The One Tool That Helps Me Stay on Top of Meal Prep

Mastering the art of meal prep has always been a goal of mine. And great freezer meal prep–especially making meals ahead of time–can make such a difference: It saves time on the days you only have 10 minutes for lunch, spares you energy when you’re too lazy to cook, helps you plan for the week, reduces food waste, and for all those reasons can also save you money. And although I’m still nowhere near as consistent as I’d like to be, there’s one tool in particular that has helped me more than any other: Souper Cubes. 

Meet Souper Cubes

Souper Cubes, if you’re not familiar, are large silicone molds that look like extra-large ice trays. They come in several different shapes and sizes and allow you to freeze food in pre-portioned cubes. They come in 2-tablespoon, ½-cup, 1-cup, and 2-cup increments (my favorite is the all-purpose 1-cup mold). Once the food is frozen, all you have to do is pop the shapes out and stack them in a large freezer bag. 

Prior to discovering this genius idea, I’d relied on Tupperware for storing food. I barely had space in the freezer because of how awkwardly the containers fit, and the weeks never aligned well enough for me to finish my pre-made meals. 

When I scrolled past an ad for Souper Cubes on Instagram, I was instantly intrigued. Not only could I use these clever freezer food trays for storing leftovers, but I could also use them for portion sizing and definitely meal prep.  That was a few years ago. To this day, they’re still my most-used meal-prepping tool.  

Why I Love Souper Cubes 

I found the Souper Cubes helpful for several reasons. I finally had a convenient way to store my make-ahead soups, stews, and chilis without taking up too much freezer space, and didn’t have to worry about wasting food. Gone also were the days of eating the same meal all week: I could just pop a serving of soup into the microwave if I didn’t feel like making something new. And with the silicone they’re made with being oven safe, they were also great for baking pre-made, pre-portioned treats. The more I played with my Souper Cubes, the more I realized they could do. 

Ideas for Getting Started With Souper Cubes

1. Make something snack-y: If you’re new to meal prepping, start off by making a batch of this banana bread using their ½-cup trays. Once baked, you can nibble on them throughout the week or freeze them for when a craving strikes! 
2. Prep for pizza night: Instead of preparing and freezing a ready-made dish, use a tray to store different components of a meal. Planning a pizza night? Use a 1-cup tray to store grated cheese, pizza dough, and marinara. That way, everything is prepped and ready to go before dinnertime! 
3. Don't forget to label: Once you pop the pre-portioned cubes into a freezer bag, always label it with a description and date. This means a good Sharpie might be the second-best meal prep tool I own!