EveryPlate is a meal delivery service that promises to provide fresh, affordable, and easy-to-prepare meals for busy people. But is it worth trying?
In this article, we will give you our honest review of EveryPlate, based on our own experience and research. We will cover the following aspects of the service:
- Pricing
- Meal Choices
- Packaging
- How EveryPlate Works
- Unboxing and Cooking with EveryPlate
- Customer Experience
Overview of EveryPlate
EveryPlate is a subsidiary of HelloFresh, one of the leading meal kit companies in the world. It was launched in 2018 as a budget-friendly alternative to other meal delivery services, offering meals for as low as $4.99 per serving. EveryPlate claims to be “America’s Best Value Meal Kit”, providing filling and familiar dinners that are easy to cook and enjoy.
Pricing
EveryPlate has two plans to choose from: a 2-person plan and a 4-person plan. You can select 3, 4, or 5 meals per week for each plan. The price per serving varies depending on the number of meals you order, as shown in the table below:
| 3 meals/week | 4 meals/week | 5 meals/week |
| 2 servings/meal | $5.89/serving | $5.49/serving |
| 4 servings/meal | $4.99/serving | $4.99/serving |
There is also a shipping fee of $9.99 for every order, regardless of the plan or the number of meals.
EveryPlate also offers a student discount, which gives students meals for $1.99 per serving in their first box, along with 20% off their next two boxes.
Meal Choices
EveryPlate features a rotating weekly menu with 17 recipes to choose from. Most recipes consist of a source of protein with vegetables and starch, such as potatoes, pasta, couscous, or rice. Some examples of the dishes are:
- Herb Butter Steak with Roasted Potatoes and Green Beans
- Creamy Dijon Chicken with Roasted Carrots and Garlic Mashed Potatoes
- Pork and Veggie Bibimbap with Zucchini, Carrots, and Jasmine Rice
The menu includes several vegetarian and family-friendly options, but it does not cater to specific dietary restrictions such as gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, or keto. If you have any food allergies or sensitivities, you will need to check the ingredients and nutrition information of each meal before ordering.
Packaging
EveryPlate delivers its meal kits in cardboard boxes that are insulated with recycled paper liners and ice packs. The ingredients are grouped by recipe and packed in plastic bags, except for the meat, which is vacuum-sealed and placed at the bottom of the box.
The packaging is mostly recyclable, except for some plastic components that need to be disposed of properly. EveryPlate encourages its customers to reduce waste by reusing or repurposing the boxes and ice packs.
How EveryPlate Works?
To start using EveryPlate, you need to create an account on its website or app and choose your plan and delivery preferences. You can then browse the weekly menu and select the meals you want to receive. You can also skip a week or change your menu up to five days before your delivery date.
Every week, you will receive a box with all the ingredients and recipe cards for your chosen meals. The recipe cards include step-by-step instructions, photos, cooking tips, and nutrition facts. Each meal takes about 30 to 45 minutes to prepare and cook.
You will need some basic kitchen tools and pantry essentials to cook with EveryPlate, such as pots, pans, knives, cutting boards, oil, butter, salt, pepper, and sugar.
Unboxing and Cooking with EveryPlate
We ordered three meals from EveryPlate for two people: Herb Butter Steak with Roasted Potatoes and Green Beans, Creamy Dijon Chicken with Roasted Carrots and Garlic Mashed Potatoes, and Pork and Veggie Bibimbap with Zucchini, Carrots, and Jasmine Rice.
The box arrived on time and in good condition. The ingredients were fresh and well-organized by recipe. The recipe cards were clear and easy to follow.
Customization
One thing we liked about EveryPlate was the ability to customize some of the meals by swapping or adding ingredients. For example, we could swap the steak for chicken or pork chops for an extra $1 per serving, or add extra cheese or garlic herb butter for $0.49 per serving.
We decided to swap the steak for chicken in the Herb Butter Steak recipe, since we prefer poultry over red meat. We also added some extra cheese to the Creamy Dijon Chicken recipe, because who doesn’t love cheese?
Cooking Process
The cooking process was simple and straightforward. We followed the instructions on the recipe cards and used the pre-portioned ingredients. We only needed to wash, chop, and season the vegetables, and cook the meat and starch according to the directions.
We did not encounter any major difficulties or challenges while cooking. The only minor issue was that some of the cooking times were slightly off, so we had to adjust them accordingly. For example, the potatoes took longer to roast than the recipe card indicated, and the rice took less time to cook than the recipe card suggested.
Taste
The taste of the meals was satisfying and delicious. The chicken was tender and juicy, the potatoes were crispy and fluffy, the green beans were crunchy and flavorful, and the herb butter was rich and aromatic. The creamy dijon sauce was creamy and tangy, the carrots were sweet and soft, the mashed potatoes were smooth and garlicky, and the cheese added a nice touch of saltiness. The pork was lean and tender, the zucchini and carrots were crisp and colorful, the rice was fluffy and fragrant, and the bibimbap sauce was sweet and spicy.
We enjoyed all three meals and felt full and happy after eating them. The portions were generous and enough for two people. We even had some leftovers that we reheated for lunch the next day.
Customer Experience
EveryPlate provides a convenient and flexible service for its customers. You can manage your account, menu, and deliveries online or through the app. You can also contact customer service via phone, email, or chat if you have any questions or issues.
Shipping and Delivery
EveryPlate delivers to most locations in the continental United States. You can choose your preferred delivery day from Tuesday to Saturday, depending on your zip code. You can also track your order status online or through the app.
EveryPlate charges a flat shipping fee of $9.99 for every order, which is higher than some other meal delivery services that offer free or discounted shipping. However, this is offset by the lower price per serving that EveryPlate offers.
Managing Your Subscription
You can easily manage your subscription online or through the app. You can change your plan, menu, delivery date, address, payment method, or email preferences at any time. You can also skip a week or cancel your subscription whenever you want, as long as you do it at least five days before your next delivery date.
Customer Service
EveryPlate has a friendly and helpful customer service team that you can reach by phone, email, or chat. You can also find answers to frequently asked questions on its website or app.
We contacted customer service by email to ask about the student discount program. We received a reply within 24 hours with detailed information on how to apply for the discount. The customer service representative was polite and professional.
Comparison to Other Meal Delivery Services
EveryPlate is one of the cheapest meal delivery services on the market, offering meals for as low as $4.99 per serving. However, it does not offer as much variety or customization as some other services that cater to specific dietary needs or preferences.
For example, HelloFresh offers more than 20 recipes per week, including vegetarian, pescatarian, calorie-smart, quick-and-easy, family-friendly, gourmet, and global cuisine options. It also allows you to swap proteins or upgrade to premium meats or seafood for some recipes. However, HelloFresh is more expensive than EveryPlate, with prices ranging from $7.49 to $10.99 per serving.
Another example is Green Chef, which offers organic and sustainable ingredients and meals that are tailored to keto, paleo, balanced living, plant-powered, or family-friendly diets. It also allows you to mix and match recipes from different plans. However, Green Chef is also more expensive than EveryPlate, with prices ranging from $9.99 to $12.99 per serving.
Therefore, EveryPlate is a good option for customers who are looking for affordable and easy-to-cook meals that are filling and tasty. However, it may not be suitable for customers who have specific dietary restrictions or who want more variety or customization in their meals.
