I Test Meal Kits for a Living: These 7 Mistakes Are Costing You

2 days ago 7

Meal kits have become the perfect middle ground between "I want to eat something that didn't come from a drive-through" and "I wouldn't know a good recipe if it walked up and introduced itself." They're ideal for health-conscious people who've realized that ordering takeout five nights a week isn't a good strategy for improving their diet.

They're also as good a value as they've ever been. Some services we tested cost about the same as regular groceries, since meal kit prices haven't inflated as quickly as grocery prices.

Having tested every major meal kit service several times, I've learned a few tricks and tips to improve the experience, along with common mistakes that'll cost you money, food, and general enjoyment.

Ready to become a meal kit master? Let's dive into the top seven mistakes to avoid.

1. Missing out on meal kit deals

First and foremost, you'll want to take advantage of new customer sign-up offers. Most meal kit services allow you to try their goods for deep discounts, up to 70% off and often for several weeks' worth of meals. I've rounded up the best meal delivery deals right now to help you pick.

If you're already a meal kit subscriber, there's no rule against pausing or canceling to try another service at one of those dirt-cheap new-customer rates.

2. Choosing the wrong size plan

a plate with salmon, salad and smashed potatoes on it.

Meal kit costs vary greatly depending on the number of meals and servings you order per week and the delta between them can be enormous. Marley Spoon, for instance, breaks down to just $9 a serving if you order the most meals -- six recipes with four servings each -- but it jumps to $13 per serving if you only get the least -- two recipes with two servings each.

My suggestion is to order a bigger meal plan than you think you'll need and choose recipes that keep in the fridge or freeze well. Do this and you'll have lunch and dinner figured out for the next day or two. You're already putting in the effort to cook; you might as well get more miles out of it and save some money, too.

"Meal kit meal planning," you heard it here first. What recipes are good for cooking in large batches and eating later on? Pretty much anything other than seafood and salad recipes, both of which aren't great to freeze after preparing.

Speaking of which…

3. Forgetting to cook seafood first

Seafood recipes are best cooked first because they spoil more quickly. The same goes for other recipes with ingredients that may turn when left uneaten or uncooked, including vegetables, leafy greens, cheese and fresh dairy.

Potatoes and other dense vegetables are typically good for four or five days to a full week. Steak is also pretty hearty and can last several days in the fridge without having its quality compromised.

4. Passing over steak and fish

These days, when you peruse a weekly meal kit menu, you'll typically find dozens of recipes to choose from, sometimes as many as 100 or more. While you should certainly choose recipes that sound good to you and align with your nutrition goals, some will give you more for your money. Steak and seafood recipes are at the top of that list, but anything with a protein (chicken, pork, fish) is typically a better deal.

I previously took a deep dive into meal kit pricing to see how much they cost versus buying all the ingredients yourself. Unsurprisingly, the most expensive recipes to make from scratch (i.e., the best deals for a meal kit subscriber) were those featuring steak and seafood. Some meal kit services charge a premium for certain recipes, but many include steak, shrimp, salmon and other seafood as part of the standard plan, which makes them a great investment.

On the flip side, avoid recipes with cheap, easy-to-find ingredients at the store, such as simple pasta dishes with no protein or basic soups. If you eat mostly vegetarian, I recommend Purple Carrot, as it offers the most interesting meat-free recipes made with high-quality ingredients.

5. Not trusting your instincts while cooking

Recipes are not one-size-fits-all, so trust your instincts. If the recipe calls for what seems like too much salt in the sauce, it probably is. You can always add more but you can't take any out, so err on the side of caution. The same goes for heat and spice: If you can't handle big hits of habanero or spicy curries, pull back on those elements until you've tasted the finished dish.

6. Ignoring favorite tags

Most meal kit companies will label certain recipes as a "fan favorite" option. More often than not, I've enjoyed those dishes and appreciate the recommendation. Services such as HelloFresh and Home Chef use loads of aggregated user reviews and subscriber feedback, so you can trust that those markers are valid. After all, they want you to enjoy the meals just as much as you do.

7. Taking it too seriously

It's true: Meal kits are a good way to get you and the family fed for a fair price but they can also be a lot of fun and a good way to sharpen your cooking skills. Never made risotto before? Pounce on those recipes when it comes along on the menu. You might be surprised at how easy it is.

When you open a meal kit, crack open a bottle of wine too, or pour yourself a beer, cocktail or mocktail and put on music or a favorite podcast. Cooking can be fun and even settle your nerves if you're in the right headspace.

If you're not in the right headspace, well, you can always make the kids cook instead.

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