If you’re a frequent traveler like us, finding a great flight is the easy part. What’s hard is figuring out what’s for dinner once we’re home. And to keep doing what we do, we can’t just eat a sad bowl of cereal all the time. We need something healthy and yummy, and that’s exactly what Marley Spoon offers. Backed by the culinary icon Martha Stewart, this meal kit gave us high-quality ingredients and chef-designed recipes when we needed them most. However, is Marley Spoon worth it? And is it actually practical for people who aren’t always home? We’ve put it to the test and see if it lives up to the hype for travelers!
Ordering Marley Spoon for the First Time
When we first discovered Marley Spoon, we were instantly impressed with its volume of meal options. There are more than 150 different recipes rotating every single week, blowing most of its competitors out of the water. As world travelers, we loved trying out diverse cuisines, so we appreciate how Marley’s meals are far from boring. From Crispy Chicken Paillard to Pork Dan Dan Noodles, the menu feels like a global food tour.
The ordering experience itself was smooth. Once we had set your dietary preferences, the rest was easy, and we just had to follow the instructions. We loved how we could quickly scroll through the week’s offerings with clear tags indicating the prep time and the selling points of each dish, whether it’s vegan or high-protein. Adding or swapping recipes took just a second, and the visual layout allowed us to see exactly what our week of eating looked like at a glance.
Also read: Top 12 Vegan-Friendly Cities in the World
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Two Ways to Eat: Recipes vs. Prepared Meals
What really sets Marley Spoon apart for us is that they don’t force you into one way of cooking. Instead, the menu is divided into two distinct categories: Recipes and Prepared Meals.
The Recipes are your classic meal kit experience. Think pre-portioned, fresh ingredients and a beautiful recipe card that lets you channel your inner Martha. This is our go-to for those first few nights back when we wanted to cook a real meal in our own kitchen.
On the other hand, the Prepared Meals are made for those late-night arrivals. If your flight lands at 9 PM and you’re exhausted, you probably don’t want to chop onions. These are chef-made meals that are ready in about 5 minutes. Unlike the typical frozen meals, these are fresh and nutritious.
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Quality Ingredients That Last
There’s nothing worse than opening a meal kit only to find wilted cilantro and sad, gray meat. Because Marley Spoon positions itself as a more premium service, the ingredient quality generally reflects that.
During our Marley Spoon review, we found that the produce stayed fresh for four to five days after delivery. This is a huge win for travelers who might get delayed by a day or two. Furthermore, our boxes were heavily insulated with ice packs and liners that could rival our favorite coolers. So, if your flight is late and your box sits on the porch for an extra few hours, your steak and salmon are still going to be chilled and safe to cook.
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Is Cooking Really Easy?
We’re pretty sure when you’re jetlagged, your brain is a mush. Thankfully, Marley Spoon’s recipe cards are designed with beginners in mind. Each recipe is broken down into clear steps, each with a photo. We’re not the best cooks, but even we couldn’t believe that we managed to cook Glazed Mini Meatloaves that tasted that good.
We found that while some “30-minute” meals took us a little longer (closer to 40 minutes because we were slow choppers), the instructions were foolproof. It takes the “mental load” out of cooking. All we had to do was follow Martha’s lead.
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Flexibility at Its Best
For many people, the fear of commitment is very real with subscription boxes, especially when your schedule changes at the drop of a hat. That said, we found Marley Spoon’s flexible subscription to be a lifesaver. You can skip weeks, pause your account, or change your delivery address with just a few clicks.
Planning a three-week trek through Europe? No problem. You can skip up to 8 weeks in advance. The 6-to-7-day cutoff window is standard, but as long as you’re organized with your calendar, you’ll never find a box of rotting produce on your porch while you’re still in another time zone.
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So, Is Marley Spoon Worth It?
Yes, Marley Spoon is slightly more expensive than some meal kits out there. Most meals work out to around 10-12 USD per serving, depending on how many meals and servings you order each week, with a standard shipping fee of about 10.99 USD per box.
However, based on our Marley Spoon review, we think it’s worth it for three reasons:
- Better taste: The flavors are restaurant-quality
- Total control: The ease of skipping weeks is seamless
- Grocery gap: It fills that awkward gap when you’re back from a trip but haven’t had time for grocery shopping yet.
If you value high-quality food and need a service that can keep up with your on-the-go lifestyle, Marley Spoon is absolutely worth the investment. It’s the closest thing to having a private chef waiting for you at baggage claim!
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How long does it take to receive my first order?
It’ll usually arrive one week after you sign up, depending on the delivery days available in your area. If you’re not ready that soon, you can delay your first delivery by up to four weeks during the sign-up process.
Can I order a one-off box?
Marley Spoon doesn’t offer a true one-off box, but you can sign up for a subscription, receive your first box, and then cancel or pause before the next order is processed. You can also skip future weeks and easily reactivate your account later if you decide you want more boxes.
Does Marley Spoon have an app?
Of course! You can download Marley Spoon’s app on your iOS and Android devices through the App Store or the Play Store.
Some images on this article are copyrighted by Marley Spoon.
