The Protein Drop
Our recurring guide to eating well all week. Every issue: one dish worth prepping once, and the thinking behind it.
8 issues
The Protein Drop #8: Keep the sauce out of the box
The Protein Drop #8A peanut sauce poured over on Sunday has been absorbed by Tuesday. In a tub of its own it is still a sauce on Thursday, and a teaspoon of hot water brings it back.
The Protein Drop #7: A lunch that never goes near a microwave
The Protein Drop #7Most prep boxes get worse every day. A jar of tuna, white beans and lemon dressing gets better, and it is ready the second you open it.
The Protein Drop #6: Most of the glaze goes on after the oven
The Protein Drop #6Teriyaki that goes into the oven caramelizes away by Wednesday. Brush on a third, keep the rest cold, and spoon it over the salmon in the box.
The Protein Drop #5: One pan, two proteins, four boxes that reheat
The Protein Drop #5Shrimp is the protein everyone avoids in meal prep because it turns rubbery. Cook it for the last three minutes and it survives the fridge and the microwave.
The Protein Drop #4: Twenty minutes of beef that carries four days
The Protein Drop #4Gochujang beef is the fastest thing in this series and the one that improves most overnight. The cucumber salad is what keeps it from getting boring.
The Protein Drop #3: Sushi bake, four lunches, no rolling
The Protein Drop #3The viral sushi bake was built for a party tray. It turns out to be one of the best prep dishes we have tested, as long as you keep the nori dry.
The Protein Drop #2: The takeout bowl that reheats better than it delivers
The Protein Drop #2Honey sesame chicken is a deep-fry dish that nobody needs to deep fry. Baked with a cornstarch coat, it holds its edge all week.
The Protein Drop #1: Smash burgers you can actually meal prep
The Protein Drop #1A burger loses to the fridge because of the bun. Take the bun out and the rest holds up for four days without complaint.