Copyright 2009 Prepared Meal Delivery Reviews All Rights Reverved.
About FreshDirect
FreshDirect does deliver items such as deodorant, fresh fruit, and bakery items, but it is the prepared meals we are most interested in. Their website has two sections that contribute towards the convenience of getting meals on the table. These sections are called Heat & Eat, and 4-minute meals.
- Heat & Eat, are mostly prepared foods, like a pot pie, marinated steak, or meatballs in sauce, but still need to be cooked. You can find some raw proteins in this section too. Cooking instructions are provided for each product.
- 4-Minute Meals, which are prepared meals that are microwave ready and can service as a dinner for any day of the week, or a trayed lunch you can bring to the office. Each meal runs about 10-12 ounces in size and cost between $7.99 and $9.99.
Each prepared meal is delivered refrigerated fresh and not frozen. Be sure to order accordingly, as FreshDirect will tell on the product page how lone each meal will remain fresh from the day it is delivered, and three to four days seems to be about the average. They are also clear in mentioning it is best not to freeze their meals to extend their life.
These FreshDirect gourmet meals come in a BPA-Free container, which is a nice (customer) touch. BPA stands for bisphenol A. BPA is an industrial chemical that has been used to make certain plastics and resins since the 1960s. No doubt, it must cost the company more for packaging that addresses the concerns of customers concerned about ingesting plastics. Facts about BPA.
- Note: When viewing products on the category page of the FreshDirect website, you have to click the text link to see the details of the product you are interested in. If you click the picture, you will only see a "Quick Buy" shopping cart feature.
The menu in the 4-minute meals section consists of 55 meals and is broken down into seven categories.
- Italian with twelve selections
- Smart and Simple (Under 500 Calories) with twelve selections
- Indian with ten selections
- Vegetarian with nine selections
- French with six selections
- Mexican with six selections
There is also a "Sides in a Snap" section with 18 selections. These include seven vegetable sides and eleven starch sides, but most of the meals in this section come with a side dish. As you browse through the categories, take notice of the heat index for spicy meals, another great customer touch point for those that might steer clear of a meal with spice, afraid it could be too hot.
The variety of items on the menu seems compelling and loaded with meals you probably won't find at most other websites. It is pretty easy to create your selection of meals and send it as a meal plan or gourmet food gift. The Smart and Simple section is an excellent source for ecomonical weight loss meals. The company doesn't offer a section for diabetic meals or low sodium meals, but nutritional information is posted for every product.
In the mood for Mexicano Beef Short Rib Enchiladas, Marinated Shrimp with Spaghetti and a Spicy Arrabiata Sauce, Moroccan Lamb with Whole Wheat Couscous, Parmesan Risotto with Porcini Mushrooms, or Sweet Potato Shepherd's Pie? You don't have to go to your favorite gourmet restaurant. You can just have sent to your home from FreshDirect.
100% Satisfaction Guarantee
We love meal delivery providers that offer a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee on their products. FreshDirect offers consumers their choice of a credit or replacement, and they may ask that you return any unused products. In our experience, companies that offer a satisfaction guarantee rarely have need for it.
FreshDirect Coupon
The best way to find active Fresh Direct Coupons and Fresh Direct Coupon Codes is to place an order and sign up for emails. Fresh Direct Promotional Codes change frequently, but first time customers can have their choice of Free Shipping or a 15% discount. Just click on the coupons posted on this page.
FreshDirect Reviews
Submit your FreshDirect Review.
Unlike most of the gourmet food and meal delivery services we feature, FreshDirect is an online grocery store that services the New York City area. On the home page of their website, the first you will have to do is enter your zip code to verify they deliver to your area.
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FreshDirect Reviews
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Grilled Salmon with Saffron Rice and String Beans
This prepared meal comes from the "Smart & Simple" menu, meaning it is under 500 calories. I felt their website was pretty easy to navigate once I got used all of the information they post. Shipping was excellent. I think it was under $8, and it arrived by a FreshDirect delivery man, who struck me as friendly, caring, and helpful. The microwave packaging is great.
The salmon was a good sized portion compared to other meal delivery services I have tried. I am not a big fan of saffron, but this was good and not overpowering. They didn't cut the ends off of the string beans, which I thought was the proper thing to do. However, they gave a ton of them, so I am forgiving of that. I didn't find the tops and tails too tough or bitter.
-N.F., NYC
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Shrimp, Vegetable & Brown Rice Biryani
One of things I liked most about this meal was the little chili pictures they put on their website to let customers know how spicy a meal is. This meal has two out of five chilies, and I have to say that is exactly what I would score it as. I am not a fan of hot food, but I do like some occasional spice, and this meal was just that.
The shrimp came out perfect, not overcooked like could easily happen in a microwave. The vegetables and rice have a very nice texture, but it was the flavor of spicy yogurt sauce that won me over. I see this meal more as a lunch sized portion, and a great side choice for dinner.
-N.F., NYC
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FreshDirect Turkey Bolognese Lasagna
This is another very good meal, only the portion size is on the small side. My portion was about a three inch square. The noodles were tender and the sauce was delicious. So delicious, I wonder why they don't have a Spaghetti Bolognese on the menu. The fresh mozzarella was a noted extra effort by the chef.
My husband could have easily eaten two of these as a dinner portion. If there was a little more sauce, I could have dipped a roll or garlic bread into the gravy, but it is one of the best tasting lasagnas I have tried from a meal delivery company.
-N.F., NYC
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FreshDirect Beef Bourguignon
Wow! Here is a meal you won't want to pass up when you place your order. The picture can explain this meal better than I can, but the chicks of beef were huge. In fact, I had to cut two of them with my knife. Except I didn't need a knife, the beef was classically fork-tender.
The vegetables were crisp and far from soft like you can get from a microwaved meal. The noodles were prepared to perfection too. The sauce could have used a little more wine flavor, but overall, this meal was superb, and the portion size was satisfying. Next time, I am getting a few of these. My compliments to the chef.
-N.F., NYC
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FreshDirect Parmesan Meatballs and Rigatoni
This was an exceptional meal that tasted as close to homemade as I have ever had from a meal delivery company. I wanted to show the FreshDirect microwave packaging too, for anyone that might consider using the meals as a lunch they would take to the office. These are are best microwave trays I have used, and they heat the meals perfectly.
What is there to say? Delicious homemade meatballs, a wonder sauce, perfectly prepared al dente rigatoni, and a generous portion size. You really can't leave their website without adding this meal to your shopping cart. In my opinion, it is as good as prepared meal delivery gets.
-N.F., NYC
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Assuming they do deliver to your area, you will find you can have anything you might find at your local market, conveniently delivered to your home or office. Use our FreshDirect Free Shipping Coupon Code on your 1st order
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A Tour of Gourmet Dining Around the World
I may have sampled the entire menu at FreshDirect by now, and I have to say I have been a very customer. Today, my husband and I had the Vegetarian Spaghetti with meatballs, the Coconut Chicken Curry, the Lamb and Vegetable Curry, and the Chicken and Cheese Enchiladas. It was like a tour of gourmet dining around the world.
-N.F., NYC
1/14/12
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Great Food and Great Service
I have been using Fresh Direct for many years but it is only recently that I tried their prepared meals. Why bother to cook? That is my feeling. I have one every day at work for lunch.
I love the packaging and the quality of the food. I had the Chicken Marsala today which is great. The shipping man is always on time and polite with me. I once offered him a tip and he said he wasn't allowed to accept them. The one time I feel motivated to tip someone and they can have them. Anyway, great food and great service that reminds of how living in New York City used to be.
-Emily S. Manhattan
1/14/12
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