Are Meal Kits Worth It? All You Want to Know

The only steps required are to open the box, follow the instructions, and eat a wholesome, home-cooked meal. However, are meal kits worth it? We’ll examine popular meal kits in this guide and provide you with information so you can make a choice.

In fact, meal kits are worth it. Here are the reasons: you can shop around for meal kits, meal kits have an expiration date, the recipe cards are not set in stone, you’ll need to make room in your fridge — and your recycling bin, and you don’t have to commit to enjoying the recipes.

For more information, keep reading.

Are Meal Kits Worth It?

You Can Shop Around for Meal Kits.

Here is a universal truth for anyone interested in meal kits: They are also interested in you! They want you as a customer and they’re willing to woo you with significant discounts for first-time customers. Shopping around to find what works best for you is perfectly acceptable; in fact, you ought to test them all out. Try out one company for a week, put your subscription on hold or cancel it (it’s always very simple to do so and/or re-enroll if you want to return), and then switch to a different one. Just make sure you are aware of the deadline for order changes or cancellations; it is typically one week in advance.

Meal Kits Have An Expiration Date.

Meal kits should arrive in good condition, and you should get in touch with customer service if you notice anything that is obviously wrong. However, you should be aware that the items you receive will be past their prime in terms of freshness. So when you get a meal kit delivery, don’t put off making the recipes! Prioritize delicate foods like salad greens and herbs and cook any seafood first. Additionally, schedule your delivery day so that boxes arrive on days when you actually have time to prepare meals.

The Recipe Cards Are Not Set in Stone.

Because meal kit providers serve a diverse clientele, the recipes frequently could benefit from some flavor enhancement. not required to follow the recipe exactly! Fix the stir fry sauce if you think it’s too bland. Bring out the fish sauce, Chinese black vinegar, and chili oil. Add some truffle salt to the mashed potatoes if they could use a little extra flavor. If you want to modify the recipes to suit your preferences, it’s very likely that you already have everything you need in your pantry, so don’t be shy about doing so.

You’ll Need to Make Room in Your Fridge — and Your Recycling Bin.

If you have a jam-packed fridge, take heed: Meal kits require a significant amount of refrigerator space (especially the veg-heavy meals from Sun Basket). The same holds true for your recycling bin. There is no getting around the plastic tubs, bottles, clamshells, bags, and containers that come with your kit, not to mention the sizable cardboard box, insulated liner, and gel ice packs. Some businesses are better than others when it comes to packaging, providing items like sturdy, reusable screw-top jars, biodegradable bags, and insulation that can be recycled or composted at the curb. Each business’ website has a link that details the packaging it uses and how to get rid of it. When choosing the business that is best for you, it is wise to keep this information in mind.

You Don’t Have to Commit to Enjoy the Recipes.

For customers, many businesses post their complete recipes online. In fact, they frequently allow you to mark your favorites and save them to your own recipe folder online or in the app on your phone. Some businesses even offer extra recipes for foods like cookies and desserts that aren’t included in meal kits but can complete your meals, such as those. These recipes are typically straightforward and quick to prepare because they were created for kits. So instead of wasting the opportunity, why not use the database for ideas on the days or weeks when you don’t have a kit?

Are Meal Kits More Expensive Than Buying Groceries?

If you’ve ever wondered how much more expensive meal kits are than going grocery shopping alone, I did the math for you. While some meal kit services, like Sunbasket and Green Chef, are still comfortably in the splurge range, the least expensive meal kits come in at around $5 or $6 per serving.

For two recipes from EveryPlate, my go-to low-cost meal kit provider, I calculated the cost difference between buying groceries and ordering meal kits, and there is only a meager dollar between the two methods of preparing supper.

How Much Does a Meal Kit Service Like EveryPlate Cost?

With most plans costing around $5 per serving, EveryPlate is one of the most affordable meal kit services. It costs slightly more, $5.89 per serving, for a meal plan for two people and three meals per week. I compared the price of the more expensive two-person plan to the price of grocery shopping independently. A $9 flat shipping fee was also included, which I divided by the three meals. The final price for a two-person plan with EveryPlate is $7.39 per serving. Choose meals for four people, and each serving will only cost $6.50.

Cost Vs. Convenience: Are Meal Kits Really a Good Deal?

There is no denying the convenience of having chef-inspired recipes and ingredients delivered right to your door. But is the cost justified given all the convenience? You’ll need to make your own judgment on that.

Given that a restaurant meal typically costs $13.00, the $8.99 price of a meal kit serving clearly represents a savings. Meal kits are more expensive, however, if you were to go grocery shopping yourself and prepare meals for $5 (or less, if you look for sales and discounts).

If time efficiency is your top priority, however, the time you’d spend making meal plans, creating grocery lists, and going shopping for the ingredients yourself can add up. In this regard, hiring a meal delivery service to choose the menus, package the ingredients, and give you prep instructions can save you a few hours each week. And as you are probably aware, time is money.

Last but not least, you’ll need to account for the preparation time for each meal. This is where your love (or lack thereof) of cooking will come into play. You can most likely allow a full hour for preparation, cooking, and cleanup since it usually takes between 30 and 45 minutes to prepare pre-packaged meal kits. This might not be a big deal if you enjoy spending time in the kitchen. You could even use it as a way to unwind. But if you consider cooking to be a necessary evil, the extra time spent in the kitchen might not be worth the money you’ll save by forgoing takeout.

Your choice will ultimately depend on whether you value time savings more highly than cost savings. Meal kits can help you save money by allowing you to prepare your meals at home if you frequently eat out due to a lack of time for grocery shopping. The financial cost of home meal kit delivery might not be worth the time savings if your budget is already tight.

Make Sure Meal Kit Delivery Services Work for Your Budget

The majority of the services we listed in this article offer trial subscriptions at great discounts if you’re trying to figure out how to make meal kit delivery services work for your budget. Find a deal (or a few deals) that works for you by visiting their websites, comparing the meal options, and so forth. You’ll end up with some delicious meals, which is always a good thing, even if the service isn’t a long-term solution for you and your family.

You can depend on the Spero team to help you find alternative strategies for securing your financial future, whether meal kits prove to be a game-changer for your finances or simply a fun experiment that wasn’t worth the money.