When I heard people rave about meal kits, I thought the hype was overblown and not worth the cost. As a vegetarian, I also realized that food delivery services wouldn’t go along with my diet, so I didn’t bother trying.
However, when I first checked vegan food services on CNET, one service in particular made me realize I was wrong. This is what I used to spend my money on. That’s why Blue Apron, which does not require registration, is a thing CNET’s favorite meal kit service. That’s why it’s my top choice.
Vegetarian recipes don’t call you
Earlier this year, I tried four vegetarian meal kits from Blue Apron, which are less than $8 per serving. They were all delicious: roasted cauliflower and farro salad, white bean and veggie grain bowls, loaded veggie burritos and Thai-style curry noodles. I even saved the recipe cards and recreated the farro salad and grain bowls myself.
Later I tried pimento cheeseburgers and black bean patties, peanut udon stir-fry, roasted red pepper pasta and spicy mushroom and onion quesadillas. And, absolutely delicious. No tasting notes. However, the pimento cheeseburger meal kit was missing one key ingredient, pickled peppadew peppers, but I had a substitute on hand.
Pimento cheeseburger with black bean paste. I added my tomatoes and arugula to the burger, with broccoli on the side, for more veggies and greens.
I realized that whoever created these recipes didn’t forget about flavor or rely on old standbys like tofu or extra spices. I also felt that these dishes offered a good variety of fresh vegetables, herbs, grains and different protein options, with the ability to change the sodium and spice levels to your liking.
As someone who often cooks at home to avoid spending extra money on food or grocery stores, I was really inspired by these food resources, especially sauces that include recipes.
Peanut udon stir-fry with fried egg.
The prices are affordable
You might think that for more flavor and creative recipes, you will have to pay a higher price. However, Blue Apron is one of the more affordable food services we’ve reviewed, earning a spot on our list of food brands. cheap food delivery services we like. So if you are one 61% of US adults For those worried about the cost of meal kits, Blue Apron can be a great option — especially if you’re looking to waste less food or save money by eating out.
No registration is required
Since I first reviewed Blue Apron, the brand has completely revamped its model, deletes its subscription with a preference for à la carte dining. (Don’t worry, if you liked the subscription, you can still choose to receive it and get discounts with the Autoship and Save feature.)
Along with more than 100 meals a week, double what it had before, Blue Apron also has two new product lines in addition to its food items:
- Bowl with Blue Apron: Meals that are ready in as little as 5 minutes, with no preparation required. Starting at $7 per serving.
- Mix and Bake: A one-pan meal that requires at least 5 minutes of preparation with pre-cut or prepared ingredients. Starting at $11 per serving.
Pesto gnocchi ingredients are baking. It comes with a tray.
I enjoyed the new recipes that were already made and ready to bake
During my pre-test, I tried the pre-made four cheese enchiladas with rice and sweet and spicy tofu udon noodles. Although I enjoyed both and found them filling, I wouldn’t say they were better than the food stuff.
Recently, I tried two Assemble and Bake dishes: a pesto gnocchi bake and a creamy mushroom and kale pasta bake. While they were tasty and filling like a Dish meal, and saved me time in the kitchen, they were too cheesy for my taste. So again, meal kits would be my top choice.
How pesto gnocchi bakes once baked.
It’s also important to note that Blue Apron’s shipping cost is $11 per box. However, with a premium Blue Apron Plus membership, which costs $8 per month, you can enjoy free shipping on all orders, in addition to unlimited Tastemade Plus streaming and special deals. If you plan to order Blue Apron at least once a month, this membership will pay for itself.
What I recommended is vegan food delivery
For dietary restrictions, Blue Apron offers only vegetarian options in addition to its meat and seafood-based dishes, with five vegetarian meal kits per week, up to four servings. There are at least two mix-and-bake meals for vegetarians and at least two pre-cooked, vegetarian meals with Blue Apron per week.
If you are looking for vegan food items, I would recommend Green Chef. Delivery of prepared vegan food, The Food of Moses well, while Thistle it was my favorite new vegan meal (albeit on the expensive side). Purple Carrot meal kits they are also popular, as they are 100% vegan, but in terms of how the recipes taste, I prefer the Green Chef. For vegetarian meal kits, it’s still Blue Apron for me.
My final thoughts on Blue Apron
The only problem I’ve had with Blue Apron is that my last order didn’t arrive on the scheduled delivery date. I waited a few days to inquire via email and received a response saying that it would take some time to process my request due to the volume of emails. I then sent a message through Blue Apron’s virtual chat and, after waiting about 45 minutes, I was told that my order had been canceled but I had never received a notification. I got a refund and was able to order again without a problem, but I would recommend tracking your order and reaching out quickly if you don’t receive it when expected.
When it comes down to it, if I were to spend my hard earned money on a meal delivery service, I would choose Blue Apron meal kits. They have more vegan options, are more affordable than others on the market and, most importantly, taste delicious enough that I could (and have) recreated the recipes myself. I might get some ready-to-go meal kits next time and save myself the extra effort.
