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Blue Apron vs Home Chef
I know that life can get busy sometimes. As a result, the hustle and bustle of work or school life don’t always leave room for doing groceries for your home-cooked meals. Luckily, some services can deliver fresh ingredients right to your door.
About Blue Apron
Blue Apron can take over all of the planning and shop for you. They deliver ingredients and recipes to your door for all cooking levels. Headquartered in New York City, Matt Salzberg, Ilia Papas, and Matt Wadiak started Blue Apron in 2012.
Their mission is to “build a better food system” by partnering with sustainability experts to help curate their ingredients and deliver them to your kitchen.
About Home Chef
We also have Home Chef, another meal delivery service founded in 2013. The company’s founder Pat Vihtelic created Home Chef to “provide everything you need to bring more delicious meals and moments to the table,” regardless of your schedule.
After partnering with a chef to develop a tasty menu, the Chicago company took off. Currently, they partner with trusted suppliers to get their ingredients.
If you’re always scrambling for time to cook a meal with whole ingredients, listen up! My Blue Apron vs Home Chef review will lay out all of the details so you can decide between the two meal delivery companies.
What to Consider
Target audience:
Before I dive in, here are a few things to consider. First, blue Apron’s and Home Chef’s target audience are busy individuals who don’t have time to grocery shop every week.
Variety of meals/ recipes:
Both companies also have a variety of different meals available. Their menus also change every week.
Customization flexibility:
You’re also able to customize your plan. For example, both Blue Apron and Home Chef allow you to choose your servings so you can feed the whole family.
Tools and time required:
Prep and cooking time varies between meals at both companies, but you’re able to choose kits that won’t take up too much time. You’ll need a few tools but don’t worry about measurements. Blue Apron and Home Chef pre-portion your ingredients.
Subscription flexibility:
If you want to skip a week or more, you’re able to do so on both Blue Apron and Home Chef.
Accessibility:
Unfortunately, both of these meal services are only available in the US. But they have pretty reasonable weekly prices.
Blue Apron vs Home Chef: How Do They Work?
Of course, I can’t go on in this Blue Apron vs Home Chef review without telling you how their services work. At Home Chef, you answer questions about your food, serving size, and delivery preferences so you can get a tailored menu. You’re also able to choose your meals every week from their three meal kit categories.
The same goes for Blue Apron. They also offer three different kit options, and you can even choose meals with a specific prep and cook time that works with your agenda. Both companies also have dietary preferences to choose from, and both of their menus change every week and with the season.
Now, I will give you a list of highlights for each company’s process.
Blue Apron:
- Super convenient and doesn’t require planning in advance
- Able to choose serving sizes for an entire family
- Vegetarian options are available
- Ingredients are sustainably sourced and non-GMO
- Can skip or cancel at any time
Home Chef:
- Convenient and doesn’t require meal prep
- Good selection of meal kits
- Have calorie-conscious and carb-conscious options
- Offer meals with shorter cook times
- Can choose servings based on your needs
- Easily customize certain ingredients for select meals
- Can skip or cancel at any time
At the base, the two companies are pretty similar. Home Chef does have more options to choose from, including breakfast, dessert, and a la carte options. But Blue Apron still has a variety of creative dishes that can satisfy your taste buds.
Blue Apron vs Home Chef: Subscription Plans
As this Blue Apron vs Home Chef review has already mentioned, our featured companies are subscription services. This can make home-cooked meals easier for busy parents, professionals, and students. So, it’s important to know what their plans are like and how customizable they really are.
Home Chef is delivered weekly to your home. Signing up is also really easy and just requires you to take a quiz, choose your meals, and you’ll be (nearly) ready to eat. You can easily change your frequency to bi-weekly or monthly on your Account page. You can also postpone your shipments but make sure you do so by noon on the Friday before your next delivery.
Blue Apron is also a weekly service. You can get started by entering in some info, choosing your meals, and waiting by the door for your ingredients and recipes. If you’re looking to skip a delivery, you can skip up to 5 weeks in advance. It’s also possible to change your delivery day.
Of course, you’ll have to make sure you’re customizing your frequency by the ‘Changeable before’ date.
Home Chef has a few more customizable options, and unfortunately, I was able to figure out if Blue Apron offers different frequency times. But, as I said, you can easily switch your weekly delivery date to match your needs.
Blue Apron vs Home Chef: Our Favourites From The Menu
This wouldn’t be complete without talking about some of our favorite meals. So keep reading this Blue Apron vs Home Chef review to get your stomach growling.
Blue Apron
Balsamic Chicken and Mashed Potatoes
The Balsamic Chicken and Mashed Potatoes recipe is comfort on a plate. The chicken is glazed with balsamic and soy, paired with some mashed potatoes with butter and mascarpone cheese. It takes a total of 30 minutes to prepare and serves two people.
There are a few things you’ll need to do to get this recipe from stove to table. Tools like a potato masher, vegetable peeler, and of course, pots, pans, and baking trays are essential. But if you don’t have a potato masher or peeler, you can substitute it with a fork and knife.
Trout Amandine
Next up in Blue Apron’s lineup is the Trout Amandine. It takes about 45 minutes to cook and can serve two people. To get into specifics, Amandine is a French term that means “prepared or served with almonds.” So, this trout is topped with a buttered, citrusy sauce along with toasted almonds.
It also comes with a side of roasted fingerlings (potatoes) and watermelon radish. There’s not much you’ll need for this recipe besides your kitchen essentials. I’d also like to note that roasting your veggies will take the longest, so make sure to put them in the oven before cooking your fish.
Home Chef
Japanese BBQ Burger
Now, onto our favorite Home Chef meals. Their Japanese BBQ Burger is one of their easiest recipes. They take sweet teriyaki and combine it with some Sriracha-mayo coleslaw to make the tangy burger. It takes about 35-45 minutes to prep and cook and should be a breeze for an after-work dinner.
You will need some essentials like a baking sheet, bowls, and a non-stick pan. The recipe isn’t too complicated, but it’s important to note that it contains eggs, milk, wheat, and soy. In addition, Home Chef also recommends cooking the Japanese BBQ Burger within 5 days of receiving it.
Garlic-Parmesan Crusted Filet Mignon
The last meal I’ll cover in this Blue Apron vs Home Chef review is the Garlic-Parmesan Crusted Filet Mignon. This is a classic recipe but does require some expert knowledge in the kitchen. This meal features a steak crusted with garlic and parmesan. It’s then complemented with some potatoes, onions, and parsnips.
It takes about 35-45 minutes to complete this meal, and Home Chef recommends cooking it within 6 days. It also serves two people, so it can be a great date-night feast. Plus, you won’t need any fancy tools for this meal.
Both Blue Apron and Home Chef offer great recipes that take about the same amount of time and don’t require a complete Masterchef skill set. Home Chef provides more classic dishes with a few twists. At the same time, Blue Apron’s selection is definitely creative and can expand your palate.
Blue Apron vs Home Chef: Quality of Ingredients
I understand that you want to know where your ingredients come from. So this Blue Apron vs Home Chef review will break it down for you.
Blue Apron’s ingredients are sourced from several farmers, fisheries, and ranchers. That includes over 100 family farms that practice sustainable methods. The company’s suppliers don’t use antibiotics or hormones. Blue Apron’s seafood is even certified “Best Choice” by the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch.
Their ingredients are also GMO-free. Unfortunately, Blue Apron doesn’t have specific dietary plans besides a Vegetarian option.
On the flip side, Home Chef also sources fresh ingredients, taking seasonality into consideration. In addition, they occasionally offer organic ingredients, but this isn’t guaranteed for every menu.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any information about where their ingredients are sourced, but they order from different suppliers across the US. They also ensure that these partners follow animal welfare standards.
Ultimately, Blue Apron is more transparent about their resources and quality control. But, Home Chef does provide customers with fresh ingredients, and they work to ensure their quality through collaboration.
Blue Apron vs Home Chef: Price & Value
Let’s look at Blue Apron’s and Home Chef’s prices. Prices will vary depending on the meal options you choose at both companies. First, let’s look at Blue Apron:
- 2 Serving menus: $9-$10 per serving (depending on how many recipes you choose)
- 4 Serving menus: $7-$9 per serving (depending on how many recipes you choose)
In comparison, Home Chef’s meal kits start at about $7 per serving. Of course, this can change depending on the available menu and options. Additionally, meal types vary in price. But, their weekly minimum order value is about $50.
A Blue Apron order with 2 recipes that feed 2 people would cost you about $40 per week, not including shipping. So, it is slightly cheaper than Home Chef’s plan. In terms of feedback, customers and foodies seem pretty satisfied with their subscription purchases.
Blue Apron vs Home Chef: What Do Customers Think?
So, what are the critics saying about our two featured brands? This Blue Apron vs Home Chef review did some testimonial digging to help you make an informed decision. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any published reviews on either website. But I found some on Consumer Affairs, Trustpilot, and Facebook.
Blue Apron has a 3.4/5 star rating from 1,092 reviews on Consumer Affairs. Reception is mixed, but there are definitely rave reviews. Here’s a summary of the most common testimonials:
- Extremely helpful and convenient
- Tasty food that feels like high-end fare
- Easy to follow instructions
- Allowed customers to explore new foods
- Responsive customer service
Home Chef also has a decent rating, standing at 3.5/5 stars from 2.96k reviews on Facebook and 3.8/5 stars on Trustpilot after almost 3k reviews. Once again, there’s mixed reception, but I can’t help but notice the praise:
- Fresh, quality ingredients with a variety of meals
- Cheap alternative
- Timely delivery
- Delicious food that’s easy to make
- Responsive customer service
This Blue Apron vs Home Chef review did find a few critical comments. Customers at both companies have cited receiving spoiled ingredients and delayed orders.
Additionally, some Blue Apron customers found it difficult to cancel their subscriptions. Home Chef also gets some criticism for inconsistent delivery times, but these comments promptly received responses from Home Chef customer service reps.
It seems like both meal services work for some people and don’t work for others. Regardless, both brands received decent reviews for their easy instructions, great meals, and of course, their convenience. But, when it comes to the more controversial comments, it seems like both companies have supply and delivery issues.
Blue Apron vs Home Chef: Promotions & Discounts
Everyone loves a good deal. That’s why this Blue Apron vs Home Chef review will list some of our featured companies’ promotions.
Blue Apron:
- $110 off and free shipping on your first box for doctors, nurses, hospital employees, first responders, military, seniors (55+), students, teachers, alumni, and government workers
- $110 off for first-time customers
Home Chef:
- $116 off your subscription if you’re a student ($30 off your first three boxes, $26 off your third)
- $110 off for AAA members with the code AAA110D
- Sign up to get $30 off
I couldn’t find any other promotions, but you can sign up for both companies’ emails to get the latest deals, recipes, and more. Additionally, it seems like Blue Apron and Home Chef offer similar discounts, so you can save a couple of dollars at either one.
Blue Apron vs Home Chef: Shipping & Returns
Your ingredients have to get to you somehow. So, let’s talk about Blue Apron’s and Home Chef’s shipping and return policies.
First, I’ll look at Blue Apron:
- Only ship within the US
- Shipping starts at about $10
- You’re able to choose a delivery date based on your zip code
- Once your order ships, you’ll receive tracking info via email
- Have a Freshness Guarantee and if any ingredients are spoiled, contact their team within 7 days of getting your order
- Offer meals credit to make up for ingredient issues
Now onto Home Chef:
- Only ship within the US
- Shipping costs will depend on the size of your order
- Send out weekly deliveries on weekdays
- You can pick which day suits your schedule, and options will vary depending on your location
- You’ll receive a tracking number via email
Unfortunately, I couldn’t find information about Home Chef’s refund policy for ingredient issues, so contacting their customer service is your best bet if you encounter any problems. Regardless, the two brands’ delivery policies seem straightforward.
Who Will You Shop With?
Not everyone has the time to think up home-cooked meals every week. So, services like Blue Apron and Home Chef are beneficial for the busiest bees. By now, you might be wondering which brand you should choose. After researching for this Blue Apron vs Home Chef review, here’s what I think.
Blue Apron is an excellent option if you enjoy trying new food. They have many creative recipes that’ll appeal to foodies everywhere. It could even be ideal for single households or couples looking to expand their horizons. Plus, they’re transparent about where their ingredients are coming from and even have certifications to prove it.
On the other hand, Home Chef is a crowd-pleaser. Their recipes are more traditional and could be better for family meals. Additionally, they have many more options available, including breakfast and dessert options. They are slightly more expensive, but you’re going to see some happy faces around the table if you splurge a little.
It seems like Blue Apron is great for adventurous eaters, while Home Chef will bring you and your family some tasty comfort. So, which one will you choose?
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