I tried HelloFresh. Here’s why this isn’t right for me or my finances:

I love to cook. It’s one of my favorite hobbies. So when some of my friends started using HelloFresh and offered me a trial coupon code for three free meals, I thought it was an opportunity to see what all the fuss about subscription kits was all about.

I have never cooked from a kit before. Instead, I have a lovely set of cookbooks from my favorite TV cooking shows.good food(with respected nerd Alton Brown), and I also new york times cooking app. These two recipe sources and the Internet have been more than enough to help me keep track of new recipes and add them to my regular rotation.

We’re excited to try this popular meal kit service. My colleague Steven Porello recently detailed his experience with HelloFresh. It worked well for him, but unfortunately HelloFresh didn’t fit my life at all. Here’s why:

I prefer batch cooking

For me, the best part about cooking is the leftovers. I occasionally cook one-off meals, but most kitchen activities result in extra clutter that can be turned into additional meals. For example, I hosted a brunch a few weeks ago, and the leftover sautéed mushrooms and shredded cheese became two omelet meals for you later that week. I also cook a large batch of soup with the intention of stocking the freezer for easy lunches for the next few weeks.

HelloFresh meals aren’t just for leftovers. The appeal of the service is that it is not about eating the same food three days in a row, but about fresh and creative meals. When choosing a plan, you can choose between a meal for two or a meal for four. And yes, even if you’re only feeding two people, you can ostensibly choose a meal for four and bank the leftovers. But don’t forget. In addition to preparing new meals, you also need time to eat leftovers.

When I picked three free meals, I had to really work to find an option that would save me extra portions and ensure quality. I ended up choosing a pasta dish (very easy leftovers), soup (very easy leftovers), and a salad. And I made a salad for the second person to dine with me.

I love being the master of a few recipes.

While I love trying new recipes, I can happily claim to be the master of a few “signature” recipes that I make often, and I usually have the ingredients on hand (at least the ones that don’t go bad). My chicken chili fans are in three countries. The same goes for the brownies I make from scratch. I am constantly testing and refining my favorite recipes, adding new ingredients and processes. That chicken chili recipe has come a long way in the over 10 years since I started making it!

HelloFresh puts a lot of time and effort into creating new and exciting dishes. The company has chefs whose job it is to create and test new recipes. According to the HelloFresh website, recipes are tested 200 times before being shipped worldwide. This is great and makes this service a good choice for people who like to cook new dishes every week. Unfortunately, that person is not me. And for your information, the meal I had was quite delicious. too picky make! There are so many little packets to open and things to cut.

There are other ways to save on groceries

In addition to making dishes frequently, such as batch cooking, there are other ways to save money on food. A big part of my grocery strategy over the past year and a half has been relying on grocery rewards credit cards. And since one of my personal mottos is “Go big or go home,” I got a card that offered the best cash back rates on groceries. The moment I take this card out at the register, images of high cashbacks dance in my mind.

I am also a member of the rewards program at my local grocery store. You can save money by paying attention to sales and stocking up on items you normally buy when they are cheaper. I actually recently saved $19 at the grocery store this way (and paid less than $100 for a week’s worth of groceries; it’s been forever since I did that). Meanwhile, HelloFresh’s most popular meal plan (three meals a week for two) will set you back more than $70 per week. For six meals.

Related: best budget app

Ultimately, I enjoy planning my own meal situations for the week and relying on my favorite recipes, pantry, and freezer. HelloFresh has great products, but they weren’t a good fit for my personal finances or preferred cooking style. If you are curious, we recommend that you ask a friend who has subscribed if they have a coupon code and try it out yourself.

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