Trying to cut down on your Deliveroo habit? Consider investing in a recipe box scheme. Almost as simple as pressing “order”, these conveniently portioned ingredients and recipe cards are delivered to your door and can take all the hassle out of cooking. Basically, you can enjoy homemade, nutritious food, without the headache of meal planning or setting foot in a supermarket. Sounds like a win to us.
Recipe boxes can be adjusted to your household’s size, dietary requirements, and weekly needs, but they’re not without their downsides. While recipe boxes address the issue of food waste, as they only send the ingredients you need, some pack the ingredients in plastic that can’t be recycled. So, it’s worth looking out for companies that use compostable packaging.
There’s also the issue of cost – convenience comes at a price, but pricier options (specialist seafood or premium restaurant dishes) can prove better value for money, particularly when you consider the cost of dining at top-quality restaurants.
I tested several of the most popular recipe boxes to help you figure out if they’re a good fit.
How I tested
I picked a range of recipe boxes to test. From one-off, special occasion boxes to prepaid subscription services and weekly farm-to-table deliveries, I ordered a wide selection of meals, covering different cuisines and prices. I included vegetarian, vegan, meat, and fish options to cover all bases.
When testing, I looked at several things:
- Quality of the produce: I tested the freshness, texture, and appearance of the ingredients to see if they were high-quality and ready to cook.
- How easy the recipes were to follow: I looked at the clarity of the instructions and the accuracy of cooking times to see if they were simple to execute.
- Packaging: I checked how well the items were packed and how easy they were to open, as well as if the labels were clear.
- How healthy the meal was (if applicable): I reviewed the nutritional information and ingredient quality to see if the meal felt balanced and wholesome.
- Taste: I cooked and sampled the meal to see if the flavor, seasoning, and texture were enjoyable.
- Value: I compared the portion size, convenience, and overall quality against the price to see if it felt worth it.
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
Joanne Gould is a food writer who has reviewed everything from mixers and blenders to coffee machines and meat thermometers for IndyBest. In each of her reviews, Joanne provides her honest opinions and will only recommend products and services she believes are worth your money.
The best recipe boxes for 2025 are:
- Best recipe box overall – Riverford organic recipe box: from £16.25, Riverford.co.uk
- Best budget recipe box – Abel & Cole one pot wonder recipe kit: £14, Abelandcole.co.uk
- Best vegan recipe box – Grubby meal kit: £28, Grubby.co.uk
- Best fish recipe box – Rick Stein fresh fish box, large: £87.50, Rickstein.com
- Best recipe box for variety – Hello Fresh: £28, Hellofresh.co.uk
