I was very kindly sent some vegan meals to try by Planty. I wasn’t asked to write this review and all opinions are 100% my own.
I rarely finish work before 8 pm and then start to cook so Planty meals have been a lifesaver for me!
As the meals are frozen and heat up in under ten minutes, they’re perfect for those evenings when I’ve been really hungry and wanted something fast. Or when I haven’t had a chance to go to the supermarket.
In this review, I’ll explain how Planty works and give you my honest opinion about whether you should try it. If you want to give it a go, you’re welcome to use my discount code CV25 for 25% off.
Planty has made my list of the 9 best vegan meal delivery services in the UK. Click here to see who else made the cut.
What is Planty?
Planty is a plant-based food delivery company in the UK. They offer healthy vegan meals which are approved by nutritionists, cooked by chefs, flash-frozen and delivered to your door. So all you have to do is heat it up and eat it up.
You can choose a box of 6, 8 or 10 meals as a one-off deliver or as a regular subscription. If you take the subscription option it’s a bit cheaper and you can cancel at any time.
Here’s what the box looked like when it arrived…
If you aren’t home, the delivery can be left in a safe place outside. Planty says that the meals will stay frozen for 24 hours thanks to the insulated boxes.
Is Planty eco-friendly?
As an eco-conscious vegan, one of the things that concerned me at first about having a box of six meals delivered is the carbon footprint – both from the delivery and the packaging.
However, I needn’t have worried because Planty’s delivery is carbon-neutral! You can read more about that here. Planty’s packaging is 100% recyclable or compostable as well.
Another benefit of Planty meals is that there’s zero food waste as everything is perfectly portioned.
Planty meal reviews
I ordered a selection of six meals from Planty’s menu which has a choice of 15 options. Here’s what I went for. Read on for photos and mini reviews of each. Please bear in mind that all of my photos are unedited because I want you to see what the food actually looks like in real life, not just the professionally-styled version!
1. Wild Mushroom & Truffle Rigatoni
This meal contains rigatoni pasta in a creamy wild mushroom and truffle sauce with green peas, cavolo nero and leeks.
I’d never heard of cavolo nero, but Google tells me that it’s a type of kale, that’s also known as black cabbage. It had a very strong taste and smell that wasn’t for me, but I picked it out and the rest of the meal was lovely!
2. BBQ Banana Blossom Burrito
I did wonder how a burrito could possibly be a frozen ready meal, until I realised that this is a ‘naked’ burrito so no wrap is needed. You could always add your own wrap if you were so inclined!
This burrito contained banana blossom, wholegrain rice, black beans, cherry tomatoes, sweetcorn, coriander salsa and pickled red cabbage. It was super-tasty, filling and felt like I was nourishing my body as I ate it.
3. Sweet Chilli Tempeh Stir Fry
This stir fry was packed with tempeh pieces, chop suey noodles and vegetables. The tempeh was the best bit and it was cooked to perfection, much better than when I’ve cooked tempeh myself at home.
This dish was quite spicy, but I loved that. The sweet chilli gave it a real kick and added lots of flavour.
4. Shepherd-less Pie
This vegan shepherds pie is made with lentil and soya mince and root vegetable mash and is topped with toasted pumpkin and fennel seeds.
Shepherd’s pie is a dish that I love, but it’s quite time-consuming to make. This version also tasted much healthier than any that I would make myself, with so many veggies included. The only bit I didn’t like was the fennel seeds, as to me, fennel tastes like sambuca and that gives me bad memories!
5. Mac ‘no’ Cheese
This is the meal that I was most excited to try as I am yet to find a vegan mac and cheese that tastes amazing. When I was a vegetarian, mac and cheese was my favourite meal and it’s hard to make without dairy.
I wasn’t disappointed at all by Planty’s version of vegan macaroni cheese. It was so creamy and I loved that it also had cherry tomatoes and broccoli on top. Made with oat milk and cashews, it didn’t have the horrid vegan cheese taste that some coconut-based cheese sauces have.
6. Yaki-Miso Udon Noodles
This dish is made with fat udon noodles, big chunks of roasted tofu, bok choi, shimeji mushrooms, aubergine, peanuts and sesame seeds in a rich miso sauce.
This meal was delicious and tasted just like a takeaway – although a whole lot healthier!
How much do Planty meals cost?
The price of each Planty meal is between £4.95 and £7.60, depending on how many you order and whether you order as a one-off or as a regular subscription.
Use discount code CV25 for 25% OFF
Enter the code on the Planty website for a discount on your first subscription or one-off order
The table below shows the prices of Planty meals before your 25% discount is added…
| Box size | Subscription | One-off |
|---|---|---|
| 6 meals | £6.70 | £7.60 |
| 8 meals | £5.75 | £6.45 |
| 10 meals | £4.95 | £5.45 |
Pros and cons of Planty
- Convenient – You store the meals in your freezer and just microwave them when needed. You can also use the oven, but Planty recommends microwaving.
- Healthy – Every Planty meal is packed full of plant-based goodness and portions are just the right size
- Sustainable – The packaging is 100% recyclable and delivery is carbon-neutral
- Not ideal for couples – Meals are all single-serving and heating two at once in the microwave is tricky
Planty Review
Summary
I would recommend Planty meals to anyone who doesn’t always have the time to cook at home and wants a convenient back-up to keep in the freezer. Planty meals are healthy, tasty and ready in minutes.
For more vegan meal delivery ideas, take a look at my list of the best vegan meal delivery companies in the UK.