Blue Apron Review

Tuesday, May 13th

2025 Mediterranean Meal Delivery Reviews

Blue Apron

• Price per serving: Starts at $7.99
• Shipment frequency: Weekly
• Daily meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner): Entrees
• Calories per meal: Not disclosed
• Number of recipes: Not disclosed
• Prep time: A few minutes in the microwave or 35 minutes for Meal Kits

Blue Apron, established in 2012, sprouted from a straightforward desire: the founders wanted to cook at home more easily. They aimed to simplify the process of grocery shopping and menu planning which they found overly burdensome and costly. Their vision? To transform our "complicated food system”. By working closely with farmers, they sought to bring high-quality, sustainably grown ingredients into the kitchens of their customers. Blue Apron's name, inspired by the blue aprons worn by chefs in training, symbolizes a commitment to continuous culinary learning. Their latest venture into Mediterranean cuisine reflects this ethos of exploration and learning in the world of cooking.

Spin-to-win wheel is rigged

Ever wanted to feel like a winner? Blue Apron's "spin to win” wheel might give you that thrill, offering discounts of $75 to $110. However, this is just a gimmick: it's always $110, and making you think there's a chance you could miss out on the biggest prize is just a tactic to boost the excitement factor. We tend to resent these cheap tricks, and find them indicative of what a company really thinks of their customers' intelligence.

Discounts might not be honored

Blue Apron also offers a 65% discount with free shipping on the first box to first responders, doctors, nurses, hospital employees, military personnel, seniors, students, teachers, alumni, and government workers. This discount can be verified through ID.me. However, be careful: some people have reported issues with promotional offers not being honored as expected, meaning they had to eat the cost. This has created a lot of unhappy customers.

Buy in bulk to save a few bucks

When signing up for Blue Apron, you have the option to select your food preferences from a variety of categories such as Chef Favorites, Wellness, Family Friendly, Fast & Easy, and Veggies. When it comes to pricing, it's all about how much you want and how often. If you're going for a cozy dinner for two, you're looking at $12.49 per serving for 2 Meal Kit meals a week. Got a bigger crowd or appetite? The more you order, the less you pay per serving, dropping to $9.99 or even down to $7.99 for 5 weekly Meal Kits of 4 servings each. The more you order, the more you save. The Prepared & Ready single-serving meals come in quantities of 6, 8, or 10 starting at $8.99 per serving.

Mediterranean meals are hard to find

The next step in the registration process is to give Blue Apron your billing info - which we wouldn't recommend you do until you're certain they're your pick. (Far too often, we've seen reports of meal delivery service window shoppers being billed for orders they never approved.) The current week's meals can be found on display on the Menu page, but Blue Apron doesn't make it easy to spot the Mediterranean options. They're all mixed in, with no clear labels to guide you.

Creative Mediterranean recipes on the Cookbook page

We did some digging around and stumbled upon the Cookbook page, which thankfully sorts recipes by cuisine. This is where you'll find some exciting Mediterranean dishes like Lamb Sausage with Late Summer Moroccan Couscous, Seared Tuna with Black Tuscan Kale Salad, and Whole Wheat Pizza Topped with Arugula Salad. These aren't your typical meal delivery service's Mediterranean fare - they've got unique flavors and protein choices that set them apart from the usual lemon chicken you see everywhere.

We don't know how much of what you find will be available to you

However, here's the rub: there's no telling how many of these unique Mediterranean recipes will actually be available in any given week. Blue Apron boasts about "80+ weekly options" splashed across their website, but remember, this variety is spread across all their plans, not just the Mediterranean one. So, while the catalog might be large, the specific variety you're craving might be a little harder to come by.

Quick-and-easy or more involved prep options available

For those days when you're racing against the clock or just not in the mood to cook, Blue Apron offers a lifesaver: microwavable, single-serving meals. These are advertised as quality meals, non-frozen, and chilled to lock in freshness, ready in a snap - under 5 minutes. And if you're not a microwave fan, no worries, you can heat them up in the oven too. These should be prepared within 4 days for optimal freshness. And hey, Blue Apron is even thoughtful about the planet - the meals arrive in recyclable sleeves and trays. How's that for convenience? If you prefer to get your hands dirty, the Meal Kits will take you 35 minutes on average to cook.

Open about ingredients; not the best customization for allergens

Now, let's talk about what's actually in these meals. Blue Apron isn't playing hide and seek with their ingredients (even if they are with their Mediterranean dishes). They're super open about where they source from, a refreshing change in the meal kit game. They're not just throwing in any old pasta or spices; they're getting their goods from places like Sun Noodle in Hawaii and New Jersey, all the way to Rumi Spices in Afghanistan. They even give you a virtual introduction to these partners on their "Meet Our Recent Partners” page, so you know exactly where your food's coming from. However, a heads up for those with food allergies: Blue Apron's ingredients come from facilities that handle all sorts of allergens. So if you've got severe food allergies, this might not be your best bet. And since those handy microwaveable meals come pre-packaged, don't count on being able to tweak ingredients to suit your dietary needs like you might with a regular meal kit.

Market option for a la carte meals

Ever wished you could get a taste of a meal kit without the whole subscription song and dance? Blue Apron's Market steps up to the plate. Here, you can buy meal kits a la carte, no plan commitment necessary. They've got a variety of options like the Customer Favorites Meal Kit at $79.99, Fast & Easy Family Meal Kit for $94.99, and more, all offering 2-3 recipes with 2-4 servings each. This setup is perfect if you want to send a thoughtful gift to a friend who's under the weather or going through tough times. Not sure what they like? Blue Apron also has gift cards, making it easy to spread some culinary love without guessing their taste preferences.

Shipping is standard

Shipping costs a standard $10.99, which is pretty much what we're used to in the meal kit world - but it would be nice if they offered free shipping for orders over a certain dollar amount like some competitors do. We like that with Blue Apron, you get to pick your delivery day. Although there have been some issues reported like missing items or the occasional dented box, customer service seems to be on their game, sorting out complaints in this area effectively.

You can cancel your subscription whenever you need to

Dreading being locked into a subscription? Blue Apron doesn't seem to want to do that to you. They make skipping or canceling orders pretty straightforward. You can skip orders up to five weeks in advance just by clicking a few buttons on their website. And if you need to cancel, you should be able to do it right from your account settings, with options to pause for up to 10 weeks or cancel outright. No need to play phone tag with customer service - which is not a given in the meal delivery service industry. Just remember, any order already processed or shipped is yours to keep (and pay for), but that's just playing fair.

"D-” from the BBB

When it comes to customer service and satisfaction, Blue Apron's report card is, well, a bit of a rollercoaster. On one hand, they've scored a rather alarming "D-" from the Better Business Bureau, mainly due to complaints about those tempting discounts not being honored. That's definitely not the kind of extra spice you want in your meal kit experience.

Box might be missing instructions, but customers are generally happy

On the flipside, Blue Apron is sitting pretty with a 4.2 rating average on Trustpilot, based on nearly 6,000 reviews. Customers generally enjoy the food quality, but some problems persist. Complaints regarding receiving wrong recipe cards, questioning the value for money, missing ingredients, and the occasional subpar produce or rice have popped up. There's also a call for better quality control, especially with perishables like potatoes, and a more eco-friendly approach to packaging.

Give them a try if you're feeling so inclined

So, what's the final word on Blue Apron? Their Mediterranean options seem intriguing - if you can actually find them on the menu. It's a bit of a hunt, and there's no clear indication if the Cookbook page reflects the current lineup. Customer service appears more responsive than some competitors, which is a plus. The transparency about their suppliers is a commendable step, but the shadow of unfulfilled discount promises looms large, contributing to their less-than-stellar BBB rating. Overall, Blue Apron is kind of middle-of-the-road - not bad, but not setting your world on fire either. If you're feeling good about giving them a shot, go for it. Just keep in mind the potential for a bit of discount drama and some menu navigation challenges. Remember, food is personal, and sometimes the best judge is your own palate and experience.