Cooking healthy, delicious meals at home can often feel like a chore, especially when you factor in meal planning and grocery shopping. Blue Apron simplifies this process by delivering fresh, pre-portioned ingredients and easy-to-follow recipe cards directly to your doorstep. This guide provides a straightforward, step-by-step walkthrough on how to select a plan, choose your meals, and manage your first delivery.
Understanding the Blue Apron Service
Blue Apron is a subscription-based meal kit service designed to help you cook chef-quality meals without the hassle of traditional food prep. When you sign up, you choose a plan based on your dietary preferences and the number of people you are feeding. Each week, you receive a chilled box containing everything you need for your selected recipes.
The service is flexible, allowing you to skip weeks or cancel at any time. This makes it a popular choice for busy professionals, families, and anyone looking to expand their culinary skills. Because the ingredients are pre-measured, there is also significantly less food waste compared to buying full-sized ingredients at a grocery store.
Step 1: Choose the Right Meal Plan
The first step in ordering is selecting the plan that best fits your lifestyle. Blue Apron offers several distinct categories to cater to different tastes and health goals. You can usually change these preferences later if your needs shift.
Signature Plan
The Signature plan is the most popular option. It features a diverse mix of meat, poultry, seafood, and vegetarian recipes. This plan is ideal for those who want to try a wide variety of cuisines and cooking techniques.
Wellness Plan
If you are focused on nutrition, the Wellness plan offers nutritionist-approved recipes. These meals often include carb-conscious and WW-approved (Weight Watchers) options. They focus on whole foods, lean proteins, and plenty of vegetables.
Vegetarian Plan
This plan is dedicated entirely to plant-based meals. It highlights seasonal produce and creative meat-free proteins. It is a great choice for vegetarians or those looking to reduce their meat consumption during the week.
Serving Sizes
Once you pick a style, you must choose your serving size. Options typically include two servings per meal (perfect for couples) or four servings per meal (best for families). You will also select how many recipes you want to receive each week, usually ranging from two to five.
Step 2: Create Your Account and Enter Details
After selecting your plan, you will need to create an account. This involves providing your email address and creating a secure password. This account will be your hub for managing future orders and tracking deliveries.
Next, you will enter your shipping information. It is important to provide an address where a delivery driver can safely leave a package. Since the boxes are insulated and contain ice packs, you do not need to be home the exact moment it arrives, but you should bring it inside as soon as possible.
Finally, you will enter your payment information. Most major credit cards and some digital payment platforms are accepted. Note that while you are entering payment details now, you are typically only charged for your first box once the order is processed for the upcoming week.
Step 3: Select Your Weekly Recipes
Once your account is set up, the fun part begins: picking your food. Blue Apron provides a rotating weekly menu featuring dozens of different options. If you do not manually pick your recipes, the system will automatically select them for you based on your initial plan preferences.
To choose your own, log in to your dashboard and browse the available recipes for your delivery date. Each recipe includes a photo, a brief description, and nutritional information. You can see the estimated cooking time and the difficulty level of each dish.
Many users enjoy mixing and matching different types of proteins and cuisines. You might choose a spicy stir-fry for Tuesday and a classic roasted chicken dish for Thursday. Once you have made your selections, be sure to save your choices before the weekly cutoff time.
Step 4: Customize with Add-ons
In addition to standard meal kits, you can often find “Add-ons” in the marketplace section. These are extra items that can be included in your weekly box for an additional fee. This is a convenient way to round out your kitchen staples without a separate trip to the store.
- Prepared & Ready Meals: These are heat-and-eat meals that require no cooking, perfect for a quick lunch.
- Breakfast Items: Simple morning options like egg bites or overnight oats.
- Desserts and Sides: Extra treats or larger portions of vegetables to complement your dinners.
- Proteins and Pantry Staples: You can often order extra chicken breasts, steaks, or specialty spices.
Step 5: Managing Your Delivery Schedule
Flexibility is a key feature of the service. You are not locked into receiving a box every single week. If you are going on vacation or simply have a busy week ahead where you won’t have time to cook, you can easily skip a delivery.
To skip a week, go to your delivery schedule in your account settings. You must do this before the “Changeable By” date, which is usually a few days before your scheduled delivery. There is no penalty for skipping weeks, and you can manage your calendar several weeks in advance.
You can also change your delivery day. Depending on your zip code, you may have the option to receive your box on different days of the week, such as Tuesday, Friday, or Saturday. Choose the day that best aligns with when you usually have the most time to prep your meals.
Unboxing and Storing Your Ingredients
When your box arrives, it will be packed with insulation and non-toxic ice packs to keep the ingredients fresh. It is a good habit to unpack the box as soon as you can. Organize the ingredients by recipe to make your cooking nights even smoother.
Place all proteins (meat, fish, or poultry) in the coldest part of your refrigerator. Vegetables and dairy items should also be refrigerated immediately. Some items, like whole garlic or onions, can stay on the counter, but the recipe cards will usually indicate if something specific needs special care.
The recipe cards are high-quality and easy to read. They include step-by-step photos and clear instructions. Many people choose to save these cards in a binder so they can recreate their favorite meals in the future using their own grocery store ingredients.
Conclusion
Ordering a meal kit is an excellent way to take the stress out of dinner time while still enjoying the benefits of a home-cooked meal. By following these steps—choosing the right plan, selecting your favorite recipes, and managing your schedule—you can ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience. Whether you are a novice cook or a seasoned pro, these kits provide a convenient path to culinary variety. If you found this guide helpful, consider exploring our other articles on kitchen organization and healthy eating habits to further enhance your home cooking journey.