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Blue Apron vs Plated – September 2016

Lindsey Morse
ByLindsey MorseNov 28, 2017 | 0 comments

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Blue Apron
4.5 overall rating
27 Ratings | 18 Reviews

This month, I reviewed boxes from two different meal subscriptions companies: Plated and Blue Apron. To get a sense of how the boxes compare, I’ve outlined all of the meals I received below. I’ve assigned each dish a score out of 5, and I’ve averaged the scores from each box together to get a total box score. Read on to see which box came out on top for me this month!

Check out all of our reviews of Meal Delivery Services to see every meal kit subscription box option, and our Best Meal Boxes list to see which ones are your favorites!

plated-september-2016-box

Plated – Recipes begin at $12 per plate. 2 recipes (4 plates)= $48 per week (+ $6 shipping). 3 recipes (6 plates)= $72 per week (with free shipping). 4 recipes (8 total plates)= $96 per week (with free shipping).

COUPON: Free dinner for two with purchase of 3-dinners plan ($24 value), no coupon required, just use this link.

Check out the full Plated review here!

Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!

plated-september-2016-pizza6

Meal #1-  Prosciutto Fig Pizza with Fontina and Balsamic Glaze

Calories Per Serving: 750

Cook Time: 30-40 minutes

Score: 3.5/5 The flavor of this pizza was great, but there was a little too much cheese sauce for my liking. (I also couldn’t get over the fact that the sauce reminded me of macaroni and cheese.)

plated-september-2016-chicken4

Meal #2- Chicken Marsala with Roasted Fingerling Potatoes

Calories per Serving: 710

Cook Time: 35-45 minutes

Score: 5/5 I’ve never made chicken marsala at home before, and I’m so impressed with how this dish turned out! I’d be pleased if I received this meal in a restaurant, so I’m thrilled that I was able to make it at home. The sauce was rich, tangy, and creamy, and the potatoes and chicken were perfectly cooked. I think this is one of the best dishes I’ve ever received from Plated. It was incredible.

plated-september-2016-sole4

Meal #3- Dover Sole with Apple Salad and Roasted Potatoes

Calories: 460

Cook Time: 30-40 minutes

Score:4/5 This dish was light and flavorful. It felt very French to me, so I served it with some white Bordeaux wine. Delicious!

Overall dish score: 4.17/5

Cost per plate: Meals start at $12 per serving. Dessert is $4 per serving.

Number of meals available to choose from each week: 11 meals + 2 desserts

blueapron-september-2016-box

Blue Apron – $59.94 for 3 recipes on the 2-Person Plan, $69.92 for 2 recipes on the Family Plan, $139.84 for 4 recipes on the Family Plan.

COUPON: 3 Meals Free on Your First Order, no coupon required, just use this link.

Check out the full Blue Apron review here!

Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!

blueapron-september-2016-tacosplated

Meal #1- Korean Pork Tacos with Spicy Red Cabbage Slaw

Calories: 840 per serving

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 15-25 minutes

Score: 4.5/5 I first discovered gochujang thanks to a meal subscription box (I can’t remember if it was Plated or Blue Apron…), and it has since become a staple in my kitchen. I love how it adds bold flavor and subtle heat to food, and it worked extremely well in this dish. The tacos were delicious, and the combination of different components all worked together extremely well. The meat was rich and a little spicy, the slaw was crunchy and flavorful, the radishes were fresh and crisp, and the sour cream was cool and creamy. Yum!

blueapron-september-2016-gnocchiplated2

Meal #2- Brown Butter & Thyme Gnocchi with Maitake Mushrooms, Corn, & Swiss Chard

Calories: 650 per serving

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 15-25 minutes

Score: 3/5 I love gnocchi, and I had high hopes for this dish. I liked the mix of veggies and the flavor of the brown butter, but, unfortunately, I thought this dish was missing something.

blueapron-september-2016-chickenplated

Meal #3- Blackened Chicken with Zucchini Rice, Corn & Cherry Tomatoes

Calories: 710 per serving

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 25-35 minutes

Score: 4.5/5 This dish was really tasty. I love blackened chicken, and the combination of rice, veggies, chicken, and lime crema made this dish taste a little like a burrito bowl.

Overall Score: 4/5

Cost per Plate: Blue Apron costs $9.99 per serving.

Number of meals available to choose from each week: 6 meals (Note: meal choice is limited by the fact that not all combinations of meals are available.)

The Verdict: Both Plated and Blue Apron sent me some delicious meals in September, and it’s tricky to pick a favorite box this month. Deferring to the scores, I have to say that Plated takes the crown (though, it was certainly a close call). The Chicken Marsala was hands down my favorite dish, and I’m getting a little hungry right now just thinking about how good it was!

Favorite box: Plated

Yummiest dish: Plated’s Chicken Marsala

Most fun dish to make: Blue Apron’s Blackened Chicken with Zucchini Rice, Corn & Cherry Tomatoes (I can’t resist a good burrito bowl!)

Do you subscribe to Plated or Blue Apron? What were your favorite September dishes?

Check back next month for a comparison of all four top meal subscription boxes: PlatedHome ChefHello Fresh, or Blue Apron!

Starting at $60.95
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Blue Apron (starting at $47.95 per week) is one of the most well-known meal kit delivery service subscription boxes. Blue Apron creates bistro-inspired recipes (for 2 or 4 people) and sends members the pre-portioned ingredients and easy-to-follow instructions they need to complete up to 4 of them... read more.

Lindsey Morse
Lindsey Morse

Lindsey is a professional baker, cold brew coffee addict, and rosé aficionado who loves writing about food and wine. When she’s not sharing her love of subscription boxes with the world, you’ll find her in the podcasting studio, perfecting her cake decorating techniques, or cursing her way through the New York Times daily crossword puzzle. 


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