Good nutrition has the ability to impact every stage of life. Eating a well-balanced diet can make you feel better on a daily basis and can reduce your risk of developing health conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular disease. (1) But, it can be stressful to worry about what to prepare for dinner each night. It isn’t just about the commitment it takes—planning meals can be mentally taxing, and shopping for groceries can be physically exhausting.
To help you explore options that are more convenient, our team has tested dozens of the best meal kit and prepared meal services to help you choose the right one for your needs. Below, we go into detail about what CookUnity has to offer and how it can make dinner time easier—instead of more stressful.
Medical disclaimer: This article is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. For health advice, contact a licensed healthcare provider.
Key product features
What you should know
CookUnity is a prepared meal service that caters to a variety of dietary preferences like vegetarian, vegan, keto, paleo, low-calorie, low-carb, low-sodium, high protein, dairy-free, and gluten-free.
- CookUnity’s fresh, prepared meals are ready to eat in 15 minutes or less.
- One CookUnity meal ranges from $11 to $14, which is on the more expensive side of the market.
- CookUnity is an excellent option for people looking to expand their healthy eating in a convenient way.
How does CookUnity work?
CookUnity is a meal service that lets you choose a variety of prepared meals from a selection of menu items curated by chefs in your geographical region. Since CookUnity isn’t available nationwide, the first thing you’ll need to do is use the delivery map and put in your ZIP code to see whether you’re in a serviceable area.
Once you confirm you can get your food delivered, you’ll choose how many meals you want delivered each week. You can choose from four, six, eight, 12, and 16 meals per week. Each meal is one serving, so if you have more than one person in your household, you’ll need to order double the meals if you want each person to have their own full serving.
After choosing how many meals you want per week, you select your entrees. The number of meals available depends on your location. For example, our tester had 269 meals to choose from. After selecting your meals for the week, you’ll provide your address and billing information and confirm your order. Your delivery date will depend on your location and when you place your order.
Your package will arrive in a large cardboard box that’s chilled with ice packs to keep your food items fresh while in transit. From there, you’ll refrigerate your meals, follow the reheat instructions, and enjoy.
Choosing meals
The CookUnity menu is specially curated by chefs and changes from week to week. Menus vary based on region, so the East Coast, West Coast, Texas, and Midwest each have their own selection with unique meal offerings. When you select a meal online, you’ll be able to view the meal’s full list of ingredients, nutrition facts, allergy information, and the associated dietary categories.
You can also learn about the chef who created the meal by reading their biography for more information about their culinary background and education. If you try a meal from a certain chef and enjoy it, you can view all the other meals they have curated, that way you can add them to your next order. We also love that after trying a meal you can leave a review and assign a star value for each menu item. Some meals have more than 2,000 reviews from people who have personally tried them.
If you have any dietary preferences or restrictions, you can filter those at the top of the screen when you get to the menu for your region. That said, we didn’t like that you can’t filter by more than one preference at a time. Those with multiple preferences should filter by at least one of them and then read the ingredients on each meal before adding it to their order.
You can also take a quick three-question quiz about your dietary and flavor preferences, and CookUnity will suggest a list of meals you might like. If you are not a picky eater, don’t want to go through all the menu items, or like to try new things, you can press the “Chef’s Choice” button on the top right of the menu, and CookUnity will select your meals at random.
While you’re scrolling through the menu, you’ll also come across items highlighted in black and labeled “Chef Specials.” These are special menu items that cost anywhere from $2.99–$6.99 more than other items, usually because they use premium ingredients. For example, a Thai Red Lobster Curry meal costs an extra $6.99 because it incorporates lobster, a pricier protein.
Changing orders
When you create your CookUnity account, you’ll be assigned a date and time window for delivery. The estimated delivery time will vary depending on your location and when you place your order. For our tester, the delivery was scheduled for 10 days after they created their order.
CookUnity will assign you a “cut-off time” based on your area and delivery schedule. You’ll be able to change, skip, or cancel your order anytime before this cut-off.
We discovered that you can’t actually cancel your account until after your first order is delivered.
Specs
| Price per serving | $11-$14 |
| Shipping cost | Varies |
| Shipping availability | Most states (except Alaska, Hawaii, North Dakota, South Dakota, and parts of Colorado, Montana, Nebraska, West Virginia, and Wyoming) |
| Meal type | Prepared |
| Number of meals per week | Four to 16 |
| Meal options | Vegetarian, vegan, keto, paleo, gluten-free, low-calorie, low-carb, low-sodium, high-protein, dairy-free |
| Cancellation method | Online |
Our CookUnity experience
After trying out CookUnity for ourselves, there are a few key takeaways we believe are important to know before ordering from the service.
Packaging
You’ll receive your order in a large cardboard box, which is insulated and arranged with ice packs to keep your meals fresh and chilled. Our tester noted, “All the items were still cold when I put them in the fridge.” The packaging used to ship the meals and the meal containers are recyclable.
One thing we don’t love about the packaging CookUnity uses is that it’s quite heavy to lift and carry. Our tester ordered 12 meals and found that carrying the package up a flight of stairs was very challenging. But, they also noted that carrying the box from the front door straight into a home without stairs would likely be easier. If you have mobility issues and plan to order more than six meals, you may need to find someone to help you move the box inside.
Preparing the meals
On the packaging for each meal, you’ll find a description of the meal, the name of the chef who created it, reheating instructions, the ingredients used, basic nutritional information, an expiration date, and a QR code that you can scan if you want to open a more detailed description of the meal on your smart device.
Each meal can be reheated in two ways. On the packaging, there are “fast instructions” for microwaving and “chef instructions” for using an oven. The fast instructions are estimated to take two to three minutes, while the chef’s instructions may take up to 15 minutes.
We found that using a microwave was the easiest, quickest, and most convenient option. Our tester noted that while most items cook very well using the fast instructions, there are some items, like green beans, that might not cook as well in the plastic packaging and might need to be prepared separately for the best textural outcome.
Quality of meals
CookUnity states that each meal is freshly prepared and is created by chefs who use sustainably sourced and seasonal ingredients. The company also states that meals have a refrigerated shelf life of about five to seven days, so it is important to consume them before their “use by” date to ensure freshness.
Our tester found that each meal looked, smelled, and tasted fresh, but they noticed the listed expiration dates didn’t allow for much time to eat them. Some of their meals expired four days after delivery, and others expired five days after delivery.
“Unless you and someone else in your home are eating multiple times a day, it would be hard to justify getting 12 meals a week.”
Team Product Tester
Our tester thought that each meal was packed with a surprising amount of flavor, which can be difficult to come by when it comes to prepared entrees. This is an especially important consideration for older adults because, after the age of 60, you might begin to lose your sense of taste, which can make finding good meals difficult. (2) Oftentimes, people often add salt to food to enhance the flavor. But our tester didn’t think any salt was needed to make these meals taste good.
Items that would ordinarily be cooked based on preference, like steak, were prepared to a medium temperature. If you like your meat cooked more well, you can always reheat it for a longer amount of time, which will vary depending on whether you use a microwave or an oven.
Overall, we thought CookUnity meals had a well-balanced flavor profile and nutritional offering. Each entree included a protein, carbohydrate, and vegetable item.
Serving sizes
Each CookUnity meal is a single serving—so it’s best not to plan on sharing or expect leftovers. Our tester thought some portions weren’t very filling and found themselves hungry after finishing some of the meals. They also shared that the meals that incorporated meat were more satiating than others. Some menu items have more calories or protein than others, so if you tend to need more food to feel full, you can select meals with higher calories or choose from the “high-protein” category.
We’ve Featured CookUnity in:
- Best meal delivery services
- Best meal delivery services for weight loss
- Best meal delivery services for singles
- Best keto meal delivery services
- Best healthy meal delivery services
How we test meal delivery services
Signing up for a meal delivery service can help you achieve health goals thanks to quick, convenient nutrition support. Whether you need a meal that fits your macros without the fuss of going to the grocery store, or you’re simply looking for an alternative to cooking at home when you get back from the office late, a meal delivery service may be right for you.
That said, not every meal delivery service is right for everyone. That’s why our team aims to personally test every meal delivery service we review. Our goal is to provide you with unbiased feedback that can help you find the meal delivery service that best suits your needs.
Every Fortune meal delivery review features:
- In-depth analysis by testers and/or authors who are certified nutritionists and/or registered dietitians
- Testing for portion/ingredient accuracy, taste, and freshness
- Fact-checking and reviewing by qualified experts
You can read our full meal delivery testing methodology here.
The following criteria is what we use to assess meal delivery services.
Testing criteria
Meal choices—30%
A meal delivery service should provide a variety of delicious, nutritious meal options. It should also help you cater your preferences to lifestyle and diet choices that are important to you. When evaluating this category we look at the following:
- Multiple options
- Substitutions
- Guidance
- Label transparency
Food quality—30%
One of our top concerns when assessing meal delivery services is how high-quality the food you receive is. Here’s what goes into our quality rating:
- Flavor
- Healthiness
- Freshness
Value—20%
While meal delivery service prices can vary, we want to make sure the cost of a meal delivery service matches what’s being delivered to your door. Here’s what we factor into a program’s value rating:
- Fair price
- Multiple quantity options
- Customization
Customer experience—20%
We understand that becoming a regular customer of any kind of service means feeling satisfied with both the goods you receive and the help you can depend on. When evaluating customer experience we look at the following:
- Packaging
- Ease of preparation
- Reviews
- Customer service
Compare CookUnity
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| CookUnity | Blue Apron | Hello Fresh | Factor | Purple Carrot | |
| Rating | |||||
| Starting cost per serving | $11 | $7.99 | $9.99 | $10.99 | $11 |
| Shipping cost | Varies | $10.99 | $10.99 | $10.99 | $10-$20 per week depending on location; free shipping for orders that cost $100 or more |
| Shipping availability | Most states | Contiguous U.S. | Contiguous U.S. | Most states and select ZIP codes in Honolulu, Hawaii, and Anchorage, Alaska | Contiguous U.S. |
| Meal type | Prepared meals | Meal kits and prepared meals | Meal kits | Prepared meals | Meal kits and prepared meals |
| Diet options | Vegetarian, vegan, keto, paleo, gluten-free, low-calorie, low-carb, low-sodium, high-protein, dairy-free | Vegetarian, fast and easy, family-friendly, wellness, chef’s favorites, keto-friendly, low-calorie, high-protein, low-carb | Meat and veggies, vegetarian, pescatarian, family-friendly, fast and easy, fit and wholesome | Keto-friendly, vegan, vegetarian, flexitarian, high-protein, low-calorie | 100% vegan with high-protein, low-calorie, nut-free, soy-free, gluten-free, low-sodium, and fast and easy options |
FAQs
What is the shipping cost for CookUnity?
CookUnity states that it doesn’t have a fixed shipping or delivery fee but rather “taxes and fees,” which are calculated based on your address, plan size, and chosen meals. For example, one of our testers ordered eight meals, and the total cost came to $93.52. That price included the taxes and fees, which consisted of a $9.99 “delivery” fee and a $4.17 “sales taxes and service fee.” This was for eight meals.The fee applies to each individual order you place.
Is CookUnity healthy?
The CookUnity menu is curated by chefs with sustainably sourced and seasonal ingredients. The menu each week accommodates a variety of diets and preferences. All the meals we tested were well-balanced and incorporated vegetables and protein. CookUnity estimates that its menu each week has at least:
- 40 low-calorie (fewer than 500 calories) meals
- 40 low-carbohydrate (fewer than 35 grams) meals
- 30 dairy-free meals
- 30 plant-based meals
- 30 keto-friendly meals
- 50 paleo meals
Who is CookUnity good for?
Based on our testing, we think that CookUnity is a smart choice for anyone who wants to have a meal that’s well-balanced and tastes good but doesn’t want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen preparing meals.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases.
Our experts
Lily Moe
Lily is a Brooklyn-based writer and editor with over seven years of experience in health media. As a former Fitness Coach, Lily’s editorial prowess has largely focused on fitness, nutrition, and weight management. She has also spent a fair share of time in testing labs, analyzing everything from protein powders to yoga mats. Her work has appeared in Verywell Fit, Verywell Mind, Health, and more.
Amy Beney, RD
Amy Beney is a registered dietitian based outside Buffalo, New York. After working with many people who have blood sugar issues and were diagnosed with diabetes, she pursued and received an advanced certification as a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES). She enjoys breaking down complex medical information into smaller pieces that people can apply daily.
Miranda M. Riva, Esq
Fortune Recommends Writer
About Author
Miranda Riva is a writer and licensed Tennessee attorney who has written and edited legal content covering the topics of family law, business law, criminal law, environmental law, and estate law.