We tried Factor’s prepared meal delivery service for over three years: Full review

· New York Post

When choosing a meal delivery service, make sure to Factor in all of your needs.

This meal kit company is a bit different from the others we reviewed in our massive meal kit round up of over 15 brands, as it delivers ready to heat-and-eat meals, arriving fresh to your doorstep, as opposed to a box of ingredients.

Factor is great for those on-the-go, wanting a delicious and nutritious meal but not wanting to deal with too many dishes, a trip to the grocery store and time spent cooking. That’s why Factor meals are ready in just two minutes in the microwave for a fast and easy breakfast, lunch or dinner.

This really is the meal delivery service for all, as they offer traditional meat-based meals in addition to those that have dietary preferences like Keto, vegan and vegetarian, with some choices spanning more than one category. 

Factor

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How Factor works:

Factor is an easy-to-use and even easier to cook meal kit, but really more like a meal delivery service, as there is little cooking involved. Meals arrive prepared and ready to heat up and enjoy. This also means minimal cleanup, as all you need to do is dispose of the packaging and wash off your cutlery — all done!

Each meal is designed by a dietitian, so it’s nutritionally sound. More importantly, ingredients and nutrition facts are listed on the site so you know what’s in what. There are more than 35 meals to choose from on the weekly menu, plus more than 60 add-ons, including smoothies, shakes, snacks and desserts.

Factor is best suited for individuals or smaller families, as the meals are all single portions. We like it best for work lunches and easy breakfasts, but you could also order multiples of meals and have it together with loved ones. They offer options for both carnivores and vegetarians, as well as calorie-smart, flexitarian, Keto and more.

Factor price:

Sophie Cannon

Factor in how much you save in groceries and this may indeed be worth the spend.

Like many meal kits, the price varies depending on quantity. Choose six, eight, ten, 12, 14 or 18 meals, with prices ranging between $11.49 and $13.99 per meal. The more you order, the least expensive, so do account for that. Shipping costs a flat rate, at $10.99.

Factor meals:

When looking at the weekly menu, there is a lot of variety in the types of meals, spanning American comfort classics, Asian bowls, Indian-spiced dishes and other fusion creations from around the globe.

As stated above, you can also sort by dietary or nutritional needs, with meals labeled as Chef’s Choice, Keto, Calorie Smart, Flexitarian, Protein Plus, Vegan & Veggie on the site.

For even more visibility into ingredients, each meal also has a QR code on the package sleeve itself, allowing you to see the full recipe online. Flip it over and find all of the nutritional information as well, before recycling.

Our review of Factor:

Sophie Cannon

Pros:

  • Dietitian designed dishes
  • 35 plus meals, 60 plus add-ons, including snacks, and smoothies
  • Works for a variety of dietary needs, including vegan, keto, and those wanting to add more protein into their diet
  • Meals only take 2 minutes to heat in the microwave
  • More sustainable option, if you properly dispose of all packaging

Cons:

  • Smaller portions that some traditional meal kits
  • Not suitable for larger families

I’ve ordered an array of Factor’s meals over the last three years and counting, choosing from their rotating menu of options. Wanting to get a taste of everything, I chose meals with the Keto label like the Indian Butter Chicken with Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice, a vegetarian dish of Vegetable Ratatouille with Mascarpone Polenta, a vegan select of Three Bean Vegan Chili with Cornbread Casserole & Tofu-Based Crema and even a more premium choice with Peppercorn-Spiced Filet Mignon with Browned Butter Potato Mash, Broccolini & Peppers as a treat.

This fall, I tried even more meals and added in shakes and smoothies too:

For all of the meals, the only packaging is a sleeve to slip off and a plastic-covered, microwavable tray that you just need to slit open to let out the steam. I loved that the sleeve held all the instructions for heating as well as a color-coded label to show if the meal was meat-based, fish, or veggie-based to name a few, making it easy to grab one from the fridge in a snap. The black-label are the premium dishes, so I made sure to save those for a special solo dinner.

Sophie Cannon

Once cooked, I noticed that somehow even the fresh shrimp and red meat dishes didn’t dry out, a problem that I have with normal cooking quite often. Note: meat will be cooked medium-well to well-done, but this makes sense as it is technically the second cook, and the meat was still tender. I was also pleasantly surprised with the spices used in each dish, not needing to add any salt or pepper.

I will mention that these meals served me best as a lunch option, with a smaller portion than what I normally want for dinner. I was able to bring them into the office with ease and used our office break room to heat-and-eat.

All of Factor’s meals can be heated in the microwave — just be sure to remove the cardboard cover and slit the plastic to release the steam. Sophie Cannon
For lunch at work, I microwaved my Indian chicken and rice dish for a warm and spiced meal at my desk. Sophie Cannon
Treating yourself is also easy, with options for premium meals like this steak and potato dish. Sophie Cannon

As compared to other meal kits, Factor certainly stacks up in terms of flavors, price and ease of ordering. I would say it is hard to compare it to a kit you actually need to slice and dice to prepare, as these meals are ready-to-go as soon as they arrive at your doorstep.

The final verdict

Factor is the best meal delivery service for those that like wholesome, yummy meals that can be prepared in two minutes, with minimal prep or clean up. They are designed for the on-the-go individual, and may be perfect for lunch or a quick dinner.

I would personally always love to have a few of these meals on hand for the work week, plus a fridge stocked full of their smoothies and shakes for a mid-day pick-me-up.

Ready to factor in all the time you’ll save stressing about what to eat? Check out Factor and let us know what you think!

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How we tested

  • Ease of ordering: Factor is simple to order, with a rotating menu of weekly options, plus add-ons.
  • Prep, cook and cleanup time: There is no prep-time at all, nor clean up and meals take two minutes to heat, on average.
  • Flavor and fullness: Flavor is all there, no salt or pepper required. These meals are on the lighter side for some, and may require the addition of a shake or smoothie.
  • Sustainability: Factor may be one of the more sustainable options, if you properly recycle the box, ice packs and trays from each meal. Throw the plastic covering away after use.
  • Price: Factor ranges from $11.49 to $13.99 per serving, which is also per meal, as these serve only one.

FAQ: What to look for when choosing a meal kit

Diet: Pay attention to the dietary options each service caters to, from vegetarian and vegan to Keto and paleo.

Household Size: Count the number of people in your family and then account for how much they eat to best calculate how many servings you need to feed everyone. Some kits detailed above have larger portions, while others are single-serve only.

Budget: Meal kits and services have a wide range of prices. Some offer free shipping, while others have a minimum spend, and other specialty or health-related plans may cost more.

Time: Think about how long you want to be cooking for each night. Some meals require 30 or more minutes to cook, not including cleaning up. Others are microwavable and thus don’t require clean-up time, either.

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