I tried EveryPlate—here’s everything you need to know. Here at Parade.com, we’re all about sharing products we love with our audience. When you make a purchase on an item seen on this page, we may earn a commission, however, all picks are independently chosen unless otherwise mentioned. In this case, our writer was gifted this meal kit.
What is EveryPlate?
EveryPlate is part of the Green Chef family, which was recently acquired by HelloFresh. While Green Chef offers a more gourmet approach to pre-prepped and portioned meals, EveryPlate aims to be the most affordable meal kit on the market. According to their website, the goal with EveryPlate is to “help consumers put simple, filling and delicious dinners on the table at a comfortable price point for everyone to enjoy.”
How does EveryPlate work?
EveryPlate is a traditional (but flexible) meal subscription service. This means that every week you get to select a set number of meals for delivery right to your doorstep. How many meals depends on you and your needs. The contents of the box are also customizable. EveryPlate has a rotating menu. But the best part? EveryPlate understands your wants and needs may change over time. You can skip a week or cancel your subscription up to five days before your next delivery is scheduled.
What’s included in each box, and are any other ingredients or tools needed?
Each EveryPlate box includes recipe cards with step-by-step instructions and all of the ingredients you will need to make a delicious, home-cooked meal. That said, there are a few exceptions. Pantry items like salt and pepper, for example, are not included. Neither are eggs, flour, or oil. So if you’re meal prepping with EveryPlate, you’ll want to be sure to have these things on hand. As for tools, you’ll need the basics, like pots, pans, baking sheets, knives, and cutting boards.
How much does EveryPlate cost?
As mentioned above, EveryPlate is just $4.99 a serving, making it a great, low-cost option. Plus, you can save $80 on your first three boxes. This means many meals are $1.99, at least for a limited time. The cost also doesn’t scale, as it does with many competitors. Whether you buy two portions or four, three meals or five, you will always pay just $4.99. That said, it is worth noting there is a weekly fixed shipping fee of $8.99. Here’s how that shakes out:
Dinner for two, 3-times a week: $38.93 Dinner for two, 4-times a week: $48.91 Dinner for two, 5-times a week: $58.89 Dinner for four, 3-times a week: $68.87Dinner for four, 4-times a week: $88.83Dinner for four, 5-times a week: $108.79
What are EveryPlate meals like?
When our first EveryPlate box arrived we were pleasantly surprised. All of the ingredients were stored neatly in a cardboard tray, one of which we moved directly to the fridge. The meats were tucked between two cool packs, keeping them chilled during shipping, and the recipe cards were in a bright, orange envelope—the company’s signature color. As for the overall cooking process and taste, we tried four meals (two vegetarian and two meat options) and found each to be delicious. Prep time ranged from five to 15 minutes, and cook time ranged from 25 to 50 minutes. Two notable downsides: Many of the recipes instructed consumers to “roast” ingredients; however, the temperature was not listed. We chose to set our oven to 400 degrees, which appeared to work, but a higher temperature may have been better, particularly for roasting vegetables. The recipes also did not include calorie counts or nutritional information, which is important to some.
Can EveryPlate be customized to meet specific dietary needs?
While EveryPlate does have vegetarian options, the company does not make meals for specific dietary needs. This is one way they keep costs low. Unfortunately, this means EveryPlate isn’t great for those following specific plans, such as keto, gluten-free, paleo, low-carb, or vegan.
The bottom line
EveryPlate is a great meal delivery service and, at just $4.99 a serving, it’s very affordable. EveryPlate answers the age old question “what’s for dinner” in a very easy, simplistic way. Their ingredients are fresh. their recipes are delicious. their website is user-friendly, and their meals are varied. They offer something for every palate. However, if you’re on a diet or have specific nutritional needs, you may want to consider an alternative service, like Factor. If keeping staple ingredients on-hand is also problematic, you may want to look elsewhere. But if you generally keep spices in your cabinet and eggs in your fridge, EveryPlate may be right for you. Next up, here are the best plant-based meal delivery kits of 2021.
