Cookunity Review: Menu, Cost, & Coupons

Because the CookUnity chefs are spread throughout the nation, every region has a different collection of professional chefs creating a unique menu depending on where you live. Everything on the menu comes as an individual serving.

The menu changes weekly and is released two weeks in advance so you can make choices for your next delivery in advance. The talented chefs from CookUnity can also choose creative dishes for you if you prefer a hands-off approach.

In addition to entrees, you can also order cold-pressed juices, sweet treats, and breakfasts.

Since the chefs make everything, the only prep time required is the short time it takes to heat the meals. Heating instructions may include heating sauces on the stove or placing the dish in the oven. Though it might be more complicated than throwing it in the microwave, properly heating the dishes will ensure you get the intended taste. Luckily, the packaging is oven safe which helps save you from washing dishes. They also provide fast instructions, which sacrifice the taste but are a lifesaver when on the go.

Menu Examples

The menu is divided into the east coast, west coast, Texas, and midwest and changes weekly. With every dish that is offered, the chef who makes it is listed.

You can find meal options such as Pistachio Crusted Salmon and Lamb Kebab with Turmeric Hummus on the east coast, while the west coast has dishes like Pan Seared Branzino with Lemony Mint Couscous and Korean BBQ Flank Steak Salad.

In the midwest, some menu options include Pesto Chicken with Roasted Potatoes and Parmesean and Grilled Tagliata NY Strip Steak.

Blackened Catfish with Warm Potato Salad and Smoked Chicken and Collard Greens are some sample dishes on the Texas menu.

If you have dietary restrictions, CookUnity is among the meal delivery services that can accommodate you. If you have allergies, common allergens are listed on every meal, but it’s worth mentioning that there is a risk of cross-contamination as no CookUnity food can be verified to be allergen-free.

The weekly menu includes 30+ options for low carb, which are diabetic-friendly, low calorie, dairy-free, plant-based, keto, paleo, and gluten-free lifestyles. CookUnity meals tend to be low in sodium and butter, feature a vitamin-packed superfood, are not deep fried, and utilize mostly olive oil. The nutrition team works with the chefs to ensure healthy, balanced meals and accurate nutrition information.

When selecting your meals, you can easily find all the meals that fit your dietary restrictions using the filter tool. With the filter tool, you can search by main ingredient, restrictions, and diets. After you click on a menu option, the various restrictions and lifestyles met by that meal are clearly listed as well.

If you are letting CookUnity choose your meals, then ensure you fill out the dietary preferences page in your online account so they don’t send you something you can’t eat. The preference page asks if you need a special diet, what you would love to eat, and what you would like to avoid.

CookUnity prides itself on offering restaurant-quality meals. Unlike several other meal delivery companies that make food in bulk with the help of machinery, CookUnity makes small-batch meals by hand.

By making fewer meals at a time, the taste tends to be better because the flavors can be honed properly. Of course, CookUnity’s meals are also chef-curated, so the taste reflects a well-trained palette.

Customers rave about the flavors, and every menu option shows real reviews so you can see which select meals are the best tasting. Many have said CookUnity is the next best thing to dining at an actual restaurant.

In our opinion, CookUnity food is one of the top prepared meal delivery services for taste, as their dishes are more elevated than most. These aren’t your average simple meat and side meals. It is important to note that while the taste never fails us, the portions vary between dishes, so some aren’t as filling as others. Some of the meals do not stay as fresh in the fridge as long as others which means the order in which you eat them does affect the taste occasionally, even if they are not expired.

Local chefs source fresh ingredients from sustainable local farmers and artisans whenever possible. They also prioritize organic and seasonal produce.

Food quality is top of mind at CookUnity. Since there are real chefs behind your meals, you can ensure that they use high-quality ingredients, which makes your meals even more delicious. The chefs source their ingredients themselves, and some of the chefs even have their own gardens they source from!

However, though they highly value finding the best ingredients, there is a lack of transparency. Though all of the ingredients are listed on every meal, there is no information about where they were sourced, so there is no guarantee that the dish you picked is made with organic produce or grass-fed beef.

CookUnity is not the most expensive meal delivery service, but it isn’t the cheapest either. The pricing does feel appropriate for what you receive.

 The CookUnity meal price starts at $10.39 per meal and goes up to $12.69 per meal. Each of the different meal plans breaks down to a different per meal cost, leading to the range.

The more food you order each week, the lower the price is. For instance, the four-meal plan is the highest cost per meal, while the 16-meal plan per week gets you the lowest cost per meal. In addition to an affordable price, CookUnity has free shipping, which is uncommon for many food delivery services.

Coupons

Though the pricing is on par with other companies in the meal delivery service industry, we understand that it can still get expensive. These coupons are an excellent way to try out CookUnity without making too much of an investment or to save some money to continue your deliveries. You get 30% off with the code “GET30OFF” on your first delivery. 

CookUnity delivers its meals fresh (not frozen) in reusable, recyclable, or compostable packaging on the same day each week. Each meal also has a printed expiration date, nutrition information, and heating instructions. If you notice that you cannot finish your meal by the expiration date, it can be frozen to be eaten later. However, you should thaw it in the fridge completely before heating it up. Dishes that have been frozen might not taste the same as when they were fresh, so keep that in mind as well.

You have three delivery preferences that you can select in your online account, including leaving the order with the doorman, directly into your hands at your door, or to your door without contact.

Shipping logistics depend on your area. A courier will deliver your order in a reusable insulated tote bag filled with ice in most areas. In other areas, your order is delivered by UPS or FedEx in an insulated box with gel packs.

Either way, your food will be kept at optimal temperature, though it is always recommended to put your order in the fridge as soon as possible. CookUnity does note that meals stay cooler longer in the insulated box versus the insulated tote bag.

CookUnity has also done an excellent job of ensuring every aspect of its packaging is environmentally responsible.

The delivery boxes are made of recycled and virgin kraft paper, and the thermal liner in the box is comprised of 86% recycled materials, such as post-consumer plastic bottles. The liner and the box are recyclable.

The meal trays have a molded fiber pulp base and a plastic seal on top. The base can be composted, and the plastic seal can be recycled.

When your order is delivered in a bag, the bag is made from 100% reclaimed denim with a low-density polyethylene liner. These bags can be picked up by your courier with your next order, or you can reuse them for your own needs.

The gel ice packs are low-density polyethylene liners filled with 98% water and 2% cotton. You have a few options to handle an ice pack. The non-toxic contents can be dumped in the trash. Then the liner can be recycled. You can also reuse them for packing a cooler. The final option is to donate them to a food bank.

The CookUnity customer service is very responsive and always works to resolve any questions, concerns, or complaints. You can contact CookUnity by email at support@cookunity.com, chat with a representative on the website, or send a text message to +1 (347) 835-5020. We have found that online chat is the easiest option for a quick question, while an email is best for problems with your order or account.

Additionally, CookUnity has an incredibly easy online customer portal. In the portal, you can manage your subscription. Use the portal to switch your delivery day, reschedule, or skip deliveries to accommodate an unpredictable schedule. You can also add meals or choose different dishes within your account.

Finally, you can cancel the meal service completely in the portal by just answering a few questions, which is much simpler than other meal delivery services. If you plan on coming back, though, you may consider pausing your account instead, which lasts up to eight weeks.

Keep in mind that you cannot skip the current week’s food delivery. You must make any changes prior to the cutoff time, which is 3-6 days prior to the delivery date.

Gift cards make excellent gifts. You can buy a CookUnity gift card on their website. Choose any round amount between $5 and $500. All you have to provide is the recipient’s full name, email address, personal note, full name, and email address. Once you have placed your order, the gift card will be emailed to the recipient. Gift cards can be redeemed at the checkout, but if the recipient has any trouble, customer service is happy to quickly resolve the issue.

So is CookUnity worth the price? CookUnity offers delicious restaurant-quality meals at a competitive price. They excel at providing variety, using quality ingredients, having eco-friendly packaging, and making the process easy. In our opinion, CookUnity is a viable choice when it comes to prepared meal delivery companies.

What we liked:

• Restaurant quality, fresh, and creatively prepared meals
• Better tasting than most meal delivery
• Caters to a wide variety of dietary preferences
• Sustainable packaging
• Easy account management
• Prices are competitive

What we didn’t like:

• Some meals leave you a bit hungry
• Takes a bit longer to heat than others when done according to recommendations
• No customization of meals