If there is one thing that most of us would like to be able to do better – and more simply – it’s cooking. Whether for ourselves, for the family, or for friends, being able to create stunning, delicious meals from scratch is a skill that takes time and patience, which is something the majority of us these days just don’t have.
Meal kits from SimplyCook, however, allow anyone to get to grips with how to make these wonderful dishes, boosting confidence and ensuring that tasty, healthy meals are within reach – the SimplyCook meals take around 20 minutes to make.
What is SimplyCook?
SimplyCook is a recipe kit subscription service that wants to ‘get Britain cooking!’ It’s a bold claim, but according to SimplyCook’s website adults in the UK have around six meals in their repertoire of dishes; SimplyCook allows everyone to learn a great deal more and cook them, as the name suggests, simply.
There are three aims behind the kits available at SimplyCook:
- The meals should taste incredible.
- They should allow consumers to save money.
- They need to be convenient.
So when ordering from SimplyCook you need to ensure that the meals you are choosing are going to enable you to achieve these three things.
The main difference between SimplyCook and other meal delivery services is that it doesn’t provide all of the ingredients required to make the dishes. It does, however, deliver unique flavour blends which is what makes the food you can serve up through them so different and unusual.
This makes it less expensive than other recipe boxes, but it also means you still need to do the weekly shop. However, since you know what meals you’ll be making, you can save money there too and only buy what is actually needed.
There are no fresh ingredients delivered through SimplyCook and the spice blends can be stored for up to three months, so it’s a handy way of building up a store of cooking ingredients for use when you want and when your schedule allows.
How Does SimplyCook Work?
With SimplyCook you’ll receive four different recipes each week, delivered directly to you. With the recipes you’ll receive the unique flavour blends of herbs and spices.
When ordering, you choose how many people you want to cook for (either 2 to 3 or 4+) and which meals you are planning to create. SimplyCook’s recipe bank is growing constantly, so there will always be something new to try – at the moment there are more than 100 recipes to choose from, and none of them take more than 20 minutes.
The flavour blends are the work of a professional chef, and could contain as many as 18 different ingredients such as culinary pastes, garnishes, spice blends, infused oils, and rubs. Each one is designed to bring your food up to the next level, and show you how, by adding just a few simple ingredients, you can create impressive dishes quickly and relatively effortlessly.
As well as the flavour blends, you’ll receive a shopping list of the other ingredients you are going to need. This will give you the exact quantities, so you can confidently go to the supermarket and purchase what you want.
SimplyCook Meal Plans
When you choose your meal plans from SimplyCook you first need to decide how many people you are cooking for – either 2 to 3 or 4+. Once you have made that decision, you just need to scroll through the numerous options and pick four of them.
This is probably going to take much longer than cooking the meals will, since there are over 100 recipes to choose from, with around two on average being added each week. Narrow your search down by filtering vegetarian, gluten free, or low calories dishes.
Something else to bear in mind is that many of the dishes can be altered to suit dietary requirements, so if there is something you like the look of but it isn’t vegan, for example, you can request that it is made so.
SimplyCook Sample Recipes
How Much Does SimplyCook Cost?
Every SimplyCook recipe box costs the same; £9.99. This equates to approximately £2.50 per meal, and between 60p and £1.25 per serving, depending on the box size you opt for.
Once you factor in the ingredients you’ll have to buy, meals typically cost £3 – £6 per serving.
Delivery is free on all of the recipe boxes.
SimplyCook FAQs
Does SimplyCook only supply herbs and spices?
Not at all. Although the main reason for having SimplyCook is the unique flavour blends, you will also be supplied with infused oils, rubs, stocks, culinary pastes, and garnishes if the recipe calls for them.
How many people does a kit serve?
Right now, the SimplyCook boxes contain four recipe kits, and each kit is made for between two and four people, depending on the portion sizes you serve.
Where does SimplyCook deliver?
Delivery is to the entire UK using Royal Mail.
What are the payment options?
When you sign up for the service you can enter your card payment details. The payment provider is Adyen which accepts all major debit and credit cards.
When does the first box arrive?
The majority of orders will arrive within four working days. You can keep an eye on your delivery on the website in the ‘My Account’ area. You will also be sent a dispatch confirmation email.
Is Simply Cook Easy To Cancel?
Absolutely. Log in to the members section of the site and go to manage subscription, then stop my regular deliveries.
SimplyCook Pros & Cons
- A huge range of over 100 recipes to choose from
- Gluten free, vegan, vegetarian and low calorie options available
- It’s quick! Every meal takes 20 minutes or less to make
- Dishes designed by professional chefs, with fantastic flavour combinations
- Unlike other meal kits, SimplyCook does not include all of the ingredients
- No way of choosing how many people the meal is for – the choice is limited to either 2-3 or 4+
- No choice in the number of recipes per box
