Fall is the busy season

Holidays, family birthdays and a work crunch all land in the same months. Food has to get easier, not more elaborate.

“Fall and winter are my busiest seasons of the year.”

Bulk cooking gets messy

Meal prep works, but portioning the results and finding storage that fits is where the whole system falls apart.

A pan with 18 slots

The Chicago Metallic Slice Solutions pan has a removable divider that cuts a 9x13 bake into 18 pieces, each about three by two inches.

Not just for brownies

Pour in batter, layer a lasagna, press in a frittata or a snack mix. The divider goes in before the pan goes in the oven.

Where silicone cubes fall short

Souper Cubes handle soup, rice and sauce well, but chunky food and baked slabs are not what those molds are built for.

Portions lift straight out

A removable base keeps pieces from sticking, so each block comes out whole and stacks into glass containers or silicone bags.

Two pans in one

Leave the divider out and it is an ordinary 9x13 tray. It is also dishwasher safe, so cleanup after a bulk cook is short.

Reviewers back it up

It averages 4.5 stars across more than 2,000 reviews, with buyers saying the price is justified by the time saved cutting and cleaning.

“I love the pull-out tray and the perfect cutter. I love to cut them as soon as they come out of the oven.”

Build the rest of the kit

Pair it with glass containers that have glass lids, reusable silicone bags, or a handheld vacuum sealer to keep frozen portions from burning.