Spending two hours on a Sunday preparing meals for the week ahead can save you dozens of hours and hundreds of dollars over the course of a year.
What Is Batch Cooking?
Batch cooking means preparing large quantities of food at once, then portioning and storing them for later use throughout the week. It's the opposite of cooking from scratch every night.
The Time Savings
Consider the math: if you spend 30-45 minutes cooking dinner every night, that's 3.5 to 5 hours per week. With batch cooking, you spend 2 hours once and have meals ready for the entire week — saving 1.5 to 3 hours weekly.
The Money Savings
Batch cooking eliminates expensive takeout on busy nights. It also reduces food waste because you're using ingredients efficiently across multiple meals. Families who batch cook typically save $200-400 per month on food.
Getting Started
- Choose 2-3 recipes that store well (soups, stews, casseroles, grain bowls)
- Make a precise shopping list
- Dedicate 2 hours on Sunday to cooking
- Portion into individual containers
- Refrigerate or freeze for the week
Best Foods for Batch Cooking
- Soups and stews (freeze beautifully)
- Grilled or baked chicken (versatile across meals)
- Rice and grains (store for 4-5 days)
- Roasted vegetables (use in multiple dishes)
- Sauces and dressings (make once, use all week)
How ShelfCents Helps
ShelfCents generates batch-cooking-friendly meal plans that share ingredients across meals, minimizing waste and maximizing your prep time.