Unboxing recipe boxes: Which one is best for you?

HelloFresh

HelloFresh is renowned for its user-friendly approach, offering straightforward recipes that are perfect for busy individuals or families. Their ingredients are pre-portioned, reducing food waste and making the cooking process a whole lot easier. HelloFresh prides itself on sourcing high-quality, seasonal produce and partnering with various food production companies, ensuring there is something for everyone to enjoy!

Pros

1 Simple and easy-to-follow recipes suitable for all skill levels.

2 Generous portion sizes.

3 Comprehensive app features for managing orders and accessing recipes.

4 A vast quantity of meals to choose from with a broad variety.

5 Air fryer recipe adaptation options.

Cons

1 Limited customisation options, especially for those with specific dietary restrictions.

2 No option for single portions.

3 No option for a one-off box – must be 3-5 meals a week.

4 More utilisation of single-use plastic than other brands.

Trustpilot rating: 3.4 stars*

What do people love about HelloFresh?

• Variety of meals
• Great tasting meals.

What do people like the least?

• The high quantity of rice and pasta-based dishes.

Gousto

Gousto stands out with its wide variety of recipes, catering to diverse dietary needs including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten and dairy-free. Their recipes are beginner-friendly, ensuring cooking is accessible to all skill levels. Additionally, Gousto offers the convenience of a 'Gousto Market' where customers can purchase from a selection of groceries and premium brand items to order alongside recipe boxes. They also emphasise high-quality ingredients sourced from trusted British suppliers, providing consumers with fresh produce every time.

Pros

1 Extensive recipe variety catering to different tastes and dietary needs.

2 Flexible service - one-off meals and subscription pauses at any time.

3 Convenient delivery schedule.

4 Boxes available for single portions.

Cons

1 Meals are less child-friendly than competitors.

2 Limited customisation options compared to other services.

Trustpilot rating: 4 stars*

What do people love about Gousto?

• Good quality and freshness of the produce.

What do people like the least?

• Portions sizes are on the smaller side.

Mindful Chef

Mindful Chef takes a strong health-focused approach, with recipes crafted by in-house nutritionists. Their meal plans are designed to support various dietary preferences, and their recipes are both gluten and dairy-free! Mindful Chef prioritises sustainably sourced ingredients, with an emphasis on organic produce and responsibly farmed proteins. With each meal purchased, a donation is provided for children living in poverty. Additionally, they offer ready-to-go meals, which are convenient options designed for quick preparation, such as frozen microwavable dishes, smoothies and snacks, desserts and soups. With a strong mindset towards saving our planet, Mindful Chef has now introduced a low-carbon range, aspiring to achieve complete carbon neutrality by the year 2030.

Pros

1 Health-conscious recipes - no refined white versions of carbohydrates used.

2 Dairy and gluten-free meals.

3 Premium quality ingredients sourced from independent farmers and producers.

4 Commitment to sustainability, with mostly recyclable packaging and carbon offset initiatives.

5 Boxes available for single portions.

6 Ready-to-go meals also available (microwavable meals, smoothies, snacks, desserts and soups).

7 Carbon labelling on recipes.

8 Flexible service - one-off meals and subscription pauses at any time.

Cons

1 Higher price point compared to other services - (e.g. prices from £10 for a single serving meal).

2 Limited recipe variety, especially for those seeking more adventurous meals.

Trustpilot rating: 4.5 stars*

What do people love about Mindful Chef?

• Great tasting recipes that are easy to make as well as balanced and healthy.

What do people like the least?

• A little more pricey than competitors.

Green Chef

Green Chef sets itself apart from other meal box services with its focus on organic, non-GMO ingredients and carefully curated recipes that cater to specific dietary preferences, including low-carb, paleo, vegan and vegetarian. With a strong emphasis on sustainability, they prioritise sustainable ingredients whilst offsetting 100% of their carbon emissions and all plastic waste from their meal kits. Each recipe box is designed to make the cooking process as easy as possible, with pre-measured ingredients and easy-to-follow instructions.

Pros

1 Emphasis on organic, sustainably sourced ingredients.

2 100% carbon emission offset for distribution, operation and plastic packaging use.

3 Specialised meal plans catering to various dietary lifestyles.

4 Flexible service - the option to skip weeks or pause a subscription at any time.

Cons

1 Higher price point compared to other meal kit services on the market.

2 Limited availability in certain regions, restricting accessibility for some customers.

3 Not as many weekly meal options available as other brands.

4 No option for single portions - only caters for 2 or 4.

5 No option for a one-off box - must be 2-5 meals a week.

Trustpilot rating: 3.4 stars*

What do people love about Green Chef?

• Good quality of produce.
• Perfect for low carb and keto diets.

What do people like the least?

• Portions sizes are on the smaller side.