HelloFresh ($12+ per serving) is a close second to Blue Apron; the recipes I tried had great flavor, but the instructions may be hard for inexperienced home chefs to follow. Also, the sirloin I tried wasn't something I'd feel comfortable serving. It may be asking a lot to expect a meal kit company to send a premium-quality steak, but on the other hand, steak shouldn't be offered if the cut isn't up to par. Other than that snafu, the two services are largely similar.

Green Chef ($13+ per serving) is another terrific option for beginners (also owned by HelloFresh), and it offers plenty of plans centered around different dietary restrictions. Nearly every ingredient is organic as well. The recipe instructions have easy-to-follow pictures accompanying the trickier steps, and unlike some other services, Green Chef's recipes don't jump around from component to component. For example, all of the produce is prepped at the same time. That's more intuitive (and time-saving) compared to other recipes I've tested.

EveryPlate ($5+ per serving) recipe cards are concise, which helps save counter space, and there are helpful notes that offer advice or different instructions if you're doubling up a recipe. (It's also another HelloFresh brand.) Some steps require a bit of kitchen knowledge, like slicing things on a diagonal or having an idea of when a steak is done to your preference. You'll also need more pantry ingredients, like butter, flour, and milk. If you keep your kitchen stocked, EveryPlate's costs are lower than most other subscriptions.

Veestro ($10+ per serving) is another great option for vegans. The premade meals are delivered frozen. As any vegan knows, it's good to have food options around in case your takeout order includes dairy-based cheese on your burger (again). The service has a lot of filters to choose from for different dietary requirements, and breakfast dishes are available, in addition to lunch or dinner meals. The food itself had satisfying tastes and textures for me, an omnivore, as well as my 15-year-vegan co-tester. I'm not a fan of the “weight loss” meal plan or marketing. Always speak with your doctor before embarking on a journey to change your weight or dietary habits.