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Meal kit delivery Services should make your life easier. And they will, once you choose one. But with the field of services expanding rapidly in recent years, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the options. Whether you’re going vegan, cooking for a family of six, or just looking to find your legs in the kitchen, there’s probably a service that meets your needs. Some meal kits send you premade meals, while others send ingredients paired with recipes, and still others are grocery delivery services. All of them aim to make the process of planning and cooking meals more convenient, and how well they do that varies.
I’ve tested more than two dozen meal kit delivery services over the past few years, and I’ve re-tested some of this guide to ensure accuracy. Few are bad, so choosing the right one for you comes down to lifestyle. I’m an experienced home cook, and I don’t have any dietary restrictions or picky eating preferences, but I’m looking for plant-based foods with more omnivorous options. I also have help with taste testing from lifelong vegans, unruly children, and my cat (by accident). Considering recipes, ingredients, ease of use, amount of packaging wasteand the fact that every home chef has different needs, you will find the best food delivery service below.
Updated January 2025: We’ve added Gardencup and new Gobble photos, plus double-checked links and prices.
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PRICE: Despite any marketing claims to the contrary, meal kits are more expensive than buying groceries. However, they are usually cheaper than takeout and healthier. If you want to measure whether the trade-off is worth it, the good news is the same mattress-in-a-box companies, usually with meal kit companies the others running promotions. Most meal kit pricing models offer substantial discounts: The more meals you buy each week, the lower the price per serving. We’ve detailed dietary restrictions and subscription costs below. If you want to skip a week or cancel, you can find that information in the account section of the website of your chosen service.
WIRED: Meal kits are convenient; I don’t have to worry about planning dinner, grocery shopping, or panic-eating junk food after forgetting to eat a proper meal during the day. Learning to cook with one of the best food delivery services instills confidence and provides basic knowledge. If you’re busy, or just can’t be bothered, meal kits may be just what you need to cook, and cooking at home is never a bad thing. Meal kits may be right for you if you cook for a small household, if you work non-traditional hours, if you don’t want to know what to make for dinner, if you want to stop at order all the time, or when you’re trying. to 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 the fruit yourself or destroy a whole chicken for $5. It’s simple for you don’t take that experience away when everything arrives at your door and the chicken parts come prepackaged. Planning and shopping at the grocery store is an important part of the art of cooking. Meal kits are often more wasteful than traditional home cooking, and often more expensive. Meal kits may be the wrong choice for you if you have a small budget, if you are cooking for a large household, or if you want tighter control over the specific ingredients you use.
What if I Have Allergies, a Certain Food, or Go on Vacation Often?
Maybe you got caught. Most meal kit services have a way to filter out common allergens or food preferences, and most recipes have specific nutritional information listed so you’re always in the know. And if you travel a lot, it’s usually easy to go into your account settings and skip a week, pause your plan, or cancel it altogether. These factors vary by service, but we’ve listed some details below.
For each serving below, I tried a minimum of three meals, following the recipe’s exact instructions. I usually make it for dinner and prioritize trying a mix of proteins and necessary cooking skills (for example, trying a bread meal in addition to a more complex protein, dish, and bread sauce meal). I aim to try a variety of dishes that appeal to a wide variety of people, including veggie-forward options and meals that are easy to make for a family versus meals that are great for a date night.
