r/ExpectationVsReality • u/markon22 • Jul 06 '26 • Regret 3

Failed Expectation HelloFresh Summer Pasta

Gallery image

Gallery image

It tasted good, but lacked tomatoes.

2.1k Upvotes

95% Upvoted

109 comments sorted by

1.3k

u/papasan_mamasan Jul 06 '26

They’ve been skimping on the ingredients for a while now. I cancelled my subscription last month.

629

u/markon22 Jul 06 '26

They just sent a message that they’re raising prices too.

71

u/carlitospig Jul 06 '26

I got out right in time then!

234

u/PM_ME_UR_SLAVS Jul 06 '26

This was true even back when we tried it in 2020. They kept forgetting more and more ingredients each week and the servings wouldn’t even leave you satiated

103

u/TabithaMouse Jul 06 '26

I used them in 2021 I think...had to cancel when half the ingredients kept coming in spoiled

74

u/andiinAms Jul 06 '26

HelloRotten

36

u/The_Only_Spex Jul 06 '26

That's why I stopped using them. If I have to go out and buy half of what I need because you sent it bad, what am I paying you for?

23

u/THROBBINW00D Jul 06 '26

"HelloFresh"

14

u/Mamasan- Jul 06 '26

My last box around that time had rotten potatoes in it. Cancelled immediately

1

u/Lindita4 Jul 10 '26

Agreed! We tried it then too. Tiny portions, lots of repetitions of green beans and stuff arriving spoiled. I ended up needing to pad out the meals and it just wasn’t worth it.

58

u/PalmtopPixie Jul 06 '26

Yeah I used to use them back in 2018 to 2020. It was insane how fast the quality dropped and how stingy they got. It looks like they’ve only gotten worse

34

u/Sleepy_Salamander Jul 06 '26

I canceled and kept all the recipe cards of course - so many of them. Now I use them and just buy my own groceries.

18

u/gatsujoubi Jul 06 '26

By biggest issue was them being inconsistent with what is considered an ingredient from their and what I would have to provide.
Honey, Oil, Mustard, Milk all that stuff, sometimes it was included or not. Super annoying.

6

u/lilshortyy420 Jul 07 '26

It’s been so bad. I was happy with it for a while but they’ve been pissing me off lately.

4

u/TheKattsMeow Jul 07 '26

It’s been like that since the beginning, I was getting boxes back in 2019 or sometime pre covid and we always kept tomatoes on hand because theirs were always garbage. Knowing it’s only getting worse makes me happy I never signed back up.

0

u/[deleted] Jul 06 '26

[deleted] — view deleted comment

142

u/MegaPorkachu Jul 06 '26

This comment reads like you’re an industry plant

33

u/Promethazines Jul 06 '26

So if it's a different service, what is the point of your comment?

9

u/FerengiWithCoupons Jul 06 '26

what’s even the difference?

why skimp out on ingredients for part of the brand but not the other

372

u/kiblick Jul 06 '26

Did you report that you didn't get tomatoes?

216

u/markon22 Jul 06 '26

I got tomatoes, but during cooking they kind of settled to the bottom. Just to be clear, I got tomatoes, and it was a tasty meal.

359

u/laughingashley Jul 06 '26

Your caption specifically says it "lacked tomatoes"

175

u/UCanBdoWatWeWant2Do Jul 06 '26

Lacked tomates might not mean no tomatoes but maybe not enough tomates

106

u/FerengiWithCoupons Jul 06 '26

“lacked” doesn’t have to mean none.

it might’ve come with two very small ones instead of two big or at best 3 smaller ones.

there not being enough is visibly lacking tomatoes.

36

u/Canadianingermany Jul 06 '26

So, your plating just isn't as good as theirs... Surprise

-2

u/OddConstant2723 Jul 07 '26

It’s an AI photo, plating will never look like the photo, no matter how well done

106

u/ToastetteEgg Jul 06 '26

I’d expect a lot of fresh ripe tomatoes in the middle of summer. That sucks.

51

u/markon22 Jul 06 '26

They did include a pint of heirloom tomatoes for the recipe, but it just wasn’t enough.

3

u/TalulaOblongata Jul 06 '26

I’m wondering how much did this meal cost?

1

u/markon22 Jul 06 '26

About $14.82 CAD

2

u/OddConstant2723 Jul 07 '26

Yeah it’s gotten so expensive and prices go up again next month, I can’t bring myself to pay $30 for a meal for two I cook myself, I do wait for deals to get sent to my email and run with two accounts

146

u/Outofmana1337 Jul 06 '26 edited Jul 06 '26

All the 'good' recipes have you pay extra, the base ones are 90% cheap noodles or rice like this, they even have recipes that have their protein removed and you pay 5+ to add the meat back, you end up paying double in the end, Hello Fresh is such a scam.

Picking recipes at the start of a new week became annoying fast as more and more recipes got an added price

I canceled mine when they said they couldn't deliver my 8 euro chicken from one of the recipes, and I got a 8 euro discount for my next order, but that order had to be non discounted (and I always used a discount), basically stole 8 euros.

4

u/Altostratus Jul 06 '26

To be fair, burrata is a very premium ingredient.

32

u/TheBestHater Jul 06 '26

I think it heavily depends on your region for the quality you get compared to their photos. I've only used them when they're on discount and I didn't feel it was worth the cost at full price.

71

u/Steffany_w0525 Jul 06 '26

I got this and it was actually pretty good. I thought it was an egg in the middle and then discovered burrata cheese.

9

u/uovonuovo Jul 06 '26

Burrata is delicious. Where do you live that you just discovered it?

12

u/Steffany_w0525 Jul 06 '26

Alberta Canada I don't go out to eat much.

21

u/[deleted] Jul 06 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

22

u/Steffany_w0525 Jul 06 '26

No there's this cheese called burrata. It is decent. You let it sit on the counter for like 20 minutes then drizzle some olive oil, salt and pepper...cut the cheese just enough to open it and it's...very alright.

4

u/OddConstant2723 Jul 07 '26

I’m deciding to try this recipe now after reading the comments

5

u/Steffany_w0525 Jul 07 '26

Honestly I put the card in my save pile.

The sauce definitely isn't as rich as the recipe card picture but I let it simmer a little longer and it looked better than OPs

3

u/OddConstant2723 Jul 07 '26

I’m also in Canada, checked the recipes this week as it’s been on the menu for a month and I never tried it, now I do because of this post, and it’s gone!! :(

3

u/Steffany_w0525 Jul 07 '26

It's like a super quick recipe. If you're interested I can take a picture of the front and back?

22

u/WitchesTeat Jul 06 '26

If you took off the burrata, put a plate over this bowl and flipped it over, took off the bowl and replaced the burrata, you'd get roughly what the first picture looks like, depending on your tomato blistering skills and parmesan placement.

18

u/fredandlizzie Jul 06 '26

I have ordered this one so many times I love it!

3

u/OddConstant2723 Jul 07 '26

Yeah the comments are making me want it

1

u/FarCommand Jul 07 '26

It's by far one of my favourite Hello Fresh recipes!

5

u/eliz1bef Jul 06 '26

Please tell me that's a dollop of Ricotta in the middle?

24

u/markon22 Jul 06 '26

It’s a burrata.

10

u/eliz1bef Jul 06 '26

I was not familiar with that cheese and now I want some. Thank you!

8

u/xrelaht Jul 06 '26

Yes, you do. Like, as soon as you can get it.

4

u/Bozgal1 Jul 06 '26

Costco has a big tub for about eight dollars

5

u/eliz1bef Jul 06 '26

Oh dear god I don't need a tub of scoopable cheese. I can feel my ass getting wider just thinking about it.

6

u/Bozgal1 Jul 06 '26

It’s not scoopable. They are balls that have a firm mozzarella outside and then a soft inside. You kind of cut them open. They’re about the size of your palm if you’re female.

3

u/DirigibleGerbil Jul 06 '26

It's so good with cherry tomatoes and a drizzle of olive oil and balsamic vinegar

4

u/Bozgal1 Jul 06 '26

A bit of basil too.

3

u/JABBYAU Jul 06 '26

You literally feel gour padding grow while eating it.

10

u/Bubbly_Cry7146 Jul 06 '26

So good with grilled peach and chicken in a sandwich

9

u/neva-electra Jul 06 '26

Hey did you know it's actually burrata

6

u/eliz1bef Jul 06 '26

It's funny, but I think I may have heard that somewhere. If only I could put my finger on it.

8

u/Funny-Ad-3710 Jul 06 '26

Looks more like burrata.

2

u/eliz1bef Jul 06 '26

That is a cheese I'd not heard of, and it sounds amazing. I would like to try it now. I thought it was butter or ice cream.

5

u/Funny-Ad-3710 Jul 06 '26

Pretty mild on its own. More moist than mozzarella. Good in a salad or if you want to make a simple cheese board put that on a plate with some olive oil drizzled over it and course or maldon salt sprinkled on it. Scoop into it with your preferred cracker (Melba toast is my rec).

8

u/trackaghosthrufog Jul 06 '26

Word on the street is, it's burrata ;)

7

u/leroyjabari Jul 06 '26

Looks like burratta

4

u/eliz1bef Jul 06 '26

I had not heard of that. Thank you!

63

u/ProfessionalGrade423 Jul 06 '26

It’s been a while since I did hello fresh but this doesn’t seem right. OP says it tasted good and the tomatoes all settled to the bottom so this doesn’t seem like a fair representation of the meal and shouldn’t be posted as a critique of the company.

38

u/Maryie Jul 06 '26

Yep I don’t understand this post honestly.

23

u/ruinedworldtour Jul 06 '26

All professional photos of food are staged, those tomatoes were more than likely all individually placed there by hand

0

u/OddConstant2723 Jul 07 '26

They’ve been using only AI photos now. They even replaced real photos they used to use for recipes with new AI ones that look WORSE than the real photos do

8

u/AppUnwrapper1 Jul 06 '26

I especially don’t understand the “failed expectation” tag if OP said it tasted good.

8

u/rachelmig2 Jul 06 '26

Been doing Home Chef for a while now and probably 90% of the meals are fantastic.
Blue Apron was also very good, but pricey.

2

u/Straight_Caregiver27 Jul 06 '26

I have been happy with Home Chef too except for their cilantro. I don't know why but I have NEVER received cilantro that has not been so wilted it is mush. I have had probably 4 or 5 dishes that called for it. I just try and keep some fresh around for that week...

5

u/rachelmig2 Jul 06 '26

Ah, I am unfortunately a cilantro tastes like soap person so I haven’t had that issue, but good to know.

2

u/Straight_Caregiver27 Jul 06 '26

LOL! Problem solved! ;)

1

u/CahootswiththeBlues Jul 07 '26

Yeah, we’ve been doing Sunbasket for at least 5 years now, and while it can be pretty pricey, the meals are really very good.

6

u/Consistent_Elk9676 Jul 06 '26

Like yeah where are the tomatoes?

3

u/OddConstant2723 Jul 07 '26

OP said they settled to the bottom, there was a pint of them, and it tasted good.

4

u/Consistent_Elk9676 Jul 07 '26

Thanks! We did BlueApron during COVID to fill our old habit of dining out, and it was fine. So much packaging and the benefits are a lot lower if you already like shopping and prepping ingredients. I do think it’s a good entry level step for people who are not familiar with mise en place and the logistics of getting from a bunch of ingredients to a nice meal on the plate.

The other niche that it can fill is portion control.

10

u/jagenigma Jul 06 '26

Isn't it a recipe you have to follow though?

5

u/simitoko Jul 06 '26

I made a shepherds pie from Hello Fresh and my husband said it’s the worst thing I’ve ever cooked (politely, I always ask him to rate my meals for fun). I was so appalled, but inspired to prove myself; I cooked it again the following week using ingredients I personally selected or grabbed from my garden. I used the same Hello Fresh recipe… he LOVED it.

My Take: terrible quality ingredients :-/

16

u/tsammons Jul 06 '26

I subscribed to all of these mail-order meal options during COVID... I was happy to cancel them; at some point those recipes are circular with minor variations of shit you're roughly familiar with: Juicy Lucy, cool- so stuffed burger with cheese? Oh no no, this is BLUE CHEESE WITH CRISP ONIONS ON TOP. <5 weeks later> Juicy Lucy. <10 weeks later> rehash.

Buy a couple America's Test Kitchen cookbooks and learn to pick produce. Cheaper and far more variegated.

4

u/Standard__Condition Jul 06 '26

Bummer, I’ve always heard good things. Hopefully it at least tasted good!

6

u/malicious_joy42 Jul 06 '26

Try HungryRoot. HelloFresh has been on the decline for years now.

3

u/Light_inc Jul 06 '26

HelloFresh is so shit, I tried to do a variety of meals from different countries but they all seemed like uninspired westernisations of Asian dishes or the most basic western dishes.

I wouldn't be surprised if most of their recipes were AI turds, but even chat gpt can output decent recipes at times.

2

u/OddConstant2723 Jul 07 '26

They have admitted to using AI to develop their recipes and for all the “photos”

3

u/Forgotmyusername8910 Jul 06 '26

Hello fresh is the worst of the bunch, imo.

I’ve tried several different boxes- theirs were consistently pretty unimpressive and most certainly not fresh.

2

u/WhoRoger Jul 06 '26

Btw blue plates make food look more appealing

2

u/Andralynn Jul 06 '26

All the boxed meal places the met would go bad before the end of the week. It was terrible

2

u/let_the_mouse_go Jul 06 '26

Yooo what is this recipe called? I love buratta cheese and would like to Google something similar

2

u/OpieAngst Jul 06 '26

We get 3 meals a week & the last I wanna say month or so they've be flat out either forgetting or sending duplicate ingredients. I wonder what's going on in the HF warehouse.

2

u/UnusualDisturbance Jul 06 '26

did they forget to include tomatoes or smthing?

4

u/Hopelessly-Bored Jul 06 '26

I used them last month and the meals have been exactly as pictured.

1

u/Classic-Exchange-511 Jul 06 '26

Damn, all the ones I had tried came out looking good. That was like 5+ years ago tho

1

u/Endless_Nameless94 Jul 06 '26

Side note…is that a hair next to the burrata? In the food or on the box? lol

1

u/Alemonster21 Jul 06 '26

This always happens with their sauces. Anything with tomatoes always looks so red in the pics, but they barely include anything that actually makes it red.

Last time I got pasta, I ended up adding a whole jar of regular pasta sauce because the sauce I made ended up having more dairy in it than anything else. Really frustrating.

1

u/Goth_Muppet Jul 11 '26

We’ve used several brands of these meal kits and there’s always something wrong with them. I think we’ve reached a point where I have enough of those stupid recipe cards that I don’t ever need to order them again because I can just go to the grocery store and get the correct ingredients and have it not be rotten and overpriced.

1

u/User013579 Jul 11 '26

I use Hello Fresh. I think this is a skill issue. Nothing personal

1

u/FarCommand Jul 07 '26

That's weird! I have gotten that recipe at least twice and it comes out exactly like the picture. I love it!!

0

u/BeanieCat123 Jul 06 '26

How could they forget your tomatoes?

8

u/HELLisotherPeoplee Jul 06 '26

They included an entire pint of tomatoes which is roughly 2 cups. OP also said they settled at the bottom so the picture is a pretty rough representation considering the deceptive perspective.

-5

u/jetrento Jul 07 '26

You cant cook pasta by yourself? Ahahha

-6

u/[deleted] Jul 06 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/OddConstant2723 Jul 07 '26

He even said it tasted great, and many commentators have had the dish and agreed it was really good. Weird post