My Expert Tips for Getting the Most Value Out of a Meal Kit Subscription

Meal kits are a better value now than than they've ever been, with some services costing less than buying the groceries you would need to make the same meals. If you're considering trying HelloFresh, Blue Apron or Purple Carrot to get dinner on the table with less fuss, there are ways to maximize your subscription and get even more good eats for less dough.

And if you're worried about that pesky carbon footprint, good on you but know that meal kit sustainability practices have also improved since the category launched some 15 years ago. Most services have more eco-friendly packaging with less plastic waste and nearly all of them offer plant-based recipes to choose from.

I've tested dozens of meal delivery services, cooking more than 100 recipes and tasting several hundred premade meals in the more than five years I've been reviewing them. In doing so, I've developed tips and tricks that can help you get even more out of any subscription.

Whether it's fine-tuning recipes for optimal results or stretching your meal kit delivery plan to squeeze every last drop of value out of the service, here are the best meal kit tips, tricks and hacks for getting the most out of your next (or first) box of recipes. 

1. Take advantage of new customer deals

First and foremost, you'll want to take advantage of new customer sign-up offers. Most meal kit services allow you to try their goods for deep discounts, up to 70% off and often for several weeks' worth of meals. I've rounded up the best meal delivery deals right now to help you pick. 

If you're already a meal kit subscriber, there's no rule against pausing it or canceling so you can try another service at one of those dirt-cheap new customer rates. 

2. Choose a bigger plan for better value

Meal kit costs vary greatly depending on the number of meals and servings you order per week, and the delta between them can be enormous. Blue Apron, for instance, breaks down to just $8 a serving if you order the most amount of meals -- four recipes with four servings each -- but jumps to over $12 per serving if you only get the least -- two recipes with two servings per week.

My suggestion is to order a bigger meal plan than you think you'll need and choose recipes that keep in the fridge or freeze well. Do this and you'll have lunch and dinner all figured out for the next day or two. You're already going through the effort to cook, you might as well get more miles out of it and save some money while you're at it.

"Meal kit meal planning," you heard it here first. What recipes are good for cooking in large batches and eating later on? Pretty much anything other than seafood and salad recipes, both of which aren't great to freeze after preparing. 

Speaking of which…

3. Always cook seafood recipes first

Seafood recipes are always best to cook first since they'll also spoil first. The same goes for other recipes with ingredients that may turn when left uneaten or uncooked, including vegetables, leafy greens, cheese and fresh dairy. 

Potatoes and other dense vegetables are typically good between four or five days to a full week. Steak and chicken are also pretty hearty and can last several days in the fridge without having their quality compromised. 

4. Take advantage of steak and seafood recipes

When you peruse a weekly meal kit menu, you'll typically have a dozen or so recipes to choose from, sometimes as many as 50 or more. While you should certainly choose recipes that sound good to you and fit your nutrition goals, some recipes will give you more for your money. Steak and seafood recipes are at the top of that list, but anything with a protein (chicken, pork, fish) is typically a better deal. 

I priced out a few recipes from Blue Apron and EveryPlate to see how much they cost versus buying all the ingredients yourself. Unsurprisingly, the most expensive recipes to make from scratch (i.e. the best deals for a meal kit subscriber) were those featuring steak and seafood. Some meal kit services charge a premium for certain recipes, but many include steak, shrimp, salmon and other seafood as part of the standard plan. 

On the flip side, avoid recipes with ingredients that are cheap and easy to find at the store, such as simple pasta dishes with no protein or basic soups. If you eat mostly vegetarian, I recommend Purple Carrot, since this 100% plant-based meal kit service has the most interesting meat-free recipes made with high-quality ingredients. 

5. Don't always trust the recipe, especially with spices and heat

Recipes are not one size fits all, so trust your instincts. If it seems the recipe calls for what seems like too much salt going into the sauce, it probably is. You can always add more, but you can't take any out, so err on the side of caution. The same goes for heat and spice: If you can't handle big hits of habanero or spicy curries, pull back on those elements until you've tasted the finished dish.

6. Pay attention to the 'customer favorite' tags 

Most meal kit companies will hit certain recipes with a "fan favorite" label. More often than not, I've enjoyed those dishes and appreciate the recommendation. Services such as HelloFresh and Home Chef use loads of aggregated user reviews and subscriber feedback, so you can trust there is some validity to those markers. Hey, they want you to enjoy the meals just as much as you do.

7. Challenge yourself and have fun

It's true: Meal kits are a good way to get you and the family fed for a fair price, but they can also be a lot of fun and a good way to sharpen your cooking skills. Never made risotto before? Pounce on those recipes when it comes along on the menu. You might be surprised at how easy it is.

When you crack open a meal kit, crack open a bottle of wine too or pour yourself a beer, cocktail or mocktail and put on some music or a favorite podcast. Cooking can be calming if you're in the right headspace. If you're not in the right headspace, make the kids cook. 

Bon appétit.