34 Quick Meal Solutions for Time-Constrained Cooking Enthusiasts
Cooking Gadgets That'll Revolutionize Your Meal Prep
By Jonathan Mazzei
Elevate your meal prepping game with these ingenious kitchen essentials! These tools have been specially hand-picked by our team of editors to make your life a whole lot easier.
And hey, just a heads up, BuzzFeed and our publishing partners might collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
1. Better Breader Bowl - $14.99 on Amazon
Bid farewell to the messy breading process! This revolutionary bowl allows you to separate breading, seasoning, and meats, so you can easily shake and toss to perfect coating with minimal fuss. Cleanup is a breeze since it's dishwasher-safe.See it in action here.
2. Salad Chopper/Prep - $19.95 on Amazon
Ditch your blade and chop your veggies with ease. Place the ingredients into a bowl and rock back and forth to quickly and safely prepare greens, fruit, nuts, or even chocolate. Or check out the Salad Shooter.
3. Microwave Sandwich Maker - $14.99 on Amazon
Fancy a crispy grilled cheese or panini without any actual cooking? This microwave sandwich maker lets you do just that! Plus, leftovers can be reheated to perfection. Cleanup is simple, too - just toss it in the dishwasher.
4. Microwave Pasta Maker - $14.99 on Amazon
Forget burnt pasta or soggy leftovers! With this microwave pasta maker, you can cook perfect al dente noodles in mere minutes. Its built-in strainer means less mess, and it even has handy serving size holes on top.
5. Souper Cubes - $19.95 on Amazon
Tired of making full batches of soup for one? These Souper Cubes let you freeze individual portions, so you can easily defrost just what you need. Made in the USA, they're the perfect solution for those cold nights when you just want a warm bowl of soup without all the hassle.
6. Gracula - Garlic Chopper - $13.29 on Amazon
Peeling garlic can be a pain, but the Dracula-inspired Garacula makes the process a breeze! Not only does it chop garlic effortlessly, but it can also handle nuts, fruits, and veggies.
7. Rotary Cheese Grater - $25 on Amazon
Say goodbye to laborious cheese grating! This effective tool suctions to the countertop, making it extra stable, and the crank requires minimal effort. The three blades let you choose between slicing, shredding, or grinding.
8. Handheld Immersion Blender - $49.99 on Amazon
Need to blend, puree, or mix but can't be bothered with a clunky countertop device? Look no further! This immersion blender does the job quickly and easily right in the pot. Plus, it's super powerful.
9. Two-Tier Food Steamer and Rice Cooker - $49.99 on Amazon
Steam multiple items simultaneously with this handy appliance! It includes a handy guide and water level indicator, allowing you to prepare a full meal without even turning on the stove.
10. Veggie Chop, Slice, & Dice Unit - $29.97 on Amazon
This versatile appliance eliminates the need for tedious chopping and saves time by allowing you to process multiple vegetables at once. Its dishwasher-safe interchangeable blades make cleanup a breeze.
11. Air Fryer - $69.99 on Amazon
Cook blissfully crispy French fries, veggies, or chicken wings in a flash with minimal oil! The air fryer delivers results in less than 20 minutes.
12. Breakfast-Maker Station - $69.99 on Amazon
Quickly cook up a tasty breakfast with this two-compartment griddle and toast drawer. Easily adjust the temp control and built-in timer for perfect results.
13. Wireless Charging Grinder Set - $23.95 on Amazon
Spice up your meals with freshly ground spices thanks to this handy device that operates with just a press of a button. Use it one-handed for more convenience or to stir pots simultaneously!
14. Vegetable Holder - $12.49 on Amazon
Keep veggies secure and stable while chopping with confidence thanks to this vegetable holder's 10 stainless-steel spikes. Perfect for onions, carrots, avocados, and more.
15. Rotating Pizza Oven - Price varies on Amazon
Craving a homemade pizza but hate waiting for the oven to heat up? This rotating pizza oven makes it a breeze to whip up tasty pizzas in record time.
16. Herb Scissors - $9.99 on Amazon
Skip washing cutting boards and use these innovative herb scissors to conveniently clip your fresh herbs directly onto your plate. Perfect for chopping herbs, nuts, fruits, and veggies!
17. 5-in-1 Countertop Cooker - $199 on Amazon
Panini, grill, griddle, and more - this amazing countertop cooker can do it all! Save space and time with its air fry, broil, roast, bake, and reheat capabilities.
18. Bear Claws - $8.95 on Amazon
Effortlessly shred any type of meat with these handy bear claws! Said to be easier than forks, they keep everything contained while transforming your cooked meats and veggies into finely shredded pieces.
19. Meat Shredding Tool - $8.99 on Amazon
This nifty gadget makes shredding vegetables and meats a cinch - no utensils required! It's perfect for vacation cooking or when you want to keep your workspace clean.
20. Microwave Egg Fry Pan - $15.99 on Amazon
Easily cook the perfect egg in the microwave with this convenient appliance! Ideal for eggs cooked to your liking, the stovetop results it delivers are unbeatable.
21. Microwave Steamer - $15.99 on Amazon
Steam veggies, fish, and poultry effortlessly in the microwave with this handy steamer! Its large capacity makes it perfect for cooking up a family meal.
22. Splatter Guard - $23.95 on Amazon
Protect yourself from hot oil splashes while frying with this trusty splatter guard! It also helps protect your stove from splatter.
23. Wonder Oven - $299 on Amazon
Preheat 75% faster and cook up to 30% faster with this sleek and modern oven! Ideal for even the busiest of schedules, the Wonder Oven air fries, toasts, roasts, broils, bakes, and reheats, saving you valuable time.
24. Vegetable Brush - $7.99 on Amazon
Skip peeling potatoes and other veggies and clean them instead with this handy, budget-friendly tool. Easy to use and better for the environment!
25. No-Touch Cooking Thermometer - $23.95 on Amazon
Say goodbye to guesswork with this innovative cooking thermometer that lets you monitor your ingredients' temperature without the need to remove them from heat or use a dirty thermometer.
26. Tofu Press - $26.95 on Amazon
Say goodbye to messy towels and awkwardly pressing tofu between heavy objects with this nifty gadget! It's a game-changer for achieving the perfect texture and taste in tofu dishes.
27. Home Chef Meal Delivery - Starting at $9.99 per serving
Sign up for Home Chef and have delicious, pre-portioned ingredients and easy-to-follow recipes delivered right to your doorstep! They offer 5-minute to 30-minute recipes, oven-ready meals, and a variety of meal options to accommodate busy schedules.
28. Blue Apron Meal Delivery - Starting at $12.49 per serving
Subscribe to Blue Apron and receive fresh, pre-portioned ingredients and step-by-step recipes for delicious meals! They offer vegetarian, diabetes-friendly, and family-style options.
29. Rapid Egg Cooker - $15.99 on Amazon
Perfect for quick, easy breakfasts, this egg cooker lets you make hard-boiled, soft-boiled, poached, scrambled, or even omelets in no time! It's perfect for busy mornings.
30. Automatic Pan Stirrer - $25 on Uncommon Goods
Never worry about burned sauces again with this clever pan stirrer! It operates with just the press of a button, ensuring your sauces are always perfect. Best of all, it even has a built-in timer.
There you have it! These nifty tools are bound to simplify your meal prepping routine for days to come. Enjoy whipping up delicious, stress-free meals with ease!
- The Better Breader Bowl, priced at $14.99 on Amazon, simplifies the breading process with its four-section design, ensuring minimal fuss during meal prep.
- The Salad Chopper/Prep, available for $19.95 on Amazon, allows for easy and safe preparation of various ingredients, including greens, fruit, nuts, and chocolate, without the need for a blade.
- For those seeking a crispy grilled cheese or panini without any actual cooking, the Microwave Sandwich Maker, also priced at $14.99 on Amazon, is the perfect solution.
- The Microwave Pasta Maker, like its counterpart, is available for $14.99 on Amazon and ensures perfect al dente noodles in a matter of minutes, eliminating burnt or soggy leftovers.
- Souper Cubes, priced at $19.95 on Amazon, provide the ability to freeze and defrost individual portions of soup, making it ideal for cold nights without the hassle.
- The Gracula garlic chopper, costing $13.29 on Amazon, simplifies the garlic peeling process, making it a breeze to prepare recipes.
- In the realm of food-and-drink, the Rotary Cheese Grater, priced at $25 on Amazon, offers an easy and efficient way to grate cheese, requiring minimal effort.
- For blending, pureeing, or mixing tasks without a countertop device, opt for the Handheld Immersion Blender, available for $49.99 on Amazon.
- The Two-Tier Food Steamer and Rice Cooker, priced at $49.99 on Amazon, enables simultaneous steaming of multiple items, eliminating the need to turn on the stove for a full meal.
- The Veggie Chop, Slice, & Dice Unit, costing $29.97 on Amazon, streamlines the process of chopping multiple vegetables at once, boasting dishwasher-safe interchangeable blades for hassle-free cleanup.
- The Air Fryer, priced at $69.99 on Amazon, enables crispy French fries, veggies, or chicken wings to be cooked in less than 20 minutes using minimal oil.
- The Breakfast-Maker Station, available for $69.99 on Amazon, allows for quick and easy cooking of various breakfast items, including eggs, bacon, and pancakes.
- The Wireless Charging Grinder Set, priced at $23.95 on Amazon, grinds spices effortlessly, offering hands-free operation and convenience during meal preparation.
- The Vegetable Holder, priced at $12.49 on Amazon, keeps veggies stable during chopping, ensuring confident and secure cuts.
- The Rotating Pizza Oven, price varies on Amazon, allows for quick and easy homemade pizza preparation in record time.
- The Herb Scissors, priced at $9.99 on Amazon, provide a convenient and clean method for chopping fresh herbs directly onto a plate.
- The 5-in-1 Countertop Cooker, priced at $199 on Amazon, offers multiple cooking capabilities, including panini, grill, griddle, air fry, broil, roast, bake, and reheat, saving space and time.
- The Bear Claws, priced at $8.95 on Amazon, make shredding meats and vegetables a breeze, offering effortless results without the need for traditional utensils.
- The Meat Shredding Tool, also priced at $8.99 on Amazon, simplifies the process of shredding vegetables and meats, proving ideal for vacation cooking or maintaining a clean workspace.
- The Microwave Egg Fry Pan, available for $15.99 on Amazon, enables quick and easy microwave egg cooking to perfection, delivering stovetop-quality results.
- The Microwave Steamer, priced at $15.99 on Amazon, simplifies the steaming process for vegetables, fish, and poultry in the microwave.
- The Splatter Guard, priced at $23.95 on Amazon, protects users from hot oil splashes while frying, also safeguarding the stove from splatter.
- The Wonder Oven, priced at $299 on Amazon, preheats faster and cooks food more efficiently than traditional ovens, facilitating busy schedules with its air frying, toasting, roasting, broiling, baking, and reheating capabilities.
- The Vegetable Brush, priced at $7.99 on Amazon, simplifies the cleaning process of potatoes and other vegetables, offering an eco-friendly alternative to peeling.
- The No-Touch Cooking Thermometer, priced at $23.95 on Amazon, enables users to monitor the temperature of their ingredients without the need to remove them from heat or use a dirty thermometer.
- The Tofu Press, priced at $26.95 on Amazon, simplifies the process of pressing tofu, ensuring perfect texture and taste in tofu dishes.
- Home Chef meal delivery, starting at $9.99 per serving, offers pre-portioned ingredients and easy-to-follow recipes delivered right to customers' doorsteps, catering to various meal preferences, including 5-minute to 30-minute recipes, oven-ready meals, and vegetarian options.
- Blue Apron meal delivery, starting at $12.49 per serving, provides fresh, pre-portioned ingredients and step-by-step recipes for delicious meals, offering vegetarian, diabetes-friendly, and family-style options.
- The Rapid Egg Cooker, priced at $15.99 on Amazon, simplifies the process of making hard-boiled, soft-boiled, poached, scrambled, or omelets quickly and easily, making breakfast more convenient.
- The Automatic Pan Stirrer, priced at $25 on Uncommon Goods, ensures evenly cooked sauces with minimal effort, operating with just the press of a button and featuring a built-in timer.
