Weeknights have a way of slipping away, especially when dinner prep takes longer than planned. Chopping, peeling, and dicing vegetables can quickly add up to half an hour or more, even before you start cooking. If you’ve ever felt tempted to skip the veggies altogether just to save time, there’s a better solution: let pre-cut vegetables do the heavy lifting.

Pre-cut vegetables are one of the most underrated shortcuts in the kitchen. With all the cleaning and chopping already done, you skip the most time-consuming part of meal prep and get straight to cooking. Whether you’re stir-frying, roasting, or adding vegetables to soups and stews, pre-cut options get you to the finish line faster without compromising on nutrition.

For busy families or professionals with tight schedules, this time-saver can make the difference between cooking at home or reaching for takeout. Pre-chopped onions and garlic, for instance, shave off precious prep time when building flavor bases for your meals. Ready-to-use broccoli florets, sliced bell peppers, and cubed squash slide effortlessly into sheet pan dinners or quick sautés.

What’s more, using pre-cut veggies encourages you to include more vegetables in your meals consistently. When they’re already prepped and waiting in your fridge, it’s easier to toss a handful into your scrambled eggs, pasta dish, or salad without a second thought. Convenience leads to better choices, especially when you’re tired at the end of the day.

While pre-cut produce is often slightly more expensive than whole vegetables, the time savings can be well worth the tradeoff. You’ll also be less likely to waste food since prepped veggies are ready to use immediately. To make the most of your purchase, plan a few meals around the same vegetables. For example, sliced mushrooms can be used in a stir-fry early in the week and folded into an omelet or pasta dish a few days later.

Storage matters too. Pre-cut vegetables are at their best when kept dry and properly sealed. Use airtight containers or resealable bags to maintain freshness, and check expiration dates if you’re buying pre-packaged options. Try to use them within a few days of purchase for optimal flavor and texture.

With pre-cut vegetables on hand, dinner becomes far more approachable, even on your busiest nights. By streamlining your prep, you’ll reclaim valuable time in the kitchen and make home-cooked meals more attainable throughout the week. Simple shortcuts like this help you stay on track with both your time and your grocery budget—so you can spend less time chopping and more time enjoying your meals.