Blue Apron Versus Plated

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When it comes to choosing a meal delivery service for you and your family, it’s important to weigh out all of your options. Some meal delivery services are better than others, and when deciding between Plated or Blue Apron, we’ve got you covered. Want simple recipes that are easy to follow and super delicious? How about meals delivered in eco-friendly packaging? Or, does having a meal delivery service that caters to a vegan diet matter most? Either way, we cover everything you should know from Plated prices to common reviews. So how does Blue Apron work? Continue reading our review below to learn more today.

If you know anything about recipe and ingredient delivery services, then you probably heard about the option from Blue Apron. The company has worked tirelessly to reach customers through online and television advertisements. Having a big brand doesn’t necessarily mean that a company can follow through on its promises. In this case, though, you can believe the hype.

Blue Apron revolutionized meal delivery services by placing ingredients inside insulated boxes and shipping them to customers. The ingredients arrive just as fresh as you would find them in the grocery store. In some cases, you get higher quality food from Blue Apron than you would find at your neighborhood store.

The company has also made a name for itself by working with farmers and other producers to improve sustainable practices. The company cuts out the middleman, so it has a direct influence on how farmers grow their products. Blue Apron uses that influence to push companies toward practices that protect land and water. While many companies are looking for shortcuts to boost profits, Blue Apron is doing hard work to make the planet a healthier place.

If you’re interested in a delivery service that sends you recipes and ingredients, Blue Apron is a good company to explore. Read on to help you decide whether it’s the right option for your household.

How Does Blue Apron Work?

Blue Apron makes it easy for households to create healthy, delicious meals without going to the grocery. When you visit the Blue Apron website, you get to choose between a Two-Person or Family Plan. You can also customize your plan to add additional servings and inform the company of any ingredients that you do not want included in your recipes.

You get to decide which days of the week you want Blue Apron to send you food. People in most major cities can choose delivery Monday through Saturday. Some cities, however, do not have delivery available on Monday and Saturday. Those people can only get Blue Apron deliveries from Tuesday to Friday.

After signing up, Blue Apron places all of your ingredients into an insulated package. Ice packs keep ingredients fresh throughout the shipping process. Everything that you need to make the day’s recipe gets included in the box, so you don’t have to visit the grocery store for any extras.

Use the directions and ingredients to make a restaurant-quality meal in your kitchen. Once you’ve made your meal, you can break down the packaging materials and recycle them.

Blue Apron lets you alter your plan at any time. If you want to cancel, add days or change your plan, just visit the website.

What Makes Blue Apron Stand Out?

Blue Apron is one of the most popular meal delivery services because it has put a lot of effort into marketing itself to consumers and working closely with its sources. While any company can spend money on marketing and advertising, it takes a special vision to work with ingredient producers to improve sustainability.

Blue Apron stands out because it provides a farm-to-table service that honestly cares about improving the land. It coordinates efforts with farmers to find sustainable practices and reduce food waste.

Blue Apron also takes the middlemen out of grocery shopping. It takes a lot of steps for food to reach a grocery store. In most supply chains, ingredients go from the farm to a wholesaler to a regional warehouse to a grocery store. Blue Apron buys its ingredients directly from farmers, so it’s the only step between you and delicious foods.

Common Reviews of Blue Apron

Blue Apron largely receives positive reviews that emphasize its timely delivery and tasty meals. Some reviewers, however, have had negative experiences with the company.

Most of the negative reviews come from people who signed up to receive a free meal from Blue Apron. They complain that the company did not give them a chance to cancel future orders, which forced them to pay for meals that they did not want. In reality, the Blue Apron website gives members an easy way to cancel delivery services. These customers must not have paid attention to the ordering process, otherwise they would have known how to cancel subsequent deliveries. Still, enough people complain about this that it’s worth noting. Perhaps Blue Apron could make its cancellation policy even more obvious to prevent this issue.

A small number of negative reviews complain that Blue Apron did not include all of the ingredients listed in recipes. The company never forgot to include a major ingredient such as beef or fish, but it did forget small items like radishes and carrots.

The majority of Blue Apron reviews praise the company for making it easy for families to plan and create meals together. Busy parents who want to have family meals don’t always have time to shop for groceries. On these occasions, many families opt for unhealthy dinners that they can get from a fast food restaurant. Blue Apron makes it possible for them to enjoy healthful meals even when they don’t have much time to spare.

Is Blue Apron for Me?

Blue Apron offers such a customizable service that it could suit practically anyone’s needs. Even if you follow a strict diet for health or religious reasons, Blue Apron can find recipes and ingredients that match your needs.

It does take some time to make Blue Apron recipes. The company does the shopping and preparing, but you still need to cook the recipes at home. If you do not have at least half an hour to cook, then Blue Apron might not work well for you. Then again, neither will any of the make-your-own-meal services.

If you want to explore new recipes with fresh ingredients at an affordable price, then Blue Apron is a great option. By choosing the company’s services, you get to enjoy meals at home, save money and avoid unwanted trips to the grocery store.

About the Author

Jeff Hindenach

Jeff Hindenach is the co-founder of Versus Reviews. He graduated from Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism. He has a long history of journalism, with a background writing for newspapers such as the San Jose Mercury News and San Francisco Examiner, as well as writing for The Huffington Post, New York Times, Business Insider, CNBC, Newsday and The Street. He believes in giving readers the tools they need to get out of debt.

Planning meals and shopping for groceries can take a lot of time. It’s no wonder that so many people rely on carry-out instead of cooking their meals at home. Over the last few years, companies like Plated have developed an alternative to eating unhealthy, expensive carry-out food. Instead of grabbing food from a restaurant, you can have ingredients sent to your home.

Plated eliminates the time that it takes to find recipes, make shopping lists and go to the store. Instead of spending well over an hour making dinner, you can cook excellent recipes in about 30 minutes.

The ability to make food at home without shopping at the grocery store can give you several advantages. Many people love companies like Plated because they want to eat healthier food. Plated has a wide range of recipes, so subscribers simply have to select healthful options.

Plated has also introduced a lot of people to home cooking. Many people didn’t grow up in homes that taught them how to prepare family meals. Plated gives them all of the ingredients and instructions that they need to feel confident in the kitchen. Over a few weeks or months, subscribers improve their skills, and the recipes from Plated become even more satisfying.

How Does Plated Work?

If you are interested in subscribing to Plated, you visit the company’s website to select a plan that matches your household. You get to choose between two, three and four servings per night. You also get to choose whether you want to receive meals two, three or four nights per week. Most plans qualify for free shipping. Once you choose a plan that you like, you create an account and give the company your payment information. If you have any dietary preferences, make sure you include them so Plated can send recipes that appeal to you.

After signing up, Plated will place each day’s ingredients in an insulated box that keeps all of the items fresh. In many cases, the ingredients that you get from the insulated box are fresher than the ingredients stored in your refrigerator.

Plated ships your box so that it arrives on a specific day. You open the box, take out all of the ingredients and follow the recipe to create a delicious meal. Most meals take about half an hour to prepare.

Once you finish enjoying your meal, you can break down your insulated box and other shipping materials. Most of the materials are recyclable, so you can put them in the rest of your papers and plastics.

What Makes Plated Stand Out?

Plated stands out for setting extremely high standards. The company clearly wants to exceed the expectations of its subscribers. Plated does this by sourcing ingredients from farms that grow in-season products. It also uses an in-house team to create unique recipes for each week. Some recipes that you might enjoy include pan-roasted chicken, cod with tomato olive sauce and homemade breakfast sausage. Each recipe includes nutritional information about the meal’s calories, protein, carbohydrates and fat content.

Plated is also one of the few meal delivery companies that lets you add extra food items to your dinner. In most cases, the company has a dessert that you can add. This completes the meal, turning it into a restaurant experience without the high price and inconvenience of leaving home.

It’s important to recognize that Plated spends time finding sustainable sources for its ingredients. When possible, the company chooses organic produce. It also uses poultry, pork and red meat that was raised without antibiotics and added hormones. Plated even works with fisheries to make sure they use sustainable practices that will not deplete supplies or harm waters.

Common Reviews of Plated

Plated receives consistently positive reviews for using fresh ingredients, developing delicious recipes and delivering meals on time. Many people say that Plated has taught them to love cooking at home. Instead of getting carry-out every night, they look forward to preparing meals at home. Overall, subscribers seem to enjoy the services and foods that they get from Plated.

Of course, Plated receives some negative reviews, too. Critics complain that the meals cost more than those sold by other companies. That’s certainly true if you choose the Two Portion Plan. If you get portions for three or more people, though, Plated has prices that are comparable to those of its competitors. Considering that Plated puts such an emphasis on quality, it makes sense that the company charges a little more for its products.

A small number of people claim that they received their meals late, which meant that the ingredients weren’t as fresh as promised.

Is Plated for Me?

Plated has a lot of positive features, but it isn’t for everyone. If you want to find the cheapest option, then you will want to look elsewhere. There are plenty of companies charging lower prices than Plated does.

You may also want to stay away from Plated if you have dietary restrictions. Plated has good options for vegetarians and vegans, but it doesn’t guarantee that its ingredients meet religious codes. If you follow halal, kosher or similar dietary laws, then Plated probably isn’t the perfect fit for your lifestyle.

Most people who try Plated, however, love the fresh ingredients, innovative recipes and convenience. It’s a good option for busy couples and families who want to eat dinner together. If you rarely have free time to spend with your family, this is a good way to make sure that you sit down with them at least a few times each week to share a meal.

Plated is also a strong option for people who love desserts. It’s one of the few meal delivery companies that lets its subscribers add dessert options to their meals. If you insist on concluding your meal with something sweet, then Plated is the right meal service for you.

Overall, people like what Plated delivers. It’s a good option for anyone who demands high-quality, sustainable practices and adventurous foods. If that sounds like you, then you should sign up to try Plated. The company offers a discount for your first delivery, so you don’t have much to lose by trying it.

About the Author

Jeff Hindenach

Jeff Hindenach is the co-founder of Versus Reviews. He graduated from Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism. He has a long history of journalism, with a background writing for newspapers such as the San Jose Mercury News and San Francisco Examiner, as well as writing for The Huffington Post, New York Times, Business Insider, CNBC, Newsday and The Street. He believes in giving readers the tools they need to get out of debt.