As someone who loves cooking at home but struggles with meal planning and grocery shopping, I decided to try out two popular meal kit delivery services: Marley Spoon and Dinnerly. I wanted to see which one better suited my needs and preferences. I ordered a few boxes from each service, and after trying them out, I’m ready to share my experience and thoughts on both.
Marley Spoon and Dinnerly are both owned by the same company, so you will notice a lot of similarities in terms of website design, but they do offer reasonably different packages in terms of price and food quality.
Price
Right off the bat, it’s important to mention that Dinnerly is more budget-friendly than Marley Spoon. Dinnerly’s meals start at $4.69 per serving, while Marley Spoon’s start at $8.49 per serving. This can make a significant difference for those on a tight budget or families with multiple mouths to feed.
Variety
Regarding menu variety, Marley Spoon offers a wider selection of meal choices, with 50 different recipes each week, including vegetarian, low-carb, and family-friendly options.
Dinnerly, on the other hand, offers 48 meal choices per week. While the options might be fewer with Dinnerly, I still found their menu appealing and diverse enough for my tastes.
Customization
Both companies allow you to customize some meals but not all. Look for the ‘customisable’ button in the menu when selecting your next box. This generally allows you to change the protein type or the carbs..
For example, from Marley Spoon, the Vietnamese Style Chicken allows you to choose between brown rice and jasmine rice.
Or the Chargrilled Pesto Chicken lets you choose between fish, chicken breast, or pork loin steak. The steak adds an additional $1 per serving/
Taste
In my experience, the dishes from Marley Spoon were delicious and full of flavor. The variety of recipes allowed me to explore different cuisines and try new ingredients, which I found exciting and satisfying. I appreciated the focus on using fresh, high-quality ingredients, resulting in better-tasting meals.
Dinnerly’s meals were also tasty, and their focus on familiar, classic dishes ensured that the flavors were comforting and appealing to a wide range of palates. While the meals weren’t as unique or adventurous as Marley Spoon’s, they still provided satisfying, home-cooked meals for the whole family.
Marley Spoon was the winner in terms of taste for its more diverse and adventurous flavor profiles.
Ingredient Quality
Marley Spoon prides itself on offering high-quality, sustainably-sourced ingredients, including organic produce and antibiotic-free meats. When cooking with their ingredients, I could tell they were higher quality than what I typically find at my local grocery store.
Dinnerly also offers fresh ingredients, but I found the quality slightly lower than Marley Spoon’s. That being said, it wasn’t a deal-breaker for me, especially considering the lower price point.
Complexity
Marley Spoon’s recipes are more complex and gourmet, often featuring unique ingredients or flavor combinations that I wouldn’t have thought to try. The step-by-step instructions were clear, and I enjoyed the challenge of making restaurant-quality meals at home.
Cooking with Marley Spoon was a relatively smooth experience. The recipe cards were clear and easy to follow, with step-by-step instructions and photos for guidance. Some recipes required more advanced techniques or had longer preparation times, but overall, I found the process manageable.
Dinnerly’s recipes are simpler, with fewer ingredients and steps, making them perfect for busy weeknights or less experienced cooks. I appreciated the ease of Dinnerly’s recipes, but I did miss the more adventurous flavors and techniques from Marley Spoon.
Dinnerly’s focus on simplicity extended to their cooking process. The recipes had fewer steps and were designed for quick preparation. The instructions were straightforward, making it easy for even novice cooks to create tasty meals without feeling overwhelmed.
Packaging
Marley Spoon and Dinnerly are committed to reducing waste and using eco-friendly packaging materials. However, Marley Spoon’s packaging is more organized, with ingredients for each recipe separately.
Dinnerly’s ingredients arrive mixed together, requiring more time to sort them out before cooking. This wasn’t a major issue for me, but it’s worth considering if organization is important to you.
Customer Service
I had a pleasant experience with Marley Spoon’s and Dinnerly’s customer service. They were responsive and helpful whenever I had questions or needed assistance. Both companies also offer flexible subscription plans, allowing you to pause or cancel your subscription anytime.
Delivery
Marley Spoon delivered my meal kits in insulated boxes with ice packs to keep the ingredients fresh. The packaging was environmentally friendly, with recyclable materials and minimal plastic usage. I appreciated their flexibility in choosing delivery days and ability to skip weeks without hassle.
Dinnerly only delivers to Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Hobart, Launceston, Adelaide, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Wollongong, Newcastle, the greater Perth region, Darwin and NSW’s Central Coast.
Dinnerly also provided insulated boxes with ice packs; their packaging was similarly eco-conscious. They offered flexible delivery options and the ability to skip weeks as well. I found their delivery reliable and punctual, ensuring that I received my meal kits when expected.
Alternatives
Conclusion
After trying Marley Spoon and Dinnerly, I believe each service caters to different preferences and budgets. If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option with simpler recipes, Dinnerly is a great choice. However, Marley Spoon is worth the investment if you’re willing to spend a bit more for a wider variety of gourmet meals and higher-quality ingredients.
I personally enjoyed both services, but I think I would stick with Marley Spoon given the choice.