10 Best Meal Delivery Services, Tested by an Ex-Restaurant Critic

City: It’s true! Meal delivery services can cost more than shopping at grocery stores. If you buy all the ingredients separately, it might be cheaper. Meal kits generally charge between $7 and $14 per serving. But these kits offer something special besides ingredients: convenience. I tried recreating meals from four meal kits using items from my local grocery store. I found that without the right sauces and spices, it’s hard to make the same tasty meals. Often, you need to buy whole jars instead of the smaller amounts meal kits provide.

So, how does HelloFresh compare to grocery stores? For things like staple ingredients, grocery stores are cheaper. Once you buy a jar of paprika, it’s yours for future recipes. Meal kits let you try new recipes without filling your fridge with condiments you might not use again. Plus, for less common ingredients, meal kits can help you reduce waste and spoilage, sometimes saving you money for single meals.

If you compare meal kits to takeout, you’ll likely save money while eating healthier with the services on this list. Having a meal kit in your fridge makes cooking healthier meals easier and can save you cash too.

Some folks like to take advantage of trial offers to save on costs. Many meal kit services offer special promotions that cut your first box price by half, hoping you’ll love their meals enough to keep subscribing.

Personally, using a meal kit a few times a week helps me cook better and think more carefully about grocery shopping. This also means I can keep my fridge stocked with ingredients for future meals. I also love learning new cooking skills from meal kits instead of falling into boring routines.

That said, meal kits are a fixed cost, and they can add up. I don’t enjoy tossing the cold packs and boxes after use. In certain seasons, I often prefer to shop for fresh, local produce myself. This experience is missing with delivery, and meal kits can become costly if you’re cooking for a larger family.

What if I go away for a trip? Most meal kits let you pause your subscription anytime. Just make sure to read the rules and pause with enough warning. Some services, like HelloFresh, need you to cancel five days ahead of your delivery.

Here are some tips to use meal kits better: Don’t order more meals than you can make! It’s easy to feel bad about the meal kit waiting at home if you order too many meals. Just stick with a few meals a week that you’ll enjoy.

Make sure to organize your fridge for all that food. Clear some space to fit an entire meal kit box in your fridge so that you easily can access all the ingredients when it’s time to cook. For some kits, like Home Chef and Green Chef, ingredients come organized in separate bags, making it easier to find everything you need.

Double-check the recipe cards before cooking. Many expect you to have basic items at home, like oil or butter. You don’t want to realize you’re missing something after you start cooking! And remember, it’s okay to change the recipe! You don’t owe anyone perfect meals. Have fun making it your way, sprinkling in spices or adjusting steps to make it more suited to your taste.

How do I test meal kits? I’m always trying different meal kits. I usually order at least four meals when I can, following the cooking instructions carefully. I check how much time each dish takes compared to their claims and take notes if things seem unclear or frustrating.

I check how fresh the produce and meat are and where they come from, too. I usually aim for a varied menu, including gluten-free, vegetarian, and meat options. Sometimes, I test the same meal kit again for different diets with help from my colleague, Molly Higgins.

Here are some meal kits that stood out:

Sunbasket: Costs around $14 per serving and has organic, fresh ingredients. It offers various cooking techniques and even added snacks. One of my favorites was a fantastic Greek chicken dish.

Dinnerly: Prices are about $6 to $9 per serving. It gives good portions and is an affordable option with quality food. I loved the creativity of a “Reuben meatloaf” in my last test.

Factor: Generally $14 per serving, these meals are fresh, not frozen. They’re ready to eat and very tasty, especially protein dishes. Comparatively, they are pricier than some.

Gobble: Around $12 to $17 and known for fast cooking. They present new flavors, but the quick cooking aspect has varied recently.

Nurture Life: Costs $6 to $8 per serving and focuses on kid-friendly meals, which I find appealing.

For meal kits that didn’t impress: Sakara Life, costing over $30, was criticized for being expensive and not very appealing. Diet-to-Go, at $10 to $14, felt like traditional diet meals that didn’t always taste great.

You deserve to eat well! Try these meal kits to see what works best for you.