These Items Make Meal Prep a Breeze

A wooden cutting board is classic, but the Our Table 16-Inch x 20-Inch Wood Cutting Board ($38) comes with an upgrade: nonslip pads on the underside that keep the board from slipping and sliding. Plus, a carved well captures juice before it gets all over the countertop. Fast, efficient, and good-looking.

To make your meal prep faster, have bowls on hand to store your already-chopped ingredients on counter or in the fridge. (Use one as a "junk" bowl to hold garlic paper and other scraps until you're ready to put them in compost.) This set of Simply Essential Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls with Lids ($20) is well-priced and won't take up much room in your cabinets.

A large selection of knives is nice to have when you need something specific, but on most days, you just need a few. This Henckels International Classic Precision 3-Piece Starter Knife Set ($100) features a paring knife, chef's knife, and serrated knife. Made in Europe, they're built to last through thousands upon thousands of meals — so get cooking already!

When adding little bits of flavor, cooks often turn to cheese, ginger, and citrus. But a knife just can't chop as finely or quickly as the Microplane® Premium Series Zester/Grater ($15). A little back-and-forth action and boom — major taste improvement for very little effort.

Ever start making a recipe, only to discover that you don't have the fresh herbs it calls for? Be prepared next time with the AeroGarden Harvest with Gourmet Herb Seed Pod Kit ($175). The countertop garden allows you to grow herbs and small vegetables indoors — and without soil, to boot. (The secret is in the patented mix of plant food.)

When you have those fresh herbs in play, give them a quick snip with a pair of Norpro Triple Blade Herb Scissors ($8). They do a nice job of chopping herbs and retaining their flavorful plant oils — and they save time, too.

Spinning the water off of leafy greens means better salads, better-sautéed greens, and a better cooking experience overall. The medium-size OXO Good Grips Spinner ($31) does the job well and doubles as a salad-presentation bowl.

Collectively, we waste millions of tons of food in this country each year. Be part of the solution by buying only what you need, keeping track of your food, and preventing spoilage. A produce-saving system such as OXO Good Grips Green Saver 1.6 qt. Produce Keeper ($14) can extend the life of your fresh fruits and veg — so when you open the fridge to cook, you'll have more options.

There are times when a generous glug of EVOO is necessary. There are also times when you just need a little spritz of oil — for instance, when you're about to fry up an egg. That's when the Evo 12 oz. Oil Sprayer Bottle ($16) comes in. Squeeze the trigger bottle to release a fine mist of oil where you need it, and save the glugs for when you need them.

Knife skills are invaluable, but for perfectly uniform slices, try the Oxo Good Grips V-Blade Mandoline Slicer ($44).