If you're thinking of buying a subscription to a delicious – and time-saving – meal delivery service, our HelloFresh recipe box review should come in handy. HelloFresh is the longest-standing recipe box service in the UK – but is HelloFresh really worth it? How much does HelloFresh really cost? We've been busy testing it for the past year, to bless you with the answers.
I’ve always loved cooking – in fact, I am one of those bores who frequently shares pictures of her own meals on social media. But at some point last year, after the birth of my first daughter, I hit a bit of a rut. Actually, it was a lot of a rut. With everything else going on, from cluster-feeding to constant nappy changing, I found that I no longer had the enthusiasm – or the bandwidth – to research and cook exciting meals. My cookbooks gathered dust. The tahini and the miso paste went untouched, whizzing past their expiry date in the fridge. I missed making and eating delicious food. Something had to be done. So I turned to HelloFresh to get some new inspiration.
While I’d heard of various other meal delivery kits, including those specifically targeting new mums, I'd had second-hand experience with HelloFresh before. When I was living in a house share in my mid-twenties, my housemates who were a couple would often use it, relying on it to help them as busy young professionals to make dinners that weren’t just pesto pasta (which is what I mostly existed on).
Then, when I was a bit older and living with a boyfriend, my neighbours would frequently get boxes delivered, which I’d take ownership of for them if they weren’t home (with their permission!) And, dear reader, I did peek inside occasionally and get serious food envy. In fact, the only negative I was aware of before getting HelloFresh was that they are sometimes targeted by opportunistic doorstop thieves – my poor neighbours had several of theirs taken when they were unawares. But I live at the bottom of a cul-de-sac now – so without fear of robbery, I took the plunge.
For my first boxes, I was quite adventurous, choosing things I'd never in a million years have made otherwise (hi, chipotle chorizo and bean chilli), which was really fun. As time has gone on though, I've found my go-to dishes (the cheese and bacon pasta al forno is a big fave, as is the sweet potato pasanda) – but still throw in a wild card every fortnight or so to try something new. As my daughter got older and was weaned, I also started picking things that she'd also inevitably like to munch on – there's a great kid-friendly section without a chicken dinosaur in sight.
SKIP TO: What is HelloFresh? | How does it work? | How much does it cost? | What's the meal choice like? | Is HelloFresh healthy? | What happens if I am out when my box gets delivered? | Is the packaging sustainable? | Are you left with any food waste? | Who is HelloFresh best suited to? | Are there any negatives?
HelloFresh recipe box at a glance:
- Price: £29.99 for three meals for two people a week (or six meals total, as I like to do)
- Pros: The recipes are really easy to follow and everything’s measured out for you. I also like that nothing takes that long to make and at the end of it you’ll often feel like Nigella.
- Cons: It’s annoying if it’s not *quite* what I fancy.
How we tested HelloFresh:
As a user of HelloFresh for nearly a year, you can trust my honest thoughts on its pros and cons. And as a new mum, I've tried a variety of different meals over the course of the past year, and continued to use it when vegan in January. I've paused it for a few weeks, cancelled boxes and used it to cook for my family. Basically, I am now a HelloFreshpert.
What is HelloFresh?
Founded in Berlin back in November 2011 by Dominik Richter, Thomas Griesel and Jessica Nilsson, HelloFresh is the largest recipe box subscription service on the market. Operating in 12 different countries including England, Ireland and America, it offers households the opportunity to enjoy wholesome, home-made meals with no preparing, no shopping and no hassle. It was one of the first of its kind to hit the UK.
HelloFresh, which is loved by celebrities including Jamie Oliver and Jessica Alba, aims to help people enjoy their meal times again. The ingredients come pre-portioned, resulting in much less waste (and more suitably sized portions for bigger appetites – like mine!) and every recipe is quick to make. When you’re ordering online, you can even tailor your box to speed.
There’s actually a hell of a lot of science and thinking that goes on behind the scenes of HelloFresh. A huge data-driven technology platform puts the brand in prime position to manage supply chains, demand and customer experience.
How does HelloFresh work?
HelloFresh could not be more simple. You literally log onto their website (or download their very easy-to-use app) and choose from the available recipes to create your perfect box. You can even order extras if you want to push the boat out, like wine and dessert. Date night, anyone?
Upon ordering, customers choose between a Family Box, a Classic Box or a Rapid Box, each for either two, three or four people and for either three, four or five meals. Oh, and don't be put off if you're a single person. The two-person boxes would provide you with dinner plus lunch the next day.
Do you get it delivered regularly?
I currently get it delivered three days a week for two people – and I have the leftovers for lunch. Clever hey?
How much does HelloFresh really cost?
HelloFresh offers family and classic boxes, and meals start from just £3.15 per portion. If you purchased a box for two people, with five recipes inside, you'd expect to pay £42.99 (including shipping). For three meals for two people, you'll be paying £30.99, while for five meals for four people, you're looking at £68.99. Everything is customisable. Just make sure to check out our HelloFresh discount code for your next box.
How many people does a HelloFresh box serve?
There are options for 2, 3 or 4 people. Or you can hack it like me and do it solo – but have lunches too…
What variety of meal choices does HelloFresh offer every week?
There are almost endless possibilities, with over 37 recipes a week (we know, hella specific), including vegetarian, vegan and ‘rapid’ options for the really time-poor. There are traditional British dishes, like herby chicken with red onion mash and garlicky green beans, or Asian cuisine, like Indian-style chickpea and pistachio burgers with turmeric wedges, or Bombay-style lamb curry with potatoes and green beans.
Here are a few more example dishes:
- Thai-Style Beef with Peppers, Mangetout and Fluffy Rice
- Serrano Ham, Parsley & Butternut Linguine with Crème Fraîche
- Rigatoni Caprese with Pine Nuts, Mozzarella and Balsamic Tomato Salsa
- Duck A L'Orange with Parsley Mash and Roasted Carrots
- Veggie Tostadas with Roasted Peppers and Zesty Crema
- Sticky Mango Chicken Wraps with Spiced Red Pepper and Potato Wedges
- Mushroom & Bacon Risotto with Mangetout and Leek
- Spicy Beef Stir-Fry with Noodles, Green Pepper and Peanuts
Following the popularity of the dinner dishes, HelloFresh expanded to add lunch and brunch meals, as well as desserts and sides. The website also categorises all the meals under sections like ‘low calorie’, ‘kid friendly’ and ‘high protein’ so they’re really easy to navigate no matter what diet you’re currently following – if you are following one. They’ve even got specific ‘date night’ and ‘air fryer’ recipes! There’s also now a Gastopub and Premium range, both slightly higher price points, which offer more gourmet meals with fancier ingredients (hello pine nut crusted lamb steak and creamy truffle mushroom rigatoni).
Is HelloFresh healthy?
Yes. I'd safely declare HelloFresh a healthy dinner choice, with most meals well balanced and containing all the carbs, (tonnes of) fresh veg, protein and fats that you need. They're particularly healthy if you're currently relying on ready meals or processed food to help you get through the week. You can choose from a variety of healthy options, and the portion sizes are good.
What delivery options are there?
HelloFresh delivers seven days a week, from 8am-8pm. You can skip a week whenever you want, as well, you just need to give five days notice. I often switch up the delivery date if I’ve got dinner plans or am going to be away, and I love the flexibility it offers in this respect.
What happens if I am out when my HelloFresh box gets delivered?
I get really frustrated by feeling housebound when I’m expecting a parcel to be delivered, and I was worried about missing a HelloFresh delivery while on the nursery run or an actual run. Also, the aforementioned doorstop thievery was a concern. If you’re not going to be in, then you can leave special delivery instructions for your box (you can also change the delivery date on your account online). Without a porch I decided to specify that the box should be hidden in a safe space (which I can’t tell you about). Happily, it was there when I missed it on one occasion, and I’ve not really worried about it since.
Delivery first impressions
Simultaneously: ‘wow, this box is bigger than I thought’ and ‘how did they fit six meals in there?’ I really like the simple design but also the clever packaging too. Why is it so nice receiving veg in a paper bag?!
Are the refrigerated ingredients kept sufficiently chilled?
Everything that needs to be refrigerated arrives packaged up in its own little fridge pouch – the only downside of this is sometimes they can defrost a little and make the external packaging a little soggy. Side note: sometimes, there are ingredients that I would usually keep in the fridge that are in the ambient section (like tomatoes, for example) so bear that in mind when unpacking too. No judgement if you’re a chocolate-in-the-fridge-girl here.
Is the packaging sustainable?
Obviously, there’s a lot of criticism around meal delivery services using loads of needless packaging to transport relatively small quantities of ingredients, like spices or sauces. However, HelloFresh has stated that sustainability is a continued focus – and that it is continually developing innovative ways to reduce and optimise the packaging it sends their orders in. Dry ingredients like pasta and grains also come in fully recyclable paper sachets, plus there's more recyclable packaging for things like sauce sachets. Cleverly, they’ve also developed an algorithm that determines the optimal amount of packaging for each order, so they avoid any unnecessary packaging. Sourcing ingredients directly from producers also means they minimise packaging and repackaging along the way.
Of course, there is still a certain amount of single-use plastic in each box – such as the vacuum packs used to package things like fresh meat.
How easy are the recipes to make?
Of course! Rarely exceeding more than 10 instructions, everything is blissfully simple and even complete novices in the kitchen will be able to whip up these recipes. The A4 recipe cards with the picture of the dish on are also very handy if you’re more of a visual person, too. (Also, great presentation tips).
Is there any food waste?
Nada. Everything is measured out specifically and you can always have leftovers if you feel full. Also, I have a toddler, a.k.a. a human dustbin.
What are the finished recipes like?
Delicious! I do sometimes hack them by adding other spices, sauces or… cheese, but overall, everything comes out exactly as you’d want it to. It sure beats the basic b*tch stuff I was making previously (baked beans on toast three nights in a row, anyone?)
Who is HelloFresh most suited to?
HelloFresh is best for young professionals who aspire to cook up healthy, fun meals at home, but struggle with the time, inspiration or inclination. They’re great for if you want to try something new, or if you just need to take the thinking out of mid-week meals. My friends have also found it’s ideal for couples, who want to take it in turns to make nice meals for each other but not have to actually plan what said meal will be. New parents can also benefit from having one less thing to think about, and single mums like me will find it handy for the doubling up aspect. Another group who will love it are those who simply can’t cook – with plenty of inspo on ingredients and instructions on techniques.
Are there any negatives to HelloFresh?
Aside from the aforementioned doorstop thievery risk, my only other negative would be that it might make you a bit lazy in the kitchen.
Overall, is HelloFresh worth it?
I think so. It’s especially good if you’ve lost your culinary mojo. And also, it’s commitment free, so really, there’s no harm in trying it and seeing if it’s right for you (particularly with all the discount incentives offered around your first box). You can choose to do it for a few weeks while you’re studying for an exam, for example, or if you’re trying a specific diet ahead of an event, like a marathon. It just takes a bit of thinking out of the day-to-day, which is priceless, to be honest.
The fact that you get everything you need - from herbs and spices to sauce that you'd otherwise need to buy full jars of - delivered direct to your door without the need to do an expensive food shop, makes it great value for money.
From Gousto to Mindful Chef, we've rounded up all of the best meal delivery services on offer.
