Plated vs. Blue Apron

If you’re like me, you spent the weekend indulging in BBQ and beer, and probably need to reset and start cooking at home again. To get back into the swing of things in the kitchen without having to think too much about what to cook, we look to meal delivery services. I love how they send you exactly what you need to make a delicious meal at home, even down to a cube of butter!

We received this recipe in our Plated box a few weeks back and I was a little intimidated when I read “risotto” on the recipe card, mainly because I’ve seen Scott Conant chop the hell out of chefs for undercooking this grain. It’s true that a 20-minute appetizer round isn’t enough time to make a risotto dish! It requires a little longer cooking time, and a bit more attention than your normal pasta or rice grain, but don’t let this deter you from preparing this dish.

Sometimes with meal delivery kits, some ingredients can be foreign and intimidating, even for the seasoned cook. But, it’s fun to branch out and try new things, and that’s why I’ve really enjoyed cooking with kits like Blue Apron and Plated.

Why I Love Meal Delivery Service

Creating my own recipes is fun, but can be time-consuming, and we all know how costly ingredient-heavy recipes can become. My husband and I both work full-time, so planning out meals and going to the store to grab every single ingredient can turn into more work than it’s worth some nights.

I love that meal delivery services like Blue Apron and Plated send everything you need to make the entire meal.  Everything comes pre-measured in bottles or bags, which helps shorten cooking and clean-up times. The only items you will need to have on-hand at home are: olive oil, salt, and pepper.

Blue Apron vs. Plated

I really appreciate the way these companies have structured their customer acquisition model because it truly is all about the experience, and you just have to try it out to see if it’s something you might like!

Blue Apron – $60 off your first order

Pros

• User-friendly app to manage deliveries or for swapping out recipes
• Good quality ingredients, always fresh
• Step by step illustrated instructions
• Less waste of fresh ingredients

Cons

• The 3 meals per week for two people is a BIG commitment! You can always freeze the meat if you won’t be cooking all of them that week, but know that you will more than likely not be able to use the fresh ingredients at a later time.  We basically just wanted 2 meals each week.
• Some of the Blue Apron recipes are labor-intensive, i.e. a lot of chopping, mixing, etc., even before you begin the cooking process.
• Occasionally items will be missing from your box

Plated

Pros

• More ordering options available to suit your individual needs
• Great gluten-free and vegetarian recipes
• User-friendly app to manage deliveries or to swap out meals
• Fresh ingredients delivered right to your front door

Cons

• Again, with any of these meal delivery services, items will sometimes be missing.  When my first order didn’t arrive, I simply called customer service and they gladly sent a replacement box free of charge.
• Instructions are harder to follow (in my opinion)

Are the Meal Delivery Services Worth it?

I think they are great!  My husband, however, prefers my cooking (awwhh!)   We use meal delivery service about once a month just to change up our routine and try out new and exciting recipes! The cost per meal is about the same for both companies, with the more servings you order, the more cost-effective it is. Of course, the best part is not having to plan a meal and shop for all the ingredients.