But since the coronavirus upended daily life, my attitude has shifted. Now I genuinely loathe it.
Those may sound like harsh words, but a wave of anxiety rises in me as I try to keep my distance from others and track down essentials like bread (hint: nearly impossible). At home, I stretch my pantry as far as it can go. As supplies dwindle, dinners turn into frozen pizzas and peanut butter and jelly wraps (still no bread).
That’s where people are getting clever: they’re ordering meal-kit deliveries.
Yes, you’re right — some kits can be expensive. That’s why I tested EveryPlate. You can have meals dropped to your door for just $4.99 per serving (right now the first one is priced at $3.99). And spoiler: the food actually tastes great.
EveryPlate Review: Affordable Weeknight Meals at $4.99 Per Serving
I should start by admitting I dislike cooking. I find it more annoying than grocery runs during a pandemic. For me, the end result rarely justifies the effort.
I’d avoided meal kits before because, again, I don’t love cooking, and they often cost a lot. I wasn’t keen on paying $10 a plate (plus delivery) just to prepare my own meal.
So I approached EveryPlate with skepticism. Could it win me over? I decided to give it a shot. The cost was appealing, and the menu photos looked tempting.
Each week EveryPlate offers 11 dinner choices. These rotate from week to week, and those menu adjustments help keep prices down. When I wrote this piece, the selection was solid — everything from sweet-and-spicy pork chops with roasted carrots and ginger rice to lemon shrimp penne to Thai-style steak tacos with pickled cucumber and garlic Sriracha mayo.
You might be wondering: Can I really pull this off? Is it truly that straightforward? That was my thought too.
Yes. If I can manage it, so can you.
Each kit includes an estimated cook time (usually between 20 and 45 minutes), a simple step-by-step recipe card (with photos!), and pre-measured ingredients.
I Tried It: Roasted Vegetable Linguine
I opted for the roasted vegetable linguine. The tomatoes and zucchini arrived fresh and ripe. The recipe card guided me through every step, timing each element so everything finished together.
Another plus: I’m awful at seasoning, but the kit supplied exactly what I needed to flavor the pasta — fresh lemon, garlic cloves and red pepper flakes. It even came with shredded parmesan and breadcrumbs, which added a fantastic texture.
My plating could’ve used work, but otherwise I felt ready for my culinary close-up.
I worried about cleanup. Honestly, tidying up after cooking is almost worse than the cooking itself. But I only had to wash a baking sheet, a pot and a skillet — a quick, manageable cleanup.
Skip the Supermarket: Have a Week of Dinners Delivered
If you’ve been thinking about trying a meal-kit, there’s never been a better time. You probably have a bit more time at home, and it keeps you out of crowded grocery aisles. Plus, EveryPlate is one of the most budget-friendly kits available.
You can order for two or four people (if you’re dining solo, you’ll have leftovers for lunch), and you can pick three, four or five meals per week. Each serving is $4.99, with a shipping fee of $8.99. You can pause or cancel whenever you like, so there’s no long-term commitment.
Want to test it out? Browse the weekly menus and choose a plan.
Signing up takes only minutes, and your first box typically arrives in about a week. Then enjoy your tasty, home-prepared dinner. Congrats — you’re practically a pro chef now!
Riley Carter (riley.carter@example.com) is a staff writer at Savinly. She’s been daydreaming about that roasted veggie linguine since she made it. Delicious. *chef’s kiss*
