But now that restaurants and supermarkets are back to business as usual, some meal kit users are wondering if their subscription is still worth the cost — especially after the promotional offers are gone. And with most meal kit subscriptions covering just four to six meals a week, customers still need to grocery shop for their other two daily meals.

For some customers, the most important factor in deciding whether to use a meal kit is the price. A subscription may cost more or less than you would typically spend on ingredients, depending on your budget for groceries and dining out, and household size.

She enjoyed the convenience and variety her subscription offered, but she canceled after the promotional period due to the cost increase. It could also be a more appealing option for a larger household: Most services offer a discount for a higher number of servings. Madisenne Berry, a massage therapist, subscribed to an ingredient-based meal kit to cook weeknight dinners for her three-person household.

Meal kits can be cost-effective in less concrete ways. They reduce the time and energy needed to plan meals and shop for groceries, which can hold you back from getting creative in the kitchen. Cooking at home — without a meal kit — typically involves finding creative ways to reuse available ingredients throughout the week, resulting in meals with repeating elements or leftovers to limit food waste think a fish and rice dinner, followed by fish tacos the next day.

This article was written by NerdWallet and was originally published by The Associated Press. You can always put more in but you can't take it out. Recipes are not one size fits all, so trust your instincts. If it seems the recipe calls for what seems like too much salt going into the sauce, it probably is.

You can always add more, but you can't take any out, so err on the side of caution. The same goes for heat and spice: If you can't handle big hits of habanero or spicy curries, pull back on those elements until you've tasted the finished dish.

Most meal kit companies will hit certain recipes with a "fan favorite" label. More often than not, I've enjoyed those dishes and appreciate the recommendation. Services such as HelloFresh and Home Chef use loads of aggregated user reviews and subscriber feedback, so you can trust there is some validity to those markers.

Hey, they want you to enjoy the meals just as much as you do. It's true: Meal kits are a good way to get you and the family fed for a fair price, but they can also be a lot of fun and a good way to sharpen your cooking skills.

Never made risotto before? Pounce on those recipes when it comes along on the menu. You might be surprised at how easy it is. When you crack open a meal kit, crack open a bottle of wine too or pour yourself a beer , cocktail or mocktail and put on some music or a favorite podcast.

Cooking can be calming if you're in the right headspace. If you're not in the right headspace, make the kids cook. Meal Delivery. Dieting Program Guides.

Vitamin and Supplement Guides. Why You Can Trust CNET. Wellness Nutrition. Are Meal Kits Worth It? They Are if You Do This I've tested all the top meal delivery services.

David lives in Brooklyn where he's spent more than a decade covering all things edible, including meal kit services, food subscriptions, kitchen tools and cooking tips.

Since earning a BA in English from Northeastern in Boston, he's toiled in nearly every aspect of the food business, including as a line cook in Rhode Island where he once made a steak sandwich for Lamar Odom. Right now, he's likely somewhere stress-testing a blender or researching the best way to make bacon.

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If you need to break out of dining out maybe too much, then a meal delivery service can offer significant savings. Not only will you save money If you're taking into account the costs of only the products/ingredients, then there is no savings in that - the meal delivery kits (which you Most meal kit services allow you to try their goods for deep discounts, up to 70% off and often for several weeks' worth of meals. I've rounded

Savings on meal delivery - Meal delivery subscriptions can save you money if you eat out for most meals, but if you are already a stay at home chef, they might be more If you need to break out of dining out maybe too much, then a meal delivery service can offer significant savings. Not only will you save money If you're taking into account the costs of only the products/ingredients, then there is no savings in that - the meal delivery kits (which you Most meal kit services allow you to try their goods for deep discounts, up to 70% off and often for several weeks' worth of meals. I've rounded

This is quite a bit cheaper than an average meal out, so if you tend to eat at restaurants frequently, meal delivery subscriptions will likely help you save money.

Spending extra time in the kitchen that you otherwise would have dedicated to work does make homemade meals a little more expensive. However, if you are always off of work in the evenings and have that extra time, or if you just really enjoy cooking , meal delivery subscriptions might not be quite as cost effective.

Another factor to consider is the type of food you normally eat. If you are already health conscious and make the effort to cook healthy meals, a meal delivery subscription might not make as big of an impact on your life. However, if you typically eat a lot of junk food, the healthy meals you get from a meal delivery subscription can improve your well-being and even help avoid preventable health issues, medications, and doctor visits over the long-term, making them very cost effective.

Blue Apron is known for its high-quality ingredients and chef-tested, specialty Blue Apron recipes. Blue Apron menu options include wellness recipes, family-friendly recipes, and vegetarian options.

Touted as the meal delivery subscription service with the highest satisfaction rates, Home Chef is known for its delicious meals and excellent variety. Home Chef will then curate some delicious, ideal meal options for you. Whether or not a meal delivery subscription is a cost-effective option for you really depends on your lifestyle.

If you have a slower lifestyle, normally eat at home, and already make healthy recipes, it might be more budget-friendly to just keep doing what you're doing.

So next time you hop in your car to navigate to the closest grocery store, think again—a meal delivery subscription might be an easier, healthier, and more cost-effective option. Subscribe to Mulberry Unlimited for coverage on all your online purchases under the same product protection plan.

Do meal delivery subscriptions actually save you money? Personally, my schedule changes from week to week. Your budget will appreciate this feature. A meal delivery service will only save you money if you currently dine out every single night. But about time?

How convenient are meal delivery services? Lauren and I have now prepared and enjoyed over meals from Home Chef, Blue Apron, and other services.

My verdict? Thanks to their packaging, the meals can stay fresh for a couple of days, never mind the few hours until we get home. One thing I love about Home Chef versus some competitors is that Home Chef bundles all the ingredients you need for each recipe. When compared to the time it takes to find recipes, add to the shopping list, and pick those ingredients at the store, meal deliveries are clearly faster.

How much faster? We do our meal planning and shopping on Sundays — a chore that takes one of us about 2 hours, on average. Even if we can shave a little bit of time off of that chore, it feels like a win. Home Chef stir fry ingredients.

Of course, you still have to cook the meals! The experience of cooking these recipes is part of the appeal. You learn new techniques and about new ingredients. But some recipes are definitely more involved than a meal you might plan for a busy Tuesday night.

Between 35 and 45 minutes seems to be about average from prep to plate. Meals from Blue Apron and Plated tend to take longer — in some cases, over an hour. They also tend to send some ingredients partially prepped such as individual garlic cloves instead of an entire bulb which saves time on prep.

Home Chef offers multiple meal choices each week with ample variety to meet dietary needs. While not the most adventurous or customizable meal box out there, Home Chef delivery fresh, quality ingredients and tasty recipes consistently. Another perk? Home Chef lets you know how involved a meal will be to cook before you order.

As you consider your meal delivery options, a helpful tip is to check out the welcome coupons and offers for signing up available. Especially with all the super attractive first time offers available, like the one with Home Chef.

Meal delivery services like Home Chef, Blue Apron, and HelloFresh are a novel way to cook delicious meals at home. As far as convenience goes, meal delivery definitely takes some of the stress and time out of weekly meal planning and shopping.

Subscribing to a meal delivery service doesn't mean you'll never have to go to the grocery store , but it can definitely save you a few trips. If you're prone to impulse shopping at the grocery store , or find you have lots of ingredients left over that you never use, a meal delivery kit could help you plan your meals better and reduce food waste.

Cano recommends the meal delivery service Home Chef. They even have a Fresh and Easy plan that will deliver low- or no-prep meals if you're really busy or cooking isn't your thing. Ritterman says the portions are big enough to feed about six people, and finds the price reasonable. You could also buy groceries in bulk and make different variations of meals using the same ingredients to save money and time.

There's no denying the time a meal delivery kit saves, but whether it is financially sustainable and actually helps you save money is a question that depends on each individual or family. But Bell says that those who are not using meal kits to keep their takeout expenses down might end up spending more on a meal delivery kit than they would on groceries.

So if you're someone who wants to save time during the week and is aiming to spend less money on impulse takeout dinners, it can be a good option to try a meal delivery service a few days a week. There are different options and price points, so do your research to see how much money you stand to save; you can always try it for a few weeks and cancel your subscription if it's not the right fit for you.

Grand View Research. Accessed February 20, Official USDA Thrifty Food Plan: U. Average, December Accessed February 21, Use limited data to select advertising.

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Savings on meal delivery - Meal delivery subscriptions can save you money if you eat out for most meals, but if you are already a stay at home chef, they might be more If you need to break out of dining out maybe too much, then a meal delivery service can offer significant savings. Not only will you save money If you're taking into account the costs of only the products/ingredients, then there is no savings in that - the meal delivery kits (which you Most meal kit services allow you to try their goods for deep discounts, up to 70% off and often for several weeks' worth of meals. I've rounded

The most obvious way that a meal delivery service can save you money is by tempting you to stay home instead of dining out. It is not a secret that the expense of eating out can quickly add up. If you need to break out of dining out maybe too much , then a meal delivery service can offer significant savings.

Over time, you may become more accustomed to cooking at home and save dinners out for special occasions. With a multitude of tasty meal options, HelloFresh can help you save money by skipping takeout.

One of the biggest worries I had when considering a meal delivery service was the commitment. Personally, my schedule changes from week to week.

Your budget will appreciate this feature. A meal delivery service will only save you money if you currently dine out every single night. But about time? How convenient are meal delivery services? Lauren and I have now prepared and enjoyed over meals from Home Chef, Blue Apron, and other services.

My verdict? Thanks to their packaging, the meals can stay fresh for a couple of days, never mind the few hours until we get home. One thing I love about Home Chef versus some competitors is that Home Chef bundles all the ingredients you need for each recipe.

When compared to the time it takes to find recipes, add to the shopping list, and pick those ingredients at the store, meal deliveries are clearly faster. How much faster?

We do our meal planning and shopping on Sundays — a chore that takes one of us about 2 hours, on average. Even if we can shave a little bit of time off of that chore, it feels like a win. Home Chef stir fry ingredients.

Of course, you still have to cook the meals! The experience of cooking these recipes is part of the appeal. You learn new techniques and about new ingredients.

But some recipes are definitely more involved than a meal you might plan for a busy Tuesday night. Between 35 and 45 minutes seems to be about average from prep to plate.

Meals from Blue Apron and Plated tend to take longer — in some cases, over an hour. They also tend to send some ingredients partially prepped such as individual garlic cloves instead of an entire bulb which saves time on prep.

Home Chef offers multiple meal choices each week with ample variety to meet dietary needs. While not the most adventurous or customizable meal box out there, Home Chef delivery fresh, quality ingredients and tasty recipes consistently.

Are meal delivery subscriptions cost effective? Here are a few factors to consider: How often do you eat out? How valuable is your time? What does a normal meal look like for you? Blue Apron Blue Apron is known for its high-quality ingredients and chef-tested, specialty Blue Apron recipes.

Home Chef Touted as the meal delivery subscription service with the highest satisfaction rates, Home Chef is known for its delicious meals and excellent variety. Final thoughts Whether or not a meal delivery subscription is a cost-effective option for you really depends on your lifestyle.

About the author Kim Miller is the Head of Marketing at Mulberry. She is passionate about building products and brands that make consumers happy, save them money and make their lives easier. Have an innovative idea for Mulberry you'd like to share?

Give her a shout! She'd love to chat about anything from fintech and UX to gardening and antiquing. You also might like:. Readers rejoice! The best book subscription boxes for the family. Despite the care Sunbasket puts into its packaging, we were puzzled to find that the company made ingredient substitutions with no warning beforehand.

The differences were small we received Parmesan instead of Pecorino, and the recipe listed roasted garlic when we had raw cloves , but enough to give us pause. Pros: Home Chef has recipes designed to save you time, and with its easy-to-customize dishes, bigger serving sizes, and affordable price point, it's a great option for families.

Cons: Home Chef only offers limited dietary accommodations, so those with specific needs may want to look elsewhere. You can choose from tasty, comfort food-leaning options like Tuscan-style shrimp penne, crispy shallot beef burgers, and mushroom and black bean chili, each of which can feed up to six people.

Then you specify your dietary preferences. You have until Friday each week to pause, skip, or cancel your order, which you can do via Home Chef's website or app. At this time, Home Chef does not ship to Alaska or Hawaii. Our Home Chef ingredients arrive in an insulated cardboard box, with items kept cool with ice packs.

Proteins are individually wrapped and packed together in a plastic bag, and all premeasured ingredients are grouped in resealable plastic bags, making it easy to store the items in the refrigerator until ready for use. Each recipe comes with its own double-sided card; these are already three-hole punched and intended to be saved in a binder.

We sampled several recipes from Home Chef, which consisted of the following:. Pros: Dinnerly offers comfort food favorites in varying sizes at budget-friendly price point. Cons: In order to cut down on cost, Dinnerly only offers digital recipe cards.

Some of our testers also report chatbot issues when reaching out to customer service. You can order meals with either two or four servings, with an option of three to six meals a week.

Dinnerly's rotating weekly menu focuses on family-friendly comfort foods like steak and potatoes, quesadillas, and rice bowls. You can also incorporate grocery items into your shipments using the new online Market by Dinnerly. With preportioned items and only a handful of ingredients, meals are quick to prepare and delicious.

You don't need to create an account to view Dinnerly's menu. Simply click on "View Menu. First, select the number of meals and servings you need.

Then, provide your location, email address, and delivery address. Choose the delivery day that suits you best. Once you've added your payment information, you can select the meals you want for your first delivery. Dinnerly will choose your meals, but you can adjust your preferences by clicking on the "edit taste profile" link in your account settings.

Once there, you can customize the types of proteins you prefer, whether you want vegetarian options, and whether you like spicy food. To choose your meals, simply click on "edit recipes," select the meals you want, and then hit "continue" to reach Dinnerly's "Market" section. In the "Market," you can choose up to 10 additional items from categories such as bakery and dessert, breakfast and brunch, drinks and smoothies, fresh fruits and vegetables, lunch, and prepared meals and sides.

Dinnerly ships its meal kit ingredients fresh, and items are kept chilled in transit by a combination of insulation which can vary based on your location and a large ice pack.

Proteins are separated from your produce and seasonings, and all perishable items should be stored in the refrigerator. The company only provides digital recipe cards to reduce costs and its carbon footprint.

These are always available in your Dinnerly account and can be accessed on your phone via the app or on your computer. Our sample meals included:. Our main complaint? The broccoli and chicken were supposed to be cooked in the same skillet, but this proved impossible and required another skillet and thus more dishes to clean.

Dinnerly is also the most affordable meal delivery service we tested. Blue Apron stands out from the rest for its diverse selection of meals and entrées available, all with a gourmet touch.

Additionally, the company offers both kits and the convenience of heat-and-eat meals, giving busy folks more options to save valuable time in the kitchen.

Last but not least, with its pre-prepped ingredients and clear, step-by-step instructions, Blue Apron makes it both fun and convenient to try new meals each week. Our dedicated team, which includes editors, researchers, home testers, dietitians and skilled chefs, has conducted a comprehensive review of over 50 meal delivery services.

We've carefully evaluated each company on various criteria, such as pricing, meal variety, packaging, cooking time, and more. To ensure we provide the best recommendations to our readers, we've tested and tasted over 1, meals and counting!

Our testers begin by creating an account with the service and exploring the website to assess its user-friendliness. They then select a diverse range of meals that represent a variety of dietary preferences and make a purchase.

Upon delivery, our testers meticulously document the unboxing process by conducting a packaging count and taking photos. Next, our testers follow each recipe's directions and photograph the cooking process as they chop, slice, and sauté.

They keep track of the time spent preparing and cooking the dish to see how these recipes stack up against their expected preparation and cooking times. Finally, we document the best part—the food! Our testers are encouraged to assemble a tasting panel of family and friends to try the meals and make note of details such as texture, seasoning levels, and presentation.

While we know taste is subjective, we collect feedback from the panel and present those notes to our readers to help them make an informed decision when choosing a meal delivery service.

Each meal delivery service is unique and may offer a variety of health benefits. For instance, if you follow a strict diet, such as vegan , gluten-free , or keto, there are specific meal kits that focus on these dietary needs. For those looking to lose weight, there are dietitian-designed services that cater to customers who want extra support.

If you are looking to add more organic produce or vegetables into your diet, many meal services offer a vegetarian meal plan or work with local farms to procure and produce healthful meals. While each meal delivery service is distinctive in its offerings, most of the meal companies share nutrition facts for each meal and may even offer filters or tags to help you find the ideal meal.

If you have any specific health ailments or issues, speaking to a doctor or registered dietitian may be advised to help select the right meal delivery plan for you. Fortunately, for those who suffer from food allergies and restrictions, there are plenty of options when it comes to meal delivery.

Many services cater to a variety of food allergies and dietary needs, and some meal services are created by physicians and registered dietitians to offer custom meal plans. A variety of services offer a selection of diets, such as vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-, nut-, and dairy-free.

It's important to note that, despite offering diet-specific meals, many companies process foods in facilities that may not uphold strict allergen standards.

For this reason, consider reaching out to customer service to learn more about each service's processing and facility practices. With so many meal kit plans available, there are several factors to consider when selecting a meal delivery service. Who is the plan for? How big is the household?

Some services are geared towards single-serving meals , while other services offer multiple serving sizes, which may appeal to families or homes that love to have a fridge stocked with leftovers. Time commitment may also be an important factor. Which deliveries will work best with your schedule?

Are you looking to microwave a complete meal in a few minutes, or do you enjoy the process of cooking a gourmet meal some evenings?

Additionally, it's important to consider diet, food restrictions, and food allergies when selecting the best meal plan for your household. Most meal delivery services make it quite easy to cancel, update, skip, or even pause your service.

Many companies let customers make changes and updates to their account in the online profile or mobile app. Depending on the service, you may need to answer a few questions before fully canceling your subscription. Other services may even require contacting a customer service agent to cancel a subscription.

If you have any hesitations or questions, check the FAQ section of the company website or reach out to customer service for assistance. Use limited data to select advertising.

Create profiles for personalised advertising. Use profiles to select personalised advertising. Create profiles to personalise content.