Gousto Recipe Box Review: A Month of Cooking and Discovery
After years of relying on convenience foods, a senior shopping writer decided to embrace home cooking at age 28. The journey led to testing several meal box services, with Gousto emerging as a standout for variety and value. This review covers a month of cooking with Gousto, exploring its recipes, packaging, and overall experience.
First Impressions and Subscription Flexibility
Gousto offers weekly, fortnightly, or monthly deliveries with over 170 recipes to choose from—significantly more than competitors like Hello Fresh, which offers around 100. Subscribers can select between 2 and 5 recipes for 1 to 5 people, making it suitable for solo households and families alike. The service allows for easy cancellation, pausing, or skipping, and orders must be locked in three days before delivery. Over time, Gousto's algorithm learns user preferences, though initial selections may require manual adjustment.
Packaging and Ingredient Quality
The box arrives neatly packed with sustainability in mind: cardboard, paper sachets, and recyclable 'eco chill' liners made from low-density polyethylene. Ingredients feel fresh and high quality, lasting up to a week. All meat is farm-assured, ensuring traceability, while vegan products come from reputable brands like Meatless Farm or Fable Food Co. The careful packaging reflects Gousto's commitment to reducing environmental impact.
Cooking Experience and Recipe Variety
Recipes range from 10 to 40 minutes in cooking time, with skill levels categorised via the app. Compared to Hello Fresh, Gousto's recipes are slightly more complex and time-consuming, often requiring extra equipment like blenders. While this may challenge novice cooks, it offers a rewarding experience for those seeking variety. The writer sampled dishes including coconut chicken meatballs, courgette curry, chicken thigh ramen, sticky teriyaki mushroom domburi bowl, basa with sesame greens, and vegetable gnocchi. Each meal felt nutritious and balanced, with portions leaving diners satisfied. Standout dishes included king prawn Thai-style green pesto pasta and ponzu chicken burger.
Pricing and Introductory Offers
Gousto is competitively priced at around £29.99 for three meals for two people (approximately £3.20 per serving), which can be more affordable than a weekly supermarket shop. New users can enjoy up to 50% off the first box and 40% off the second, making it an attractive option for first-time subscribers.
Overall Verdict
Gousto excels in variety and flavour, offering a diverse range of recipes that cater to different tastes and skill levels. While some dishes may be bland or require extra effort, the majority are hearty and delicious. The service is particularly suited for those who enjoy a cooking challenge and want to expand their culinary repertoire. For those preferring simpler, more repetitive meals, Hello Fresh may be a better fit. However, Gousto undoubtedly adds the most variety to meal times.
Testing Methodology
The writer tested Gousto for over a month, sampling three meals per week. Evaluation criteria included portion size for two, taste, flavour range, cooking experience, packaging, delivery, and app usability. The goal was to determine whether the service effectively takes the hassle out of mealtimes.
