See how the meal prep kit stacks up

Strap on your aprons, it’s time to get cooking.

After trying what seemed to be an endless number of meal kit options, you may be shocked that my kitchen and I are still standing. However, despite all the prepping a tasting, I was hungry for more, and Blue Apron was quick to satisfy that craving.

The meal-kit company stood out amongst the rest, mainly because the ingredients and the meals looked to be the most gourmet option — and even more shocking that they came from a box and from my own oven.

So I tried Blue Apron again, this time with a deeper dive, focusing on their recipes, meals and cost to see just how they stack up to the competition in the very crowded meal kit space. Check out the full review below, but warning: This will make you want to raid your pantry.

Blue Apron recipes

Three Blue Apron recipe cards on a white counter
Recipes come on printed cards.
Sophie Cannon

When I got my box, I wanted to choose meals that I’d never tried to cook on my own, just to really put to the test how I, a very recent home chef, could make gourmet meals on my own. My meals were mainly carnivorous, with a chicken dish, steak and a premium trout option. However, vegetarians, don’t click away just yet! On the site, they have a page just for you, with weekly meals that look just as good as the meat-eating options.

Also incorporated into the weekly choices for recipes are options with Beyond Meat proteins, Weight Watchers-approved dishes and health-conscious offerings. For those whose main concern is time, the recipe cards and the online site both have timestamps for how long the meal should take from start to finish, as well as easy prep and clean-up meals, made specifically for a hassle-free time in the kitchen.

Zeroing in on the cards themselves, they were specific enough for me to follow along perfectly and simple enough to not overwhelm. Most menu items only have about five or six steps, even including the premium meal options.

A side by side recipe of how to chop veggies and boil potatoes
You can opt for online instructions, too.
Blue Apron

While I love that my cards came printed in the box, they also have the option to follow along 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.

Blue Apron meals

A fish dish on a white plate with potatoes and Brussels sprouts
A fish dish with potatoes and Brussels sprouts.
Sophie Cannon

After reading all the recipe cards, I wanted to try the most gourmet-looking meal to really put Blue Apron to the restaurant-quality test. Opting for the Crispy Steelhead Trout and Creamy Dijon Sauce, I got to work.

The card said that I would need 35 to 45 minutes to complete this, but in reality, with a slower oven and quadruple checking of the recipe, it really came in at just under an hour. Chopping fresh Brussels sprouts and marinating fish is actually pretty relaxing, so I didn’t mind using my whole lunch hour on something so fun.

The meals that I had were all insanely delicious, and I think that had something to do with the ingredients. I was stunned to see how huge my sprouts were and all my produce and proteins looked picture-perfect, down to the stems on my peppers.

Trout, red peppers, potatoes, sprouts and a bag called "Knick Knacks" on a white counter
The ingredients were pristine.
Sophie Cannon

I will give myself a bit of credit for the cooking and plating, but when the ingredients come this fresh, it’s hard to have the meal not come out looking restaurant-quality. Also a nod to the “Knick Knacks,” which is their fun branding for the bag of spices, sauces and other additions needed for each recipe, as the sharp and unique flavors they provide also amp up the gourmet factor.

Blue Apron cost and plans

Two side by side pricing plans from Blue Apron
There are several pricing plans on Blue Apron.
Blue Apron

After a great meal in a restaurant, sometimes looking down at the bill can leave an unpleasant taste in your mouth. For Blue Apron, the quality of the food is worth the price and then some, as the plans come in at under $10 per serving no matter which plan you choose — much less than a restaurant and way better quality than anything you can get for less from a drive-thru.

The lowest price per serving is the Signature plan, with four servings and four recipes per week, coming in at $7.49 per serving. For three meals per week, the price creeps up to $7.99 and two weekly meals cost $8.99. For those who have a two-person household, or just one but love leftovers like me, the two serving options are perfect for you. For $9.99 per serving no matter the option you choose, you’ll get two, three or four signature meals per week or two or three vegetarian or wellness meals.

Shipping is free for many of the plans, including any option in which you request three or more meals per week. For smaller orders like the two-person two-serving choices, those will cost an extra $7.99 for shipping.

An array of red and white wine bottles and a chart to show which one to pair with foods
Wine comes with a chart with food pairing options.
Sophie Cannon

Blue Apron also offers wine pairings, shipped monthly to go with any of your meals — for those 21 and over. The wine subscription comes down to around $10 per bottle, or $65.99 per month for six bottles of all red, all white or a mix at your choosing. The bottles are 500ml, which is about two-thirds of a standard bottle of wine and makes portion control a breeze. The coolest part is the handy “choose your own adventure” guide and handbook sent along with your bottles, helping you pick the right wine to pair with your meal for even the most amateur of sommeliers.

Right now, Blue Apron is running a new customer promotion you won’t want to miss, taking $100 off across your first five boxes, in case you needed any more convincing to give the meal kit a go.

More Blue Apron FAQ’s

How does Blue Apron stack up to competitors?

A tray of fresh Brussles sprouts and red pepper in a dish
Fresh Brussels sprouts and red peppers.
Sophie Cannon

If you’re stuck between a few different meal kits to try this week, there may be some lingering questions. Making a list of pros and cons 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.)

Is Blue Apron vegan or ready-made?

If you’re searching for the most gourmet looking and tasting kit with fresh ingredients, this kit is for you. Options for health? Check. Lots of options for meat-eaters and fish-lovers? Also, check.

However, if you are looking for vegan meals, Blue Apron is not your best bet — Purple Carrot or Splendid Spoon is better for vegans.

For those who are looking for pre-made meals, this isn’t for you either, as Blue Apron only carries meal kits where you become the chef for the night. For pre-made meals that come frozen or refrigerated, Daily Harvest and Freshly are the right options.

Where does Blue Apron deliver?

Blue Apron ships to the contiguous United States. To make sure they ship directly to your doorstep, you can enter your zip code to verify.

As for the wine delivery, because of some state’s laws, they ship to 31 states and Washington, D.C., which can all be found here.

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