That might be certain spices or sauces, meats, etc. These items are what build your comfort, cozy meals.

Related Blog Posts: 8 Pantry Staples for a Self-Sufficient Kitchen & The Ultimate Pantry Staples List Printable

5. Spices, Sauces & Dressings

While they might be pantry staples (see above), spices & sauces make batch-cooked meals come to life so this is their cover page so to speak. Stock up on versatile spices like garlic powder, cumin, paprika & herbs like thyme or rosemary. Don’t forget about sauces like soy sauce, marinara & any number of homemade salad dressings for adding flavor to your meals.

Starting Your First Session

The nitty gritty. Time to get cooking. Here’s a simple way to start your batch cooking journey:

Step 1: Make a Game Plan

Before you start cooking, make a plan. Choose 2-3 favorite recipes to make in bulk & figure out how much you’ll need to cook based on your family’s size. If it’s your first time, start small & build up as you get more comfortable with the process. You don’t need to fill your cabinets & freezer/s overnight. 2-3 meals doubled, tripled or more just add time to the meter. If you doubled 3 meals, you have 6 meals to pull from. And if you do that each month, you’ll quickly have a freezer full = OPTIONS!

Step 2: Prep Your Ingredients

Once you’ve selected your recipes, gather all your ingredients & begin prepping. Chop vegetables, marinate proteins & measure out any dry ingredients like rice or grains. This step will save you a lot of time when you start cooking. Combine tasks together where possible too. Like chopping all the veg before putting away the knife & cutting board or food processor. 

Step 3: Start Cooking in Batches

Cook each recipe in large batches. Use your slow cooker for stews, sheet pans for roasted veggies & your Instant Pot if you like for grains & things. Remember, you don’t need to cook everything at once—you can stagger your cooking throughout the day. It might be a marathon & take several hours, but the payoff is that when it’s time to actually eat (for a week or a month, however long you plan for) your on-the-floor cook time is drastically decreased. As much as 90% or more with the right meal! (A crock pot batch is gold for this because after all the prepping, you’ll dump & go. Be ready to eat before you even have time to forget, then remember that you need to get dinner going.)

Step 4: Store Your Meals

This is everything because what’s the point of doing the work if you don’t store it properly then lose it?
Exactly. No one has time for that.

After everything is cooked, let it cool down to room temperature before storing. This will keep you from over-working your fridge or freezer by not adding hot food in decreasing its temp. Secondly, it’ll prevent any condensation (& potentially sogginess) from ruining your perfectly baked casserole. Use freezer-safe containers or bags to portion out individual meals & label them. Girl, please label them with at least the date you make it so you can keep track of freshness.

Related Blog Post: How to Freeze Food in Glass Pyrex Containers

Key Take-Aways

If you have the right mix of batch cooking tools & ingredients around, this system is a fantastic way to save time, reduce stress & make sure your family enjoys home-cooked meals throughout the week. Take it from a fellow foodie who had a baaaaddddd habit of eating out. With the right tools & ingredients, you’ll be on your way to fuller pantries in no time.

Wanna bypass the small stuff & get the 411 off-rip? ⬇️

Related Blog Post: The Ultimate Guide to Batch Cooking at Home

🌱 Start Small. Start Now. Start where you are with what you have. The rest will follow. 🌱