Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

You are here: MacNN Forums > Community > MacNN Lounge > Meal kits (Blue Apron/Amazon)

Meal kits (Blue Apron/Amazon)
Thread Tools
mindwaves
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Irvine, CA
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jul 19, 2017, 02:14 AM
 
Please note that I have never ordered one before, so my comments may be a bit off-based.

It is my understanding that these meal kits consist of raw, but pre-prepared food wrapped in plastic. All one needs to do is to add to a pot, add water/oil/pre-packaged seasonings and all is done. The question is why?

If I wanted something easy, I would order take-out which is already cooked and if I wanted to cook, then I would just cook. I understand that this is marginally easier than cooking and you can learn some new ingredients/foods, but at such a cost (price wise and environmentally wise as it is surely not green*).

I prefer to cook myself and order the occasional take out (which is cheaper than meal kits).

*everything individually wrapped, non-bulk portions, delivered to your door (gas costs), dry ice (heavy), cardboard and plastic galore
( Last edited by mindwaves; Jul 19, 2017 at 03:03 AM. )
     
subego
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jul 19, 2017, 06:44 AM
 
I think for a lot of people, non-bulk is a feature and not a bug. Whenever I cook, a good potion of that bulk goes bad. I generally don't cook if I can avoid it though. I'm way too impatient.

My ex likes it. She can't cook worth a damn, so it's sorta like lessons.
     
The Final Dakar
Games Meister
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Eternity
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jul 19, 2017, 09:19 AM
 
Supposedly it's cheaper than take out as you prepare the food yourself.

I think the idea has merit, but this should be something you pick up at your local grocery store not get shipped from the Internet
     
Laminar
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Iowa, how long can this be? Does it really ruin the left column spacing?
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jul 19, 2017, 10:58 AM
 
Originally Posted by The Final Dakar View Post
Supposedly it's cheaper than take out as you prepare the food yourself.

I think the idea has merit, but this should be something you pick up at your local grocery store not get shipped from the Internet
My local store puts them together, $15 for a meal for two.

https://www.hy-vee.com/webres/Image/..._FAQ%20HVF.pdf
     
andi*pandi
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: inside 128, north of 90
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jul 19, 2017, 11:54 AM
 
I sometimes get prepared food from the deli (pre-chopped veggies, potato salad, marinated meat) but don't see the point of meal kits. The grocery has lots of food that's fast to prepare.
     
The Final Dakar
Games Meister
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Eternity
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jul 19, 2017, 11:56 AM
 
Originally Posted by andi*pandi View Post
I sometimes get prepared food from the deli (pre-chopped veggies, potato salad, marinated meat) but don't see the point of meal kits. The grocery has lots of food that's fast to prepare.
Think people who don't know how to or want to take the time to prepare meals.
     
andi*pandi
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: inside 128, north of 90
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jul 19, 2017, 12:18 PM
 
precut veggies + chicken strips + bottled sauce + rice/pasta = easy?

I am no master chef but come on.
     
subego
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jul 19, 2017, 01:32 PM
 
Originally Posted by andi*pandi View Post
precut veggies + chicken strips + bottled sauce + rice/pasta = easy?

I am no master chef but come on.
Let me put it this way.

Cooking is like reading and following a manual.

I'm sure you know people who never got wired up for that.

It's just as inexplicable to me, but there's no question the phenomenon exists.
     
The Final Dakar
Games Meister
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Eternity
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jul 19, 2017, 01:37 PM
 
Effort, baby. Mine is limited to creating marinades.
     
subego
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jul 19, 2017, 01:52 PM
 
Originally Posted by The Final Dakar View Post
Effort, baby. Mine is limited to creating marinades.
Are you replying to me?
     
The Final Dakar
Games Meister
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Eternity
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jul 19, 2017, 01:58 PM
 
Not specifically. Explaining the allure of prepped food
     
OAW
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: May 2001
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jul 19, 2017, 02:39 PM
 
I've used Plated before they changed it to a subscription service. It was nice for the occasional meal. Where I could prepare something unusual and not waste some rather exotic or limited use ingredients. For me it's not particularly cost effective to use the services on a regular basis that the subscription model requires. Especially living in the Midwest were driving everywhere is practically religion. But in large urban environments where people aren't necessarily inclined to be lugging groceries around on subways or what not I can see the appeal of having meal ingredients delivered for you to prepare.

OAW
     
mindwaves  (op)
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Irvine, CA
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jul 19, 2017, 11:07 PM
 
Still bewildering to me. I rather get takeout and not have to wash anything, or just cook myself. If lazy, get a Costco chicken and add veggies over rice. However, I guess that the main point is just the huge waste of plastic/cardboard/non-greenness it is.

Reminds me of a season 2/3 Shark Tank episode where a lazy was criticized for shipping a dozen smuffins with 5 lbs of dry ice. That was a number of years ago. Now, people don't care to get shipped what is essentially water to their house/
( Last edited by mindwaves; Jul 19, 2017 at 11:20 PM. )
     
Thorzdad
Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Nobletucky
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Jul 24, 2017, 04:39 PM
 
I think services like Blue Apron are for those folks who just dropped a load on their new kitchen remodel, complete with professional-grade ovens and ranges and fridges and stuff, but still can't figure out how to boil water. Now, they can turn-out Szechuan shrimp with ginger and squid ink noodles like a boss in their shiny kitchen.
     
   
Thread Tools
 
Forum Links
Forum Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Top
Privacy Policy
All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:20 AM.
All contents of these forums © 1995-2017 MacNN. All rights reserved.
Branding + Design: www.gesamtbild.com
vBulletin v.3.8.8 © 2000-2017, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.,