HelloFresh Review

In partnership with HelloFresh

About HelloFresh

HelloFresh is America’s #1 meal kit. They sell fresh ingredients needed to cook a variety of dishes and provide straightforward recipe cards to make the process smooth and easy.

Meal kits are quickly becoming an accessible way to assemble dishes that are both creative and portioned perfectly for the number of people in a household. One study^[1] found them to be much more nutritious than takeout or fast food alternatives—especially if you go easy on the salt and added fats. With these benefits, it’s no surprise that these meal kits are so popular these days. 

Founded in 2011, HelloFresh has been endorsed by many social media influencers and reality TV stars. They were voted #1 four years in a row by USA Today’s Readers’ Choice Awards.

In this HelloFresh review, I will take a closer look at the brand and its products, customer ratings, promotions, and more, to see if it’s worth subscribing to.

Overview of HelloFresh

HelloFresh was founded in Berlin, Germany by Dominik Richter, Thomas Griesel, and Jessica Nilsson. The company had humble beginnings, with the founders hand-delivering packages to its first ten customers. 

The brand started to prosper in 2012 when its fanbase started multiplying. That same year, it expanded overseas to the UK, the Netherlands, Australia. By 2014, HelloFresh was delivering approximately 1 million meals every month. 

HelloFresh now offers countless recipes with options to please everyone^[2]. They cater to both individuals and families, handing over full control over how many meals you need per week. 

They free customers of the stress of grocery shopping and meal planning. Everything you need is provided, from meat to spices—all you have to do is follow the foolproof recipe cards and enjoy.

Before going any further in this HelloFresh review, I will check out some highlights about the company.

Highlights

• Wide variety of delicious meals that take lifestyle needs into consideration
• The service delivers pre-portioned ingredients^[3] and recipes to your door
• Detailed instructions provided
• Can be adjusted to the # of people in a household
• A fun way to try new recipes and learn basic culinary skills
• No charge for canceling or pausing the subscription 
• Less food waste than retail grocery stores

How Does HelloFresh Work?

In this HelloFresh review, I will go over the process of the brand’s meal delivery service and how it works. I’ll explain the step-by-step process in depth, while taking a look at some of the plans. 

The benefits of HelloFresh’s Recipe Boxes include:

• Deliciousness: HelloFresh recipes are tested many times to ensure your dinner is as tasty as can be
• Simplicity: From the easy HelloFresh sign up process to the foolproof recipe cards, they aim to make your life easier
• Flexibility: HelloFresh aims to accommodate all types of households and busy schedules  
• Stress-free: HelloFresh meals are pre-planned and come with little clean up
• Diversity: HelloFresh takes special meal preferences into consideration, offering Veggie and Calorie-Smart options 
• Less waste: Your HelloFresh box will help you cut down on food waste compared to grocery shopping

To get started, you’re going to need to: 

1. Personalize your HelloFresh plan by selecting from 6 meal preferences, and specifying the number of people in your household (2 or 4)
2. Schedule your delivery by number of recipes you’d like to receive per week (2 to 6)
3. Browse the menu and pick out your recipes 

While doing my research for this HelloFresh review, I found that you cannot buy products separately without signing up for a subscription. On the bright side, there are no commitments—you can pause or cancel at any time. 

Below, I’ve listed the meal preferences:

• Veggie
• Fit & Wholesome
• Family Friendly
• Meat & Veggies
• Quick & Easy
• Pescatarian

Up next in this HelloFresh review, I will go over each meal preference individually. I’ll provide lots of details on their contents, pricing, and more. 

HelloFresh Veggie Recipe Review

Going meatless doesn’t have to limit your palate. The HelloFresh Veggie recipes feature farm–fresh vegetables and herbs. The brand also lists clear nutritional info and calories per dish. 

Invite your friends over for dinner and divide up the chopping. Visually, these dishes may look intimidating, but HelloFresh carefully labels each ingredient for an effortless assembly. Plus, most of these recipes can be prepared in around 30 minutes or less! 

Some examples of HelloFresh’s Veggie options include Zucchini and Tomato Flatbreads, Italian Garden Veggie Soup, Veggie Shepherd’s Pie, and Southwest Stuffed Zucchini Boats.

Everything arrives in insulated packs, so you can rest assured that all your box will still be fresh. The price of a HelloFresh subscription varies, starting at $8 per serving.

HelloFresh Carb Smart Recipe Review

Have you ever heard the saying, “Abs are made in the kitchen”? The HelloFresh Fit & Wholesome meal preference features Carb-Smart and Calorie-Smart recipes for satisfying and wholesome meals that you can feel good about. It takes the guesswork out of what to eat.

Bread is delicious, no doubt about it. Luckily, complex carbohydrates can also be found in some vegetables and beans. When you choose Fit & Wholesome, you’ll be able to browse through many Carb-Smart, Calorie-Smart, and even Mediterranean options. You can feel more confident about making healthier lifestyle choices. 

Some examples of HelloFresh’s Carb/Calorie Smart recipes include Miso Chili Chicken, Saucy Pork Burrito Bowls, and Tuscan Pork-Stuffed Peppers. 

The best part? You can try out unique ingredients without having to spend more money at the grocery store for full-size products. If you’ve always wondered what Gochujang tastes like, order a Bibimbap.

To try out your own favorites, starting at $8 per serving.

HelloFresh Family Friendly Recipe Review

HelloFresh knows that children might not appreciate a Brussels sprout salad. So, they’ve designed the Family Friendly meal preference which features recipes that the whole family will love. Plus, your little one can even jump in and help you prepare these simple meals for an enjoyable cooking experience.  

The Family Friendly meal preference is perfect for families of many sizes, too. Minimize stress by setting up delivery 4 times a week, or opt for 2 special dinners for the weekends. As long as you have your pans and spoons ready, the process should take less than an hour—from doorstep to table. 

Some examples of HelloFresh Family Friendly recipes include Pork Chops & Apple Rosemary Pan Sauce, Bacon Penne Arrabiata, and Italian Sunday Supper. 

Planning a weekly meal rotation for finicky loved ones is no easy feat. To expand your kids’ horizons (and your own!) with some new foods, subscribe to HelloFresh with meals starting at $8 per serving.

HelloFresh Meat & Veggies Menu Review

HelloFresh’s Meat & Veggies meal preference offers a variety of meat and fish, as well as fresh produce and ingredients that will have everyone wanting more.

You might even become overwhelmed from all of the how many options there are. That’s hardly the worst problem to have—especially since Meat & Veggies can help everyone in the family be happy with their meals.

Writing this HelloFresh review, I can just picture it…You’re binge-watching a cooking show, and your mouth is watering from everything you’re seeing on TV. But, you don’t have the culinary skills or the motivation of the contestants. 

What a perfect time to pull out your HelloFresh meal kits and make your own 5-star dish—with half the effort required. Some appetizing examples of meals include Cheesy Smothered Mushroom Chicken, Szechuan Pork & Green Bean Stir-Fry, and the Salsa Verde Enchiladas. 

Give HelloFresh a test run, starting at $8 per serving.

HelloFresh Quick & Easy Meals Review

If you’ve exhausted the local takeout options, or all the restaurants are under lockdown, don’t lose hope. HelloFresh Quick & Easy meals include 20-Minute Meals, low-prep and easy-cleanup options.

When ordering these quick and tasty meals, you’ll be saving time, while cutting back on shopping and cooking duties. Not to mention, reducing the aftermath of cleaning up! If you’ve got a long night of work or studying ahead, these meals might just save the day.

With this HelloFresh meal preference, you can choose dishes like Harissa Chicken Bowls and Banh-Mi-Style Beef Tacos at your fingertips. 

You’ll appreciate the efficiency of Quick & Easy meals. Subscribe to HelloFresh for meals starting at $8 per serving.

Our Favorites From The Menu

For this HelloFresh review, I’ve scoped out some of the best foods that can be found on the company’s website. See if anything below stirs your appetite, too! 

When Steak Met Potatoes

When Steak Met Potatoes with a side of Creamed Kale with Peppercorn Sauce is a classic meal that really hits the spot. It features only 7 ingredients: sirloin steak, Yukon Gold potatoes, sour cream, beef stock concentrate, kale, shallots, and black peppercorns. 

Dates can get awkward when you’re waiting for your food to arrive, while trying to make small talk for an eternity. Why not make things a little more dynamic by whipping up dinner together? The total cooking time for When Steak Met Potatoes is only 30 minutes, and the difficulty level is rated as easy. 

Consisting of 525 calories, this meal is delicious and nutritious. All you’re going to need is a baking sheet, large pan, and a regular pan. Practice your flipping skills before the big night!

Teriyaki-Style Chicken Stir-Fry

Teriyaki-Style Chicken Stir-Fry with Sesame Broccoli and Jasmine Rice is the perfect sweet and savory meal with a bit of spice.

Listed as one of their takeout favorites, this HelloFresh meal comes with these 11 ingredients: garlic, broccoli, rice wine vinegar, sweet soy glaze, jasmine rice, miso sauce concentrate, ginger, ponzu sauce, cornstarch, chicken breast strips, and sesame seeds. 

Everyone has a lazy Sunday now and then. Fire up your favorite show and settle in with a big bowl of steaming Teriyaki-Style Chicken Stir-Fry that you made with your own hands. Stretchy sweatpants and chopsticks are optional.

 The total cooking time for this easy dish is only 30 minutes, and prep time is 10 minutes. Consisting of 710 calories, this 6-step meal is suitable for anyone, beginner or not.

Shrimp and Asparagus Risotto

Shrimp and Asparagus Risotto with Meyer Lemon and Parmesan is definitely a comfort meal that’ll make you feel warm inside. The mix of shrimp, asparagus, warm risotto, and lemon makes for a zesty and flavorful lunch. All you need is a tall glass of your favorite drink to pair it with. 

This meal comes with just 8 ingredients, including shrimp, asparagus, garlic, veggie stock concentrate, arborio rice, yellow onion, parmesan cheese, and meyer lemon. 

The total cooking time is 45 minutes with a medium difficulty rating. All you need is a small pot, zester, large pan, bowl, slotted spoon, and a regular pan.

This mouth-watering meal consists of 580 calories and is a great option to cook up for a special guest.

Rapid Stir-Fried Beef

Rapid Stir-Fried Beef and Broccoli is an easy go-to when you’ve had a long day but still want a nutritious meal. This stir-fry can be made in no time, and it’s sure to please your taste buds. 

This spicy Asian-style recipe comes with 12 ingredients, including beef sirloin strips, garlic, ginger, ketchup, hoisin sauce jar, sesame oil, scallions, cornstarch, Yakisoba noodles, soy sauce, broccoli, and Sriracha. The total cooking time is a speedy 20 minutes.

Consisting of 754 calories, this meal is definitely indulgent and tasty. All you need to make this tempting dish is a large pot, strainer, large bowl, and a large pan.

How Much Does HelloFresh Cost?

HelloFresh prices vary depending on your individual subscription.

All of the six preferences covered in this HelloFresh review fall in the same price range. The values of individual meals range from $8 to $12 per serving.

HelloFresh Reviews: What Do Customers Think?

We’ve come to the segment on this HelloFresh review where I will now go over customer feedback to see what subscribers really think about the brand.

Below are reviews from the brand’s website, as well as ratings from other sources including Consumer Affairs and Influenster. Keep reading to uncover truths about HelloFresh’s product quality, taste, effectiveness and customer service. 

On its website, HelloFresh features reviews from Trustpilot. On Trustpilot, the brand has 39,186 reviews with an overall 4/5 star rating. One customer shared:

“Overall, I do enjoy HelloFresh and their meal boxes. I have had some issues with rotten produce, which customer service has given me credit for. Their meals are tasty, but can take longer to prepare than noted on the recipe card. I do wish they had more ‘side’ options, other than roasted potatoes, which I love, but not for 3-4 days straight. […] I thought customer service was quick to fix my complaints.”

The brand received 3.8/5 stars from 5,734 reviews on ConsumerAffairs. One subscriber left this quick comment: “I like the flexibility of only needing to order two meals a week, but if you want more you can.”

On Influenster, HelloFresh has a 4.2/5 rating based on 10,133 reviews.

Judging based on the company’s wide span of reviews, I found that the brand rates average to high, with most reviews being over 3 stars. There are some of negative ratings, but overall, there are more compliments and pleased customers. 

Is HelloFresh Worth It?

After seeing the brand’s name everywhere, it’s not hard to wonder if HelloFresh is really worth it. To help provide you with some clarity, I’ve determined the brand to have a good mission, fair ratings, and versatile meals.

When it comes to subscribing to the meal kit service, I recommend you do so depending on your needs versus your actual household situation. 

If you’re not great with grocery shopping and putting well-proportioned meals together, I definitely recommend looking into HelloFresh meal kits.

It’s quite convenient having pre-portioned ingredients and cooking instructions set up for you. Most recipes are compatible with beginner skill levels, so you don’t have to excel at cooking from scratch.

HelloFresh is a wonderful option for people who need that extra creativity when it comes to cooking. Also, if you’re looking to eat well or require portion control, the meal kits can definitely help you out with that. 

At a fairly comparable price point, it’s a great system to explore, especially with their consequence-free options to skip a week or cancel entirely.

HelloFresh Promotions & Discounts 

At the time of writing this HelloFresh review, the brand is offering a 65% OFF your first box (w/ FREE shipping) promotion. You can also receive 20% off your 2nd-4th box as well.

You can add a HelloFresh promo code under the Meal Preferences tab in your account settings. It’s important to note that only one promo code, discount, or credit can apply to your order at a time.

If you are using a HelloFresh gift card, keep in mind the subscription service will continue if you do not actively delete your account 5 days before your next scheduled delivery.

Sign Up For HelloFresh

Once you’re ready to sign up for a HelloFresh subscription, follow these simple steps:

1. Go to their homepage and click “Our Plans”.
2. When selecting a plan, choose your meal preference (ie. Veggie, Meat & Veggies, Fit & Wholesome, etc.).
3. Apply a HelloFresh coupon code if you’ve got one.
4. Proceed to customize your plan to number of people and recipes per week.
5. You will then register with your email or pre-existing social media account.
6. The “Shipping Page” will prompt you to enter your information
7. Fill in your payment information.
8. Now comes the fun part—submit your order to continue with choosing meals.

FAQ

What is HelloFresh?

HelloFresh is a convenient meal subscription service. They offer fresh ingredients and easy-to-follow recipe cards that customers can follow to put interesting meals on the table in around 30 minutes or less. These hassle-free meal kits ease the stress of grocery shopping and daily meal planning. 

Is HelloFresh cheaper than grocery shopping?

Yes, HelloFresh is 25% cheaper than groceries and takeout. Their pre-portioned ingredients mean you don’t waste money on excess food or extra time on shopping at the store. Ingredients travel from the farm to your doorstep in under a week.

Does HelloFresh offer nutritious options?

HelloFresh offers many wholesome recipe options. Each recipe has clear nutritional info, which can be found on the website next to each recipe.

Does HelloFresh have free shipping?

No. There is a shipping charge for HelloFresh delivery which will be calculated at checkout.

How is HelloFresh shipped?

HelloFresh caters to the US, Canada, Western Europe, New Zealand, Denmark, Sweden and Australia.

The brand uses specially designed boxes that contain insulated liners, gel packs, and additional cooling materials to keep food at an optimal temperature.

They also adjust packaging based on the season/location. Once your package has shipped, you’ll have the opportunity to track it via a confirmation email.

How long does HelloFresh shipping take?

HelloFresh sends their products out on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays in certain areas, and on Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays in others. Deliveries are set to arrive between 8 AM–8 PM.

When you’re checking out, HelloFresh will prompt you to set a delivery date, depending on your area. Deliveries will take place on that same day of the week, every week, unless they are paused canceled, or you adjust your settings.

What happens if I’m dissatisfied with my order?

If you’re not satisfied with your HelloFresh order, you’ll need to reach out to their customer service team within 5 days of receiving your box. Depending on your specific situation, you may be issued a partial or full refund for your meal kits. 

You may be required to return, or at least provide pictures of, your displeasing product before receiving any sort of refund or company credit. 

How do I cancel my HelloFresh subscription?

If you’re going away on vacation for a few weeks, or just need a break from HelloFresh, be sure to skip delivery or change your delivery address to a temporary one so you can bring it with you. Follow these steps to press pause: 

1. Log in to your HelloFresh account
2. Click “My Menu”
3. Select the delivery day you’d like to skip and click “Skip Week”

Maybe you just needed some culinary inspiration, or the HelloFresh subscription you ordered was a gift. In that case, here are seven step to cancel HelloFresh subscriptions:

1. Log in to your HelloFresh account
2. Locate your name and click on it
3. Click “Account Settings”
4. Scroll down on the “Plan Settings” page
5. Under “Status” section, click “Cancel Plan”
6. Follow the instructions accordingly
7. You will receive a cancellation confirmation message

How to Contact HelloFresh

If you have any additional inquiries unrelated to this HelloFresh review, you can get in touch with their customer service team via: 

• Using Live Chat or filling out the Contact Form on their website  
• Phone: (646) 846-3663
• Email: [email protected]

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