Which Meal-Kit Services Give You the Best Ingredients?

Which Meal-Kit Services Give You the Best Ingredients?

The top-rated meal-kit delivery services don’t always offer the lowest prices, but they do give you what you pay for—high-quality ingredients.

I’ve been writing about computers, the internet, and technology professionally for 30 years, more than half of that time with PCMag. I run several special projects including the Readers’ Choice and Business Choice surveys, and yearly coverage of the Fastest ISPs and Best Gaming ISPs. I work from my home, and did it long before pandemics made it cool.

Which Meal-Kit Services Give You the Best Ingredients? Image

When you’re planning a meal, do you want the highest-quality ingredients, or is low price more important?

When it comes to meal-kit delivery services, research conducted by financial-insights site TopDollar (Opens https://jiji.ng/ in a new window) shows that it’s hard to have both. In data collected in August and September, TopDollar collected recipes from most of the services in the US and the UK for standardized boxes with ingredients for four two-person meals (eight portions). It then compared the ingredient prices against the prices for the same delicious components at a local supermarket chain for each country. Then, the site calculated the cost of ingredients versus the cost of the actual box.

At PCMag, we’ve reviewed many meal-kit providers, including favorites Blue Apron, Hello Fresh, and Green Chef, each of which earned a rating of 4.5 and an Editors’ Choice award. And we’re happy to note that the report shows those three, plus the vegan Purple Carrot (which earned a rating of 4) are at the top of the list when it comes to the value of ingredients. Blue Apron leads with an average value of $39.68.

But being valuable doesn’t translate to saving money, of course. The comparisons continued with a close look at the difference in the value of the ingredients versus the actual price consumers are charged for the box. Here, kits from companies EveryPlate and Dinnerly led the way. Both promise $4.99-per-serving meals, usually comfort food. They’re not rated as highly as PCMag favorites because the finished food simply isn’t as enticing, but you get what you pay for.

EveryPlate is the best meal kit for savings—the difference between its ingredients’s prices compared with supermarket prices is less than $13. Discounting $8.99 of that as the shipping fee, you’re almost at cost.

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Frozen Garden’s Smoothie blends make it easy to nourish your body because we do all the work for you—from designing the Smoothie mixes to prepping all the ingredients. You just open the freezer, grab a Smoothie pack and blend.

Frozen Garden’s Smoothie blends make it easy to nourish your body because we do all the work for you—from designing the Smoothie mixes to prepping all the ingredients. You just open the freezer, grab a Smoothie pack and blend.

Whether you’re stuck in a time crunch, or just too exhausted to cook, these premade frozen grain bowls are ready in minutes. Fill your tummy with plant-based vegan goodness that’s quick and easy to prepare.

Whether you’re stuck in a time crunch, or just too exhausted to cook, these premade frozen grain bowls are ready in minutes. Fill your tummy with plant-based vegan goodness that’s quick and easy to prepare.

Overnight Oats are an easy way to get fiber and protein without sacrificing flavor. Just grab a pack, add milk or milk alternative and put it in your refrigerator before going to bed. Simple, easy, healthy and delicious.

Overnight Oats are an easy way to get fiber and protein without sacrificing flavor. Just grab a pack, add milk or milk alternative and put it in your refrigerator before going to bed. Simple, easy, healthy and delicious.

Our line of easy healthy desserts without added sugar, artificial ingredients or preservatives. Turn real whole nutritious fruits, nuts, seeds and spices into smoothie ice cream or a healthy milkshake in seconds.

Our line of easy healthy desserts without added sugar, artificial ingredients or preservatives. Turn real whole nutritious fruits, nuts, seeds and spices into smoothie ice cream or a healthy milkshake in seconds.

Add a splash of real food to flavor your water! Fusions are made with 100% pureed whole fruit and herbs frozen into a single-serve frozen “cube”. Simply add to a glass of water as a water infuser or enhancer.

Add a splash of real food to flavor your water! Fusions are made with 100% pureed whole fruit and herbs frozen into a single-serve frozen “cube”. Simply add to a glass of water as a water infuser or enhancer.

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Which Meal-Kit Services Give You the Best Ingredients?