Cook Unity offers a wide variety of chef-prepared meals catering to dietary preferences like gluten-free, keto, paleo, vegan, and pescatarian. With 300+ single-serving, "heat-and-eat" dishes weekly, cuisines range from Italian and Indian to Mediterranean and classic American. Meals are fresh, sustainably sourced, and delivered in eco-friendly packaging, with options to heat in the microwave or follow chefs’ tips for oven preparation.
Cook Unity operates local kitchens across the US, ensuring freshness. I noticed that menu options vary by location, so dietary accommodations may differ between regions, and there’s no meal customization. Menu filters can only be applied individually, which might be inconvenient for those with strict dietary needs or allergies.
Pricing is reasonable for a premium service, with discounts for larger orders. Some premium dishes incur extra charges, and meals only stay fresh in the fridge for 7 days, so freezer space may be needed for large orders. While the cost is higher than competitors, the quality justifies it, and shipping is free. Delivery covers most states, but I recommend checking your zip code before ordering.
I was disappointed with customer service. The FAQ section is helpful, but the live chatbot is unresponsive, and email replies are slow. I found this frustrating when seeking answers about customization and ingredients. Overall, though, Cook Unity is a great choice for high-quality, chef-prepared meals if you value convenience and variety over customization.
Pros | Cons |
Options for many diets | Main dishes only |
Over 300 options per day | Poor meal customization |
Meals prepared by top-rated chefs | Delivery not available for some regions |
Cook Unity's food caters to people with various dietary needs and preferences. If you’re a fan of meat, fish, eggs, and vegetables, check out Paleo-friendly specialties. Lovers of seafood are likely to enjoy shrimp- and salmon-based dishes. If your diet consists of gluten-free specialties, no problem.
Whatever your needs or preferences, you can always check who prepares food and what it contains. You can easily find meals prepared by your favorite chef. If unsure, select the dish and refer to the star rating. The list of ingredients and basic nutritional values accompanies every meal, too.
Cook Unity prepares food in various local kitchens. That helps its staff deliver fresh meals to users in pretty much all US states. If you live in Cook Unity’s delivery area, you can enjoy chef-prepared meals consisting of sustainably sourced components.
Cook Unity offers meals you can filter by:
Diets, including vegetarian, vegan, pescatarian, keto, paleo, and more
Dietary restrictions, like gluten-free and low carbs
Main ingredient, such as beef, poultry, seafood, tofu, and more
Cook Unity delivers 300+ cooked meals nationwide. Dishes boast a wide variety of proteins, including seafood, poultry, and a selection of vegetarian and vegan meals. And you only need to heat them before eating. These are single-serving and not designed to feed a family.
Cook Unity employs renowned chefs who prepare diverse meals comprising healthy ingredients. You can find the name of the chef who prepared the meal on the label.
If you’re after gluten-free, low-carb, or dairy-free food, you'll find multiple options on Cook Unity's menu. Keto and paleo dieters have a decent number of alternatives. I found a specific low-sodium filter on the website’s menu, but the options were limited.
Cook Unity prepares meals from a variety of world cuisines, such as Italian, Indian, Thai, Mediterranean, and Caribbean. Of course, there are some traditional American dishes, too.
Note that the meal delivery service specializes in main dishes. Breakfasts, treats, and drinks are extras available only to New Yorkers, who need to sign up to see the full menu. If you live elsewhere and wish to add sides, soups, or desserts, you'll have to contact another provider. For example, BistroMD offers shakes, cakes, and bites.
I'd also like to point out that dining options tend to vary in numbers by region even if you're only concerned with one specific diet. There are approximately 40 vegan dishes in the East Coast region, but only around 10 in Texas. As for low-sodium meals, only West Coast residents could order them at the time of writing.
Like many meal delivery services, Cook Unity doesn't allow customization on individual meals. When you click on a dish, you can examine its ingredients, but you can't change them. Luckily, Cook Unity has hundreds of available options, so you should find meals that suit you sooner or later.
I discovered that most dishes feature dozens of ingredients. Pancit Bihon with Chinese Sausage, for example, has Kosher salt, Soybean extract, and green cabbage, among others. Wagon Wheel Pomodoro is among the dishes featuring fewer components (9, to be precise). Spanish onions, ground black pepper, and canned tomatoes are some.
Cook Unity offers a huge selection of meals. Despite the large menu and extensive filters, you can only filter by one thing at a time. For example, you can’t sort for vegan and low sodium at the same time. There’s no allergy filter on the website. To place restrictions, go to the Preferences section.
If you’re a big fan of chef-prepared food but don't want to compromise on personalization, consider checking Factor. It sources ingredients carefully, and dietitians approve their meals. Plus, the service changes meals weekly.
Diet | Is Cook Unity Good For This Diet? |
Pescatarian | Yes, there are many options |
Vegetarian | Yes, there are many options |
Keto | Yes, there are some options |
Paleo | Yes, there are some options |
Gluten free | Yes, there are many options |
Dairy free | Yes, there are many options |
Low Sodium diet | Sort of, it depends on your location |
You get Cook Unity’s meals in compostable, reusable, or recyclable packaging. All the meals contain fresh ingredients and their packages have expiration dates, heating instructions, and nutrition information.
All the meals come fully prepared so you only need to heat them up. You may need to remove certain components from microwave and oven-safe trays. The instructions are easy to understand, and you can warm your meal up quickly or take some additional steps recommended by the chef for an even tastier meal.
Practical boxes and other packages are environmentally friendly and recyclable. Orders come in insulated tote bags accompanied by gel packs. Being part of the Returnable Packaging Program, Cook Unity encourages its customers to return bags to reduce waste. At present, the program's active in New York, Miami, and Los Angeles. Alternatively, you can reuse the bags.
Papers, liners, trays, and cooling packs are recyclable, too. But you'll have to take gel packs to a dedicated drop-off location for recycling.
Cook Unity delivers fresh, not frozen, meals to you. If you ordered a lot of meals, put those you intend to eat later in the freezer. Store those you plan to consume before expiration in the refrigerator. Put others in the freezer before the Use by deadline on the label.
You can heat every meal. While heating in the microwave is the quickest, warming food in the oven is a better option. For further tips, check out the chef's recommendation on the label.
Cook Unity has such a large menu it was hard to choose my favorites. Here are some I thought sounded particularly delicious.
Fans of Greek cuisine should enjoy Traditional Greek Salad with Herb Grilled Chicken with Red Wine Vinaigrette. This Mediterranean specialty caters to keto dieters and those wishing to limit calorie intake per meal below 600. Note that the dish is high in proteins and fat while being low in carbs and gluten-free.
Some ingredients are Kalamata olives, Feta cheese, cherry tomatoes, and red onions. A few of the many spices the chef uses to make the dish delicious are Kosher salt, oregano, honey, ground black pepper, and thyme.
Cuban Style Beef Picadillo may suit you better if you prefer spicy food. You'll find the specialty rich in proteins and gluten-and-nut-free. Choose this option if you need to improve your calorie intake. But remember that the dish is fat-rich, too.
Ingredients I like are garlic, green olives, Spanish paprika, tomato, and white wine. The dish also features distilled vinegar, ketchup, onion powder, garlic powder, Ancho Chili powder, and carrot puree, among other welcoming extras.
Hanger Steak with Baby Bok Choy is another specialty I'd recommend. It's a simple nut- and dairy-free meal rich in proteins and fat. Extra-virgin olive oil, ginger, garlic, lemon juice, and mushrooms are some of the additional components. The dish has fewer ingredients than most Cook Unity's dishes.
Meal price (with discount) | Meal price (without discount) | Order size | Shipping Fee |
$5.55 per portion | $11.09 per portion | 16 meals per week | Free |
$5.60 per portion | $11.20 per portion | 12 meals per week | Free |
$5.86 per portion | $11.72 per portion | 8 meals per week | Free |
$6.15 per portion | $12.29 per portion | 6 meals per week | Free |
$7.12 per portion | $14.23 per portion | 4 meals per week | Free |
Meal prices depend on the membership plan you choose. The fewer weekly dishes you order, the higher cost per serving you'll pay. The best value option is 16 meals in the long run. But you may need a freezer because most Cook Unity's meals can last 7 days in the fridge, at most.
If you order 16 weekly meals, you'll pay $11.09 per serving, equalling $177.44 per delivery. This drops to $5.55 per portion and $88.72 per delivery if you use a new customer discount. If you order 4 meals per week in 4 batches, you'll pay $13.59 per serving, equalling $217.44 ($7.12 per portion, $28.46 total with discount) so if you do have the freezer space, you’ll make a big saving if you make a larger order. It doesn't charge extra for shipping.
Author’s Tip: Cook Unity has a generous discount for new customers – Get 50% off dietitian-backed, GLP-1 balanced meals!. Claim it by landing on the Membership Plans page.
Depending on the ingredients, extra fees for premium specialties may apply. These typically vary between a few and several USD. You'll get a surcharge notification before confirming your order.
Cook Unity accepts the following payment methods:
JCB
Visa
Discover
DinersClub
MasterCard
American Express
Cook Unity'll keep delivering your meals weekly following your initial order unless you cancel it. Depending on your location, it charges for the upcoming delivery between 3 and 6 days before it takes place.
Cook Unity delivers meals to most US states save North Dakota, South Dakota, and Alaska. It also doesn't ship food to parts of Nebraska and Colorado and most of Wyoming and Montana. State your zip code in the dedicated box on the Cook Unity website for further details.
Available delivery days vary by location. The service delivers food to you once a week, but you can choose a day that works best for you. In my case, the available days were Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. You can choose a time delivery window (i.e., between 2 pm and 5 pm, too. Once the order’s underway, you can track the shipping progress by signing in to the Orders page.
You can reschedule an upcoming delivery for another day. Go to the Upcoming deliveries page when you sign in and choose a different day. Don't miss the cutoff time, which is typically 4 to 6 days ahead.
You can track shipments via email or SMS, depending on where you are. You get SMS notifications if you're in New York or Los Angeles, for example. If further afield, check your email. Cook Unity's team delivers food in NY and LA. UPS handles shipments elsewhere.
You can subscribe to Cook Unity’s services with ease.
1. Enter your email address and zip code when you land on the https://signup.cookunity.com/ page.
3. Pick your favorite specialties based on the previous input. Specify quantities by clicking the plus (+) and the minus (-) next to the meal's name.
4. Specify your personal information, such as first and last name, phone number, and delivery details like address, delivery window, etc.
5. Choose the payment method and evaluate the cost to conclude your first order.
Cook Unity considers orders recurring when you order for the first time. But you can pause, change, or cancel your order anytime. Click the My Account option to manage future deliveries.
Go to My Plan when you access My Account to cancel orders. You'll also find the Skip option, which allows you to skip next week's order. Ensure to perform any of these actions before the cutoff date listed with the upcoming delivery. If you miss it, changes will take effect only after the pending delivery.
Cook Unity'll confirm the changes by sending you a confirmation email. You'll receive another one a few days before a scheduled delivery takes place.
If you wish to find the specialty's daily value (DV), nutrition info, or heating recommendations before ordering a meal, select it in the menu. You can also manage quantities from there.
You can contact Cook Unity's customer support via email, live chat, or phone. Their email is [email protected], and you can text them at +1 (347) 835-5020 phone number. I found it strange that their phone is available for messaging only.
In light of that, I considered live chat the best option to get quick information, especially since it was late and Cook Unity prides itself on providing 24/7 assistance. But I learned that I'll have to do research because the bot didn’t provide a satisfactory answer.
The only good thing was that the bot responded immediately. But it didn't provide me with a straight answer, which I found very frustrating. I think that reputable meal delivery services should provide better customer support than that.
When I selected the Contact Support button for additional help, the bot prompted me to email. This led me to the conclusion that finding information on Cook Unity's website quickly isn’t possible.
I sent an email next. I was surprised when I got an email back asking for my phone number to arrange a call to talk about the issue. I also asked if customization on request is available. It took a few more days for me to get answers. To cut a long story short, an agent explained how to avoid unwanted ingredients and that you can't personalize meals.
However, I found that the FAQ section is comprehensive, answering many questions new and existing users may have.
Cook Unity is worth a try if you're a fan of chef-prepared meals. Order high-quality Cook Unity dishes and receive them at your home or office. You should find this meal delivery service an excellent option if you're environmentally conscious and prefer the convenience of not cooking.
A main drawback to many people is the lack of entrées, sides, and other meals since Cook Unity specializes in main dishes only. You also might not like Cook Unity if you suffer from a particular allergen since you can’t customize ingredients.
Yes, you can freeze Cook Unity meals, just ensure to put them in the freezer before the Use by date. Consider thawing food in the fridge before heating and consuming it.
Yes, Cook Unity carefully sources ingredients and delivers healthy food. It provides keto and paleo dieters with delicious meals and has options for vegetarians, vegans, meat-eaters, and other diets. Among others, you'll find gluten-free, low-carb, and dairy-free options on their menu.
Cook Unity hires experienced chefs to prepare food, so the prices of its dishes are higher when compared to most of its direct competitors. But you can reduce the cost a little by choosing a membership plan comprising more dishes. That way you can save up to $2.50 per serving. When researching pricing, I found that the minimum price per serving for a Cook Unity meal was $5.55.
Zoran Trifunovic is a writer at DeliveryRank. As a self-proclaimed gourmet, he relishes the opportunity to share his culinary expertise with both readers and colleagues. Starting out as a travel writer, Zoran has since explored other writing avenues, producing blog posts, product reviews, and guidebooks on a diverse range of topics. In addition, he has experience in crafting writer's guidelines and building WordPress websites.