Plated Review

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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.