Magic Kitchen Review: Everything You Need to Know
Stress is something most people have experienced at some point, and for someone who’s living a busy life, it can be almost impossible to find time to cook healthy and nutritious meals. A solution is to hire a meal service, to get your food sent to you on a weekly or monthly basis, and the market has exploded with meal delivery options! One of these is Magic Kitchen.
In this Magic Kitchen review, we’re going to have a look at what the brand has to offer, the price range of its products and services, how reliable it is, and much more.
When you order your meals from Magic Kitchen, you get frozen, pre-cooked food that’s quick and easy to heat up. It doesn’t get much easier to eat healthy and nutritious.
What is Magic Kitchen?
This meal-delivery service opened its doors in 2006, in Oakland, California, and as the business started expanding rapidly, the headquarters of Magic Kitchen can now be found in Kansas City, Missouri. Magic Kitchen offers meal plans and one-time orders and delivers elaborate frozen dishes directly to your door.
One thing that stands out about Magic Kitchen is its dedication to providing seniors with healthy and nutritious food, and the brand has quickly become a pioneer in the strive to make sure everyone has access to food that ticks all the boxes. The company also caters to those with specific dietary needs by offering specific health-related menus.
Magic Kitchen Pros & Cons
Let’s not waste any time and dive straight into what’s great about this food delivery service, and what can be better! The good news is that the pros certainly outweigh the cons, but by looking at both, you should be able to get a better idea of whether the service is the right choice for you and your household.
- Special Diet Meal Plan Options
- Special Meal Plans for Seniors
- Ships All Over the United States
- Online and Phone Orders
- 1-3 Daily Meals Available
- Reduced Portion Sized
- No Individual Meal Plans
- Elevated Shipping Costs
Who is Magic Kitchen Good For?
Perhaps you’ve looked at dozens of meal delivery services, and at this point, is your head spinning with information? Don’t worry, we’re here to help! Magic Kitchen meals are perfect for people who fit one or several of the following categories:
Seniors – Not all seniors are able to cook their own food, and it can lead to poor nutrition as a result of purchasing low-quality pre-cooked food or takeout. Magic Kitchen offers a healthy solution that can be tailored to fit specific dietary preferences and health conditions, and a large percentage of the clientele is made up of senior citizens and their families
Busy Families– When your day is filled with school pickups, after-school activities, work, household duties, and more, cooking can easily end up on the backburner. Magic Kitchen offers meal plans for the whole family, supplying you with healthy food that both kids and adults will love and benefit from
People with Specific Dietary Needs– If you have a specific health condition like diabetes, lactose intolerance, high cholesterol or anything else that requires a strict diet, then you can request a Magic Kitchen meal plan tailored to your needs
Who Isn’t Magic Kitchen Good For?
Certain aspects of the service could make Magic Kitchen unsuitable for some. Not because the food is bad or because there’s anything wrong with the company, but simply because it doesn’t necessarily meet everyone’s needs and expectations.
The main thing is the brand’s portion sizes. These are significantly smaller than those you might be used to when eating out, but you might be surprised to realize that the ones served by Magic Kitchen are the amount of food we should be eating. However, if you want generous portions then this meal service isn’t for you.
Another thing to consider is that Magic Kitchen doesn’t offer individual meal plans, making it potentially unsuitable for someone who lives alone. That said, the meals are delivered frozen and can be stored in the freezer.
How Magic Kitchen Works?
Magic Kitchen offers meal packages, complete meals, an a la carte menu, and meal programs, with the option to choose for yourself when you want your food, what type of food you want, and how often you wish to receive meal packages.
No commitment or contract is required, and you can stop or change your deliveries at any time. Many companies focus heavily on young clientele with access to the internet, but Magic Kitchen also receives orders by phone.
You can either put together your own menu and choose each meal yourself, or you can have Magic Kitchen do it for you based on your preferences and dietary requirements. Meals can be delivered weekly, bi-weekly and monthly, or you can order single packages to test out the service before you commit to anything more.
The meals are made with fresh ingredients but are ultimately delivered frozen. No cooking is required and all you need to do is to heat up the food and chow down.
Magic KitchenWebsite and App
Keep in mind that Magic Kitchen specializes in providing food options to seniors, something that perfectly explains why the ordering process is so simple. You can get the ball rolling with the website or arrange an order by calling the supplied phone number.
Seniors don’t always have access to the internet or the ability to navigate a website, and it’s nice to see a service that’s adapted its whole ordering process to suit its customers.
Creating an account / Sign-up
If you want to set up an account with Magic Kitchen, all you need to do is go onto the website and click on ‘Register’ in the top right corner. You’ll then be asked to fill out a form with your name, address, username, and password.
The account can be used to place orders, change subscriptions and preferences, contact customer service, and anything else you may need in relation to your Magic Kitchen orders. It only takes a few minutes to create a user account.
Magic Kitchen Meal Plans and Meal Selection Options
Magic Kitchen clearly understands that there’s no “one size fits all” when it comes to food, and all its meal selection options can be customized. The company stands out among its competition by offering up to three meals per day. This means you can get breakfast, lunch, and dinner kits that’ll cover a whole week.
When you order from Magic Kitchen you can get a one-time delivery of the meals you want, or sign up for recurring delivery every week, every two weeks or once a month. You can also make specific food choices, such as food low in sodium, fat, calories or carbohydrates, or meals that are dialysis-friendly.
Meal Programs:The Magic Kitchen automated meal programs allow you to choose how often you want food sent home, what type of food you want and how many meals a day, and after that, you won’t have to worry about making orders as the boxes will be shipped directly to your home.
Meal Packages/Gifts:A meal bundle is perfect for a special occasion if you want to surprise your family with a delicious dinner or if you want the occasional meals sent out without having to sign up for automatic shipment. You choose what you want in the box and when you want it delivered.
A la Carte Menu:The A la Carte menu suits someone who doesn’t need food for a whole family, as it provides the option to order only the specific dishes you want from that week’s menu.
Choosing Magic Kitchen Recipes
Magic Kitchen has two different options available when choosing food. You can either put together the menu yourself with the food options available, or you can let the company know what you want and what you don’t want, and its menu does it for you.Option number one is perfect for someone who knows what they want to eat, and option number two is better suited for someone who needs inspiration, who’s open to trying new things or who doesn’t want to go through the trouble of making their own menu. Both options are customizable.
Magic Kitchen Meal Types
The food you can choose from when ordering your frozen meals is varied. You have your typical American meals, meals inspired by European food, South American food, African cuisine and much more, and the exact selection depends on any other preferences you may have.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are available to order, with multiple options to choose from. The meal plans are divided into different types of meals based on allergies, food sensitivities, health issues or lifestyle preferences. Here are a few examples:
Portion Controlled
Low-Fat
Low-Carbs
Low-Sodium
Gluten-Free
Dairy-Free
Renal
Dialysis
Vegetarian
How Much Does Magic Kitchen Cost?
With so many different options, it’s almost impossible to give an exact price for Magic Kitchen and its meals. The average serving costs you between $11-$14, but a bundle may cost you approximately $60. The price is set depending on the products you order, the type of food, the frequency of delivery, and where you live.
On the plus side, it’s very easy to see how much you will be charged per order, and there are no surprises or hidden fees when ordering from Magic Kitchen. Shipping costs aren’t included in the prices on the website, and you can expect to pay a shipping fee starting at $18-$20 depending on your location and order size.
Below are a few examples of what it could cost you to order from Magic Kitchen, but it’s best to check yourself for a more accurate estimate.
|
Servings and Recipes/Week
|
Total Cost
|
|---|---|
|
1 complete meal per day
1 people, 7 recipes per week |
$11.71/serving ($81.97 total + FREE shipping = $81.97/week)
|
|
2 complete meals per day
2 people, 7 recipes per week |
$11.71/serving ($163.94 total + FREE shipping = $163.94/week)
|
|
3 complete meals per day
3 people, 7 recipes per week |
$11.71/serving ($245.91 total + FREE shipping = $245.91/week)
|
Diet Friendliness
The diet friendliness offered is what’s most likely made Magic Kitchen so popular. Many brands offer a few diet options like a vegetarian diet, kosher or gluten-free, but Magic Kitchen goes a little further by offering plenty of diets suitable for those with chronic health conditions. Few other companies offer meal plans that are dialysis-friendly, for example.
Add-Ons: Wine & More
If you thought Magic Kitchen only offered meal plans and food – think again! You can treat yourself to some of the delicious dessert options as an add-on. There’s cake, cookies and plenty of options, and the brand even has a diet-friendly dessert section to make sure everyone gets a chance to spoil themselves from time to time.
Magic Kitchen Customer Service
There are many different ways in which you can contact Magic Kitchen! The website has a helpful FAQ section where you can find answers to all the most common questions, and it is surprisingly comprehensive compared to what a FAQ section usually tends to look like.
If you can’t find the answers you need, there is a contact form to fill out that will put you in direct contact with someone at Magic Kitchen. Other options are emailing, faxing or calling one of the available numbers. The Magic Kitchen website lists a toll-free number and a number for international callers.
Responsiveness –– Easy to reach.
How can you get in touch?-– Contact form, phone, email and fax.
Magic Kitchen Cancellation Policy
You have nothing to worry about when it comes to cancellations, as you aren’t committing to anything when you make an order. Automated orders will continue to be sent unless you choose to cancel, but you can easily cancel the orders by logging into your Magic Kitchen account or contacting customer service.
Magic Kitchen Alternatives
|
Meal Kit
|
Price / Serving
|
Minimum order
|
Meal options
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Magic Kitchen
|
$11.71
|
7 Servings
|
6-14
|
|
Sunbasket
|
$11.99
|
4 Servings
|
15-20
|
|
Home Chef
|
$6.99
|
4 Servings
|
2-6
|
|
HelloFresh
|
$7.49
|
4 Servings
|
2-5
|
Final Verdict
Magic Kitchen has something for everyone, including seniors who may be struggling with health issues or have specific dietary needs. The brand offers a wide range of options, including one-time orders and automated meal programs, and you can order as much or as little as you need. While heavily focused on seniors, there are excellent options also for families with young children.
You can easily order online or via phone, and an automated subscription can be canceled at any time by contacting Magic Kitchen directly. Prices are what would be considered average, and the prices per serving go down the more you order. Shipping costs are somewhat high, but a bigger order easily makes up for it.
Overall it’s a good option for someone who needs a meal service that can be fully customized, even if you have a health condition, and it’s also a great option for someone who’s on a diet or trying to lose weight.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is Magic Kitchen Worth the Price?
The average price per serving ranges between $11 to $14, and that’d be considered a normal price considering the many different options available, along with the high-quality ingredients used for each meal. Yes, it’s worth the price.
Is Magic Kitchen Healthy
All Magic Kitchen meals are made with quality ingredients and you have full control over the menu and the food items you get sent home every week. There’s even a dessert menu with healthy dessert options!
Does Magic Kitchen Deliver Every Day?
Yes, Magic Kitchen is able to accommodate your needs when it comes to delivery. They promise 4-day delivery to anywhere in the United States, but Saturday delivery and FedEx air delivery are also available if you need your meal packages delivered sooner.
Does Magic Kitchen Have Gluten Free?
While the food isn’t cooked in a non-gluten facility, you can request a meal plan without gluten.
Is Magic Kitchen Organic?
Magic Kitchen offers organic products whenever possible, but can’t guarantee the use of organic products for the same reason. The same applies to grain-fed beef.
