3 Simple Cooking Hacks That Make Meal Prepping So Much Easier
At The Social Chef, we believe that cooking should feel creative, not chaotic. Whether you're prepping for the week or just trying to get dinner on the table without stress, these three time-saving cooking hacks can make a big difference in your kitchen routine
🧊 1. Freeze Herbs in Olive Oil
Instead of walking back and forth to the trash or compost bin, keep a medium-sized bowl on your counter while you prep. Toss in scraps like peels, stems, or packaging as you go — it keeps your workspace tidy and speeds up cleanup. This small trick saves minutes and makes cooking feel more organized.
🔪 2. Use the “Trash Bowl” trick
Fresh herbs often go bad before you can use them all — but not if you freeze them! Chop your favorite herbs (like basil, parsley, or cilantro), place them in an ice cube tray, and top each compartment with olive oil. Freeze, then pop out a cube whenever you need instant flavor for sautéing, sauces, or soups.
🍽️ 3. Pre-Chop and Store "Base Ingredients"
Save time during the week by prepping core ingredients in advance — like chopped onions, bell peppers, garlic, and carrots. Store them in airtight containers in the fridge for up to 5 days. These prepped items act as your "flavor base" and can be tossed into stir-fries, scrambles, pastas, and more without starting from scratch each time.
Meal prepping doesn’t have to be a chore — with a few clever habits, it can become one of the most rewarding parts of your week. Want to learn hands-on tips like these and cook with others in your community? Join a Social Chef session and experience how fun and fulfilling prepping meals together can be!