SimplyCook Review: Elevate Your Home Cooking with Flavorful Meal Kits
Introduction to SimplyCook
SimplyCook is a subscription-based meal kit service that focuses on providing unique and flavorful recipes with pre-measured spices, stocks, and pastes. Unlike traditional meal kit services that include all the ingredients, SimplyCook delivers just the core flavor components, leaving subscribers to source their own fresh ingredients. This approach is ideal for those who enjoy the flexibility of buying their own produce but want to skip the hassle of sourcing spices or flavor mixes.
How Does SimplyCook Work?
SimplyCook is designed for convenience and simplicity. Here's a step-by-step breakdown of how the service works:
- Choose Your Recipes: Once you sign up, you can select from a variety of globally-inspired recipes.
- Receive a Flavor Kit: Each kit includes pre-measured pots containing spices, stocks, and pastes needed to create restaurant-quality dishes at home.
- Buy Fresh Ingredients: Recipes typically require a few basic fresh ingredients such as vegetables, protein, or carbs, which you can easily find at your local grocery store.
- Cook in Under 20 Minutes: Each recipe card provides simple, clear instructions to prepare a meal in around 20 minutes.
This model keeps costs low and gives subscribers the freedom to adjust recipes to suit their tastes, dietary preferences, or portion sizes.
Key Features of SimplyCook
1. Global Recipe Selection
- Diverse Cuisines: SimplyCook offers a wide range of recipes inspired by cuisines from around the world, including Indian, Thai, Mexican, Italian, and more.
- New and Exciting Flavors: With recipes designed to push culinary boundaries, SimplyCook encourages you to try new flavors without committing to complex recipes or specialty ingredients.
2. Easy and Quick to Prepare
- Simple Steps: Each recipe is designed to be prepared in around 20 minutes, making SimplyCook ideal for busy individuals.
- Pre-Portioned Ingredients: The spice and flavor pots are pre-measured, so you don’t have to worry about precise measurements, which reduces prep time.
3. Cost-Effective Cooking
- Affordable Subscription: SimplyCook is more budget-friendly than full meal kit services since you’re only paying for the flavor kits, not the fresh ingredients.
- Flexible Subscriptions: You can pause or cancel your subscription at any time, allowing you to take breaks if you need to reduce costs.
4. Recipe Cards with Nutritional Information
- Clear Instructions: Each kit includes a recipe card with step-by-step instructions, estimated cooking times, and serving suggestions.
- Nutritional Breakdown: Health-conscious subscribers can view calorie counts and other nutritional details for each recipe.
Pros and Cons of SimplyCook
Pros:
- Low Cost: Unlike other meal kit services, SimplyCook doesn’t include fresh ingredients, which makes it more affordable.
- Flexibility: You have the freedom to choose your own fresh ingredients, allowing you to customize each meal to your liking.
- Convenience: With easy-to-follow recipes and pre-measured flavor pots, SimplyCook minimizes prep time.
- Variety of Cuisines: SimplyCook offers a wide range of recipes to suit different palates, so there’s always something new to try.
Cons:
- Ingredient Sourcing: You need to buy the fresh ingredients yourself, which may be less convenient than a full meal kit.
- Limited Portions: Kits are usually designed for two people, so you may need to adjust quantities if you’re cooking for a larger family.
- Dependency on Subscription: While you can pause the service, you need an active subscription to access the full range of recipes and flavor kits.
Popular SimplyCook Recipes
Here are some of the popular recipes SimplyCook offers to its subscribers:
- Bang Bang Chicken: A Chinese-inspired dish featuring a unique blend of spices and sauce for a sweet and spicy flavor profile.
- Beef Massaman Curry: A rich Thai curry made with warming spices, coconut milk, and tender beef.
- Cuban Mojo Pork: This zesty recipe includes flavors of garlic, citrus, and oregano for a traditional Cuban taste.
- Chicken Makhani (Butter Chicken): A popular Indian dish with a creamy tomato sauce infused with aromatic spices.
- Cajun Jambalaya: A New Orleans favorite that combines smoky spices with rice, sausage, and shrimp.
These recipes are designed to be flavorful yet easy to make, transforming your home-cooked meals into restaurant-quality dishes.
Final Verdict
SimplyCook is an excellent option for those who love cooking but want a little extra help in the flavor department. The kits allow you to explore a wide range of cuisines while keeping costs low, as you only pay for the flavor components. It’s perfect for people who enjoy experimenting with different recipes and want the flexibility to buy their own ingredients. However, if you’re looking for a fully comprehensive meal kit that includes every ingredient, SimplyCook might not be the right choice.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4 out of 5 stars)
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How much does SimplyCook cost?
The subscription typically costs around £9.99 per month, but they often offer promotions for first-time subscribers.
2. Can I choose my recipes?
Yes, SimplyCook allows you to select recipes from their menu, so you can pick meals based on your preferences or dietary restrictions.
3. Do I have to commit to a monthly subscription?
No, SimplyCook offers flexibility, allowing you to pause or cancel your subscription at any time.
4. How does SimplyCook compare to full meal kits?
SimplyCook differs by only providing flavor components, whereas full meal kits include all ingredients. This makes SimplyCook more affordable, though it requires you to source your own fresh items.