How We Test Meal Delivery Services

1. Menu Variety

At the very least – The menu introduces new dishes regularly or has an extensive menu that allows for a variety of choices each week.

At best – The above, and multiple plans that cover a wide range of cuisines, diets, and tastes, so you never have to eat the same thing twice.

Our reviewers analyze each service’s current menu (or menus for individual plans). They investigate:

• The number and type of dishes available
• How frequently menus and dishes change
• The provenance of ingredients (including organic accreditation)
• The types of cuisine on offer, and the ratios of each
• The types of meal kit or prepared meals on offer, and the ratios of each
• Whether the menu is arranged by preferences
• The experience needed for each recipe
• The extras available (from market services, or similar)
• Seasonal, limited edition, or special ranges
  

2. Suitability for Dietary Requirements & Customization

At the very least – The service provides a comprehensive ingredients list and nutrition breakdown. Any allergens handled in its kitchen should be flagged so there’s no risk of cross-contamination.

At best – The menu is divided into specific diet plans or allows you to filter for/exclude certain ingredients. Where available, the service has an official certification to back up any allergen claims. Recipes allow for customization at an ingredient level. 

Our reviewers analyze:

• The types of diets/allergies catered for
• The ease of searching the menu to exclude certain allergens/ingredients (via filters, categories, or tags)
• The accessibility of the ingredients list
• The accessibility of nutritional information
• Certification claims
• Kitchen facilities and risk of cross-contamination
• Customization options for individual dishes
• Which ingredients can be excluded
• Menu limitations when filtered by diets/allergens/exclusions
• Whether you can choose your own meals (or whether they are chef’s choice)
• Whether diet plans can be mixed and matched
  

3. Packaging & Eco-friendliness

At the very least – Food should arrive undamaged and at a safe temperature. Some effort is made to cut down unnecessary unrecyclable materials.

At best – Minimal packaging is used to keep food well-organized and at the optimum temperature. All packaging materials are made from recyclable materials, with clear directions on how and where to recycle each item.

Our reviewers analyze:

• What each delivery includes
• How ingredients are packaged and organized
• The state of ingredients on arrival
• Storage instructions
• Accessibility of “best before” dates
• Whether chilled/frozen food arrives at an appropriate temperature
• The eco-friendliness of the packaging
• The necessity of any non-recyclable materials
• Recycling or reuse instructions
• The company’s eco credentials and goals
  

4. Shipping & Delivery

At the very least – Your shipment should arrive within a week of your first order and delivery should be available to the majority of US states.

At best – You can choose a specific day for delivery and receive detailed tracking information from dispatch to arrival. The service should deliver to all US states and arrive on time.

Our reviewers analyze:

• Geographical availability
• Delivery dates and times available (including geographical variations)
• Shipping carriers used (including geographical variations)
• Tracking processes
• Ability to leave delivery instructions
• Local pick-up points and collection locations
• The ease of amending or rescheduling a delivery
• Delivery punctuality
  

5. Method & Cooking Process

At the very least – The service should provide almost everything you need and the instructions should be clearly explained.

At best – For meal kits, ingredients are well-organized and often pre-prepped, with a clear, step-by-step visual recipe that sticks to the estimated cook time. Prepared meals come with an oven/microwave-friendly tray.

Our reviewers analyze:

• How easy it is to gather ingredients together
• The state and quality of ingredients before cooking
  
• Which ingredients are prepped or ready-made
• The information on each recipe card
• How easy it is to follow the method – does it match up to the stated expertise required?
• Does the recipe align with the suggested timings, or does it take longer?
  
• What pantry items are expected and are these reasonable (e.g., oils, spices)
• What utensils are expected
• Whether there are multiple heating options for prepared meals – e.g., oven and microwave
• Whether meals arrive in oven or microwave-ready containers
• Meal preparation process, including thawing of prepared meals
• How much clean-up is required
  

6. Taste

At the very least – Meals aren’t bland and accommodate a range of tastes.

At best – Meals include perfectly balanced flavor, without compromising on health and nutrition (i.e., high salt levels).

Our reviewers analyze:

• The taste and flavor of a meal
• The texture of a meal
• How visually appealing a finished meal looked
• How flavor correlates to the quality and freshness of ingredients
• The outcome of the meal based on the exact recipe instructions
• Whether the method could be amended to improve the outcome
• Favorite meals on the current menu
  

7. Subscription

At the very least – The sign-up process is straightforward and cancellation is free.

At best – You can amend and cancel your subscription online, without speaking to a customer service representative. It’s easy to amend, skip, or cancel individual orders.

Our reviewers analyze:

• Ease of the sign-up process
• Which details are required to subscribe
• What is hidden behind the “paywall”
• Which payment methods are available
• How easy it is to apply discounts
• At what stage during sign-up you can check delivery locations
• At what stage you can choose your meals
• Whether meals are chosen for you and when you can modify these
• How easy it is to modify an order
• How easy it is to cancel an order
• How easy it is to cancel your first order
• The cut-off date by which any changes must be made
  

8. Pricing

At the very least – Pricing should be transparent, with an estimated per-serving price for your chosen plan upfront.

At best – The service should offer value-for-money, with free or affordable shipping, and discounts for new customers.

Our reviewers determine the value of each service by looking at the quality of the ingredients and type of service, and compare prices to similar, alternative services to see if the price falls above or below the market average.

This helps us determine what is good value for money and what is overpriced. 

Our reviewers analyze:

• The lowest price-per serving 
• The lowest price-per-serving with available discounts
• Average weekly orders for different plan sizes 
• Shipping costs tested for different size orders
• Shipping costs tested for various locations
• Additional costs for customizations, upgrades, or extras
• Additional taxes
• Money-back guarantees and refund policies
  

9. Customer Support

At the very least – The site should have an FAQ library and prompt email support.

At best – All of the above, as well as a phone number, 24/7 live chat, and text support where you can speak to a knowledgeable person who answers questions quickly and efficiently. 

We test each company’s customer support by sending a variety of questions across multiple channels and noting the helpfulness and timeliness of responses. If there are any issues with our tested delivery, we contact Customer Service and analyze the appropriateness of their response.

Our reviewers analyze:

• The email ticket system, sending queries and timing the response
• The helpfulness and tone of replies
• The phone system and how easy it is to speak to an operator
• Time zones and operating hours of phone lines
• How to get past automatic replies and speak to a representative through live chat
• The level of detail in the FAQ section, and the searchability
• Online resources like how-to blogs and video tutorials
• What’s offered if there are any issues with the delivery e.g., credit or refunds