Batch Cooking & Meal Prep
Scale recipes for weekly meal prep and batch cooking
Why Scale Up?
Batch cooking saves time and money. Cook once on Sunday, eat well all week. Scaling recipes to ×3 or ×4 lets you prepare multiple meals in one cooking session.
Common Multipliers
×2 for 4-5 meals, ×3 for a week of lunches, ×4 for family-sized batches that freeze well.
Storage Considerations
Divide scaled recipes into individual portions before storing. Label containers with the date and reheating instructions. Refrigerate within 2 hours of cooking, in shallow containers so the food cools quickly, and keep the refrigerator at 40°F (4°C) or below. Use refrigerated leftovers within 3 to 4 days, or freeze them: soups and stews keep their quality for 2 to 3 months, cooked meat and poultry for 2 to 6 months.
Pro Tips
Cook grains and proteins in larger batches (×4-×5). Keep sauces separate until serving. Some dishes taste better after a day—perfect for meal prep!