I tested Factor’s prepared heat-and-eat meal delivery for over five years

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 I’ve reviewed in our massive meal kit roundup, as it delivers ready to heat-and-eat meals fresh to your doorstep, as opposed to a box of ingredients.

This 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. In our best meal kit roundup, I declared it the best meal kit delivery service for singles, as it’s also ideal for those who don’t have a family to meal plan for.

If you’re curious about trying Factor, use our exclusive promo code New130FREE for $130 off your first box, plus free shipping.

Factor is great for those on the go who want a delicious and nutritious meal but are not interested in dealing with too many dishes, a trip to the grocery store or cooking. The meals are ready in just two minutes and make a fast and easy breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Factor

If this already sounds like the perfect meal-time solution, shop right now at the button below.

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How Factor works:

Factor is an easy-to-use (and even easier to cook) meal kit — but really, it’s more like a meal delivery service, as there is little cooking involved.

When you visit the Factor website, you’ll be prompted to select a plan. From there, you’ll share up to three goals of why you’re interested in a meal delivery service. Is it improving your health, saving time in the kitchen or eating a better variety of food? There is no wrong answer.

Afterward, you’ll be given a list of Factor’s different plans (which I detail below). Factor will show you meals from the plans you select first, but don’t worry, you’ll still be able to review the meal delivery service menu in its entirety. You’re also able to select from multiple meal plans. You can order between six to 18 meals per week, which means you can avoid cooking completely, if that’s your goal.

Meals arrive prepared and ready to heat 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. Some options are considered premium dishes, which are typically a bit fancier, say a steak with truffle butter as opposed to a typical mashed potato. You’ll also find other elevated ingredients like barramundi fish, shrimp, and filet mignon.

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

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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 the 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 less expensive, so do account for that. The flat rate shipping cost is $10.99.

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Factor meals:

When looking at the weekly menu, there is a lot of variety, 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. Here are the plans you can choose from:

• Chef’s Choice
• Keto
• Calorie Smart
• Flexitarian
• Protein Plus
• Vegan & Veggie
• GLP-1 Balance
• Fiber Filled

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 you’ll find all of the nutritional information as well. Packaging is recyclable.

Factor also has add-ons, including breakfast items like protein-packed pancake bundles, green juices, and protein shakes. I found them helpful for snacks, treats or when I’m craving something to go along with my main meal.

Sophie Cannon

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Our review of Factor:

Sophie Cannon

I’ve ordered an array of Factor’s meals over the years, choosing from their rotating menu of options. Wanting to get a taste of everything, I’ve chosen 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:

• Truffle Butter Filet Mignon with Potato-Leek Mash & Roasted Carrots
• Potato, Bacon & Egg Breakfast Skillet with Roasted Peppers & Onions
• Grilled Chicken a la Vodka with Zucchini Noodles & Roasted Broccoli
• Blackened Salmon with Smoked Gouda Cauliflower “Grits” & Broccoli
• Jalapeño-Lime-Cheddar Chicken with Spicy Cilantro Cauliflower “Rice”
• Keto Cheesecake – Raspberry Vanilla topped with Freeze-Dried Raspberries
• Protein Shake Variety Pack: Cold Brew Latte, Cinnamon Horchata & Chocolate Banana
• Pineapple Turmeric Basil Cold Pressed Juice
• Tropical Citrus & Mango Smoothie Variety Pack

For all of the meals, the only packaging is a slip-off sleeve and a plastic-covered, microwavable tray that needs to be 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-based or veggie-based. It made it easier to know what I was grabbing from the fridge. 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. 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 easily bring them into the office and used our break room to heat-and-eat.

(Note: Meat will be cooked medium-well to well-done, but this makes sense, as it’s technically the second cook, and I found the meat to still be tender.)

As compared to other meal kits, Factor certainly stacks up in terms of flavors, price, and ease of ordering. However, I acknowledge that it’s difficult to compare it to kits where you actually need to slice and dice, as Factor meals are ready-to-go as soon as they arrive at your doorstep.

Factor meals I want to try next: Green Goddess Chicken, Tuscan Pesto Baked Salmon, Sante Fe-Style Green Chile Beef Skillet

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The final verdict

Factor is the best meal delivery service for those who like wholesome, yummy meals that can be prepared in two minutes, with no prep or cleanup. It’s designed for the on-the-go individual and may be perfect for lunch or a quick dinner. It’s also a great option for singles who don’t have a family to meal plan for.

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

If you’re 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 or clean up, and meals take two minutes to heat, on average.
• Flavor and fullness: Flavor is all there, no extra seasoning needed. These meals may be 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.

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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. Meal kit delivery services that are transparent about ingredients and sourcing are preferable, as they can indicate food quality.

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

Budget: Meal kits and services have a wide range of prices, with the average cost being $8-$14 per serving. Some offer free shipping, making them more affordable in the long run, while others have a minimum spend. Specialty meal kit services or health-related plans generally cost more, especially if organic produce or meats are used.

Time: In theory, meal kits are meant to save people time. Think about how long you want to be cooking for each night when selecting the best meal kit for you. Some require 30 or more minutes to cook, not including cleaning up. Others are microwavable and thus don’t require clean-up time. The latter may be better for those with a busy lifestyle, while those who enjoy cooking may prefer kits that call for more effort but still save them the trip to the grocery store.

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