Batch Cooking: A practical guide to organizing your meals
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Batch Cooking: A Complete Guide to Getting Organized in the Kitchen
Are you tired of asking yourself every night "what's for dinner?"? Would you like to save time, reduce your stress in the kitchen and save money while eating better? The solution is called batch cooking.
This method, which involves cooking all of the week's meals in one go, is increasingly popular with families, students, athletes, and busy people. Known as meal prep in English-speaking countries, batch cooking is now a genuine culinary trend, as well as a more organized, economical, and sustainable lifestyle.
In this comprehensive guide, we will look in detail at:
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Why batch cooking has become essential.
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the concrete advantages of this method,
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the essential tools to get started,
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a step-by-step action plan to organize your meals,
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recipe ideas adapted to each profile (families, students, athletes, vegetarians…),
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and a comprehensive FAQ answering the questions everyone asks.
The Advantages of Adopting Batch Cooking
Batch cooking isn't just an organizational trick; it's a true culinary and practical revolution. Here are the main benefits you can expect:
1. Save time and gain peace of mind on a daily basis
Cooking for 2 to 3 hours on Sunday might seem like a long time… but in reality, it saves you 7 to 10 hours cumulatively throughout the week. No more preparing a full meal every night: your dishes are ready, all you have to do is reheat or assemble them. The result: less stress after work and more free time for yourself, your children, your hobbies, or sports.
2. To save money
Batch cooking is an ideal method for reducing your grocery budget.
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You buy in larger quantities, therefore at a lower cost.
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You avoid buying prepared meals which are often expensive and less healthy.
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You waste less: everything is portioned, everything is used.
A family of 4 can save up to €150 per month simply by planning their meals with batch cooking.
3. Improve your dietary balance
By cooking for yourself, you control exactly what goes into your food: the quality of the ingredients, seasonings, and the amount of salt, sugar, and fat. This allows you to eat a healthier diet tailored to your goals (weight loss, muscle building, balanced nutrition for children, etc.).
4. Reduce food waste
One of the great advantages of batch cooking is that it helps reduce waste. Food is cooked and stored immediately, so there's less waste at the back of the fridge. You can also reuse leftovers: a roast chicken becomes a cold salad the next day, soup can be transformed into a sauce, and so on.
5. Adopt a more ecological and zero-waste approach
By choosing durable utensils (glass jars, reusable airtight containers, silicone bags) and avoiding over-packaged processed foods, you reduce your environmental footprint. Batch cooking is therefore a perfect fit for a more responsible approach to cooking.
6. Reduce mental stress
Every evening, the question "What's for dinner?" disappears. You already have your meals prepared. This reduces the mental load, especially for parents juggling work, children, and family life.
7. Adapting to all lifestyles
Whether you're a large family, a student on a tight budget, an athlete tracking their macros, or a senior citizen looking to reduce cooking time, batch cooking adapts to all situations. (👉 This point will be further developed in the section "Batch cooking adapted to each profile" later on).
Essential Utensils for Successful Batch Cooking
Batch cooking can be done with very little equipment. But to increase efficiency and keep your dishes safe, some utensils are essential.
The essential basics of organized cooking
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Cast iron casserole dish or large stainless steel saucepan: perfect for cooking in large quantities (stews, soups, sauces).
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High-quality non-stick pan: for searing meats, vegetables and tofu without them sticking.
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A sturdy cutting board + good knives: essential for quickly cutting vegetables and meats.
Smart storage
The heart of batch cooking is storage. Without good containers, it's difficult to organize a week's worth of meals.
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Airtight glass containers (with clip-on lid) → easy reheating in the microwave or oven, no plastic.
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Glass jars and containers → perfect for soups, sauces, homemade yogurts.
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Reusable silicone bags → for freezing without wasting or using disposable plastic.
🔗 See our selection of sustainable containers in the shop
Clever accessories to save time
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Connected kitchen scale ( Smart Nutrition Scale —) → to weigh your food and track your nutritional intake.
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Multifunctional stainless steel salad bowl with non-slip lid ( our flagship product — ) → practical for mixing, storing, transporting.
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Vegetable slicer or mandoline → for quickly preparing carrots, zucchini, and potatoes. ( mandoline )
How to Organize Your Batch Cooking in 6 Steps
Adopting batch cooking is first and foremost a matter of organization. Here's the step-by-step method:
1. Plan your menus
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Decide on 3 or 4 main meals (e.g., roast chicken, vegetarian chili, vegetable soup, pesto pasta).
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Vary the side dishes to avoid monotony.
2. Make an optimized shopping list
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List your ingredients by category (vegetables, starches, proteins, dry goods).
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Buy in bulk or wholesale to save money.
3. Prepare the raw ingredients
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Wash, peel and cut vegetables and fruit.
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Portion meats and fish before cooking.
4. Start several cooking cycles in parallel
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Oven: roasts, gratins, grilled vegetables.
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Plates: sauces, soups, rice.
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Robot: cutting and mixing.
5. Chill and portion
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Allow your dishes to cool to room temperature before putting them in the fridge.
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Store them in suitable containers and label them with the date.
6. Store properly
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In the fridge: 3 to 5 days depending on the dishes.
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In the freezer: up to 3 months for meats, sauces, soups.
Simple Recipe Ideas for Batch Cooking
Batch cooking doesn't have to be complicated. With a few versatile recipes, you can prepare a base that can be used to make several different dishes.
Example menus for a balanced week (family of 4)
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Day 1: Oven-roasted chicken
→ Variations: cold salad the next day / chicken wrap / soup with the carcass broth.
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Day 2: Chili con carne (or vegetarian)
→ Variations: served with rice, as a taco filling, or as a pasta sauce.
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Day 3: Roasted vegetables (zucchini, peppers, carrots, sweet potatoes)
→ Variations: as a side dish, in a cold salad, blended into soup.
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Day 4: Red Lentil Curry
→ Variations: with basmati rice, as a filling for pancakes, or in a thickened soup.
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Day 5: Homemade Tomato Sauce
→ Variations: for pasta, pizza, gratin, shakshuka.
Vegetarian recipes suitable for batch cooking
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Provençal ratatouille → keeps for 3-4 days in the fridge.
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Chickpea curry → rich in plant-based protein.
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Quinoa with vegetables → ideal base for cold salads.
Tips for using up leftovers
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Leftover rice → make golden pancakes.
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Cooked vegetables → blend them into a creamy soup.
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Pieces of meat → use them in a gratin or a quiche.
🔗 See our zero-waste tips on the blog
Batch Cooking Adapted to Each Profile
The great advantage of batch cooking is that there's no single way to do it. Everyone can adapt it to their lifestyle.
Families with children
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Focus on versatile dishes (pasta, gratins, roasts).
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Prepare homemade snacks (cakes, compotes).
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Tip: Involve children in the preparation; they will be more motivated to eat.
Students and young professionals
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Objective = to cook quickly and cheaply.
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Use economical ingredients: eggs, pasta, rice, legumes.
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Focus on “all-in-one” recipes (vegetable pasta, quiches).
Athletes and people undergoing physical transformation
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Opt for recipes rich in protein: chicken, eggs, legumes.
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Portion meals by macros (e.g. 150g chicken, 100g rice, vegetables).
Seniors
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Plan meals that are easy to digest and reheat (soups, purees, gratins).
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Prepare small individual portions to avoid waste.
Vegetarians and vegans
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Excellent method because dishes made with legumes and vegetables keep very well.
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Examples: lentil curry, hummus, chili sin carne.
Batch Cooking and Health
Batch cooking isn't just a way to save time in the kitchen; it can also have a direct positive impact on your health. By planning and preparing your meals in advance, you regain control of your diet and reduce the temptation of unhealthy food.
1. Better nutritional balance
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By preparing several meals at once, you can balance your intake of protein, carbohydrates, and fats.
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Example: alternate between white meat, fish, eggs and legumes throughout the week.
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You can more easily incorporate a variety of vegetables (green beans, carrots, broccoli, sweet potato…).
2. Reducing overeating and snacking
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When everything is already prepared in the fridge, you are less tempted to order fast food or snack on processed foods.
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Batch cooking helps avoid the dreaded “I have nothing to eat, I’ll just take a ready-made meal”.
3. Better portion control
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You define your portions in advance: neither too much nor too little.
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This helps to maintain a stable weight and avoid waste.
4. Fewer industrial products
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Batch cooking relies on raw ingredients: vegetables, fruits, meats, fish, grains…
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This way you reduce your consumption of salt, hidden sugars, additives and preservatives.
5. Suitable for different diets
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Athletes: possibility of preparing meals rich in protein and complex carbohydrates.
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Families: you can easily adapt it for children/adults.
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People with allergies: by preparing it yourself, you avoid gluten, lactose or other undesirable allergens.
In summary: batch cooking is a method that supports physical, mental and even financial health, because eating well regularly also contributes to better energy and a reduction in medical expenses in the long term.
⚠️ Common mistakes to avoid
Even though the method is simple, many people fall into traps when they start. Here are the classic mistakes to avoid to fully enjoy batch cooking:
1. Wanting to cook something too complicated
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Making 6 different, ultra-elaborate dishes is a bad idea: you risk getting discouraged.
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Tip: start with 3 basic recipes and then adapt them.
2. Not providing enough containers
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Without suitable airtight containers, chaos quickly ensues in the fridge.
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Invest in glass or stainless steel containers with lids (healthier and more durable than plastic).
3. Lack of variety
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Always cooking the same recipes leads to boredom.
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Solution: alternate proteins, vegetables and spices to diversify the flavors.
4. Improper food storage
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Some foods cannot be kept for more than 3 days.
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Tip: freeze some of the preparations from the first day to prolong their shelf life.
5. Underestimating preparation time
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At first, it takes a little time to get organized.
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Allow approximately 2 to 3 hours on the weekend to cook in peace.
6. Forget the seasonings
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A reheated dish without seasoning loses its flavor.
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Tip: Always add fresh herbs, spices or homemade sauces just before serving.
By avoiding these mistakes, batch cooking becomes a simple, efficient and enjoyable daily habit.
Useful links
- Wikipedia - Batch Cooking
- Marmiton - Batch Cooking Recipes
- Health Magazine - Eating a balanced diet
- AZ Kitchen - Weekly Meal Planning
FAQ
1. How long can a dish prepared using batch cooking be stored?
Generally, 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator in airtight containers. For longer storage, freezing is preferable.
2. Which foods keep best when batch cooking?
Legumes (lentils, chickpeas), stewed meats, dishes in sauce, cereals (rice, quinoa), roasted vegetables.
3. Is it possible to do batch cooking without a freezer?
Yes, but you will need to cook in smaller quantities and consume the meals within a maximum of 3 days.
4. Does batch cooking really save time?
Yes, because instead of cooking every day, you do everything in 2-3 hours once a week. The rest of the time, you just have to reheat.
5. Is batch cooking suitable for children?
Absolutely! You can prepare balanced meals, vary textures and introduce new foods gently.
6. Does batch cooking help with weight loss?
Yes, because you control portion sizes, reduce processed foods and limit snacking.
7. What is the best day to do batch cooking?
Many choose Sunday, but the main thing is to find a quiet moment in your week.
8. Is it possible to do vegetarian or vegan batch cooking?
Yes! Legumes, tofu, seitan, seasonal vegetables and cereals make it possible to create varied meals without meat or animal products.
9. Is special equipment needed to get started?
Not necessarily. A few saucepans, a large frying pan, an oven, and good containers are enough. But utensils like a sturdy cutting board or a multi-purpose salad bowl make the task easier.
10. Isn't there a risk that batch cooking will become monotonous?
No, if you vary the seasonings, sauces and side dishes. The same ingredient can produce several very different dishes.