9 Gift Ideas for the Meal-Prepping Pro in Your Life

We've teamed up with Blue Apron to share smart tips, cooking inspiration, and gift ideas to get you through the holidays. A delicious idea: Give the gift of Blue Apron's top-rated meal kits so your friends and family can get cooking this winter and beyond.

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I've always wanted to be the type of person who meal preps on a regular basis—batch-cooking grains and vegetables to mix and match throughout the week, freezing soups and casseroles for a heat-and-eat dinner, you get the picture. Though I may not have achieved meal prep superstar status yet, there are people on my holiday shopping list this year who definitely have, and maybe you know some, too.

From all sorts of food storage containers, organizers, and kitchen tools to a meal kit delivery service that takes the work out of making a delicious dinner for the whole family, here are the gift ideas I'm eyeing for all my friends and family who love to meal prep.

1. Blue Apron Meal E-Gift Card, from $65

Give your meal prep pro a break from planning a couple weeknight dinners with a gift card from Blue Apron—this lets them select the menu that's just right for them. With options like vegetarian and wellness-inspired dishes to choose from (think: Tofu Bánh Mì or a Romesco Shrimp and Couscous Skillet), there's something for everyone. Each box comes with all the ingredients needed to pull off the recipes, handy step-by-step instructions with photos, plus a suggested wine pairing from a collection of carefully selected bottles. Heck, you might even want to get a subscription as a gift to yourself—sign up now and get $160 off across your first five boxes, plus free shipping on your first box.

2. Five Two Airtight Silicone Lids, $40

These dishwasher- and heat-safe (up to 550°F) silicone lids will quickly become the most versatile tool in anyone's kitchen. Totally airtight, they're an eco-friendly swap for plastic wrap and great for storing leftovers or pre-prepped ingredients, keeping dinner warm from oven to table, shielding the microwave from splatters, and so much more.

3. Instant Pot Duo, from $69.99

The ultimate tool in a meal planner's arsenal, the Instant Pot Duo can take on almost any kitchen task—from slow-cooking and pressure-cooking to proofing dough and making yogurt. The 6-quart version can cook for up to six people, making it the ideal size for batch-cooking soups, stews, grains, and the like for meal prep.

4. SoYoung Lunch Poche Bag, $44

This adorable insulated bag is the perfect size for packing a not-sad desk lunch and taking it on the go. The insulated lining is removable, and the bag itself is machine washable, which makes for easy cleaning in case of any spills.

5. Zwilling Fresh & Save Food Vacuum Sealing System, from $14.99

This sleek, high-tech food storage system uses a powerful vacuum sealing system to easily store produce and leftovers—and even comes with two glass containers and four reusable plastic bags that can be used for sous vide. The best part: Whatever you store will last up to five times longer (so long, spoiled food that ends up in the trash).

6. OXO Pop 10-Piece Canister Set, $103.20

A must-have for an organized pantry, these stackable food storage canisters are top-notch for making sure grains, nuts, cereals, dried pasta, and the like stay as fresh as can be. Simply push the button to create an airtight seal until the time comes to get cooking.

7. Cherry End Grain Cutting Board, from $85

A large, super-sturdy cutting board is an essential for getting most meals on the table—but especially when you're whipping up big batches of food all at once. These beauts are made from cherrywood and are sealed with a protective teak oil finish, which helps keep knives razor-sharp.

8. KitchenAid 7-Cup Food Processor, $69.99

From chopping onions to blending sauces, prep work is a cinch with a food processor. This 7-cup version from KitchenAid offers three speed options, a multipurpose blade, plus an oil drizzle opening for emulsifying dressings. Even better, the bowl, blade, and lid are all dishwasher-safe for breezy cleanup.

9. Meatball Maker & Storage Container, $25

No more messy hands and time spent rolling meatball after meatball: This nifty meatball maker and storage container gets the job done in minutes. Just add your favorite mixture, press the lid on, and you’ve got 32 meatballs that are ready to simmer in sauce or chill in the freezer.

What's your top meal-prepping tool? Tell us in the comments below!

This holiday season, give the gift of delicious, stress-free dinners for the whole family with help from our friends at Blue Apron. With a variety of menu options and dishes to choose from, their meal kits are just right for everyone on your list. Bonus: The Blue Apron Meal E-Gift Card doesn't have to be wrapped or shipped—send one in a snap (and maybe throw in some wine, too).

This post contains other products independently chosen by our editors and writers. Food52 earns an affiliate commission on qualifying purchases of the products we link to.