One of the downsides of cooking is that it takes time and effort to accomplish. Luckily, this sis balanced out by the fact that home cooking is cheaper, easier to control, and tastier than fast food or any other convenience is done right. 

However, not everyone has the time to cook every single night, which can become rather tiring after a little while. That’s why it’s helpful to give yourself space by planning ahead, considering which meals you may be able to prepare over time.

Yet not all meals store well in the refrigerator. Even if you can reheat them, most people know that stored burgers, steamed broccoli that becomes soggy when reheated, and other recipes aren’t the best for the fridge. That doesn’t mean you have to avoid them, or that they’re bad, simply that they’re not as tasty as they could be when stored this way.

So, if you’re meal-prepping, it’s healthy to ask which meals store well in the refrigerator? In this post, we’ll ask and answer that question with three examples:

Ragus

A great ragu can be adaptable, made with tofu, turkey, beef, lamb, and many other protein sources. With fried vegetables, rich tomatoe sauces and purees, and the ability to work it over the course of a few hours, you can create a very taste, well-seasoned ragu batch that can be stored in a pot and placed in the fridge.

Ragus are known to last for up to five days in the refrigerator, and actually improve under those cold conditions thanks to the flavors intensifying in storage. You can easily sprinkle some parmesan or pecorino and eat it with a range of foods, such as spaghetti for a bolognese, with jacket potatoes for a tasty hearty lunch, or even on toast. Moreover, a great amount of ragu can be made with cheap ingredients, making it a perfect starter meal for those looking to get into meal planning.

Casseroles

Casseroles may need to be reheated, but they can taste delicious when stored in a colder climate for a little while, again because of the intensified flavors marinating in themselves. For instance, making this tuna casserole recipe is not only perfect for a bright summer’s evening meal, but can also be a wonderful lunch, tasting just as fresh and crisp as when you first made it.

On top of this, casseroles tend to take seasoning very well, allowing you to slightly alter the taste profile every time you cut out a portion for yourself. Moreover, because casseroles tend to be all-ingredient meals, they don’t have to be served “with” anything, making them a perfect candidate for a quick and tasty lunch.

Stews

Much like ragus and casseroles, stews can be delicious when stored for a while and given chance to rest. A good old Irish stew with potatoes can be just as filling as the day you made it, and thanks to stews usually being a little less thick than the previous two suggestions, they can reheat very easily without much effort.

In addition to that, you can always add a touch more pepper or paprika if you hope for it to retain  a little more heat. Stews are perfect for dividing between many different storage containers too, allowing you to pre-portion evening meals throughout the week. Stews can also be frozen if need be, meaning you can effectively keep them for months in the right environment. 

Stews are also, by far, the cheapest dish on this list, because they can be crafted in so many different ways and with a range of ingredients depending on the cultural cuisine you’re opting for. As such, they’re a great place to start.

Rice & Spices

Rice is excellent for storing in the refrigerator, particularly if you hope to make fried rice which can taste delicious. However, you can also spice rice in different ways as you take it out of storage, leading to a different set of flavors each time.

This might sound too simple, but you’d be surprised how effective having a stored pot of rice can be at all times. This not only saves you time from rinsing and cooking it well every time you want to eat, but this rice can be eaten hot or cold, for example with some kimchi for lunch, or as part of a main evening meal. Saving you time and effort in this way is smart, and will provide the exact taste you’re looking for.

With this advice, you’re sure to store excellent recipes within the refrigerator, eating well another day.