Simplify Your Life: Hello Fresh is Worth A Try
Publisher’s Note: This is an independent review and not a paid endorsement by any entity. Pictured above is Hello Fresh’s Pork Sausage Cavatappi Bolognese. Photo by sfJames
My husband and I decided to try a meal kit delivery service this winter. After having our old house on the market all summer, moving, and getting settled in our new home, we were a bit burned out. The idea of receiving food pre-prepped, with easy-to-follow instructions, was appealing. Hello Fresh is the only meal delivery service we have tried, so keep in mind that we have no other company to compare it to.
After a barrage of emails promising us all kinds of savings and deals, we signed up. Picking out our first set of meals was fun. There was a wide variety of options. If you are vegetarian or vegan, there are plenty of meal kits available.
If you don’t choose your meals by a certain date, Hello Fresh chooses them for you. I was disinclined to let that happen. So, we selected four meals to start with. When our box arrived, we were happy to find it complete. I had everything I needed to make all four recipes and large recipe cards detailing the recipes, step-by-step instructions, and a list of everything you needed for each recipe, including the number of pots and pans.
I was a little disappointed to find that everything had not been pre-washed and prepped. I guess they have to send the vegetables intact to retard spoilage. So, if you dislike chopping everything, I’m sorry to tell you you’re still on the hook.
Nevertheless, there’s usually not much prep, and since we were only cooking for two, the dishes did not take much time to make. They are not difficult recipes, nor are they particularly time-consuming. I usually had dinner ready in under 45 minutes. When you order your meals, you are given an estimate of the difficulty level, the time needed to prepare, and a chance to review the recipe before making your decision.
You are also given the number of calories. I was astonished by the high calorie some of the options are. After I started preparing various recipes, I began to see why. Nearly every recipe calls for the addition of one tablespoon of butter at some point in the recipe! All sour cream, cream cheese, etc., are full fat. No wonder they were so delicious!
Yes, most of the meals are very, very good. I have now made 22 recipes. About a dozen were really excellent. Some were restaurant quality. One “hall of fame” recipe we really enjoyed was the beef enchiladas verde. We loved a Szechuan beef noodle meal and a very special barramundi over turmeric quinoa with salsa Fresca and lime crema. We also made excellent shrimp tempura, but I modified the batter recipe because I thought it was too thick.
We also loved a steak fondue meal that was especially fun. One thing you must know, however, is that many of the exceptional meal options come with an upcharge. If you are trying a meal delivery kit to save money, you will probably need to stick to the basic meals and eschew those marked “premium.”
Do you save money overall? Maybe. Although we initially ordered four meals per week, we still needed to shop for food to make breakfast and lunch. Hello Fresh offers other ready-made meal options and meal kits; some could cover you for breakfast and lunch if you choose.
So, from my point of view, here are the pros and cons:
Pros:
1. Great variety of choices
2. Well-balanced meals usually include a protein, vegetables, and a starch.
3. There were a few meals we didn’t love, but everything was edible, and many of the meals were scrumptious. We didn’t have a lot of leftovers, although I sometimes saved a portion of my meal for lunch the next day.
4. The portions are large. You won’t be hungry. You won’t be buying a 6 dollar bottle of some spice for a recipe you may never make again.
5. You will learn some new recipes and even a few new cooking techniques.
6. You can pause your deliveries for weeks if you don’t want to participate.
Cons
1. You still have to wash and chop your produce.
2. Occasionally, some of the produce seemed a little old.
3. With four meals a week, if you go out or can’t cook for some reason, you are left with all these meals, so hurry and make them before the next box arrives. It can start to feel like pressure.
4. The meals sometimes require you to dirty up a couple of bowls, two sheet pans, and a frying pan. My husband got a little bent out of shape about the constant big clean-ups after dinner.
5. Some of the ground meats are too fatty. Especially the ground pork, which made one of the meals we had pretty darn greasy.
6. Customer service leaves something to be desired. One week, my box didn’t arrive. I contacted customer service. The agent told me they would send out another box. When it didn’t arrive, I was told my first box was damaged in shipping, and they can’t replace boxes under those circumstances. Another week, the packer failed to include one of the recipes. When I complained, the agent emailed me the recipe, but it was for trout rather than salmon. I was able to improvise, and the meal turned out fine.
Overall, I would rate Hello Fresh a solid “B.” We have cut back our orders to three meals a week rather than 4. We simply decided we wanted more freedom to go out or make different things. I’ve also decided I’d like to try making some of the recipes on my own, so I can use less fatty meats - ground sirloin or turkey instead of what they provide. I can also use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream, and choose other lower-fat modifications. And does everything really need an extra tablespoon of butter? Nooooooooo! So, for my next trick, I will try recreating some of these recipes on my own, cutting fat and calories, but retaining flavor. Stay tuned.