We tried 9 meal kit delivery services. Here’s what you need to know.

Meal kit services like Blue Apron and HelloFresh have been available for years, but the coronavirus pandemic has changed the way people interact with food — increasing the need for easy, low-risk ways to receive food. Meal kits are a readily available alternative to enduring crowds and long lines at grocery stores and restaurants. These boxes merge together the intrigue of trying something new with the comfort of cooking at home.

Despite their convenience, it can be daunting to decide which meal kit service suits your specific needs the most. To help make this decision easier for you and your loved ones, I tried nine different meal kits that cater to different types of home chefs. Throughout the sampling period, I kept a few key things in mind: pricing options, ease of use, variation in meal plan options, quality of ingredients and time to table. These are some important things to keep in mind before choosing a plan.

I started out with the classics like Blue Apron and HelloFresh, which are great for beginner cooks. Sun Basket and Green Chef have a little bit of everything, from paleo options to gluten-free specific plans. I also tried the plant-based meal kit, Purple Carrot, as well as some lesser-known options like Dinnerly, HomeChef and EveryPlate. Read on to learn more about each option.