What is the best meal delivery service? From Hello Fresh to YouFoodz - consumer experts share their verdict on the most popular companies in Australia
- CHOICE shares its verdict on the best food box delivery services on the market
- Results are based on ease of ordering, ingredient freshness and recipe accuracy
- Of the meal boxes tested, Hello Fresh came out on top with 87 per cent
- For ready-made meals, THR1VE earned the top spot with 85 per cent
Australian consumer organisation CHOICE has shared its verdict on the popular meal delivery services on the market.
The experts rated the food kits and ready-made meals based on ease of ordering, presentation, temperature on delivery, ingredient freshness, recipe accuracy and value for money.
Of the meal boxes tested, Hello Fresh came out on top with 87 per cent, followed by Marley Spoon (86 per cent), Dinnerly (85 per cent) and Pepper Leaf (83 per cent).
For prepared meals, THR1VE earned the top spot with 85 per cent, followed by Dinner Ladies (86 per cent), Soulara (79 per cent), YouFoodz (77 per cent), and Nourish'd (76 per cent).
Australian consumer organisation CHOICE has shared its verdict on the popular meal delivery services on the market. Of the meal boxes tested, Hello Fresh (pictured) came out on top
Of the meal boxes tested, Hello Fresh (left) took the lead, followed by Marley Spoon (right)
What are the best meal kit delivery services in Australia
CHOICE said benefits of getting food boxes are the easy to follow recipes, and the ingredients are perfectly portioned (pictured of a Hello Fresh meal)
1. Hello Fresh - 87%
2-person box (three meals per week): $69.95; 4-person box (three meals per week): $124.95
2. Marley Spoon - 86%
2-person box (three meals per week): $76.45; 4-person box (three meals per week): $121.15
3. Dinnerly - 85%
2-person box (three meals per week): $52.45; 4-person box (three meals per week): $83.95
4. Pepper Leaf - 83%
2-person box (three meals per week): $77.90; 4-person box (three meals per week): $125.80
Prices, which include delivery are base prices for meal plans as of May 26, 2020. TIP: Look out for promotional price reductions and discount vouchers
Food kit delivery services
CHOICE home economist Fiona Mair said the best things about getting food boxes from Hello Fresh, Marley Spoon, Dinnerly and Pepper Leaf are the easy to follow recipes, and the ingredients are perfectly portioned so there's minimal wastage.
'Meal delivery services are predominantly marketed to time-poor families, and subscribing to them goes some way towards alleviating the perennial stress of having to decide what to cook for dinner,' she said.
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'But if you have limited cooking skills and want to eat home cooked food they can also be a great way to learn how to cook.
'After a month of preparing a few meals from a meal delivery service you'll have a repertoire of recipes under your belt that will give you confidence to shop and cook for yourself. You will also become familiar with flavours and cuisines that you may not have tried before.'
Dinnerly was named as one of the best meal kit delivery services after scoring 85 per cent
Customers said they preferred cooking with meal kits because the boxes would come with a precise quantity of ingredients
One customer said they preferred cooking with meal kits because the boxes would come with a precise quantity of ingredients, such as a 'pinch of paprika - I don't have to buy a whole bottle of spices that I won't use again'.
The experts compared the price of HelloFresh Classic Plan food box ($69.95 for three meals per week for two people) with the cost of buying the ingredients for those three meals in the same or similar quantities from Coles and Woolworths.
'We found you don't actually pay much less at a supermarket, and sometimes you pay more once you factor in delivery costs,' they said.
'But in reality when doing your weekly shop you're more likely to take advantage of special offers or buy larger packs which are better value for money.'
About 87 per cent of subscription food box customers rated food quality, freshness and taste as good, very good or excellent.
Customers can choose from the range of meals, and the chilled or frozen meals will arrive at your doorstep in a cooler box on your nominated delivery date (picture of YouFoodz)
What's the best ready-made meal delivery services in Australia?
The experts found the benefits of ordering ready-made meals are the minimal preparation and can keep in freezer to eat later (picture of THR1VE meals)
1. THR1VE - 85%
For two people ordering three meals a week: $78; Per person per meal: $12.37 (based on seven meals)
2. Dinner Ladies - 86%
For two people ordering three meals a week: $54; Per person per meal: $9 (based on seven meals)
3. Soulara - 79%
For two people ordering three meals a week: $69; Per person per meal: $8.95-$11.50 (based on seven meals)
4. YouFoodz - 77%
For two people ordering three meals a week: $60; Per person per meal: $9.95 (based on seven meals)
5. Nourish'd - 76%
For two people ordering three meals a week: $83; Per person per meal: $14.87 (based on five meals)
Prices, which include delivery are base prices for meal plans as of May 26, 2020. TIP: Look out for promotional price reductions and discount vouchers
Ready-made meal delivery services
Ready-made meal delivery service Dinner Ladies finished runner up with 86 per cent
The experts found the benefits of ordering ready-made meals from services such as Youfoodz, Dinner Ladies, Soulara and Nourish'd are the minimal preparation and can be kept in the freezer to eat later.
Customers can choose from the range of meals displayed on the websites, and the chilled or frozen meals will arrive at your doorstep in a cooler box on your nominated delivery date.
Users of the services told CHOICE they were able to stockpile meals in the freezer to eat later when they don't have the time to go to the shop or cook.
The experts compared the cost of two different dishes from prepared meal services with similar supermarket ready-meals and found the meal service dishes to be more expensive.
A single serve of butter chicken from meal delivery services ranged in price from $9.95 to $23.99, but the Woolworths chilled version was just $6.90.
Up to 93 per cent of prepared meal service customers who were surveyed rated food quality, freshness and taste as good, very good or excellent.
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