Waist Not Want Not

Hello Fresh Lemony Shrimp Linguine

When preparing meals everyone has different expectations other than the obvious of appealing taste and flavor.  My sister Gina prefers healthy options.  Blue Apron meals averaged about 600 calories per meal which is about 30 calories less than Hello Fresh.  Fresh only allows selection between Classic Food box and Veggie Box.  Apron allows the chef to select proteins that include beef, pork, poultry, fish and shellfish for more customization.  But Blue only gives total calorie counts for each meal while Fresh gives a complete nutritional break down including fat, sugar, sodium and carb values.  So for the healthy cook, I would recommend Blue Apron.

Blue Apron Squid Ink Linguine Pasta

My daughter is conscience of the impact on the planet versus the waistline.  In this category, Blue Apron takes pride in their environmental philosophies.  All packaging (and with ingredients individually wrapped there is a lot) is recyclable and the website gives instructions on how to dispose of the freezer packs, but I just save them for my lunch cooler.  Hello Fresh separates each of the three meals in individual boxes to make it easier to identify what ingredients to use for each recipe,  this is added waste that in my opinion is not beneficial for the environment.  Both Blue and Fresh boast of using local purveyors with Blue advising they "use farm-fresh ingredients from family-run businesses".   I like that Blue gives you information about these farmers and their crops, since I ran our family business and value supporting them.  Overall the entire concept of exact portions eliminates the problem of food waste that is a concern for many Americans, but Blue seems more in tune with the next generation's environmental cause.

Blue ApronVietnamese Chicken Wings

Hello Fresh Asian Shrimp & Pork Won Tons

As far as kitchen mess in preparation and clean up, Blue Apron overall had more complicated recipes with it's share of peeling, slicing and dicing.  When I mentioned the prep work required to my foodie sister, she said "That doesn't bother me, I enjoy the work if the result is worth it."  I have to say, as a somewhat novice cook, the results were worth it.  I was amazed at what I could serve, including homemade pork and shrimp won tons that my son and husband raved about.  In the KP duty Fresh was best with most recipes using less bowls, pots and pans.  They also had one pot meal recipes easy to identify and select, so in that regard Fresh wins.

Hello Fresh Chicken & Nectarine Panzanel

So in the final evaluation who is best, Blue or Fresh? 
If you are my sister and enjoy cooking and are health conscious I would recommend Blue Apron. For my environmentalist daughter, Blue Apron again and my kitchen cleaning husband- Hello Fresh.

Hello Fresh, however comes in a very close second, and I can say that both companies offered fresh food with tasty and unique recipes.  So after this experiment in this post-working life I have happily discovered that I enjoy cooking and serving my family new and interesting meals (but I still HATE grocery shopping).

Fresh against the Apron

I HATE grocery shopping.  In my working life, stressful shopping after work followed by cooking got crossed off my list many years ago. Unfortunately for my family I relied on a rotation of one dish meals and decent take out.  That is why the "Everything except the Chef"  concept of cooking seemed like a dream come true.  Hello Fresh and Blue Apron both offer Top Chef worthy meals without planning or shopping.

I like the idea of trying new recipes and different ingredients.  The magical boxes arrive at your door with perfect portions and exotic recipes.

First I tried Blue Apron.  My daughters and niece were visiting when the box arrived.  As we unpacked the box, my middle daughter Kate commented "That looks like a lot of packaging."  When my niece was helping me peel and chop the produce she quipped "it's a lot of prep work".

Everyone has different ideas about what they expect from meal delivery companies.  Does the company care about it's enviromental footprint and do they support local farmers?  Are the ingredients fresh and seasonal?  My sister asked about calorie counts and getting special diets and my husband said he would be the judge of KP duty, since if I cook he cleans.  So I decided to compare Fresh verses Apron and report the results.

Hello Fresh Recipe Booklet

Both companies have similarities.   They are web-based subscription type services where you can skip weekly orders and select recipes.  Both offer three meals for two people per week for about $60.00.  Hello Fresh does a better job in technology.  Blue Apron has their own merchandising and sell pots, pans and kitchen wares.  I found it pushy and annoying.   When it comes to choosing meals, Fresh and Apron both have a varied selection of entrees that are appealing and it is easy to choose three menus per week from the options.

Blue Apron Recipe Cards

Both had pictures and step-by-step instructions but the recipe styles were different.  Blue Apron has 8" X 11" recipe cards with six steps each meal, while Hello Fresh uses a booklet and the typical recipe format.  I found Hello Fresh was easier for me to follow as an "Intermediate Cook".  

Hello Fresh's Seared Steak

I loved Blue's exotic ingredients like dried currants and lobster demi-glaze and edgy cooking techniques of Roasting Pepitas and frying shallots, however my "Summer Corn & Vegetable Chowder" flopped and was inedible.  Hello Fresh was the winner overall in the category of "Recipe and Instructions were clear and easy to follow".  Hello Fresh also allows users to download and print recipes (even those you haven't bought) and save on their mobile application which is great for those recipes you would like to repeat with your own ingredients.

As far as the best taste and flavor, Hello Fresh won with most of the recipes tried we strongly agree that the meals were excellent.  This is a subjective vote, but I also asked my other tasters (spouse, children, sister, niece).  It was hard to choose my favorite, but the Seared Steak and Creamy Chipotle Pan Sauce was perfect.  The cooking directions and quality of the beef contributed to the fantastic flavor.  Also, the added ingredient of Chipotle Sauce which would have been hard to purchase or make.  Their Lemony Shrimp Linguine came in a close second with a fresh simple recipe and farm raised shrimp.

Blue Apron's Rice & Beef-Stuffed Pablano Peppers

My favorite from Blue Apron was the first I created -Rice and Beef-Stuffed Pabloano Peppers. I liked it so much, I made it from my own ingredients, but could not find the Poblano peppers, zante currants or pepitas at my local grocery store.  This would be a recipe I would definitely order from Blue Apron again, because of the exotic and fresh ingredients.

The acid test of the quality of each meal delivery service is "Would you order this meal again" Hello Fresh was the winner with four out of five recipes.  I would order only two out of the five recipes from Blue Apron.

Next, I will reveal the results regarding other important questions such as nutritional values, environmental friendliness and kitchen clean up!