This info-rich article will be discussing in depth the features of two meal delivery services, Freshly and Magic Kitchen. Both of these platforms mainly operate in the United States today and come with a variety of food items. Meal delivery platforms like Freshly and Magic Kitchen provide plenty of ease to those who are too busy to cook.
In the end, we will give you our opinions on which of these two may be the better choice based on first-hand experiences.
Freshly vs Magic Kitchen
The table below has depicted the different advantageous features which you can expect from Freshly and Magic Kitchen. We have also mentioned the delivery areas of these two platforms, along with the price ranges of the food items you can find here. You can choose between Freshly and Magic Kitchen by checking out the table below.
| Feature | Freshly | Magic Kitchen |
| Delivery areas | 98% of the United States aside from Alaska & Hawaii | 98% of the United States aside from Alaska & Hawaii |
| Price per plate | $8.49 per plate minimum | $12 per plate minimum |
| Difficulty levels | Easy | Easy |
| Avg. cooking time | 3 minutes of heating | No cooking required |
| Avg. calorie count | 400-500 calories per serving | 350-550 calories per serving |
| Supporting material | Nutritional information | Meal description,Nutritional facts,Blog,Exercise tips,Videos |
| Recipes supported | Gluten-free,Dairy-free,Plant-based,Carb-smart,Calorie-conscious | Diabetic-friendly,Portion-controlled,Dialysis-friendly,Renal Diet,Dairy-free,Gluten-free,Low-fat,Low-sodium,Low-carb |
| No. of choices | 12 per week | Varies |
| Introductory deal | $100 off on first four orders | Rewards point for account creation |
| Avg. shelf life | 5-7 days,Longer while frozen | 6 months in freezer |
Types of Plans: Freshly vs Magic Kitchen
| Freshly | Magic Kitchen |
| 4-5 meals per week $11.79 per portion + shipping | 1 Meal per Day 7 meals,Breakfast or lunch or dinner,$75-$85 per week |
| 6-7 meals per week $9.99 per portion + shipping | 2 Meals per Day 14 meals,Breakfast or lunch or dinner,$150-$165 per week |
| 8-9 meals per week $9.49 per portion + shipping | 3 Meals per Day 21 meals,Breakfast or lunch or dinner,$225-$250 per week |
| 10-11 meals per week $9.29 per portion + shipping | |
| 12 meals per week $9.99 per portion + shipping |
In Freshly, the user can choose from a number of meal plans depending on their needs and requirements for the week. The user can even add more meals to their weekly cart if they wish to do so. The meals in Freshly come in categories like gluten-free, vegan, dairy-free and even low-calorie meals in the Freshly Fit section.
Magic Kitchen is the master in offering plans. This meal delivery service has options for almost all types of dietary needs and even medical issues with users may have. Magic Kitchen is perfect for seniors who are looking for healthy meals to eat throughout the week. It can also be splendid for anyone who is trying to eat healthy but does not want to cook.
Winner: Magic Kitchen wins the Types of Plans segment.
Types of Ingredients: Freshly vs Magic Kitchen
| Ingredient type | Freshly | Magic Kitchen |
| Produce | US-based vendors | Farm-fresh ingredients |
| Meat, eggs, fish | Free from fillers, chemical additives and even preservatives | Hormone-free,Antibiotic-free |
| Other ingredients | Seasonings,Spices | No pesticides |
Both Freshly and Magic Kitchen offers only the best quality in ingredients, but one disadvantage of these brands is that neither of them offer organic and GMO-free products. The produce and the greens in Freshly and Magic Kitchen come from local farms and vendors who are guaranteed to use only safe farming practices.
The meat and the poultry used in the meals are free of hormones and antibiotics. Freshly is pretty transparent about where it gets its ingredients from. On the other hand, Magic Kitchen is not so clear and even states that it might turn to lesser quality ingredients in case of availability issues. This can also be a letdown for users.
Winner: Freshly wins the Types of Ingredients segment.
Add-Ons: Freshly vs Magic Kitchen
| Freshly | Magic Kitchen |
| Proteins,Sides | Soups,Breads,Sides,Desserts |
In Freshly, the user can even choose from a number of other items in the add-on menu. In this add-on menu, the user can find healthy helpings of chicken and even lean beef, perfect for those who are trying to bulk up. Freshly also offers a number of sides which can accommodate the main meals from this platform.
Magic Kitchen also allows the user to add a number of items from the menu as per their preference. While there is no strict add-on menu as such, the user is free to add anything they want from the main menu. From this menu, the user can choose items like soups, breads, healthy sides and even desserts.
Winner: Magic Kitchen wins the Add-ons segment.
Packaging of Meal box: Freshly vs Magic Kitchen
| Freshly | Magic Kitchen |
| Meal box,Denim insulation,Non-toxic ice packs | Cooler,EPS containers,Dry ice |
| Fully recyclable | Fully recyclable |
Freshly and Magic Kitchen make sure that the packaging used for the meals are effective and recyclable at the same time. The meals in Freshly come in boxes which are mostly made of recycled cardboard. The boxes are insulated with denim cotton which is easily biodegradable. The ice packs used in the meal boxes use non-toxic gels.
Magic Kitchen also uses recyclable packaging. The meals are shipped in EPS or Polystyrene foam containers which are effective in keeping the internal temperatures of the boxes low and are also pretty eco-friendly. Instead of using ice packs, Magic Kitchen uses dry ice which can be left to dissipate on its own in a well-ventilated area.
Winner: Freshly and Magic Kitchen win the Packaging of Meal box segment.
Customer Support: Freshly vs Magic Kitchen
| Feature | Freshly | Magic Kitchen |
| Chat support | + | – |
| Email support | + | + |
| Phone support | + | + |
| Availability | All days of the week | All days of the week |
Users of Freshly can reach out to the customer support of this meal delivery service through a number of ways. The easiest way to get in touch with the customer support of Freshly is through the live chat feature. Other ways to reach out to the customer support here is through emails or even through phone.
Magic Kitchen also has customer support which operates on all days of the week, including weekends. On certain public holidays, the customer support of Magic Kitchen is not active. While there is no chat support in Magic Kitchen, the customer support can be reached through emails and even through phone support.
Winner: Freshly wins the Customer Support segment.
Sample Meals: Freshly vs Magic Kitchen
| Sample | Freshly | Magic Kitchen |
| Sample 1 | Name: Steak Peppercorn with Sauteed Carrots & French Green BeansCalorie count: 500Heating time: 3 minsSpice level: Mild | Name: BBQ Sliced Beef BrisketHeating time: 3-4 minsCalorie count: 430 caloriesAmt. of protein: 27g |
| Sample 2 | Name: Sausage Baked Penne with Sauteed Zucchini & SpinachCalorie count: 470Heating time: 3 minsSpice level: Mild | Name: Cheese Ravioli with Marinara SauceHeating time: 3-4 minsCalorie count: 620 caloriesAmt. of protein: 31g |
| Sample 3 | Name: Protein-Packed Chicken Parm with Mozzarella & Garlicky BroccoliCalorie count: 410Heating time: 3 minsSpice level: Mild | Name: Crab CakesHeating time: 3-4 minsCalorie count: 200 caloriesAmt. of protein: 25g |
Freshly’s menu is meant for everyday healthy-eating. And therefore, all the meals in Freshly are made with the right combination of nutrition and flavor. Those who are following certain specific diets can also find solutions in Freshly such as gluten-free options, dairy-free options and even low-calorie options.
In Magic Kitchen, the menu consists of meals which can serve the needs of any age group and also multiple medical issues. The menu in Magic Kitchen brings loads of options in the form of sides and even snacks. There are also a number of dessert options in Magic Kitchen, which include even diet-specific sweets.
Winner: Magic Kitchen wins the Sample Meals segment.
App rating: Freshly vs Magic Kitchen
| Platform | Freshly | Magic Kitchen |
| Google Play Store | 4.4 | 3+ |
| Apple App Store | 4.8 | 3.5 |
| TWP Rating | 4/5 | 3.5/5 |
Final Verdict: The winner here is clearly Freshly with its high affordability and better ease of use.
Freshly is a very straightforward meal delivery service and the platform is super-simple to use. This fact, along with the pre-cooked meals, makes healthy eating on a daily basis completely effortless through Freshly. The menu in Freshly is cleverly loaded with a number of meals which can easily accommodate a number of diets and specific nutritional requirements.
Magic Kitchen is indeed magical and provides miraculous solutions for those who are living with a condition and are confused about what foods they can eat and how to cook them. In Magic Kitchen, the user can find meals accommodative of various ailments like renal disease and even heart issues. This meal delivery service has also gained a lot of fans in the senior section.
While Magic Kitchen sounds perfect, it still comes with several loopholes. Single serving meals are hard to find in Magic Kitchen, and also the meals in this platform are a little on the pricey range. On the other hand, Freshly is perfect for singles as well as families and is also easily affordable for everyone.
Methodology
To bring you the best reviews of each and every meal delivery service, we spoke to testers and real life users, reviewed the information provided by each service on their respective websites, carried out primary research on social media platforms and checked out the user reviews of these platforms on various social media sites. We have also used the reviews presented by current users of these services on their respective Google and Apple apps.
We are currently conducting our own internal review and we will update this page with videos and pictures of our experiences. If they differ extensively from what our external reviewers said then we will update this post so you get both points of views and can decide which service provider is more suited to your needs based on the information above.
The main types of criteria which we have used in order to assess and evaluate these meal delivery services is the simplicity of the recipes, the variety of meals in the service, the inclusiveness of diets and cuisines and even the supporting material.
In addition to these, we have also taken into regard the sustainability and recyclability of the packaging of these services. Lastly, we have also considered the delivery services and customer services of these platforms.
Frequently asked questions: “Freshly vs Magic Kitchen”
Can you cook Freshly meals in the oven?
Yes, you can heat Freshly meals in the oven. In order to do this, you can simply transfer the contents of the meal from the tray to an oven-safe dish and then place it in a preheated oven. As an alternative, you can also heat the meals from Freshly in the microwave or even on the stovetop by using a skillet.
How long can Freshly meals stay in the box?
Once the box has arrived at your location, Freshly meals can stay in it for up to 12 hours. Thus, it is recommended that you refrigerate the meals as soon as you receive the box. Freshly will also label those meals which contain ingredients which are easily perishable, like seafood, and thus need to be consumed first.
Is Freshly precooked?
Yes, Freshly meals are precooked. Since the meals from Freshly are already cooked, they only need to be heated in a microwave for some time. They can also be heated in a conventional oven or even the stovetop.
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