Curious if Meal Kits Are Cheaper Than Groceries? I Did the Math to Discover Out

It is no secret that grocery costs are excessive. With tariffs, the latest egg scarcity associated to hen flu, and world instability, grocery costs are anticipated to soar as a lot as 3.3% this 12 months, in response to the US Division of Agriculture.  

Bloated prices on the whole lot from meat to maple syrup have people searching for money-saving meals hacks, and meal kits, as soon as thought-about an costly different to grocery buying, might be a shocking choice. To retain subscribers, Blue Apron lately introduced a six-month worth freeze. That had me questioning whether or not meal kits at the moment are cheaper than shopping for the identical groceries wanted to make dinner.

Meal equipment providers equivalent to EveryPlate, Blue Apron or HelloFresh are identified for serving to busy folks save time and eat higher, however I crunched the numbers to seek out out if any of of the highest meal supply providers might prevent cash compared together with your weekly grocery store sweep.

After taking a look at a number of ingredient lists for varied recipes, I discovered that some meal kits are the identical worth as grocery buying, or in some circumstances even cheaper. It depends upon the service, and the meals you select.

Here is a breakdown and the way I bought these figures.

How I did the maths

To see how a lot Blue Apron, HelloFresh and EveryPlate meals price to make, I priced out the substances for 2 actual recipes which can be included in a typical subscription. 

When selecting groceries, I used the most cost effective model of the identical or related ingredient I might discover at Store-Ceremony, a budget-friendly grocery retailer in my space. As a result of meal equipment recipes embrace solely the quantity of substances wanted, I prorated the fee by how a lot you’ll really use for a recipe, not the complete worth of the bottle, jar, field or bag. 

I selected primary, nonorganic gadgets until it was in any other case specified on the meal equipment recipe card or web site. 

How I picked the recipes

If you happen to’re seeking to meal kits as a worth proposition, you may need to be sensible about which recipes you select. Steak, hen and fish are usually dearer to cook dinner at house than plant-based meals, so I particularly selected recipes that includes these proteins. (I additionally suggest you reap the benefits of them in case you’re signing up for a service).

Not all providers embrace steak recipes with out a surcharge, however HelloFresh and Blue Apron do. Blue Apron usually presents not less than one pretty high-end beef reduce like sirloin steak with no added cost. 

HelloFresh presents one or two beef recipes per week, nevertheless it’s often a cheaper reduce like chuck steak. Seafood choices are restricted with a primary HelloFresh, however I discovered a barramundi recipe on this week’s menu, along with the ranch steak with Caesar salad. 

Funds-friendly providers together with EveryPlate do not often supply steak or seafood, which is how they hold costs low. For my EveryPlate evaluation, I selected a cherry beef meatball and pork chop recipe.

Blue Apron presents the most effective worth

Blue Apron has probably the most high-end recipes of the three I selected to investigate. I picked a recipe that includes sirloin steak and one other with contemporary filets of steelhead trout.

Once I priced out the groceries to make these meals, they clocked in at $11.26 and $8.23, respectively, with a mean worth of $9.75 per serving. Each meals proved dearer to purchase on the grocery store than the $8 per-serving price for the biggest (most cost-effective) Blue Apron plan. 

Pretty much as good as that sounds, Blue Apron’s largest plan is a whopping 5 meal kits per week with 4 servings every, and sure sensible for most individuals. If you happen to select a extra fairly sized plan — for example three meal recipes with 4 servings every — the worth per serving jumps to $9.50. That is nonetheless cheaper than the price of shopping for the groceries, however solely by somewhat. 

Add the $11 weekly transport price and the Blue Apron creeps over the price of shopping for the groceries, however solely barely. When you think about the comfort a meal equipment gives, it is laborious to argue that Blue Apron is not a superb worth in 2024.

HelloFresh was the worst worth, however not by a lot

HelloFresh is likely to be the most well-liked meal equipment service, nevertheless it was additionally the worst worth of the three. I selected a barramundi recipe and chuck steak meal equipment to match with native grocery costs. 

By my calculations, HelloFresh meal kits would price simply $6.55 per serving to purchase the groceries and make the meals your self. That is about $2.50 cheaper than HelloFresh’s common meal plan of $9 per serving, and that is all earlier than factoring in your weekly supply price of $11. If you happen to have been to unfold that transport charge out throughout two or three meal kits, the precise per-serving price is extra like $11 to $12. 

HelloFresh might have one of many largest weekly menu of meal kits and user-friendly ordering interface, however because it seems, the favored service does not supply as a lot worth as different meal equipment corporations. 

EveryPlate is about the identical as shopping for groceries

EveryPlate’s two meal kits price $4.98 and $5.82 when bought a la carte on the grocery retailer, which averages out to $5.40. That is simply 60 cents lower than the per-serving worth of EveryPlate’s meal kits, which price $6 per serving irrespective of which plan you select.

Add the $10 transport price per field and the meal equipment price creeps up a bit, nevertheless it’s nonetheless across the identical worth as shopping for all of the groceries your self.

EveryPlate’s meal equipment menus do not characteristic a lot in the best way of steak or seafood so you may count on extra budget-friendly proteins equivalent to hen, floor beef and pork chops. EveryPlate meals are additionally simple to make and satisfying, making it our prime decide greatest low-cost meal equipment service in 2024.

To get probably the most out of your meal supply, see my information to hacking a meal supply subscription in 2025.