When meal kit deliveries first hit the scene a few years ago, meals were relatively simple. But today, so many new companies have entered the market that there is now a wide variety to choose from. Basically, you order your meals on the meal kit delivery company’s website, choosing from meals created by professional chefs.
The best competitors in the market can deliver to most zip codes in the United States, and everything arrives in packaging that helps it stay fresh for an additional 24 hours after the time of delivery (or another four to five days in the refrigerator). It can be a bit difficult to decide which meal delivery system to choose, so we’re making it a little easier by comparing two of the most popular meal delivery systems on the market: Blue Apron and Plated. Here’s our analysis.
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Prices
In the price battle, Plated comes in at $12 per serving for the two-person plan and $10 per serving for the 3- or 4-person plan. Blue Apron, on the other hand, is slightly cheaper at $11 per serving for a two-person package and $9-$10 per serving for a family plan, which feeds four people. The price difference is not huge, but Blue Apron leads the way with slightly lower prices. Let’s look at some other factors.
Winner: Blue Apron
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Variety of meals
Variety is the spice of life, and if one of the reasons you’re opting for a meal package delivery plan is because you want to eat something different every day, you may end up preferring Plated. Plated offers 20 meals per week, no matter which plan you choose. Blue Apron offers only eight dishes if you have the classic plan, and only four dishes if you have the family plan.
At Blue Apron and Plated, you’ll find dishes to suit your palette, whether you like poultry, beef or seafood, whether you’re a vegetarian, a pescatarian or an omnivore. However, Plated has a lot more variety, with many vegetarian options, low-calorie options, kid-friendly options and even gourmet options.
Winner: Gold Plated
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Food quality
With Plated and Blue Apron, you get high-quality ingredients and farm-fresh produce. Blue Apron has stated that all the meat they use in their meals has no added hormones and the seafood comes from sustainable sources. Plated also uses 100 percent antibiotic-free meat, hormone-free beef, and sustainably sourced seafood.
Whenever possible, both companies include organic ingredients. Both meal delivery companies have delicious recipes, but you may find that the options on Plated are a little more sophisticated.
Winner: Gold Plated
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The quality of the box
Shipping fresh produce and other perishables definitely requires a robust box that’s up to the task. Both companies deliver the ingredients of your meal in a cardboard box that is specially designed for food storage and is labeled as such. Any proteins that require additional ice are placed at the bottom of the box where they can stay the coldest, even if the box sits on your porch for an afternoon.
However, one difference between Plated and Blue Apron is the organization within their shipping boxes. Plated sorts each ingredient and puts it in a separate plastic bag, so you don’t have to sort yourself. Blue Apron, on the other hand, doesn’t label most of the ingredients you get, and the only ingredients that are individually packaged are small ones, like spices and seasonings. When cooking a Blue Apron dish, you’ll need to factor in the time it takes to sort through all the ingredients yourself, pairing each with the exact recipe.
Winner: Gold Plated
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Cooking difficulty level
Both Plated and Blue Apron give you easy-to-follow recipes that should make cooking a breeze. Those who are complete novices in the kitchen may prefer Plated, which offers slightly simpler recipes and has the advantage of sending all the ingredients to you individually wrapped.
Blue Apron is aimed at those who have at least a little knowledge in the kitchen, but are looking for ways to expand their culinary horizons and dining options.
Winner: Undecided
Ease of use of the application and website
Both companies offer a website and app where you can sign up for a plan, change your plan, choose meals for the week, make payments, and more. Both companies use a fairly user-friendly platform that is easy to manage. You can also skip a week or cancel at any time.
Winner: Undecided
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Drinks, desserts and other accessories
Many would argue that a good meal is not complete without some accessories, such as a glass of wine or a slice of dessert. Plated offers two different desserts each week for an additional $8 each.
Blue Apron offers an impressive selection of wines, and the site will even recommend certain wines to go with the dishes you order. Blue Apron also has a retail section of the website where you can buy cookware, cookware and other kitchen tools.
Winner: Blue Apron
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Sign-up bonus
Currently, both Blue Apron and Plated offer a sign-up bonus to new customers. Plated is offering new customers up to $50 in savings when they sign up, while Blue Apron is promising $20 off your first three boxes for a total savings of $60.
Winner: Blue Apron
Conclusion
While both meal package delivery services have their merits, Plated seems to be the winner here. Although slightly more expensive than Blue Apron, Plated offers benefits that make up for the price difference. With a greater variety of meals, a more intuitive packaging strategy and simple recipes that even beginners can cook, Plated is likely to suit the average home cook.
Best Overall: Upholstered
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Categories: GAMING
Source: newstars.edu.vn