Everything You Need to Cook Like a Pro
The only difference between cooking and regular cooking is the size of the batches. Technically it’s still the same job, but cooking large quantities requires a slightly different approach than cooking small portions, especially when you need to store and transport food for a week.
When it comes to preparing large batches, the right tools are critical. You don’t need anything fancy or expensive; The most useful cooking equipment is cheap and easy to find. In fact, you probably already have most of these items somewhere. It has everything you need to prepare, cook, store and transport large quantities of food like a pro.
Step 1: Preparation and Cooking
If you’re serious about cooking, these four workhorses will save your life. Dig them out of storage if you already have them, or track them online; you won’t regret it.
Half size aluminum pans
Honestly, what can’t you do with a half-sized frying pan? Whether you’re roasting vegetables, cooking a few pounds of bacon at once, slow-cooking chicken breasts for a salad, roasting chickpeas for a crunchy side dish, or doing something else in the oven, this is almost always the right cooking tool. Job. Big enough for serious occasional cooking, small enough for home ovens, and inexpensive enough to buy at least a few, I use half-size pans for literally everything—and you, too.
Cookware with lids for oven and/or microwave use
Being able to cook and store food in the same container reduces the number of plates and the hassle of fumbling with the refrigerator. I like to cook lasagna, enchiladas or a big old casserole in a ceramic dish , cover it and put it in the fridge for later. For sheet pans and anything else I’d rather bake in aluminium, I’m deeply devoted to my Nordic Ware lid pans – the lid snaps on very tightly and doubles as an extra baking sheet when not used as a lid. They are more expensive than the other items on this list and are not dishwasher safe, but they are so useful that I don’t care.
salad spinner
Salad spinners aren’t just for leafy greens. They make it easy to wash, rinse and most importantly dry just about any food you can think of. Given that washing food is one of the most tedious parts of cooking, a cheap salad bowl is a worthwhile investment that will save you tons of time.
Large cutting board
Please stop trying to cut a week’s supply of onions on a tiny IKEA cutting board. You deserve better! Treat yourself to a spacious, durable and ideally dishwasher safe model from a restaurant store (or online). Pro Tip: Measure your dishwasher before you hit “checkout” so you don’t realize too late that it doesn’t fit.
Step 2: Shop
Once you’ve made your meals for the week, you need to figure out how to store them. Here’s where they’ll get you, as they say: specialized “cooking” containers can be expensive, and they’re not really needed. As long as you can see what you’re working with, you’re fine – and you really only need two items for that.
Ribbon and marker
Aside from a decently sharp knife, the most important cooking tool is a good marking system. Scotch tape and marker cost very little money and allow you to see exactly what you have in your fridge, freezer and pantry at a glance. I use masking tape , but masking tape is another popular option that works really well.
Stackable transparent containers
Proper food prep storage is easy to fold into the fridge and easy to see. Period. Several types of containers can be used here: deli containers , aluminum pots with clear plastic lids , Pyrex glass containers or other containers , or even repurposed containers from other food products.
Step 3: Transport
If you’re making takeaway food, you need a way to get it from point A to point B without getting it on your bag, lap, car, train or bus seat, or some combination of the above. In other words, you want a lunch box that doesn’t suck.
Everyone likes slightly different things in lunch boxes, but the tight-fitting, moisture-proof lid is non-negotiable. Also, look for something that suits your specific needs: do you prefer something soft and flexible or stiff? Do you want isolation? Does it need to be washed in a dishwasher? No matter what kind of container you’re looking for, the high demand for easy-to-prepare lunch boxes means the perfect option is definitely out there.