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Meal kit delivery services should make your life easier. When you choose one, so do they. But with the rapid expansion of the service space in recent years, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the options. Whether you’re a vegetarian, cooking for a family of six, or trying to find your feet in the kitchen, there’s probably a service that meets your needs. Some meal kits send you pre-made meals, others send ingredients paired with recipes, and a few more are grocery delivery services. They all aim to make meal planning and cooking easier, and how well they do it varies.
I’ve tested more than two dozen meal kit delivery services over the past few years, and I’ve retested a few in this guide to ensure accuracy. Very few people are completely bad, so choosing what’s right for you comes down to lifestyle. I’m an experienced home cook and don’t have dietary restrictions or picky eating preferences, but I was looking for plant-based options along with more picky eaters. I also had help from lifelong vegans, brave kids, and my cat (accidentally) for a taste test. Considering recipes, ingredients, ease of use, amount of packaging wasteand the fact that every home cook has different needs, below are the best food delivery services.
Updated January 2025: We’ve added new photos of Gardencup and Gobble, plus double-checked links and prices.
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PRICE: Despite marketing claims to the contrary, meal kits cost more than buying groceries. However, they are usually cheaper and healthier than eating out. If you’re looking to gauge whether a purchase is worth it, that’s the good news mattress in a box companies, meal kit companies usually have some of them carries out promotions. Most meal kit pricing models offer bulk discounts: The more meals you buy per week, the lower the price per serving. Below we detail dietary restrictions and subscription costs. If you ever want to skip a week or cancel, you can find this information in the account section on your chosen service’s website.
RELATED: Dining sets are convenient; I didn’t have to worry about planning dinner, grocery shopping, or panic-inducing junk food after forgetting to eat right during the day. Learning to cook with one of the best food delivery services can build confidence and give you the basics. If you’re busy or just can’t be bothered, meal kits may be just what you need to prepare meals, and cooking at home is never a bad thing. If you cook for a small household, work unconventional hours, hate thinking about what to make for dinner, want to avoid ordering in all the time, or are trying, meal kits may be right for you. improve your cooking skills.
tired: Nothing beats learning how to cook the old fashioned way, so be sure to try that too. It’s cheaper and you’ll learn more if you pick your own fruit or cut up a whole chicken for $5. You just do not buy this experience if everything arrives at your door and the chicken parts are prepackaged. Planning and shopping at the grocery store is an integral part of the art of cooking. Meal kits are also more wasteful and often more expensive than traditional home meals. If you’re on a tight budget, cooking for a large household, or want tighter control over the specific ingredients you use, meal kits may be the wrong choice for you.
What if I have allergies, a special diet, or go on vacation a lot?
You probably have coverage. Most meal kit services have a way to filter out common allergens or dietary preferences, and most recipes have specific nutrition information listed so you’re always aware. If you travel a lot, it’s usually easy to go to your account settings and skip a week, suspend your plan, or cancel it entirely. These factors vary by service, but we’ve listed some features below.
I tested a minimum of three meals for each serving below, following the recipe directions exactly. I made them mostly for dinner and preferred to experiment with the mix of proteins and the culinary skills required (eg trying a one-pot meal in addition to a more complex protein, side dish, and pan sauce meal). I aimed to try a variety of dishes that would appeal to many people, including veggie dishes and quick family meals.
