Our team creates reviews based on first-hand experience.
We take time with the meal kits we review and try the meals ourselves. We pull any info we write from our experience with the meal kits or from trustworthy sources, including Blue Apron, Hello Fresh, Home Chef, and many other meal kit delivery brands.
Meal kit delivery services are growing rapidly in 2025, which shows when you learn that Blue Apron has served over 465 million meal kits to individuals and families all over the U.S., including a few to our team!
This is why we've committed to sharing our experience to help give you an insightful and helpful peak in the various options, you can navigage the meal delivery kit landscape as an informed consumers and with confidence.
We’ve broken down a rating system into five parts with all the details you need to make informed decisions.
We’ve aimed to remain objective in our reviews - but of course, we are talking about food.
So, while we have opinions, we’ve based our ratings on measurable aspects of the services whenever possible, so each brand is measured in a consistent and objective way.
Curious about whether the food actually as high quality as they say? We checked that for you (and so far, we haven’t had anything arrive rotten, but you bet we’d tell you if it did).
We rate each service on their Food, Price, Experience, Convenience, and Value overall.
Each category is worth 5 points, for a total score out of 25 (which we sometimes convert to a score out of 100 since so many meal kits are entering the market!).
Our categories take into account The following considerations serve as factors in our categories that determine our rating.
We evaluate the freshness of ingredients, the flavor and balance of prepared meals, and how well dishes hold up from box to plate. Our team samples a variety of recipes across weeks to judge seasoning, texture, and overall satisfaction. Bonus points go to kits that consistently wow us with standout sauces, well-prepped proteins, or chef-inspired creativity.
Affordability is significant--but so does what you're actually getting for your money. We compare cost per serving across plans, analyze portion sizes, and look at hidden fees like shipping. Then we ask: does this meal kit feel like a good deal compared to eating out, cooking from scratch, or using a competitor?
From the first click to cleanup, we measure how easy the entire experience is. This includes how intuitive the website is, how smooth delivery goes, and how quick or difficult the cooking process is. We especially favor kits that reduce friction -- like pre-prepped ingredients, minimal dishes, and recyclable packaging.
Experience covers the full journey—from how easy it is to get started to how a brand supports you when something goes wrong. We evaluate customer service, app or website usability, delivery reliability, prep flow, and how flexible or frustrating schedule management feels. If a meal kit makes life easier, not harder, that shows up here. Bonus points for clear communication, thoughtful design, and responsive support when you need it.
Value isn’t just about spending the least amount of money--it’s about comparing what you get with what you've paid. We look at portion sizes, ingredient quality, meal satisfaction, and whether the experience feels worth the price. Services that deliver reliably delicious meals, thoughtful packaging, and time-saving convenience earn higher marks here—even if they cost a bit more. It's about smart spending, not just low spending.
Thank you for reading what we've shared about our experience. We'd love to hear your ideas about what else would be helpful as you explore this industry - so please share your ideas, requests, and feedback with our team.
Bon appetite!
