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Original poster

Just tried first Hello Fresh...I don’t get it....

247 replies

GiraffeNecked · 16/10/2020 06:54

So a potato some mince, a carrot, a glove of garlic and some mince arrives. All stuff I have in the house already ..... you still have to chop, cut, cook and it was nice, but no nicer than something I’d have come up with by myself.

OP posts:
RosesandPumpkins · 16/10/2020 07:01

It’s designed for people who don’ t have those things in. And for people who couldn’t just knock something up like that.

It’s a very expensive thing to do if you are capable of doing it yourself.

AnotherFriday · 16/10/2020 07:02

I think its aimed at people who don't know how to cook.

milienhaus · 16/10/2020 07:03

We only use it for recipes we wouldn’t ordinarily cook ourselves (so curries, noodles etc where we don’t normally have all the spices) - not for more straightforward stuff that we would cook anyway.

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TeddyIsaHe · 16/10/2020 07:04

I like it, I chose things I wouldn’t usually cook. It saved so much brainpower when I’d been out of the house for 12 hours - didn’t need to think about what to make, just get the pre-portioned bits out and dinner is ready in half an hour.

Keepyourspiritclean · 16/10/2020 07:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NewtoHolland · 16/10/2020 07:07

I loved it when we had it, learnt some new tips and recipes that I use now, didn't use it for things I usually made.

dicdicnurse · 16/10/2020 07:07

I love it and have used it since I increased to full time hours. It saves me thinking about what to make, saves me worrying about getting to the shops and makes sure we eat a variety of things rather the old fail safes that I resort to when uninspired.

nearlynermal · 16/10/2020 07:08

I got a couple of deliveries some years back. A bit off topic, but one thing that turned me off was SO much packaging. A little plastic pot for everything. Maybe they're greener now.

yellowmaoampinball · 16/10/2020 07:09

I was underwhelmed too but I have to ask, don't you get to choose the meals, iirc, you do don't you? So why did you choose that?

HelloDulling · 16/10/2020 07:10

When you chose the recipe that involved mince and potato, what did you think would arrive? Scallops and white truffles.

Parkandride · 16/10/2020 07:10

I'm a decent cook and love it, though I use gousto for more choice. I'd never pick a pasta bake or chilli, but maybe a fish dish that comes with capers as I refuse to buy them as I'll never finish a jar!
Meal planning is mine and DHs worst job so it's worth it for that alone.
Plus some of their techniques are decent, I'll never go back to my old method of cooking rice now.

hopeishere · 16/10/2020 07:10

What did you think it was? Ready meals?

I sort of liked it. The recipes were nearly always delicious. But the kids were never keen on them and agree the packaging is crazy.

Magicbabywaves · 16/10/2020 07:10

I don’t get it either. We took our neighbours when they were away and they’d forgotten to cancel it. I’m no Delia, but honestly it’s not difficult to find a few recipes and have that stuff in. It was sickening how much packaging it came in too. I know people are busy and some were never shown how to cook, but these boxes are a rip off.

SandysMam · 16/10/2020 07:10

And the chicken is SO smelly!! It mentions it on the pack that it’s because it’s vacuum packed but completely put me off and I struggled to enjoy the meal!

Parker231 · 16/10/2020 07:12

I like it. I’m usually not interested in cooking and rarely cook from scratch but I like this as it provides easy to follow recipes and ingredients I wouldn’t necessarily have. Wouldn’t want it all the time as it takes too long to prepare a meal but have ordered it every now and then.

StoneColdBitch · 16/10/2020 07:14

I agree, OP. I tried it when a friend sent me a code for 3 free meals. Two of the meals were incredibly plain, and they were actually more effort to cook than the recipes I use usually. One of the meals was delicious, so I kept the recipe card and have modified it a bit and added it to my regular repertoire.

If I had paid full price I would have felt very ripped off. I could have bought all the ingredients for less than half the price HelloFresh charge.

I have come to the same conclusion as @anotherfriday - that it is a product aimed at people who don't know how to cook.

Additionally, I think it's aimed at people who, for whatever reason, aren't very price-sensitive. I am well-off, but I like to feel I am getting value for money, and I found HelloFresh a massive turn-off in this regard.

Cocorico22 · 16/10/2020 07:15

I'm sure Alan Sugar described it as 'cooking for mugs' on the apprentice last series... Wink

OnTheBenchOfDoom · 16/10/2020 07:16

My sister had it for a good year, works full time and is a very able cook but gave her a break from shopping for meals and her teens could cook it all easily.

Everything being pre-measured out was easier than having to buy in a jar of something you may not like.

Why did you choose the meal if you already had that stuff in? Did you not read the blurb which would tell you what you would be getting and how the system worked? There are a million videos on YouTube about Hello Fresh/Gusto etc that you could have watched to see how it works.

Umbridge34 · 16/10/2020 07:16

We got got that and gousto whilst they were cheap, I prefer gousto for the choice. I chose recipes that we didn't have the ingredients for like random spices we would never finish. I like it but would never pay full price as it is expensive. It gave us some good recipes though.

Ylfa · 16/10/2020 07:23

I live alone now so 3 meals for two = 6 meals a week for £30. Frees up a grocery delivery slot most weeks as I only get household stuff once a month. I would live on black or pinto bean chili otherwise. It’s improving my eating habits and they know how to cook pasta (raise the boiling point of the water with salt before you add the pasta, always add the pasta to the sauce never the other way around) which I find comforting and reassuring.

Technically I can cook but I thought I’d forgotten how. I would never buy meat or fish for myself so yeah, it’s an improvement.

LadyFannyButton · 16/10/2020 07:24

I always have the fresh ingredients in so I do simply cook instead.

It means I cook food I wouldn’t normally do and makes a change when we are stuck in a food rut. I only do one off boxes though not a subscription.

arethereanyleftatall · 16/10/2020 07:25

Hello Fresh is aimed at the absolutely basic level isn't it? For those who don't have time or knowledge or both. It serves a purpose. It's a bit superior to say you 'don't get it' when the marketing is clear. There's plenty of other companies around who do more elaborate recipes.

ivykaty44 · 16/10/2020 07:26

Its a way of making ready prepared, chopped food even more expensive - put it in parcels, delivered to your door for you just too open and cook.

Id rather get a cookery book and find a recipe and purchase most of the ingredients (some will already be in the cupboards) and cook the meal

If Ive done a 12 hour shift and can't think then Ill cook pasta in 15 minutes

Lovemusic33 · 16/10/2020 07:26

I have hello fresh, yes some of the recipes I could have done myself but others have been good and have made me a bit more adventurous in the kitchen. Some things I simply don’t have in the cupboards (like truffle oil) and they cost too much to buy for one meal. I like the fact I don’t have to plan a meal or shop for all the ingredients, also like the fact I chuck nothing away.

binkyblinky · 16/10/2020 07:27

Well this is odd as you would have selected the recipes knowing their ingredients .... so why did you order those particular recipes if you already had the ingredients!

I love hello fresh because I don't often have time to get out to get different ingredients, it gives me a chance to try different things and plan other meals around what's coming in my box