Blue Apron 2-Person Box Review

Blue Apron gave product (a courtesy 2-person box) in exchange for this unbiased review. Not a Boomerang's Readers are eligible for a limited-time special discount- receive two free meals by subscribing today!

Blue Apron "makes incredible home cooking accessible by delivering original recipes and fresh ingredients to customers nationwide. Launched in 2012, Blue Apron is the largest fresh ingredient and recipe delivery service in the United States and delivers over 5 million meals a month to its loyal following of home chefs, with delivery currently reaching 99 percent of the continental United States. By reinventing the grocery supply chain from the farm to the dinner table, Blue Apron is able to source the highest quality, seasonal ingredients, that are fresher and more affordable than customers can get on their own at their local supermarket. Chefs around the world wear blue aprons when learning to cook, and the blue apron has become a symbol of lifelong learning in cooking. Blue Apron encourages this lifelong learning by introducing customers to new ingredients, flavors and cooking techniques with every recipe it creates. For more information, visit: blueapron.com."

The box comes packed in insulated freezer bags resting on top of thick ice packs. This made the package much heavier than I anticipated, but is convenient because busy subscribers do not have to worry about food (including raw meat) spoiling if left out on a doorstep. In fact, this worked perfectly in my case because my husband had no idea what this was and left it out for hours. Everything was edible and refrigerated. I was relieved.

Here is what you see after opening up the box. Ooh...ahh...

And here is what all of the goodies look like unboxed. There was so much food!

Three meals, three reviews:

• Recipe: Seared Pork Chops & Plum Salsa
• Recipe: Lemongrass Chicken Burgers with Hoisin Mayo and Roasted Potato Wedges
• Recipe: Brown Butter Cod with Corn, Shishito Peppers, & Purple Potatoes

This isn't a food blog. This is a personal finance blog. How do the numbers pan out?

Most importantly, is it worth signing up for?

Blue Apron: Lemongrass Chicken Burgers

Blue Apron gave product (a courtesy 2-person box) in exchange for this unbiased review. Not a Boomerang's Readers are eligible for a limited-time special discount- receive two free meals by subscribing today!

Makes: 2 servings

Calories: ~800 per serving

Prep: 15 min.

Cook time: 20-30 min.

Burgers are an American staple. There are so many ways to cook a burger well, and sometimes a few extra ingredients can take a burger from pretty good to extraordinary. In my household, the difference is usually the type of bun and/or cheese used, and whether or not there will be bacon or avocado. Hint: Always say 'yes' to bacon and/or avocado. 

Artisan potato buns? We're there. Chicken burger? Hmm...healthier than beef. An Asian twist on a classic? I'm in. Let's give it a go.

On to the meal!

Blue Apron: Brown Butter Cod

Blue Apron gave product (a courtesy 2-person box) in exchange for this unbiased review. Not a Boomerang's Readers are eligible for a limited-time special discount- receive two free meals by subscribing today!

Makes: 2 servings

Calories: ~590 per serving

Prep: 15 min.

Cook time: 25-35 min.

I was raised on seafood - salmon, crabs, mussels, lobster, squid, octopus, shrimp. Cod fish (see: health benefits and risks), while easily found in stores, and I do not often cross paths. The wild-caught fillets included in this meal were hearty enough for two people but would have been skimping if made for three. Other than that I was comfortable with all of the ingredients in this recipe, and looked forward to trying purple potatoes. Nutrition-wise, they are very similar to Russet potatoes except they contain more anthocyanin (causing the purple hue) which is high in antioxidants. 

On to the meal!

Blue Apron: Seared Pork Chops & Plum Salsa

Blue Apron gave product (a courtesy 2-person box) in exchange for this unbiased review. Not a Boomerang's Readers are eligible for a limited-time special discount- receive two free meals by subscribing today!

Makes: 2 servings

Calories: ~800 per serving

Prep: 10 min.

Cook time: 25-35 min.

I was excited to try cooking a new dinner recipe, something protein-based with some gourmet flair. Blue Apron included several ingredients I never used before (farro and scallions) and a few intimidating others- kale usually results in something inedible (my attempts, anyway), mixing fruit into dinner is a roll of the dice (usually ending up with my husband not-so-subtly grimacing when he sees it on his plate near "real food") and I'm allergic to almonds. I was not entirely confident I could make it work. 

On to the meal!