The current blogpost will be discussing in depth the different features of Freshly and then comparing them with those of Top Chef Meals. Both of these brands are meal delivery services and bring healthy fully-cooked meals to customers. Freshly and Top Chef Meals operate in most of the regions of the United States today.
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 Top Chef Meals
In this table, we have mentioned the main features and characteristics which you can find in Freshly and Top Chef Meals. We have also depicted the different delivery areas of these two brands, along with the price ranges of the food items here. By taking a look at the table below, you can choose between Freshly and Top Chef Meals.
| Feature | Freshly | Top Chef Meals |
| 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 | $7.95 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 | 300-500 calories per serving |
| Supporting material | Nutritional information | Meal description,Nutritional facts |
| Recipes supported | Gluten-free,Dairy-free,Plant-based,Carb-smart,Calorie-conscious | Keto,Paleo,Renal, Diabetic,Low-sodium,Low-carb,Gluten-free,Senior meals |
| No. of choices | 12 per week | More than 75 per week |
| Introductory deal | $100 off on first four orders | Discounts of various |
| Avg. shelf life | 5-7 days,Longer while frozen | 5-7 days in the fridge |
Types of Plans: Freshly vs Top Chef Meals
| Freshly | Top Chef Meals |
| 4-5 meals per week $11.79 per portion + shipping | Most Popular 4 items per box |
| 6-7 meals per week $9.99 per portion + shipping | Try Us Out 4 items per box |
| 8-9 meals per week $9.49 per portion + shipping | Comfort Foods 8 options,$10.95 per item |
| 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 among various meal plans based on the number of meals they need in the week. The user can also add more meals to their weekly cart if they wish to do so. Freshly offers several categories of meals perfect for everyday eating. There are gluten-free options, dairy-free options and even low-carb options in the Freshly menu.
Top Chef Meals does not exactly have any such meal plans for the user to choose from. The user can simply go through the menu and add the items they want to their cart. To make things easier for the user, Top Chef Meals has three common meal plans which offer the best-sellers from the platform.
Winner: Freshly wins the Types of Plans segment.
Types of Ingredients: Freshly vs Top Chef Meals
| Ingredient type | Freshly | Top Chef Meals |
| Produce | US-based vendors | Locally sourced |
| Meat, eggs, fish | Free from fillers, chemical additives and even preservatives | Antibiotic-free,Hormone-free |
| Other ingredients | Gluten-free | No preservatives,Low sodium |
In Freshly, the meals are created with only produce and veggies sourced from local farms and vendors. The same goes for Top Chef Meals as well which mostly tries to use seasonal goods to ensure taste as well as health. Both of these meal delivery services use meat and poultry from antibiotic-free and hormone-free sources.
The meals in Freshly and Top Chef Meals come with all the seasonings and spices added and are definitely wholesome to eat. Freshly is also a certified gluten-free company and therefore those who are allergic to this ingredient or those who are avoiding this ingredient will definitely love the meals.
Winner: Freshly wins the Types of Ingredients segment.
Add-Ons: Freshly vs Top Chef Meals
| Freshly | Top Chef Meals |
| Proteins,Sides | Breakfast,Soups,Shakes,Desserts |
The add-on menu in Freshly is pretty limited but definitely brings some healthy options for the user. In this add-on menu, the user can find healthy proteins like pre-cooked chicken and even beef to lend more bulk to their meals. In addition to the proteins, the user can also find a selection of tasty sides in Freshly’s add-on menu.
Top Chef Meals does not have an exact add-on menu. The user can just add any item they want from the menu to their cart. Along with main meals or entrees in Top Chef Meals, the user can find ready to eat breakfast items and even sides like soups. There are also numerous desserts and even a few kid-friendly options here.
Winner: Top Chef Meals wins the Add-ons segment.
Packaging of Meal box: Freshly vs Top Chef Meals
| Freshly | Top Chef Meals |
| Meal box,Denim insulation,Non-toxic ice packs | BPA-free plastic trays,Insulation,Gel packs,Dry ice |
| Fully recyclable | Fully recyclable |
Freshly meals as well as Top Chef Meals are packed in easily recyclable packaging. The meals from both these meal delivery services come in boxes which are mostly made of recycled cardboard. These boxes can be simply disintegrated or flattened and placed in a recycling bin curbside.
Freshly as well as Top Chef Meals use gel packs to keep the meals nice and cool. While the gel packs in Freshly need to be emptied in the trash, the ones from Top Chef Meals are actually drain-safe. Top Chef Meals also uses dry ice to keep the internal temperatures of the boxes low and these can be left to sublimate on its own.
Winner: Top Chef Meals wins the Packaging of Meal box segment.
Customer Support: Freshly vs Top Chef Meals
| Feature | Freshly | Top Chef Meals |
| Chat support | + | – |
| Email support | + | + |
| Phone support | + | + |
| Availability | All days of the week | All days of the week |
In Freshly, customer support can be reached through several ways. Freshly has a live chat feature which is usually pretty responsive and can assist the user in real-time. Apart from chat support, Freshly also has email support and even phone support for users to get in touch for assistance or guidance.
In Top Chef Meals, the user can get in touch with the customer support through phone support and also through email support. There is no chat support in this meal delivery service and this can be a letdown for those who prefer texting over other forms of communication. Top Chef Meals is also pretty active on several social media platforms.
Winner: Freshly wins the Customer Support segment.
Sample Meals: Freshly vs Top Chef Meals
| Sample | Freshly | Top Chef Meals |
| Sample 1 | Name: Steak Peppercorn with Sauteed Carrots & French Green BeansCalorie count: 500Heating time: 3 minsSpice level: Mild | Name: JambalayaCalorie count: 370Protein content: 22gms |
| Sample 2 | Name: Sausage Baked Penne with Sauteed Zucchini & SpinachCalorie count: 470Heating time: 3 minsSpice level: Mild | Name: Stuffed Pork TenderloinCalorie count: 510Protein content: 60gms |
| Sample 3 | Name: Protein-Packed Chicken Parm with Mozzarella & Garlicky BroccoliCalorie count: 410Heating time: 3 minsSpice level: Mild | Name: BBQ JackfruitCalorie count: 200Protein content: 10gms |
The menu in Freshly brings a lot of variety to the user. In this meal delivery service, the user can find options containing different types of ingredients like meat-based and even plant-based proteins. The menu in Freshly is mostly directed towards healthy and wholesome eating, but also offers tons of diet-specific items.
In Top Chef Meals, any type of user can find any type of food item on the menu here. Top Chef Meals also smartly cover special dietary needs which the user may have, such as renal diets, low-sodium diets and even gluten-free diets. In addition to these, specific diets like keto and paleo are also easily accommodated.
Winner: Top Chef Meals wins the Sample Meals segment.
App rating: Freshly vs Top Chef Meals
| Platform | Freshly | Top Chef Meals |
| Google Play Store | 4.4 | Unavailable |
| Apple App Store | 4.8 | Unavailable |
| TWP Rating | 4/5 | 3.5/5 |
Final Verdict: Freshly wins this battle with its large menu and easy accessibility.
Freshly is the most well-known meal delivery service in the United States today and has almost become a household name. The menu in Freshly is completely gluten-free and is also very accommodating to all types of diets and nutritional needs which users may have. Freshly’s meals have also been found to be tasty and wholesome crafted.
In Top Chef Meals, the user can find meals of various types and the menu here can also take care of all the meals during the day. The menu here mostly consists of comfort foods which are created with a healthy twist. The meals also use various ingredients, including plant-based meat substitutes to fit the customer’s needs.
Between Freshly and Top Chef Meals, the former takes the crown. It is true that the menu of Top Chef Meals definitely holds a lot more variety. However, Freshly is the more accessible meal delivery service and also leans towards the more affordable side. Freshly is therefore the winner in this showdown.
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 Top Chef Meals”
Can you freeze Freshly meals?
Yes, you can freeze Freshly meals. While the meals in Freshly come in a chilled state, you can still go ahead and freeze them if you want to extend their shelf lives for much longer. If you are storing the meals in the freezer, you will need to thaw the meals in the fridge for a day or two before you heat them.
Can you put Freshly in the oven?
Yes, you can put Freshly meals in the oven. But, before you do this, you will need to transfer the contents to an oven-safe dish. Once you have done this, you can place the dish in a preheated oven for a few minutes. You can also heat the meals from Freshly in a skillet on the stovetop or even go ahead and zap the meals in a microwave for a couple of minutes.
How much does Top Chef Meals cost?
Top Chef Meals cost about $7.95 per meal on average. The lunches and dinners start at $8.98, while the breakfast items start at $6.25 per plate.
If you like this blogpost, please leave your comments and questions in the space below.
Citations
