Once you have tried a meal prep visit, the next question is how often to have one. The answer depends on how many meals you want covered, how many people you are feeding and how much freezer space you have. The good news is that you don't have to commit to a fixed slot: you can book each visit when it suits you.
Start with how many meals you want covered
Each visit gives you four portions of each dish:
| Visit | Portions | Covers roughly |
|---|---|---|
| 2 dishes | 8 | Eight dinners for one, or four for two |
| 3 dishes | 12 | Twelve dinners for one, or six for two |
Most people are not trying to cover every meal. Think about the nights you are most likely to reach for a takeaway, and aim to cover those.
Weekly
Best for: people who want most weeknight dinners sorted, and couples or families.
A visit every week means your fridge and freezer are topped up with fresh food and you never have to plan dinner at all.
Fortnightly
Best for: people living alone, lighter eaters, or anyone who also enjoys cooking a few nights a week.
A visit every two weeks, with good use of the freezer, covers a surprising number of meals.
Monthly or now and then
Best for: busy spells, stocking the freezer, or trying the service out.
An occasional visit works well before a heavy month at work, after a holiday, or before a new baby arrives. Our guide to meal prep for new parents covers that last one.
When a pack makes sense
If you know you'll book more than once, a pack brings the price down. You pay for the pack upfront, book your first visit straight away, and book the rest whenever a chef is free, within 6 months:
| Pack | Discount | Fits |
|---|---|---|
| 4 visits | 5% off | Fortnightly for two months, or monthly for four |
| 8 visits | 10% off | Weekly for two months, or fortnightly for four |
Here are the prices for our most popular option, fully hands-off, where your chef buys everything:
| 2 dishes, 8 portions | 3 dishes, 12 portions | |
|---|---|---|
| One visit | £140 | £165 |
| 4-visit pack, per visit | £133 (£532 for 4) | £156.75 (£627 for 4) |
| 8-visit pack, per visit | £126 (£1,008 for 8) | £148.50 (£1,188 for 8) |
The pack discounts apply to every option and size. The pricing page has the full table.
Why booking as you go helps
- No fixed slots. You book each visit for a day and time that suits you, when a chef is free, rather than waiting for a weekly slot to open.
- The same chef. With a pack we send the same chef wherever we possibly can. They get to know your kitchen and how you like the food.
- Room to change your mind. Visits can be moved or cancelled free up to 48 hours before, and a cancelled visit goes back into your pack.
Make the freezer part of the plan
However often you book, the freezer is what makes it work. The Food Standards Agency advises eating home-cooked leftovers within two days, so freeze anything you will not eat by then on the day it is cooked. Curry, gyudon and teriyaki all freeze very well. Our guide to storing and freezing meal prep explains how to plan a week around it.
Rotating the menu
A pack is a chance to work through the whole menu, because you can choose different dishes for every visit. A simple approach is to keep one favourite and rotate the others. Our guide to the best Japanese dishes for meal prep has some combinations to start with.
FAQ
How often should I book a meal prep chef?
Weekly if you want most dinners covered, fortnightly if you eat lighter or cook some nights yourself, and monthly as an occasional reset.
Is it cheaper to book more often?
Buying a pack is. A 4-visit pack is 5% off and an 8-visit pack is 10% off, and you book each visit whenever suits you within 6 months.
Do I have to sign up to a subscription?
No. There are no subscriptions. You can book a single visit, or buy a pack and use it at your own pace.
What if I don't use all my pack?
A pack's visits must be used within 6 months. If you want to stop early, we refund the visits you haven't had, with the ones you have had charged at the full single-visit price. Our booking terms have the details.
Will I get the same chef every time?
With a pack we send the same chef wherever we possibly can, and tell you well in advance if someone else is coming.