Juggling life as a full-time writer and a competitive Olympic weightlifter (I’m sure I’ll retire one day…just not today), I can understand the allure behind the best meal delivery services. Services like CookUnity are convenient and save tons of time on meal prep with pre-made meals that are ready to eat. “Meal delivery services can be a game-changer for those of us who are short on time or are looking for some inspiration for new meal ideas,” agrees registered dietitian Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, MS, RDN, LD.
However, Chelsea also warns, “Convenience isn’t everything. It’s important to prioritize the nutritional quality of your meals when choosing a meal kit or prepared meal delivery service.” With flexible options for dietary preferences and tons of variety, CookUnity meals are certainly a nice pick, but does it sack up to other nutrient-dense meal plans? In this CookUnity review, we had Barbend’s Managing Editor and certified personal trainer Kristen Geil test out the meal service, noting its ease of ordering and delivery, taste, quality of ingredients, and more. Let’s get into her findings to see if this meal delivery is worth a gander.
CookUnity is a prepared meals service that uses small-batch kitchens with professional chefs to provide a diverse range of meals and menus to shoppers around the country. While a pricier option, ingredients are high-quality, and meals can be picked to accommodate a variety of dietary needs and preferences.
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Main Takeaways
- There are plenty of ways to filter through CookUnity’s large menu, with options for your choice of protein, global cuisines, and certain dietary needs: vegetarian, vegan, low-calorie, keto, paleo, and more.
- Some prepared meals can rely heavily on sodium for flavor and preservation, and CookUnity does the same, with some meals having 2,000 milligrams of sodium in a single serving. Fortunately, you can filter through low-sodium options to avoid these meals.
- Although there is tons of variety in CookUnity’s menu, the available menu will change depending on your location in the United States.
CookUnity Specs
| Price Per Meal | Starting at $11.09 |
| Type of Meal Delivery | Prepared meals |
| Number of Meals Per Week | 6-16 |
| Prep Time | 2-3 minutes in the microwave, or 15-20 minutes in the oven |
| Delivery Area | Contiguous U.S., with some states and areas excluded |
| Meals We Tried | Mediterranean Farro Bowl, Lentil Bolognese Bucatini, Tofu and Mushroom Sisig, Zesty Greek Pasta Salad, Chickpea and Corn Bowl |
| Meal Options Available | Vegan, Vegetarian, GLP-1 Balance, Low-Carb, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Low Sodium, Keto, Paleo, High Protein, Low Fat, Low-Calorie |
CookUnity is unique in their preparation, as they make small-batch meals provided by award-winning chefs across the nation. Because of this, meals are on a rotating menu, meaning there’s a good chance you’ll have plenty of different options to try week to week. You can choose meals specifically prepared by a professional, with famous chefs like Esther Choi or John Delucie on CookUnity’s roster.
However, this focus on small-batch chef-prepared meals also limits food delivery. For this reason, select menu items will only appear at certain locations in the contiguous United States; some states, like North and South Dakota or the bulk of West Virginia, don’t have delivery options at all. CookUnity claims to be expanding their reach quickly, nevertheless.
If CookUnity delivers to your location, you can select between six and 16 meals per week, and filter through the extensive menu based on different dietary restrictions or preferences — such as plant-based options, pescatarian dishes, low-carb meals, GLP-1 balanced meals, and high protein meals. “There’s tons of options and it’s easily filtered when you order,” says Kristen Geil, NASM-CPT. “You can filter by allergens, too, but major allergens are stored, portioned, and packaged in the same facility, so people with serious allergies may need to avoid this meal delivery entirely.”
That said, Kristen feels the variety and options are one of CookUnity’s major strengths. “Even as a (mostly) vegetarian, I think there is so much variety in the menu,” she says. “The global aspect of the cuisine is the most impressive, as I can choose different Peruvian, Greek, Thai, or Ghanaian meals and they all feel and taste pretty authentic.”
Registered dietitian Chelsea Rae Bourgeois has mixed feelings about the meal service, as not every meal is as nutrient-dense as others. “As a dietitian who’s all about sustainable nutrition and supporting local cuisine, I can really get on board with CookUnity,” she says. Still, she also advises, “Many of the meals lean toward restaurant-style dining, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but some meals aren’t ideal for everyday eating — with some meals having sodium that is nearly the recommended daily intake of 2,300 milligrams.” (1)
Who Should Use / Who Shouldn’t Use CookUnity
CookUnity obviously appeals to people who may not have enough time to prepare an entire meal from scratch in the kitchen, making it a better option for some than meal kit services like HelloFresh, Blue Apron, or Home Chef. However, with its large variety, people should be conscious of the macros and nutritional content in the meals they select. Here’s a few ideas on who this meal delivery service will best suit, along with who may need to steer clear.
Recommended for:
- People who are strapped for time
- Those wanting restaurant-quality meals
- Individuals who like to have variety in their meals
Not Recommended for:
- People who’d prefer cooking with a meal kit
- Athletes who prefer larger portion sizes
- Anyone with major allergies
Our Experience Using CookUnity
Our Barbend expert Kristen Geil, NASM-CPT, tried out a week’s worth of meals from CookUnity, and — similar to how we test the best protein powders and supplements — she scored the meal service 1 to 5 on several factors, including taste, portion size, and ingredient quality. Because the small-batch meals and chefs can vary depending on your location, this is specific to Kristen’s meals experience, and others’ experiences could vary.
Grab a fork and let’s dig in.
Price Per Meal
CookUnity meal prices can vary, depending on how many meals you order each week. Ordering six meals each week comes out to about $12.29 per meal, while ordering the maximum of 16 meals drops the price to $11.09. Some meals, called “Chef Specials,” are also priced higher, so adding these to your order will increase the cost.
In addition, CookUnity gives 50% off new customers’ first-time orders. For Kristen, she got six meals for about $51 in total (including taxes and shipping costs), coming out to about $8.50 per meal. Still, she rates the normal price a middle-of-the road 3 out of 5, since a bit over $10 a meal is pretty standard.
Nutritional Information
The nutritional facts of meals are easily found on CookUnity’s website or app. If you’re simply browsing the menu, not picking your meals for the week, macronutrients and calorie content are displayed. However, once you begin selecting your order, full nutritional content is displayed on the website — including sugars, fiber, saturated fats, and sodium — as well as an ingredients list. Packaged meals also have nutritional information and ingredients listed.
This breakdown is vital with CookUnity since meals in this service can vary so much. “It’s important to be diligent about reading the nutrition facts to consider how each meal fits into the bigger picture of your diet,” adds Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, MS, RDN, LD. Although Chelsea would like to see more information on micronutrients (beyond sodium), we still award CookUnity a 5 out of 5 for its nutritional information and transparency.
Portion Size
Portion sizes can vary, with meals varying from under 500 calories to nearly 1,000, but Kristen rates the portion size a 3.5 out of 5. She explains, “The portions look a little small but they all seem to have decent protein content — even with my mostly vegetarian meals.” At 5 feet and 3 inches tall, Kristen felt satisfied with each meal, but she adds, “I don’t think my 6-foot-3-inch and 220-pound boyfriend would’ve gotten full from the meals I’d chosen.” That said, there’s enough variety on the menu that larger athletes can pick larger portions and meals.
Meal Preparation
Preparation for CookUnity is as simple as it gets. Meals arrive chilled with ice packs, but not frozen, so there’s no thaw time (and ingredients are fresher, but more on that later). When reheating a meal, you can put it in a microwave for two or three minutes, or reheat it in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes. “Some meals are even made to be eaten cold,” Kristen adds, making the prep time virtually nothing. Once you’re done with the meal, you can toss the meal tray sleeves in the recycling bin, so it gets a 5 out of 5 for its prep and clean up.
Taste and Ingredient Quality
“CookUnity is pretty, pretty good for microwaveable meals,” says Kristen, who admits she doesn’t have the patience to use the oven. She continues, “The flavor profiles and cuisines are global and sophisticated, and they also do a great job including sauces and condiments to liven flavors up.”
Her favorite meal was the Chickpea and Corn Bowl, which she says had great seasoning and a flavorful sauce. “I eat about 90% vegetarian, so I love this kind of grain bowl.” She does admit that some meals could stand to have a little more seasoning — particularly salt and pepper — but she rates the taste a 4 out of 5.
As for ingredient quality, CookUnity, well, cooks. Kristen rates the quality a 5 out of 5, since meals are never frozen and tasted fresh. “I was seriously impressed with the quality of veggies and proteins in my meals,” she adds.
Registered dietitian Chelsea Rae Bourgeois rates the nutritional quality a 4 out of 5, as “not all of CookUnity’s meals are a home run.” Many meals will taste great, but anyone trying to count calories or track macros or other nutrients will have to be picky choosing their meals. Fortunately, CookUnity has enough variety to tailor to most people’s specific needs.
Variety and Customizations
If there’s an aspect that CookUnity delivers on, it’s variety. There are over 100 meals available week to week, meeting a variety of needs and preferences for individuals. “Even with a slightly restrictive diet, I felt like there was so much variety and meals to choose from,” says Kristen, who rates the variety a 5 out of 5.
With so many meals to choose from, it might be a daunting task to choose your own meals, so you can opt for a chef to choose your meals for you, after giving some basic guidelines on the types of meals you prefer. Additionally, you can filter the meals by protein preferences or dietary needs, making it easy to navigate through meal options. You’re fully in control on how to choose your meals, earning CookUnity a 5 out of 5 for meal plans and customizations. It’s important to note, though, that many meals are made in facilities where major allergens are stored and packaged, so people with serious allergies may want to avoid this service.
Sustainability
CookUnity works to give chefs a platform to showcase their meals, and also sources their ingredients from responsible, fair-trade suppliers to keep quality high and environmental impact low. They also use sustainable practices in their packaging and shipping, with reusable totes and ice packs, as well as recyclable tray sleeves. CookUnity earns another 5 out of 5 for their sustainability and sourcing practices.
What to Consider Before Buying CookUnity
The team at Barbend, full of certified personal trainers, nutrition coaches, and lifelong athletes, have tested over 50 meal delivery services, with more being tried and tested each year. With that level of testing, we know what things to consider when purchasing a meal delivery service. If you’re comparing CookUnity with other prepared meal deliveries, here are a few things to consider.
- Ingredient Quality: Ingredients will vary from service to service, from locally sourced and organic ingredients, to not even releasing sourcing information. Take a look at customer reviews and the website to find ingredients and quality that you’re comfortable with.
- Variety and Meal Options: Limited options can get boring after a while, so it’s important for a meal delivery service to provide variety, as well as different meal options for people with certain dietary needs or restrictions.
- Customization: From choosing your own meals to customizing meals with your choice of protein, meal deliveries can allow for plenty of customization options. Still, if you suffer from paralysis by analysis, some services will choose your meals for you based on your needs or preferences.
- Prep Time: Meal deliveries can come as prepared meals or meal kits, which can alter the amount of time needed for preparing meals. While meal kits can provide a neat experience of cooking your own meals and trying new recipes, prepared meals are quick and simple to have since you’re just reheating the meal.
- Cost Per Meal: Meal delivery services can cost anywhere from $5 to $15 or more per meal. Ideally, you’ll want to find a meal delivery service that fits your budget.
CookUnity Vs. Competitors
While “delivering” a unique meal experience (pun intended), CookUnity isn’t the only prepared meal delivery service out on the market. Here, we’ll compare CookUnity to two other popular prepared meal deliveries: Factor and Home Chef.
| CookUnity | Factor | Home Chef | |
| Price Per Meal | Starting at $11.09 | Starting at $11.49 | Starting at $9.99 |
| Type of Meal Delivery | Prepared meals | Prepared meals | Prepared meals and meal kits |
| Number of Meals Per Week | 6-16 | 6-18 | 4-36 |
| Prep Time | 2-3 minutes in the microwave, or 15-20 minutes in the oven | 2-3 minutes in the microwave, or 15-20 minutes in the oven | Microwaveable meals, or full meal kits which will take between 20-40 mins to prep and cook |
| Delivery Area | Contiguous U.S., with some states and areas excluded | Continental U.S. | Nationwide |
| Meal Examples | Mediterranean Farro Bowl, Lentil Bolognese Bucatini, Tofu and Mushroom Sisig, Zesty Greek Pasta Salad, Chickpea and Corn Bowl | Carnitas Pork Bowl, Shrimp and Summer Vegetable Rotini, Blueberry Pancakes, Green Chile Chicken | Chipotle Ranch Pork Taco Salad, Beurre Blanc Butter Trout, One-Pan Turkey Burrito Skillet, Teriyaki Beef and Brown Rice Bowl |
| Meal Options Available | Vegan, Vegetarian, GLP-1 Balance, Low-Carb, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Low Sodium, Keto, Paleo, High Protein, Low Fat, Low-Calorie | Carb Conscious, GLP-1 Balance, Fiber Filled, Flexitarian, Protein Plus, Keto, Chef’s Choice, Calorie Smart | Calorie Conscious, Carb Conscious, Vegetarian, Protein Packed, Under 30 Minutes |
Probably one of the most popular meal deliveries — I see plenty of commercials for it at least — is Factor Meals, which has a flexible menu with various meal options for different dietary needs. You can select low-calorie meals, as well as high-protein snacks or keto-friendly meals. While it’s a slightly higher starting cost per meal than CookUnity, you’re able to order a couple more meals each week with Factor, which might be helpful for some hectic schedules. Still, Factor has less information available about how their food and ingredients are sourced.
Home Chef, on the other hand, is a unique meal delivery service in that you are able to order both prepared meals and meal kits, which might be a good fit for someone who’d like to cook on less busy days. This is also a budget-friendly option compared to CookUnity, with meals costing $9.99 per serving, but only a dollar more if you order less. That said, navigating through meals is a bit more of a hassle than on CookUnity; you can filter to meals prepared in under 30 minutes, but you’ll have to scroll through to find prepared meals specifically.
Places to Buy CookUnity
If you’re in the contiguous United States (save some states and areas in the Midwest and West Virginia), you can sign up for a subscription through CookUnity directly through their website.
Customer Experience and Brand Reputation
The ordering and delivery process through CookUnity is simple enough, as you can browse and order directly from the website. You can also choose your delivery date, and pause or cancel your subscription as needed, although Kristen notes that she wasn’t able to cancel her subscription until her first order was delivered. For most people, that’ll be a non-issue, but we’d like to point it out nevertheless.
For customer service, there’s a pretty robust FAQ section on the website, including how to cancel or pause your subscription. I like that, since I’ve seen some meal deliveries sort of hide their instructions for cancellation on the website. CookUnity also has a support email listed on the website that you’re able to contact if your questions aren’t answered in their FAQs. Kristen adds, “They’re very easy to contact and have flexible options in their subscriptions,” so she rates the customer experience a 5 out of 5.
CookUnity has 4 out of 5 stars in customer reviews, both on Google Reviews and Trustpilot. Combined, that’s from over 22,000 reviews and ratings. Most reviews are positive, appreciating the quality of meals and appreciating the individual prepared servings. “It’s pricier than the other meal prep services but because each one is in its own individual container it’s completely worth it,” states one 5-star review. “That way I can order 16 different meals to suit everyone’s taste buds in my family and everyone can have fresh, healthy food when they’re hungry.”
Our Final Verdict on CookUnity
With high-quality ingredients and craftfully done meals prepared by a community of professional chefs, CookUnity certainly provides a unique experience in the prepared meals service. The variety of meals is plentiful, and you can filter through the meals based on your own preferences and dietary needs.
While not every meal is nutritionally complete as others, there’s plenty enough variety in the weekly menu that you can customize meals to fit your specific needs. If you’re in an area that delivers CookUnity, and the meals can fit your budget well enough, then CookUnity is certainly a meal service to look into.
CookUnity Review FAQs
How much does CookUnity cost?
Weekly meals from CookUnity will cost between $11.09 and $12.29 before shipping costs and taxes, depending on the amount of meals you order — more meals will lower the price. First-time orders can also get 50% off their first delivery.
Is CookUnity considered processed food?
No, CookUnity doesn’t use processed foods or ingredients in their meals. Instead, CookUnity prioritizes raw, clean ingredients when creating their meals, so their chef-crafted meals lack unnecessary chemicals, synthetic additives, or processed fillers.
Are CookUnity meals fresh?
Yes, CookUnity meals are made in small-batch kitchens with fresh ingredients and are never frozen. They arrive at your doorstep chilled and still fresh.
References
- Mente, A., O’Donnell, M., & Yusuf, S. (2021). Sodium Intake and Health: What Should We Recommend Based on the Current Evidence?. Nutrients, 13(9), 3232. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13093232
