Cooking & Kitchen
Meal Prep Portions Calculator
Multiply meals per day by days and people to see how many containers a week of prep really needs.
This result is the total number of portions to prepare, so it tells you how many portions the whole plan needs.
Formula
Total portions = meals per day x days x people.
How it works
Counting portions before cooking stops the classic mistake of prepping for three days and running out on day two.
Cooked meals generally keep 3–4 days in the fridge. For a full week, freeze the later days' portions and thaw them as needed.
Worked example
For example, 3 meals per day × 5 days × 2 people = 30 portions.
FAQs
How many containers do I need?
One per portion, plus a few spares. Stackable containers of the same size save a lot of fridge space.
Should every meal be the same?
No — prep two or three base dishes and vary sauces and sides, so the week does not feel repetitive.
How long does prepped food last?
About 3–4 days refrigerated. Beyond that, freeze portions and thaw them in the fridge overnight.
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