Blue Apron review

Blue Apron is a meal kit delivery service. Meal kits are one way to help people eat fresh, healthy foods while saving time and reducing food waste. People can choose from different brands according to their preferences and budget.
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This article provides a review of Blue Apron and an overview of how to use the service. We also list some of the alternative meal plan services available and outline some other ways to eat healthily while saving time and money and limiting food waste.
Please note that the writer of this article has not tried these products. All information presented is purely research-based and correct at the time of publication.
Medical News Today follows a strict product selection and vetting process. Learn more here.
Learn more here.
Pros and cons at a glance
Below are some benefits and drawbacks of Blue Apron.
convenient
provides premeasured ingredients
caters to various diets
offers an option to skip weeks
high customer rating on Trustpilot
not suitable for vegans
caters to only two or four people
costs $9.99 extra for shipping
no gluten-free options
What is Blue Apron?
Blue Apron is a meal kit delivery service that aims to help people cook fresh meals at home, regardless of their culinary skill level. Individuals choose a meal plan based on their dietary requirements, preferences, and serving needs.
Blue Apron
Meal plans are available for two or four people, and plan options cover a range of dietary preferences, including vegetarian, pescatarian, and low calorie.
vegetarian
pescatarian
low calorie
Meal kits feature recipe cards alongside premeasured ingredients so that a person can cook the meals easily at home.
Blue Apron delivers the meals once per week, and people have the option to skip a week if necessary.
GET STARTED WITH Blue Apron
Menu plan
Blue Apron lists its recipes by dietary preference and provides detailed nutritional information for each meal.
Below are some of the available meal options:
Vegetarian: Four-Cheese EnchiladasCreamy Tomato FettuccineFennel and Saffron Risotto
Four-Cheese Enchiladas
Creamy Tomato Fettuccine
Fennel and Saffron Risotto
Wellness: Shrimp Lettuce CupsMexican-Spiced Chicken ThighsOne-Pan Spicy White Bean & Spinach Shakshuka
Shrimp Lettuce Cups
Mexican-Spiced Chicken Thighs
One-Pan Spicy White Bean & Spinach Shakshuka
600 calories or less:Romesco Chicken BowlIndian-Style Butter Shrimp Orange and Soy-Glazed Cod
calories
Romesco Chicken Bowl
Indian-Style Butter Shrimp
Orange and Soy-Glazed Cod
Carb-conscious:Cheesy Chipotle Beef and Vegetable BakeSheet Pan Pesto Salmon
Cheesy Chipotle Beef and Vegetable Bake
Sheet Pan Pesto Salmon
It is important to note that not all dietary choices are available every week.
How to get started with Blue Apron
To use Blue Apron, a person must first create an account. This involves signing up using one of the following:
email account
Apple ID
Facebook account
A person can then select the meal plan they want to purchase. Blue Apron offers the following options:
Signature and Signature for 4: Individuals can choose from the following recipe types: meatfishBeyond Meat, which is a vegan alternative to meatWW-approved
meat
fish
Beyond Meat, which is a vegan alternative to meat
WW-approved
Vegetarian for 2: These are non-meat recipes featuring seasonal produce.
Wellness for 2: These are nutritionist-approved recipes, with options including carb-conscious and WW-recommended meals.
nutritionist
A person can change their order at any time before the “Changeable before” date for their deliveries.
To view the “Changeable before” date, a person must navigate to the Plan Settings page in their Account Settings or to the receipt icon on their Upcoming Orders page.
There is also an option to enable push notifications on the Blue Apron app. This feature reminds customers of their next delivery date.
After placing an order with Blue Apron, customers will receive a choice of delivery dates.
Once a customer chooses their delivery day, Blue Apron will email them a tracking number. If a person chooses to download the Blue Apron app, they will receive a push notification when their box arrives.
Blue Apron packs all ingredients in insulated liners and coolers to keep them at safe temperatures. Nonetheless, the company recommends that people plan ahead and store and use the ingredients appropriately.
Blue Apron provides the option to skip a delivery before the “Changeable before” date.
To skip a delivery through the Blue Apron website, a person needs to do the following:
Navigate to the Upcoming Orders page.
Click “Manage Delivery” for an upcoming order.
Click “Skip This Delivery.”
If a person skips a delivery, they should see a red “X” next to the order.
How much does Blue Apron cost?
The cost of Blue Apron depends on the number of meals a person selects.
The table below shows the cost of Blue Apron meals according to the number of servings and meals per week. These are correct at the time of publishing.
At the time of publishing, Blue Apron charges $9.99 for shipping.
GO TO Blue Apron
Customer reviews and reputation
Blue Apron has been operating since 2012. The company’s name refers to the blue apron that trainee chefs wear.
In addition to meals, Blue Apron offers a wine subscription service.
Customer reviews on Trustpilot give Blue Apron an average rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars, with most customers stating that the meals are easy to prepare and cook.
4.2 out of 5 stars
Those who have left positive reviews note that they like the wide range of flavors from Asian, Mediterranean, Latin, and American cuisines. Others mention that the food is of similar quality to restaurant meals.
However, some authors of negative reviews claim that their food deliveries contained rotten, warm, or moldy produce. One customer says they received food that spoiled a few days after delivery.
Who could benefit from Blue Apron meals?
Blue Apron offers options for varying dietary needs and preferences. Some examples are outlined below.
Blue Apron offers low calorie and carb-conscious options that may support weight loss.
weight loss
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute states that reducing calorie intake by 500–1,000 calories per day can help people lose 1–2 pounds per week.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
A systematic review from 2014 indicates that a diet low in carbohydrates could decrease body weight and reduce cardiovascular risk factors.
systematic review from 2014
body weight
Learn about some of the best ways to lose weight here.
Learn about some of the best ways to lose weight here.
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases recommends that people with diabetes eat a healthy diet that includes all the food groups and avoids excess sugar, fat, and salt.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
sugar
fat
salt
Blue Apron offers carb-conscious recipes that may be suitable for people with diabetes who need to track their carbohydrate intake.
who need to track
However, the company does not appear to offer meal options specifically catered to people with diabetes.
Learn more about what foods to avoid when living with diabetes here.
Learn more about what foods to avoid when living with diabetes here.
Blue Apron does not provide meal plans for people following a vegan or gluten-free diet, and it offers limited options for people with diabetes.
vegan
gluten
diabetes
The company does cater to vegetarians, offering 2–4 options per week. Some recipes include the meat alternative Beyond Meat.
Blue Apron claims that it assembles all its boxes in the same processing facility. Therefore, the company does not recommend its service to anyone with a serious food allergy.
Blue Apron
Learn more about food allergies here.
Learn more about food allergies here.
TRY Blue Apron
Alternative meal kit delivery services
Alternative meal kit delivery services are available to suit a range of dietary preferences, delivery schedules, and budgets. Below are some examples.
HelloFresh: HelloFresh provides up to six recipes per week, and each is suitable for up to four people. Customers can choose from meat, vegetarian, and pescatarian dishes. Learn more about HelloFresh here.
HelloFresh
Learn more about HelloFresh here.
Home Chef: Home Chef provides oven-ready meals that are quick and easy to heat up. Home Chef provides a menu that changes weekly, including low-calorie options. Learn more about Home Chef here.
Home Chef
Learn more about Home Chef here.
Sunbasket: Sunbasket provides meal kits and prepared meals. The company offers food suitable for a wide range of dietary requirements, including gluten-free and diabetic diets. Learn more about Sunbasket here.
Sunbasket
Learn more about Sunbasket here.
Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon: Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon offers at least 45 recipes each week and delivers all the ingredients along with a six-step recipe. This service caters to families and those who follow a low carb or vegetarian diet.
Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon
Daily Harvest: Daily Harvest provides organic food that is ready in minutes. Its products do not contain major allergens, including dairy and gluten. Learn more about Daily Harvest here.
Daily Harvest
dairy
Learn more about Daily Harvest here.
Splendid Spoon: Splendid Spoon provides meals that are both vegan and gluten-free. The selection includes meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The company launches 3–5 new flavors every season and rotates its menu weekly. Learn more about Splendid Spoon here.
Splendid Spoon
Learn more about Splendid Spoon here.
Purple Carrot: Purple Carrot provides plant-based meals. People can choose from high protein, gluten-free, and other menus. Learn more about Purple Carrot here.
Purple Carrot
protein
Learn more about Purple Carrot here.
Comparison table
Below is a table comparing Blue Apron to its competitors:
Blue Apron
HelloFresh
Home Chef
Sunbasket
Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon
Daily Harvest
Splendid Spoon
Purple Carrot
Tips to save time, money, and food waste
Below are some alternatives to meal delivery kits that may help a person save time and money and limit food waste while eating a balanced diet.
balanced diet
Preparation is key for anyone looking to save time preparing healthy meals. It may prevent reliance on convenience foods, which often contain more sugar, fat, and salt.
Tips to save time include:
cooking in batches and freezing in portions
preparing a couple of one-pot meals at once, which may include the same basic ingredients such as:chopped onionscelerycarrots
chopped onions
celery
carrots
using frozen vegetables and canned beans and pulses
beans
using a slow cooker
People who want to save money on their groceries do not need to change where they buy their food or restrict what they are buying.
Tips to help a person eat healthily on a budget include:
buying fresh seasonal produce, which is usually cheaper
buying in bulk or taking advantage of offers on healthy foods
incorporating dried pulses and beans, which are inexpensive, filling, and healthy
The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that food waste constitutes 30–40% of the food supply in the United States.
30–40%
Below are some tips to help people avoid wasting food:
Follow recipes: This method involves measuring ingredients. It ensures that a person will not use more food than necessary.
Use leftovers: People can save their leftovers and put them in wraps or salads for lunch the following day.
Freeze extras: Freezing bread and vegetables can help prolong their shelf life.
Make soups or casseroles: At the end of the week, a person can use any leftover produce to make a one-pot soup or casserole.
Plan grocery shopping: People should plan meals around ingredients that they already have available in the cupboards or refrigerator.
People can also donate extra food to those in need or share extra meal portions with friends or neighbors.
Learn more about how to reduce food waste here.
Learn more about how to reduce food waste here.
Frequently asked questions
Below are some answers to frequently asked questions about Blue Apron.
Blue Apron states that a person can cancel their subscription at any time.
Blue Apron provides the option for people to skip weeks if necessary.
The Blue Apron website provides limited information regarding the healthfulness of the meals. However, the service does provide “Health-Conscious” meals as an option.
The company also claims to source high quality ingredients.
Each Blue Apron meal kit features premeasured ingredients and a recipe card with step-by-step instructions for cooking. This makes the cooking process relatively quick and straightforward.
Blue Apron states that it follows rigorous food safety procedures. The company’s fulfillment centers have Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulation, and the staff undergo thorough training. The company also adheres to the FDA’s current good manufacturing practices.
Learn more about Blue Apron’s food safety policy here.
Learn more about Blue Apron’s food safety policy here.
Summary
Blue Apron is a meal kit delivery service that provides recipes and premeasured ingredients. Meal kits can help people eat healthily while saving time and money and avoiding food waste.
Blue Apron offers a range of meal kits to suit various dietary preferences and needs. However, the company does not offer vegan or gluten-free options and provides limited options for people with diabetes. The service is also not suitable for people with food allergies.
Other meal kit and meal delivery services are available, and a person may need to shop around to find the plan that works best for them.
Other ways to eat healthily while saving time and money include planning meals, buying seasonal produce, and batch-cooking and freezing meals.