Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
I remember the first time I bought it Meal set. It was the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and I was living alone in my first apartment on my own after moving out of a comfortable house I’d rented with roommates.
My job at a local magazine became temporarily remote, and restaurants in the area began shifting to a takeout-only model. During this time, I did what I always do in times of stress: I picked up several new hobbies that kept me busy at home. Then I decided, “Well, I guess I should learn how to cook too.” And so I ordered the first Hello Fresh Box.
I remember making a chicken dish with a homemade white sauce, but I drained it, because I was worried it wouldn’t be fully cooked. However, later in the week, I made a very simple stuffed ravioli pasta dish, and headed into a bunch of other delicious meals. At this time, I loved not having to brave the grocery store (which, if you remember, was absolutely crazy) and that the kit gave me all the ingredients I needed, since my kitchen cabinets were completely bare.
Additionally, the introductory box prices were impossible to beat. I ordered more around that time and always kept the recipe cards in case I wanted to recreate dishes in the future. Although I had dabbled in Crockpot and Instant Pot meals before trying HelloFresh, I didn’t cook much.
At the time, I lived in a foodie city, so eating out was always welcome, but I felt proud after cooking dinner. I would occasionally order the meal kits back, but I was by no means a regular cook. That is, until last year.
Don’t miss any of our unbiased technical content and lab reviews. Add CNET As Google’s preferred source.
Test meal kits at CNET
These beef patties from Marley Spoon were fun to make from scratch and a new experience for me.
Fast forward five years, and now I enjoy reviewing meal kits for a living at CNET. Along with testing kitchen equipment and researching all things home, health, and kitchen, meal kits have become a big part of my job, and one of the most fun parts, too.
Read more: How we test meal kits at CNET
I still make super easy dishes that are perfect for beginner cooks, but I also spend more time prepping the kitchen Homemade empanadasshepherd’s pie, Seared salmon And more delicious and photo-worthy dishes. But the best part is that I found true joy in cooking for the first time, something I don’t think I would have discovered without the help of meal kits.
Meal kits make cooking easy
One-dish meals save valuable time in the evening.
If you’re learning how to cook, meal kits are a great place to start. The step-by-step instructions include photos to help guide you through the recipe, as well as… Every item you will need.
Hints and tips, such as lining your home, are also included baking sheet Use aluminum foil for easy clean-up or start slowly when adding spicy ingredients to your dish.
One of the best parts is that you can choose your meals based on skill level. If you just want to start simple Plate meals Or pasta dishes, you can. Then, when you’re ready to level up, more challenging meals await.
No matter what type of meal you try, you’ll learn basic cooking skills along the way, like dicing vegetables, searing meat, salting pasta water, and more.
Meal kits have made cooking seem easy and accessible for a shy cook like me, and have inspired me to run my stove burners more regularly, with or without the help of a meal kit.