Batch Cooking

Definition

Batch cooking is the practice of preparing large quantities of food at once, which can be stored and used for meals over several days or weeks. It's a method often used to save time and effort in meal preparation.

Scientific / Technical Definition

Batch cooking involves cooking multiple servings of one or more meals in a single session, leveraging economies of scale to efficiently produce food. It typically includes proper storage techniques to maintain the nutritional quality and safety of the meals over time.

Benefits

• Saves time by reducing the need for daily cooking.
• Helps with portion control and dietary adherence.
• Reduces food waste through planned use of ingredients.
• Can lead to cost savings by buying ingredients in bulk.

Examples

• Cooking a large pot of chili and freezing individual portions for later.
• Preparing several servings of pasta sauce to use with different pasta dishes throughout the week.
• Making a week’s worth of grain bowls with variations in toppings and proteins.

Additional Information

• effects: Batch cooking can streamline meal preparation, improve dietary habits, and mitigate daily decision fatigue around food choices.

Related Terms

• Meal Prep
• Meal Planning
• Food Storage
• Leftovers

References

• Meal Prep and Cooking: Health Benefits and Tips
• Batch Cooking 101: Everything You Need to Know