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Even as someone I write a lot about food and spirits, and I admit that I have never been keen on preparing weekly meals. That's not to say that I haven't been keen on preparing weekly meals. Try — We have a farmers market across the street on weekends with fresh, seasonal produce, and countless grocery stores and convenience stores are just a few blocks away. But even after-work shopping trips are still a chore, and there’s nothing worse than texting your partner, spouse, or coworkers and saying, “Wait, I thought…” You “Were you the one planning dinner tonight?”
We’ve had a blast trying out meal delivery services in our home in the past, but sometimes after a stressful day, you don’t want to deal with a lot of prep work even if all the ingredients are shipped directly to you. Enter: Gobble, mostly known for its gourmet meal kits that chefs whip up in 15 minutes. We took a break from our usual weeknight routine to whip up some of their dishes like Argentine steak and chicken marsala, and we appreciated that unlike other meal kits, most of the ingredients come pre-packaged and pre-cut, which significantly cuts down on prep and cleanup time.
In this article
How Gobble's Ready-to-Eat Meal Kit Works
How much do Gobble prepared and ready-to-eat meals cost?
Gobble Ready-to-Eat Meal Kit Review
Gobble Ready-to-Eat and Prepared Meals: Pros and Cons
Gobble's Pre-Prepared and Ready Meal Kit: Final Verdict
What if the night is really busy, and you don't want to cook an entire recipe from scratch (not even for 15 minutes)? Or you don't want to resort to whatever's in the freezer or order takeout? once againThe good news is that Gobble now offers some of the best ready-to-eat meals that are just as delicious (and nutritious) as a full meal kit. They eliminate the need for excessive prep, a trip to the store ahead of time, and some of them can even help you get certain nutrients and nutrients.
We decided to review Gobble's Prepared & Ready meals to see if these individual dinner and lunch options would suit this busy writer — and whether or not they'd be a good fit for you, too.
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Whether you’re working from home and need a ready-to-heat lunch, or you live alone and don’t want to waste more groceries on dinner, Gobble’s pre-made and prepared meal kits come in individual portions and require no cooking. The options are created by the brand’s team of chefs and are a mix of classic Gobble recipes made quick, as well as new meal concepts that translate better to being reheated in the microwave than some of their regular offerings (I’m sure you wouldn’t want to microwave a Bistro burger).
Each meal is ready in about three to five minutes, comes in a well-insulated, vacuum-sealed package and can stay fresh for up to 10 days in the fridge (though you can always freeze it yourself).
You can add these meals to your weekly Gobble box that’s delivered, or order them separately, and they cost $10.99-$12.99 per tray. Gobble itself starts with two-person plans that cost between $12 and $17 per meal, plus shipping, depending on how many you order. The four-serving plans are more affordable at around $12 per serving. Your box, filled with prepared meals and/or ingredients for their recipes, is delivered once a week — but it’s fairly easy to cancel or skip a week. You can also opt for Wednesday or Thursday delivery, and it should arrive sometime between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m.
When I get in the zone while writing, I truly In the zone, sometimes that means accidentally forgetting to eat or not looking up until the clock strikes 8pm. As someone who’s tired of ready-made salads or reaching for string cheese and popcorn as a “meal,” the Gobble really came in handy. What we really appreciated was that while it was quick, that didn’t mean it was flavorless: in our box we tried interesting international dishes like Saag Paneer and Shrimp Pad Thai. If you’re looking to branch out from the typical “meat and potatoes” of a typical frozen meal, this is a great place to start while keeping your dietary requirements in check.
When we microwaved it, we found that some meals took an extra minute or two to fully heat up compared to the stated time, but this may depend on your microwave model. However, it was easy to throw in my bag to carry to work or on busy nights when I needed a quick, tasty meal and the portion sizes were always just right.
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If you need a break from cooking or meal prepping, these are good options. I feel like the meals are still on par with the creative meal combinations that Gobble offers, so you’re not sacrificing nutrition or flavor for convenience. My favorite dish from the batch I tried was the Saag Paneer, which was a great alternative to my local Indian takeaway. However, one downside is that most of these dishes are a bit heavy for lunch, so you might be better off saving these for dinner.
It's also a bit pricey per serving compared to the best prepared meals from similar companies, but if your goal is to cut down on time spent in the kitchen, its convenience is an easy trade-off to make. Not having to think about cleaning a bunch of pots and pans afterwards was also a win in our book.
Gobble Ready-to-Eat and Prepared Meals: Pros and Cons
From taste to ease of preparation, here's what to consider before ordering these meals from Gobble.
Eat Prepared and Ready Meals: The ProsS
- Large selection of flavoursWith a focus on international dishes, you will be hard pressed to get bored with their menu.
- Fast and convenientIf you don't have time to prepare a full meal, having your food heated to the table in three to five minutes is great.
- Individual meals: If you live in one house, this means not having to prepare multiple meals in mind, not having to eat leftovers, and not piling up dishes.
Eat prepared and ready-made meals: cons
- Meals can be rich in: Most pre-made meals are very hearty, which means you may want to save them for dinner if you tend to feel sluggish after lunch.
- Less vegan and animal-free options: We noticed that most of the meals we tried weren't particularly veggie-heavy, and while Gobble does offer vegetarian options, it's best to opt for a service that focuses on vegetarian meals if that's what you're looking for.
- It can be expensive: At $10.99 to $12.99, it's comparable to supermarket hot bar prices, with smaller portions.
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Gobble’s offerings meet all of our needs for prepared, fresh, and easy-to-heat foods in the microwave or oven—all with non-boring dishes that make us look forward to dinnertime. Even if you’re already making a few meals during the week, or still enjoy cooking most days like us, pre-prepared and ready-to-eat meals are definitely handy on those super-busy days and prevent you from having to order food as soon as you open your takeaway app and take a break.
While these dishes may not be the best option for large families, budget-wise, if you’re only responsible for feeding yourself or want to have some extra meal options at home, these are quick and delicious dishes that can be prepared in just minutes. The benefits of not having to do any prep or clean up during the week can’t be understated, and Gobble can make that happen for you with ease.
