I just received my first Blue Apron order this afternoon. I can see why people would order this product, but it was a failed experiment for me. I'm not complaining - I did this only for the points and knew it might not be my thing - but was truly hoping maybe it'd be something I'd like.

Mostly, I just want to pass on some data points, about the packaging and delivery, in case they're useful to anyone considering a purchase.

1. The box is fairly large and fairly heavy. It is because of the weight of the gel cold packs, not the ingredients. I mention this, because if you live alone, have stairs and/or mobility challenges, you might struggle with the box a bit. Then the cold packs have to be drained, and stored and dealt with, dismantling the box until trash day, etc.

2. The two meals did not come separately packaged in the box. All the ingredients for both meals came loose together. The ingredients aren't identified or labeled. Packages of meats, baggies of spices, loose vegetables in the box, all mixed together, no labels. It's not straightforward to separate and allocate to the correct meal. Unless you're already a 'cook', you probably have to compare against the pictures on the recipe card to separate. Well, EXCEPT......

3. ..... that there's No recipe cards/cooking instructions in the box. You either have to download their app or go on the web site and print out directions. Both to determine what items go with what meal and to get the directions to actually cook. Either will involve extra steps going back to your laptop or phone; it's not as easy as opening the box and passing go. Out of everything, this is the most bizarre and annoying thing to me. Why would a company so thoughtlessly not enclose cooking instructions with the ingredients? Probably to rope people into using the @#%# app.

4. I'd planned to cook one tonight to try it out and put the other in the freezer and cook when I'm back in town. Not easily possible to freeze with the way items are & aren't packaged though. And printing out recipes and matching ingredients requires more energy and motivation than I've got. Although I might try to freezer bag the meat, this is more a "fresh to table" concept and intent is to cook quasi - immediately.

5. I ordered the "fast and easy" category, hoping it'd be simple as put in a pan, stick in the oven or microwave type thing, and set the timer. That's a No! At least for the two dishes I selected. This is a for people who like to cook meals and are already pretty good at it or want to become good at it. Even the 'easiest' one requires 40 minutes of prep time standing in a front of a stove, nursing ingredients in a pan, simmering, etc. These are not meals that make themselves. (I'm not sure if I could've gotten the recipes before I ordered. I'll be more careful about that if I have to order another for points.)

I'll order one more if I have to for the points, --- hopefully I don't ---- but doubt any of these will ever get made in my kitchen. Other than snacking on the loose veggies and trying to freeze the meat for a different time. Meanwhile, I am now going up the street to my favorite neighborhood restaurant & have a beer & while waiting for a delicious takeout jambalaya dinner. No standing in the front of the stove, messing with ingredients and apps and printing recipes, and then doing dishes from multiple pans. I wasn't planning to go out for dinner tonight, but effortless takeout feels like heaven right now after dealing with the box lol.