I was excited to try the Blue Apron Precooked Meals. Blue Apron is a household name for home-cooked meal kits, and now they’ve expanded into the realm of Prepared & Ready Meals. These precooked meals cater to those who crave the Blue Apron quality but need an even quicker option. Designed to be ready in minutes, these meals promise convenience, flavor, and a healthier alternative to traditional frozen dinners. Let’s explore the details of this offering, including my experience, the cost, and who might benefit from these meals.
If you’ve never read one of my meal delivery service reviews, one of my biggest pet peeves is when bloggers take time to plate and make the meals look different than how they come. I want to see how the meals are actually delivered to me, not some beautiful plating because it really sets people up for a different expectation.
Before trying the Blue Apron Precooked Meals I had a few questions:
- Are the Blue Apron Precooked Meals worth it? I think so; the quality has been good.
- Do the Blue Apron Precooked Meals taste good? Yes, I really enjoy all of the different flavors, and they are definitely better than many meal delivery services I’ve tried recently.
- Is there a good variety in the Blue Apron’s Prepared & Ready Meals menu? Yes! They rotate meals and keep some of the fan favorites.
Keep reading for an honest review of the Blue Apron Precooked Meals.
About the Brand: Blue Apron
Blue Apron has been a leader in meal delivery services since its inception, focusing on fresh, high-quality ingredients and chef-curated recipes. The brand prioritizes sustainability, partnering with responsible farmers and fisheries to ensure their meals are both delicious and environmentally friendly. Known for their meal kits that bring gourmet cooking to home kitchens, Blue Apron’s reputation is built on convenience and quality.
The introduction of their Prepared & Ready Meals takes this mission a step further, offering meals that skip the cooking process entirely. By simply heating these meals, customers can enjoy the same care and quality Blue Apron is known for without lifting a knife or turning on the stove.
About the Blue Apron Precooked Meals
The Prepared & Ready Meals are fresh, single-serving dishes delivered directly to your door. Unlike frozen dinners, these meals arrive refrigerated and ready for quick heating in the microwave or oven. They’re designed to provide the same elevated flavors and nutrient balance that Blue Apron meal kits are famous for.
The Blue Apron’s Prepared & Ready Meals Meals menu features a variety of cuisines and dietary options, including:
- Keto-friendly meals for those watching carbs.
- Low-calorie options for those monitoring their intake.
- High-protein dishes for active lifestyles.
Each meal is crafted to suit a range of tastes, with detailed labels that include nutritional information and reheating instructions. The menu rotates weekly, offering both variety and the opportunity to revisit favorites.
My Experience with Blue Apron Precooked Meals:
I tried a variety of Blue Apron’s Prepared & Ready Meals, taking advantage of a promotional discount for my first box. Here’s my honest Blue Apron Precooked Meals take:
What I Liked about Blue Apron Precooked Meals:
- Convenience: Each meal took only 2-3 minutes to heat in the microwave. This is a great option for work meals or when I get home late.
- Flavor: The Blue Apron Precooked Meals had distinct and enjoyable tastes, with creative use of spices and fresh ingredients. I’ve had issues with many meal delivery services being bland and boring, but I haven’t had that issue with the Blue Apron Precooked Meals.
- Fresh Ingredients: Unlike many frozen alternatives, the vegetables retained some crunch, and the proteins were generally tender and well-seasoned.
What I didn’t like about Blue Apron Precooked Meals:
- Packaging Issues: During shipping, the food shifted within the containers, resulting in a mixed and unappetizing presentation. Since the trays aren’t divided, ingredients blended together during heating.
Some of the Blue Apron Precooked Meals I Tried
Breakfast:
I don’t usually order breakfast items, but I thought the egg meals from Blue Apron Precooked Meals looked great.
The Egg Bites and Kale were one of my favorite breakfasts. I appreciate the flavor of the sauce and that it wasn’t just a little piece of bland egg… because who wants that?
Dinners:
- Grilled Steak and Creamy Sauce: This was just okay. I did like the creamy sauce, but I thought the steak was kind of dry. A problem I’ve had with meal delivery services and red meat is once you reheat it, it puts them on the well-done scale.
- Mexican Style Pork: I ate this during work and was ill-prepared for how spicy it was! That being said, it’s one of my favorite meals, so I can’t really complain there.
In all, I’m a fan of the meals. Some of them, like the steak, are a little more bland or dry, but most of them are pretty good. Compared to other meal delivery services, they are definitely on the better-tasting end.
Cost
Blue Apron’s Prepared & Ready Meals start at $9.99 per meal, with prices depending on the size of your order. Larger orders offer a lower per-meal cost, but even at the base price, the meals are more expensive than grocery store alternatives. For comparison:
- A typical frozen dinner from the store costs around $5-$7.
- A casual meal from a local cafe might range from $12-$15.
While the quality of ingredients is higher than your average frozen meal, the small portions and lack of variety may leave you questioning the value at full price. For those who prioritize convenience and don’t mind paying a premium, these meals could be worthwhile. However, budget-conscious shoppers may find them less appealing.
Blue Apron Precooked Meals Customer Service:
I’ve started adding customer service to meal delivery services because why not. Something that bothers me about the Blue Apron’s Prepared & Ready Meals is they don’t send you an email reminding you to choose your meals. If you don’t choose, they select, which thankfully usually resembles your last week’s meals, but I would appreciate an email.
It’s also hard to find the pause/cancel setting, which is under account settings. It looks like you can only pause for 4+ weeks. (What if you need to pause for a week?).
I haven’t had to directly talk to the Blue Apron Precooked Meals customer service, so I can’t speak directly to that. In my opinion, there are a few things they could do to make the overall experience of Blue Apron Precooked Meals a little bit better.
Blue Apron Precooked Meals Conclusion
The Prepared & Ready Meals from Blue Apron offer a convenient solution for busy days, combining fresh ingredients with chef-designed recipes. However, they come with limitations in portion size and cost that might not work for everyone.
Who Should Buy Blue Apron Precooked Meals:
- Busy Professionals and those on the go: If your schedule leaves little time for cooking, these meals provide a quick and reliable option.
- Small Households: For individuals or couples, the single-serving portions are practical and reduce food waste.
- Health-Conscious Eaters: With options like keto-friendly and low-calorie meals, they cater to specific dietary needs.
Who Should Not Buy Blue Apron Precooked Meals:
- Families: Larger households may find the single-serving portions impractical and expensive to scale.
- Budget-Conscious Shoppers: At $9.99 or more per meal, the cost may not align with your budget.
- Those Seeking Restaurant-Quality Meals: While flavorful, these meals lack the polish and portion sizes of dining out.
- Presentation-Focused Eaters: The mixed-together ingredients and lack of compartmentalized trays may not appeal to those who value visual appeal.
Ultimately, Blue Apron’s precooked meals are a solid option for convenience-focused eaters seeking fresh, chef-inspired dishes. However, they’re best approached as a supplemental option rather than a full meal plan replacement. Whether they’re worth the cost depends on your priorities and lifestyle.
Other meal delivery services I’ve tried:
- Factor Meals Review (Update for 2023)
- Trifecta Meal Service
- Metabolic Meals
- ICON Meals Review
- HelloFresh
- Fresh N Lean Meal Delivery Service Review
- FlexPro Meals Review
You can buy Blue Apron Precooked Meals here and see all food reviews here.
Questions for you:
What is your favorite prepared meal delivery service?
Have you tried Blue Apron?