It's decided, 2020 will be the year of the organization! Where do we start? Through the kitchen! Discover the joy of having ready-made, homemade meals every day, without wasting time. But where to start? Batch cooking, a cooking trend that has been all the rage in recent years.
What is batch cooking?
The principle of batch cooking is to prepare all the meals for the week. Ideal for saving time while having peace of mind, since it is about being rid of the chores of the week, all at once! By spending a few hours in the kitchen each weekend to prepare your menus, you will ensure a whole week of peace of mind and time to devote the evening to your family or to leisure …
In the practice of batch cooking, there are two schools:
- Make several recipes from A to Z in full
- Cooking foods to be stored individually in airtight glass containers. This second option allows you to prepare meals more quickly.
Whatever method you choose, batch cooking will greatly facilitate your daily life. To get started in the rules of the art, here are some very useful products, even essential …
>> To get an idea of the menu for the week, read our article on batch-cooking here, which lists the benefits.
The right tool for planning meals, menus and shopping
First step of batch-cooking: planning. What recipes to make for the week? We do the shopping list to do. For this, the ideal is to have something to display at eye level the essentials, and to write down any additions.
> A magnetic board will be perfect for planning menus and organizing your schedule, menus and thus shopping. Supplied with four erasable colored markers, this magnetic board makes a diary, it can be modified with your guide. Write down your recipes, your shopping list, the meals of the day, the foods prepared … It's up to you!
SmartPanda – Meal Planner / Diary Board, from € 14.95
Storage of preparations
The key to batch cooking: well-preserved food.
> Who says conservation, says food boxes adapted! To ensure the freshness of dishes and cooked or pre-cut foods, it is important to opt for quality storage boxes. Storing food intelligently ensures that flavors, nutrients and vitamins are preserved longer. These 9 airtight boxes glass of the Utopia Kitchen brand are guaranteed BPA-free. You can reheat your meals in the microwave or in the oven without a lid. These boxes can also be kept in the freezer, making them perfect for long-term storage.
Utopia Kitchen – 9 Glass Tins with Lid BPA Free, from € 33.99
Where to find inspiration?
To prepare yourself optimally for this new organization and never run out of recipe ideas, it is still best to offer you a book specially dedicated to batch cooking. Here are two that will give you all the information you need to become a real pro!
To benefit even better from the advantages of batch cooking, remember to select seasonal products, which will only be better once cooked …
> Our favorite, without a doubt, the book released last December by Marmiton. Marmiton's Best Batch Cooking Recipes lists the greatest hits on Marmiton, acclaimed by millions of Internet users. Tired of cooking every night? In 2 hours of cooking time on weekends, this book will help you easily prepare gourmet and balanced meals for the whole week. Find 100 ready-to-taste menus, 200 recipes and their ready-to-use shopping lists.
The best Marmiton batch cooking recipes, from € 19.90
> The book In 2 hours I cook for the whole week has become a bestseller, and we can see why! With this book, Caroline Pessin takes you by the hand to guide you from A to Z in the practice of batch cooking. An ideal book to achieve better daily eating, while saving time. Each week, you will find suggestions for shopping lists, recipes, menus and other advice. The result ? Your weekly meals made in two hours all inclusive, without waste, and responsible, because it is a zero waste kitchen!
In 2 hours I cook for the whole week, from € 24.95
> Do you want more? The book I cook ONCE on weekends for the whole WEEK offers 80 recipes (suitable for vegetarians!), or 4 months of planned meals. Discover recipes to make a delicious salad, soup or to prepare your vegetables differently. With a light mind and a full stomach, all year long.