Although I'd heard many people talk about how helpful and time-saving meal kits can be, I was always skeptical, wondering if they were really worth the cost and if they could accommodate my vegetarian diet. That all changed when, earlier this year, I spent several months testing 10 meal delivery services for CNET's list of the best vegan meal delivery services.
After my meal kit testing, one specific company stood out to me, and it's the one I'd genuinely spend my money on. I'm referring to Blue Apron, CNET's best overall meal kit. This is how it turned me into a meal kit believer.
Don't miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source on Chrome.
The vegetarian recipes don't phone it in
Earlier this year, I tried four vegetarian meal kits from Blue Apron, which are as low as $7 per serving. All of them were delicious: roasted cauliflower and farro salad, white bean and veggie grain bowls, loaded veggie burritos and Thai-style curry noodles. I even saved the recipe cards and have re-created the farro salad and grain bowls on my own.
I later tried pimento cheeseburgers with black bean patties, peanut udon stir-fry, roasted red pepper pasta and spicy mushroom and onion quesadillas. Again, absolutely delicious. No notes on taste. However, the pimento cheeseburger meal kit was missing one crucial ingredient, the pickled peppadew peppers, but I had a substitute on hand.
The pimento cheeseburger with a black bean patty. I added my own tomato and arugula to the burger, and broccoli on the side, for more veggies and greens. Anna Gragert/CNET
I could tell that whoever created these recipes didn't skimp on flavor or rely on old standbys like tofu or extra spice. I also felt that these dishes offered a good variety of fresh-tasting vegetables, greens, grains and different protein options, with the ability to adjust the sodium and spice levels to your liking.
As someone who regularly cooks at home to avoid spending extra on eating out or takeout, I was genuinely inspired by these meal kits, particularly by the sauces that brought the recipes together.
The peanut udon stir-fry topped with a fried egg. Anna Gragert/CNET
... continue reading