We tested Blue Apron meal kits for 4 years: Our review of the delivery service

Grab your aprons, whatever their color, because it’s time to start cooking with the Blue Apron.

After trying what seemed like an endless number of meal kit options over the past four years, you might be shocked that my kitchen and I are still standing. However, despite all the preparation and tasting, I was hungry for more and Blue Apron was quick to satisfy that craving.

The meal kit company offers a variety of recipes, pre-made meals, grocery items, and even baked goods, making Blue Apron one of the most comprehensive I’ve tested. They work for me, a single twenty-something, and provide delicious, well-prepared meals and snacks, but would also be great for larger families, couples, or even roommates who like to cook together in the kitchen. .

How Blue Apron works

Blue Apron is a true and comprehensive brand of meal kits. Not only do they offer a full range of traditional meal kits with options for carnivores and vegetarians, but they also have ready-to-eat meals and add-ons for snacks, breakfast, lunch and dessert.

The company works just like the rest, with a weekly menu to fill your box and weekly deliveries to your door. Portion sizes include a single heat-and-eat meal and then your choice of two or four servings of their traditional meals.

Typically, you order every week, but there’s also an option to skip a week or take a few weeks off if you’re out of town or just not in the mood to cook.

Blue Apron Price

Blue Apron ranks in the mid-range in terms of price compared to other kits we’ve tried. When ordering the largest number of meals per week and servings per week, a meal can be as low as $7.99 per serving.

For two servings, prices range from $9.49 to $11.99 and then four serving plans range from $7.99 to $9.99 per serving.

Shipping is $10.99 per box, but be on the lookout for free shipping offers on your first order or with other coupon codes.

Blue Apron Food

The meals are mainly carnivorous, with lots of chicken, steak and fish. However, vegetarians, don’t click it yet! On the site, they have a page just for you, with weekly meals that look just as good as the meat dining options. You may also see the small green leaf on the weekly menu, signaling a vegetarian meal.

Each meal comes with a recipe card, which I personally love and choose to save for later use. They are specific enough for me to follow perfectly and just enough not to go overboard. Most menu items only have about five or six steps, even including premium meal options.

While I love that my cards were printed in the box, they also have the option to be tracked online. You can simply download the Blue Apron app for easy step-by-step cooking instructions, with photos included for those who are more visual learners.

Our review

It’s been four years since Blue Apron and I would easily take another four. Not once have I been bored with their meal selection and I tend to learn something new about cooking (or baking!) every time I make a meal.

For this test, I cooked meat, seafood, and baked cookies to round out the offerings. We’ve also made the recipes below, if you’d like to check out our editor-approved picks.

First choosing the Crispy Steelhead Trout and Creamy Dijon Sauce, I got to work. The card said it would take me 35 to 45 minutes to finish this, but in reality, with a slower oven and quadruple checking the recipe, it really came in just under an hour. Cutting fresh Brussels sprouts and marinating fish is actually pretty relaxing, so I didn’t mind using my entire lunch hour for something so fun.

The meals I ate were all extremely tasty and I think it had to do with the ingredients. I was amazed at how big my sprouts were and all my produce and protein looked perfect, right down to the stems of my peppers.

A nod to Knick Knacks, which is their fun tagline for the bag of spices, sauces and other additions needed for each recipe, as the tangy and unique flavors they offer also amp up the gourmet factor. This increases the use of plastic, but also makes for easy cooking.

Final decision

If you’re stuck between a few different meal kits to try this week, there may be some lingering questions. Making a pros and cons list is a good idea, but who has time to look at over 15 different kits? (Well, I did, and you can read all about it here.)

To help you out, Blue Apron is one of the most comprehensive meal kits in terms of offerings for both carnivores and vegetarians. The portion sizes are generous and the food is delicious, not to mention there are options for breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert.

This is not the kit for you if you are vegan, or if you have other health needs that require a special dietary option. Vegan? Look here.

How we tested it

• Ease of ordering: Blue Apron uses a weekly menu that is easy to use.
• Preparation, cooking and cleaning time: All cooking times vary, but are clearly labeled on each recipe, so you can plan your meals accordingly. Blue Apron may include more than other kits, but they have options for lighter meals.
• Taste and fullness: The taste and fullness are 5 out of 5 stars!
• Durability: Since each meal is packaged in individual plastic bags, this is not the most durable set. The box and ice packs can be recycled, but there is a large use of plastic.
• Price: The price is average when compared to other meal kits. It gets less expensive the more you order, so this is great for larger families and those who want more meals a week.

FAQ: What to look for when choosing a meal kit

Diet: Pay attention to the dietary options that each service caters for, from vegetarians and vegans to Keto and paleo.

House size: Count the number of people in your family and then calculate how much they eat to best calculate how many servings you need to feed everyone. Some of the kits detailed above have larger portions, while others are only for one serving.

Budget: Meal kits and services have a wide range of prices. Some offer free shipping, while others have a minimum spend, and other specialty or health plans may cost more.

Time: Think about how long you want to cook each night. Some meals take 30 or more minutes to cook, not including cleanup. Others are microwaveable and thus require no cleanup time.