Blue Apron delivers all the freshest meats, fish, fruits, and veggies direct to your door in an insulated box.
Pricing: 10.99$ per serving for 2-person plan.
8.99$-9.99$ per serving for family plan
(Updated to May 2018)
Plated is ideal for foodies and people who love to cook at home. They provide a variety of meat, veggies and seafood meals as well as desserts, all made to perfection.
Pricing: $11.95 per serving for 2-person plan. $9.95 per serving for 3-4 person plan
Shipping: Free for orders over 60$ (Updated May 2018)
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Over the last few years, there have been many changes in the meal kit industry. With many new companies entering the industry, there is now much diversity and many options available for the consumer. However, with so many options available, it can be overwhelming and difficult to know which option is the best for you.
That is where I come in.
Comparing all the companies that are available and providing a breakdown, so you are better able to select the company that is the perfect match for you. Two of the most well-known companies in the meal kit industry are Blue Apron and Plated. They have many things in common, but there are also a few important differences, so let’s get started!
Variety of plan
Blue Apron has 2 different plan options. There is the Family Plan for four people or the Classic Plan which caters for two people. With the Classic Plan for two people, you can choose 2 or 3 recipes a week, whereas the Family Plan offers a choice of 4 recipes per week. In comparison, Plated offers much more flexibility with 3 different plan options available. They have two, three or four-person servings and with each you can choose 2, 3 or 4 recipes per week.
Variety of dishes
When it comes to a variety of dishes, undoubtedly the big-time winner is Plated, offering an enormous amount of 20 dishes per week! This is regardless of what plan you choose! Blue Apron offers 12 dishes per week which are divided over the two different plans. So with the Classic Plan for two people, you get a selection of 8 dishes, whereas the Family Plan for four people, only offers a selection of 4 dishes. The diversity in both Plated and Blue Apron is excellent. With both companies, you will find dishes that include vegetables, meat, poultry, pork, fish and seafood.
Style and complexity of dishes
I am happy to say that for both Blue Apron and Plated, all the dishes I tried were very good! It would appear that Plated offers recipes that are a little more involved with slightly more sophisticated techniques. That is certainly a nice option if you are interested. Since they offer 20 recipes per week you can also easily select less sophisticated options.
Quality of products
Both Blue Apron and Plated offer very high-quality products. They both use farm fresh seasonal products and where they can, they also include organic ingredients. Blue Apron state that all meats they use have no added hormones and the seafood is always sustainably sourced. Plated state that they use 100% antibiotic-free meats, beef with no added hormones and sustainably sourced fish and seafood whenever possible.
The Box
Both companies deliver your order in a specifically designed and labeled carton box. Both place the proteins requiring refrigeration on the bottom of the box with sufficient ice, so the box can stay outside for few hours without any issues. The main difference between the two boxes is the organization within the box. Plated ensures that the ingredients of each dish have been sorted and labeled in a plastic bag so there is little sorting required. This is opposed to Blue Apron that does not label most of their ingredients and they are packed loosely inside the box. The only thing wrapped individually for each dish are small ingredients like spices, vinegar etc. So with Blue Apron, it is important to keep in mind that you will have to sort and match the ingredients of each dish which is an important time consideration.
The app and website
Both companies offer a well-organized and easy to use website and app. You can register, choose or change your plan, define your eating preferences, select dishes, change payment method etc – all online in a very easy and user-friendly way.
Terms of plan
both companies offer its service as a subscription service and not as a one-off. Both companies provide the option of holding your account if you are needing to skip a week. They also both offer flexibility in being able to nominate your delivery day. With Plated the cancellation of your account is easier as it can be done through the app/website. This is opposed to Blue Apron that requires you to contact their customer service for cancellation. This is a bit more annoying from my point of view.
Add-ons
Blue Apron offers an excellent selection of wines, and they even provide recommendations for the right wine to accompany each dish, which is great! They also have a retail option, offering a selection of cookware and other kitchen supplies. Plated on the other hand, offers a selection of two changing desserts every week, at a cost of 8$ each
Blue Apron delivers all the freshest meats, fish, fruits, and veggies direct to your door in an insulated box.
Pricing: 10.99$ per serving for 2-person plan.
8.99$-9.99$ per serving for family plan
(Updated to May 2018)
Plated is ideal for foodies and people who love to cook at home. They provide a variety of meat, veggies and seafood meals as well as desserts, all made to perfection.
Pricing: $11.95 per serving for 2-person plan. $9.95 per serving for 3-4 person plan
Shipping: Free for orders over 60$ (Updated May 2018)