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Original poster

Hello Fresh

43 replies

NotSuchASmugMarriedNow1 · 15/09/2018 11:58

I just wondered if anyone has used this in the past and also how easy is it to cancel the rolling subscription

I've got a code for £20 off the first two boxes and just want to use that to try the meals to see if I like them?

Anyone used them?????

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For the lowdown on the best recipe boxes, take a look at our comparison of the most popular boxes out there and, of course, Musnetters’ reviews of their favourites. MNHQ.

OP posts:
Iruka · 15/09/2018 12:01

I haven't but I hear loads of adverts for them on my podcasts and they all say 'only $10 per person per meal' and I lol and go cook something for about £2 per person Grin

Original poster
NotSuchASmugMarriedNow1 · 15/09/2018 12:06

Actually I've just done a quick mumsnet search and the feedback is about 70% negative so I don't think i'll bother.

OP posts:
Sparklyfee · 15/09/2018 12:07

It's easy to cancel. Try Gousto, go through TopCashback for £8.40 cashback and first orders are 50% off. So just over 6.00 for 3 meals for two. Mine arrived today!

Hourglasswinter · 15/09/2018 13:04

Hello Fresh has always been really good when i have done it. Lovely ingredients and recipes. Only have them when they offer me 50% off though then i cancel. Too expensive at full price for me.

ThanksItHasPockets · 15/09/2018 13:15

The recipes are good and the ingredients are good quality but we cancelled. The recipes are labour-intensive and we just didn’t have the time to stand over the stove each evening. I’m an experienced, confident cook but it could easily take 45-50 mins to get the meals on the table, using multiple pans which then have to be cleared up!

IsTheRainEverComingBack · 15/09/2018 13:17

My friend and her parents love it. It’s got her dad cooking regularly and trying new things. My plan is to use those boxes to teach DP to cook for us when we have small babies and I don’t want to do all the cooking (I don’t mind doing it all generally as I love cooking and it’s not a chore)

worknamechanged · 15/09/2018 13:18

We use it all the time 3-4 boxes a month. You can choose quick/vegetarian/gf recipes etc. Never had any issues.

Hairytangerine · 15/09/2018 13:19

I love it. Gets me out of a rut. I only do when offer on but wish I could afford all the time.

Good quality ingredients

ThanksItHasPockets · 15/09/2018 13:21

They would be very good to teach someone to cook and to build their confidence. My other problem was that I found myself wanting to adapt and tweak the recipes, which leaves you with odd ingredients and negates the whole point of minimal waste.

Taffeta · 15/09/2018 13:22

I used Gousto on a free MN trial

I’d say it’s good for unimaginative couples who aren’t very good cooks and don’t have time to shop but do have time to spend an hour cooking a meal and washing up loads of pots

Not so much for families with young kids, anyone with a decent storecupboard etc.

Nothisispatrick · 15/09/2018 13:22

I love it as we get a lot of things I wouldn’t usually cook but they’re all tasty, and it gets DP to cook. We get 1-2 boxes a month.

Nothisispatrick · 15/09/2018 13:23

I really didn’t like Gousto though. Much smaller portions, recipes not as tasty and often things I would cook anyway and didn’t need recipes for.

CazP2013 · 15/09/2018 13:23

I agree with the PP re labour intensiveness of it all especially after work. Don’t get me started on the frankly offensive amounts of packaging...

Sparklyfee · 15/09/2018 13:31

I’d say it’s good for unimaginative couples who aren’t very good cooks and don’t have time to shop but do have time to spend an hour cooking a meal and washing up loads of pots

Not so much for families with young kids, anyone with a decent storecupboard etc.

Got to disagree here. We are decent cooks, capable, use our imagination etc. My storecupboard is full and varied.

We have the time to shop and cook etc and I wash up as I go.

We enjoy the time spent together, following the recipe etc. Or one of us will cook while the other relaxes.

The kids can also get involved in cooking and the food has always been good quality.

I'm first time Gousto today but have done Hellofresh several times when on offer.

Kezzie200 · 15/09/2018 15:58

I have Gousto regularly but not all the time. Lots to choose from, including fast prep meals. Ive had them onn and off for over two years now.

Its good if you like to be given ideas. The quality is not as great as it was originally but i find they deal with complaints quite well.

We probably have one box a month and their subscription system is excellent. I like to keep an active subscription, so pop. In every tuesday and auto skip future orders. I look to see the new recipes and only make an order, over riding my skip, if its suits. If you want to you can pause subscription.

Sparklyfee · 15/09/2018 16:13

@Kezzie200

Good to hear you like it. I'm looking forward to testing out our first gousto tonight. What are your favourite meals?

Think we are doing the Thai Massaman Meatballs tonight.

I'm an adventurous cook anyway but it does give new ideas without the faff of getting all the ingredients in

NaughtToThreeSadOnions · 15/09/2018 16:15

I love my Gousto box, im aspergers and unable to get to supermarket without support or a car (i lost my support hours 3 years ago because appaerently as i work i dont need support.........erm everyone close to me disagrees including me but hay ho)

For 2 1/2 years i waa eating one meal in weatherspoons every day, pretty much the same thing, well definately the sane thing so much so the barstaff would know my order as soon as i walked up to the bar.
So that was costing me £70 a week

Now i get guosto £34 a week for 4 meals for 2, theres only me so i have half for dinner and take the rest for lunch at work. I get 4 days food out of it. Its left at my door so i don't have to be in overstilmulating pubs or even worse crowded supermarkets

When my support worker did take me shopping my way of coping was to head literally for the few foods i knew i eat, avocardos, prawns, malt loaf wraps, not really anything to make a meal out of gousto has given me a chance to really enjoy fresh food.

Anyway thats my how much i love guosto. I just wanted to give another side to why sone people might find meal boxes useful rather tyan this oh its just if your unimaginative; or whatever.

As for cancelling i dont know about hello fresh, but i was away for a few days a couple of weeks ago, instead of making my order i just pressed cancel box and thst weeks box and i just ordered my choice of menu the following week as normal or you can just cancel the account seems pretty easy to me

IndigoApple · 15/09/2018 16:21

We use Hello Fresh regularly, usually every week. I love it. It has made us try different foods and recipes and I actually find it quite relaxing following a recipe while listening to the radio after a hectic day at work. The 2 person box usually has enough for me, DH and DD unless one of the recipes has separate portions eg burgers with buns etc.

It's easy to skip boxes using the app as long as you remember to give 6 days notice. You can also choose each week's meals from a selection several weeks in advance.

I actually think we spend more in the supermarket when we don't get a hello Fresh box and have more waste.

I don't work for Hello Fresh Grin

AsAProfessionalFekko · 15/09/2018 16:30

I had a couple of boxes - lovely but I had to substitute some items for preference, low fat alternative etc (trying to please everyone!).

I did use Simply Cook for a while though - you get the herbs and spices for a variety of dishes - All very simple to make and I only ever had one that I didn't love. Since it was only me eating them (I'm the only veggie here) I ended up with lots boxes and had to hive them away (they don't have a hugelyong shelf life - so months not years). It's about £8 for 4 packs and these are set to come monthly (4 once a month is the minimum). There is usually special offers for newbies (I will probably have a code of anyone wants one). I've recommended quite a few people and they have all loved it.

EssentialHummus · 15/09/2018 16:32

I have tried both and much preferred Gousto - equal amounts of prep time, but much tastier meals.

Kezzie200 · 15/09/2018 16:55

Sparklyfee

My faves are West African Maffe, Fish stews, BBQ chicken and apple coleslaw, peanut sauce (came with steak recipe but i just love it!).

Rarely had a poor meal to be honest. So much to choose from so weve just not chosen things that dont appeal to us.

UnnecessaryFennel · 15/09/2018 17:09

I'm with IndigoApple. We use Hello Fresh and love it. DP and I are both decent cooks but a bit lazy. I find meal planning tedious beyond belief and we would end up wasting a lot of food.

We get three meals per week for 4 people (my dad lives with us and it's nice to cook for him too sometimes) and it works out at £54 per week, which isn't exactly cheap but none of it gets wasted and I'm no longer bored out of my mind by shopping and meal planning.

I now actively look forward to coming home and cooking something from the box - glass of wine, radio on, follow the recipe, easy-peasy. The variety is good and I think we've only had maybe one duff meal.

It has genuinely made life easier and imo is well worth it.

Whatsnewwithyou · 15/09/2018 17:18

I like simply cook as it's quite cheap - they send spices and flavouring pots and recipes and you just buy a few simple things yourself like chicken and veg or whatever. The food always turns out great similar to takeaways or restaurants (the way franky and bennys would taste in an ideal world rather than the way it actually tastes if you see what i mean) however I have concerns about the amount of sugar and salt in the flavouring so I tend to just cook them once a week or so.

GunpowderGelatine · 15/09/2018 17:19

I LOVE HelloFresh I have a code for a free box if you want it OP!

Whatsnewwithyou · 15/09/2018 17:19

Oh and I'm a great cook but after work sometimes I just want something easy where I don't have to think! Simply cook stuff is very easy.