Feeling overwhelmed by the thought of cooking after a long day, or tired of the same old dinner routine? Batch cooking, your superhero with a cape made of savings and sanity, can come to the rescue! Did you know it can save you money and several hours a week on meal prep?

What is batch cooking?

Imagine preparing several portions of a meal at once, storing them in the fridge or freezer for future use. Batch cooking lets you leverage economies of scale: buying ingredients in bulk (often at a lower cost per unit), prepping once, and enjoying delicious, home-cooked meals throughout the week. This translates to:

• Reduced grocery bills: Bulk purchases often come with lower unit prices. Plus, you'll minimise impulse buys at the supermarket when your fridge is already stocked with prepped meals.
• Saved time: Eliminate the daily "what's for dinner?" dilemma. Pre-made meals are ready to be reheated in minutes, freeing up your evenings for relaxation or other activities.
• Healthier eating: Batch cooking lets you control ingredients, ensuring you use fresh produce and healthy staples.

Getting Started with Batch Cooking: Your Stepsave Toolkit

1. Plan your meals: Before you hit the supermarket, draft a weekly meal plan featuring batch-friendly recipes. Consider dietary needs and preferences within your household. Tools like online meal planners can help you organize your shopping list and ensure you have everything you need.

2. Invest in essential tools: Large pots, casserole dishes, and airtight containers are your batch-cooking allies. Portion-control containers make freezing individual meals a breeze.

3. Embrace the prep: Dedicate a specific time each week (like a Sunday afternoon) to chopping vegetables, marinating meats, and cooking base ingredients for your chosen recipes.

Batch Cooking Inspiration

Pro Tip: Looking for batch cooking inspiration? Head over to BBC goodFOOD. You'll find a variety of delicious and budget-conscious batch recipes, from hearty soups to curries, stews, and veggie meals.

If you're in need of more batch cooking inspiration, check out The Batch Lady on YouTube. She has oodles of videos covering everything from bulk chicken meals to "10 low cost family meals in under an hour."

Batch cooking isn't just about saving money and time, it's about reclaiming control of your kitchen and your week. So, grab your shopping list, unleash your inner chef, and get ready to experience the magic of batch cooking!