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As a certified personal trainer (CPT) and lifelong #foodie, I love flexing my culinary muscles in the kitchen. However, not everyone has the time, skill, or desire to make healthy meals that meet their dietary needs.
Luckily, you can stay on top of your nutrition (and stay full) by signing up for one of the best meal delivery services. While some folks prefer meal kits like those offered by HelloFresh, Hungryroot, and Blue Apron, others rather take the ready-to-eat route. CookUnity offers a wide range of pre-made meals that accommodate different dietary preferences, including keto, paleo, gluten-free, dairy-free, and plant-based.
Marketed as a high-quality “chef-to-you” prepared meal delivery service, our team was eager to see if it lived up to the hype. So, grab a fork and a knife and get ready to chow down on our CookUnity review—one bite (or section, in this case) at a time.
We’ve Tasted the Good, the Bad, and the Bland to Save You the Trouble
The Garage Gym Reviews team consists of CPTs, certified nutrition coaches, CrossFit athletes, and an Olympian weightlifter. Our squad brings a wealth of hands-on experience testing everything from the best squat racks to the best protein powders to the best healthy meal delivery services so you can make an informed decision about your health and wellness.
We take taste-testing seriously since we understand that what you put into your body needs to satisfy your taste buds and support your fitness goals. We don’t want you to waste time (or money) chewing on something that won’t meet your expectations or leave you feeling hungry still. When grading meal and food delivery services, we utilize a comprehensive testing methodology that uses a 1-5 scoring system to assess key factors such as:
- Price Per Meal
- Portion Size
- Taste
- Ingredient Quality
- Meal Options
RELATED: Best Meal Delivery Service for Singles
CookUnity is a convenient, premium meal delivery service that brings chef-quality dishes to your door. While it’s not the cheapest option and requires quick consumption, it’s a great fit for those who want gourmet meals without the hassle of cooking.
A Quick Look at CookUnity
CookUnity is a unique prepared meal delivery service that aims to bring restaurant-quality meals from award-winning chefs directly to your door. Unlike many companies that utilize mass production techniques, CookUnity partners with independent chefs from across the United States to craft fully prepared meals using high-quality ingredients. The company focuses on sustainability, using recyclable, compostable packaging.
One factor that makes CookUnity an attractive option is its sheer variety and quality of its ever-rotating menu. This meal delivery service supports just about every type of dietary preference by offering keto, vegan, vegetarian, paleo, gluten-free, and dairy-free options. Compared to similar services like Freshly or Factor Meals, CookUnity’s menu is typically more diverse and upscale, though you’ll have to read on to find out whether our experts enjoyed reheating and eating these prepared meals over ordering takeout or doing the work themselves.
Before You Buy
- If you’re a DIY type of person, CookUnity is not for you. However, the convenience of having fresh (not frozen) ready-to-eat meals makes it a great option if you’re always on the go or just don’t like cooking.
- CookUnity meals have a refrigerated shelf life of five to seven days.
- Although it’s a subscription-based service, CookUnity allows you to skip, pause or cancel at any time. Be aware that most changes need to be made at least three to five days in advance or you risk being charged for that week’s order.
- Every meal label has a QR code you can scan that takes you directly to that chef’s page, giving you a chance to learn more about their culinary background and see their other offerings.
Is CookUnity Worth It?
Although it’s not the most budget-friendly way to get your calories in, CookUnity offers a wide variety of meal options that cater to different dietary needs. We like that the meals are made with locally sourced ingredients by professional chefs. We also like that the chef-crafted menu covers all types of cuisines – from Mexican and Indian to Italian and Middle Eastern. This gives you plenty of flexibility to keep your taste buds happy (and hit your daily protein goal).
While CookUnity meals arrive fresh and only require reheating, they’re not exactly generous with their portion sizes. However, if you’re not a fan of cooking or have a packed schedule that prevents you from getting in the kitchen, we think it’s a solid option if you’re in the market for a prepared meal delivery service.
Great for:
- Busy adults or parents who don’t have time to make meals at home
- People who have dietary restrictions, as there are meal options that cater to everything from low-calorie to dairy-free
- Foodies who want to eat meals prepared by professional chefs
- Those who like variety and want to avoid getting bored by eating the same foods
Not recommended for:
- Home chefs who want to get creative in the kitchen
- Budget-conscious individuals, as the price per meal is higher than cooking at home or using basic meal kits
- Those who live outside major metropolitan areas since CookUnity only delivers to select regions
- Folks who dislike reheated food and prefer something cooked to order
CookUnity Specs
| Price Per Meal | $11.09 to $14.23 |
| Meal Type | Prepared |
| Fresh or Frozen | Fresh |
| Meals Per Week | 4, 6, 8, 12, or 16 |
| Diet Options | GLP-1, Pescatarian, Mediterranean, Vegan, Keto, Paleo, Low-Calorie, Low-Carb |
Experience Using CookUnity
To see whether CookUnity delivered on its promises, we asked certified personal trainer and certified nutrition coach Anthony O’Reilly to pick up a fork and knife and do what he does best: give us his unbiased take. Overall, Anthony had mostly positive feedback about CookUnity meals, though you’ll see he had a few notable callouts, too.
Let’s dive into the details so you can determine if it’s time to get dinner delivered to your door.
Price Per Meal
One of the most important factors to consider with meal delivery services is the price. After all, buying your own groceries and making dinner at home is often the more cost-effective route.
CookUnity meals range between $11.09-$14.23. That’s not exactly cheap, but it’s also not cost-prohibitive. Based on our scoring system, CookUnity earns a 3-out-of-5 rating for price. For comparison, Factor Meals — another prepared meal delivery service that ships meals fresh and never frozen — earned the same score.
Taste, Ingredient Quality, and Portion Size
Despite being billed as somewhat of a “fine dining” experience at home, that’s not necessarily the case. In fact, Anthony found a fish bone in one of his fish dishes even though they’re supposed to be thoroughly deboned. After trying two weeks’ worth of meals, he noted that there were some hits but also several misses.
His Week 2 lineup included:
- Bulgogi Beef Japchae (Glass Noodle Stir Fry)
- Seared Shrimp with Avocado Sauce
- Seared Barramundi and Moroccan Couscous
- Nashville Hot Tofu Sandwich
Anthony put the Bulgogi Beef Japchae at the top of his list.
“This was my favorite of the two weeks, as it had a good amount of flavor but Asian dishes often have complex flavor,” he explains. “I found this bowl was very one-note and that note was the sauce, which was zingy but also overpowered everything in the dish.”
Meanwhile, his girlfriend tried the Nashville Hot Tofu sandwich and wasn’t totally impressed.
“It wasn’t really seasoned outside of the sauce, so that was disappointing. Plus, the tofu batter coating didn’t get crispy. The bread was probably the best part,” she noted.
Overall, CookUnity earned a 3-out-of-5 rating for taste. It also earned the same score for portion sizes.
“We both noticed the portions were also much lighter than advertised (we broke the scales out),” Anthony says. “The dishes all sounded great, but I was left disappointed. There were also several times when ingredients were missing from our orders.”
On a positive note, he gave CookUnity a higher mark (4 out of 5) for ingredient quality.
“They claim to focus on the best ingredients and source them locally when available,” Anthony explains. “That said, they didn’t always taste the best.”
Meal Plans and Customization
This is where CookUnity earned the highest scores. With options spanning across multiple cuisines and diet types, you should have no trouble putting together an enticing menu, especially since there are more than 400 dishes on the rotating weekly menu. As a result, Anthony rated CookUnity a 5 out of 5 for meal plans and customization.
Perry Nix, RD, LD, also likes that CookUnity covers many bases.
“They offer vegan, vegetarian, low-carb, keto, paleo, Whole30, gluten-free, low-calorie, and dairy-free dietary accommodations. These options cover a range of dietary restrictions and preferences, so there’s something for everyone,” she explains.
As a CPT, I’m a big proponent of meal planning, as it can help you hit your macronutrient goals consistently, giving you more time for other activities. In addition, a 2017 study¹ in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity found that individuals who engage in meal planning are associated with a healthier diet and lower obesity rates. So, if CookUnity can help you stay on track, that’s another reason to consider signing up for a subscription.
Packaging, Shipping, and Sustainability
CookUnity deserves a tip of the cap for taking a sustainable approach to packaging and shipping. Anthony gave perfect 5-out-of-5 ratings for these categories, as the company uses returnable packaging in select cities (New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, and Seattle).
On its website, CookUnity provides more information about its sustainability efforts, noting that it partnered with Dispatch Goods (a female-founded reverse logistics company) to help move closer to achieving a zero-waste goal.
In addition, CookUnity donates excess ingredients from their nationwide operation to Rethink Food, a NYC-based non-profit organization founded to address hunger in the United States.
CookUnity vs Factor Meals
Factor75 is a heat-and-eat delivery service that works well for those on specialized diets. Boxes are delivered weekly, and you can mix and match from different menu plans to maximize your menu variety.
If you’re in the reheat-and-eat market, CookUnity and Factor Meals are two rock-solid options. Both companies offer prepared meals that are delivered fresh. From a cost standpoint, there isn’t a significant difference between CookUnity and Factor Meals, as both earned a 3-out-of-5 rating for price. In addition, both accommodate a wide range of diet types and restrictions — a big plus in our eyes.
However, Factor gives you a bit more flexibility with the number of meals per week you can order, and the portion sizes are superior to CookUnity. Check out our full Factor Meals review for all the details about this similar prepared meal delivery service.
| CookUnity | Factor Meals | |
| Price Per Meal | $11.09-$14.23 | $11.49-$13.99 |
| Meal Type | Prepared | Prepared |
| Fresh or Frozen | Fresh | Fresh |
| Meals Per Week | 4, 6, 8, 12, or 16 | 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, or 18 |
| Diet Options | GLP-1, Pescatarian, Mediterranean, Vegan, Keto, Paleo, Low-Calorie, Low-Carb | Chef’s Choice, Protein Plus, Calorie Smart, Keto, Carb Conscious, GLP-1 Balance, Fiber Filled, Flexitarian |
Customer Experience
You can expect a smooth, user-friendly experience with CookUnity. New customers are often eligible for first-time promotional discounts, such as 30% to 50% off your first few boxes. You’ll see these deals highlighted on the company website, and you may be able to find promo codes elsewhere.
CookUnity gives you the flexibility to order as few as four meals to as many as 16 per week. Once you’ve signed up for a subscription, you can pause, skip, or cancel deliveries directly from your account dashboard. You can also contact customer service via live chat, email, and social media.
Ordering CookUnity
CookUnity’s ordering process is straightforward. First, you must enter your zip code to confirm that delivery is available in your area. From there, you select how many meals you want per week, and you can sort by dietary preference, cuisine, and cooking style.
Meals are delivered in insulated, sustainable packaging, and as mentioned earlier, CookUnity offers a reusable packaging program in certain cities as an eco-friendly perk. Although Anthony rated the ordering process a 4 out of 5, he did have a bone to pick (besides the unwanted fish bone) with CookUnity.
“Their website has lots of images and videos of people cooking or preparing ingredients, but this is really a pre-made meal delivery service. Their marketing makes this seem like it’s for chefs when it’s really not. So I had to dock a point for that,” he explains.
Customer Reviews
CookUnity has earned an average rating of 4.0 stars based on 13,977 reviews on TrustPilot. Customers praise the high-quality ingredients, responsive customer service, and variety of meal options. However, a few negative reviews pointed out smaller-than-expected portion sizes and high amounts of saturated fat as drawbacks.
Final Verdict of Our CookUnity Review
In a crowded field of meal delivery services, CookUnity stands out by offering chef-prepared, restaurant-quality dishes that arrive fresh to your door. If you appreciate high-quality ingredients and culinary craftsmanship and can stomach the slightly high price tag, you should look into signing up for a subscription.
Keep in mind that CookUnity only delivers to certain areas, so check the company website before you throw away all your pots and pans and hang your apron up for good.
Full Rating
CookUnity
CookUnity is a weekly meal delivery service that brings fresh meals prepared and cooked by professionally trained chefs directly to your door. You can choose between four to 16 meals per week and set preferences around your likes, dislikes, and dietary restrictions. You also have the ability to skip a week or pause your subscription.
Product Brand: CookUnity
Product Currency: USD
Product Price: 11.09
Product In-Stock: InStock
4.25
CookUnity Review: FAQs
Are CookUnity meals fresh?
Yes, CookUnity meals are freshly prepared in small batches and only require reheating. Unlike some meal delivery services, these meals do not arrive frozen.
How long do CookUnity meals last?
Thanks to a special sealing system that removes oxygen during the packaging process, CookUnity meals will stay fresh in your fridge for 4-7 days after delivery.
Are there any discounts or promotions for CookUnity?
CookUnity offers discounts throughout the year, such as 50% of your first week for new subscribers. We recommend checking the company website routinely to see the latest promotions.
References
- Ducrot, P., Méjean, C., Aroumougame, V., Ibanez, G., Allès, B., Kesse-Guyot, E., Hercberg, S., & Péneau, S. (2017). Meal planning is associated with food variety, diet quality and body weight status in a large sample of French adults. The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity, 14(1), 12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-017-0461-7\
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