COOK-FASTER TIPS

Borrow from the experts! These pro techniques maximize flavor and results — without adding extra minutes.

Let it rest in advance. There’s a reason baking recipes call for ingredients at room temp; they get incorporated better. Follow this tip for meats too. They’ll cook more quickly.

Cut small. Slice or dice food into thin or little pieces for quicker cooking: Think thin slices of chicken breast or bell pepper vs. chunks or large pieces.

Multitask. Start cooking ingredients that take longer sooner. For example, boil the water for pasta right away and get everything else ready in the meantime.

Speedcleaning Secrets

TIDY UP!

Time-saving tips approved by our GH Cleaning Lab

Stay organized. Clear, labeled containers make it easier to spot what you need, and keeping like things (such as all bowls) in the same place makes prepping more efficient.

Corral trash.

To limit garbage can trips, keep a small bowl next to your cutting board for scraps.

Clean as you go. Trained cooks are taught to wash pots, pans and utensils as soon as they’re done using them, but you can start by emptying your dishwasher before you cook. Then put dirty items directly into it instead of cluttering the sink.

Contain messes. Measure and level ingredients like flour, sugar and salt over the sink or a sheet of waxed paper so you can rinse away or contain spills and keep counters clean.

Limit tasting utensils. Instead of employing a vast number of utensils to avoid double-dipping, use a serving utensil to move a small amount into your own dish.

Use high heat.

High temps brown food more quickly and better, which adds flavor. Sear thick cuts of meat first, then finish cooking in the oven for speedier results, or try your broiler for thin cuts.

Spread it out. When crowded, ingredients steam more than brown. Space food out when you can for the quickest and most flavorful results, or cook in batches.

Cover f ood.

Lids help trap heat and steam. Use them while bringing water or soup to a boil, grilling outside or gently reheating foods from the inside out.

Spray grease away. Soaking skillets and pans in sudsy water can be messy and time-consuming. Instead, spritz them with a dish spray, like GH Seal star Dawn Platinum Powerwash. In our test, it dissolved grease in minutes and made cleanup easier.

Best Overall

One of the first companies to popularize meal delivery kits, Blue Apron provides step-bystep recipes that introduce new cooking skills and flavors. Choose from plans including Signature, Vegetarian and Wellness or opt for Heat & Eat options. Filter for Chef Favorites, Wellness meals, Family-Friendly offerings and Fast & Easy meals, which can be ready in 30 minutes.

We evaluated dozens of options, including traditional meal kits, semi-prepared options and ready-to-eat meals dropped at your door. These winners offer tasty and convenient solutions.

Our in-house food and nutrition experts, along with 150 home chefs across the nation, tested more than 40 different services over the course of three months. We evaluated everything from ingredient quality, nutrition transparency and serving sizes to pricing, availability and packaging features.

• Fresh ingredients are all premeasured.

• Clear instructions and great recipe imagery

• Some meals take time to prepare.

• According to the brand, over 85% of Blue Apron packaging is recyclable.

Our experts appreciated the high-quality ingredients and the freshness of the kits. Testers gave this service rave reviews, noting that both the variety of the meals and the creativity of the recipes were terrific. Said one tester: “It is adventurous without being extreme. The ingredients are perfectly measured, packaged well and fresh, and the variety is terrific.”

Best Vegan

Catering to a plant-based lifestyle, Purple Carrot offers traditional meal kits with weekly recipe booklets so you can recreate the meals on your own. Most meals can be made in about 30 minutes, and the recipes incorporate unique flavors from around the world. You can filter for high-protein, nut-free, soy-free and gluten-free options too. Fully prepared meals are also available, as well as additional vegan items like vegan cream cheese and crackers.

Best Value

Dinnerly’s affordable meal delivery service makes weeknight dinners a breeze. All recipes have only six ingredients and five steps—and they require minimal chopping. Plus, they can be made in 30 minutes or less. Choose from over 45 dishes weekly and filter for low-calorie, low-carb, vegetarian and other dietary preferences. The menu changes weekly, and recipe cards are digital to keep costs down.

Best Prepared

Enjoy fresh, individually portioned meals delivered straight to your door with Fresh N Lean. Every complete ready-to-eat meal is vacuum-sealed and heats in a few minutes in the microwave or on the stove. Select from a variety of diet plans including Protein+, Keto, Whole30 Approved, Paleo, Standard Vegan, Mediterranean Diet, Low Carb Vegan and Bulk. You can also choose à la carte to mix and match between plans.

• Inventive and unique plant-based meals

• Free shipping on first order and orders over $85

• Pricing is on the higher end.

• Most packaging is recyclable per the brand, including the box and TemperPack Climacell Liners.

Our registered dietitians love that the service caters to a plant-based lifestyle and that each meal is balanced with complex carbohydrates, healthy fats and vegan proteins for a satisfying entrée. Most meals contain between 500 and 800 calories per serving. “What’s great about Purple Carrot is, it makes you cook foods you normally wouldn’t in new and simple ways,” a tester raved.

• Easy recipes are flavorful and beginner-friendly.

• Pricing is competitive without sacrificing quality.

• Recipe cards are digital-only.

• The box and the separator inside can be recycled curbside, according to the brand.

Testers raved about how much easier Dinnerly meals were to prepare than those from other meal delivery services they had used in the past. And though the meals were suitable for beginner cooks, they still received top marks for flavor and fresh ingredients. “I would recommend this meal delivery service because the foods were flavorful and easy to prepare, with clear instructions,” one tester remarked.

• A variety of plans for different dietary preferences and lifestyles

• Meals typically stay fresh up to seven to 10 days from delivery.

• Plan menus are already set.

• Per the brand, the cardboard box, plastic trays and seals can be recycled.

Our nutrition pros appreciated that most meals average about 550 mg of sodium, substantially lower than the amount in other premade meals. The company offers a wide variety of meal plans based on goals like optimizing wellness, reducing meat consumption and more. Testers loved the variety and gave the service top scores for portion sizes and satiety provided.

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