Bargain Box review
We tried 12 recipes from Bargain Box, 6 recipes from each of their plans. In this guide you will find what’s the difference versus My Food Bag, what plans are on offer, how much they cost, where they are available, and what you can expect when you sign up to this meal kit delivery service.
Updated 31 May 2022
Our review covers:
Our review covers:
Overview of Bargain Box
Bargain Box is a meal kit delivery service that is part of My Food Bag, its main focus is to provide everyday meals at an affordable price. There are 2 plans available, Bargain Box choice (which lets you select from 8 recipes) and Bargain Box veggie. The service is suitable for feeding families, as the recipes tend to be “kiwi classics” and come in large portions, but is also available for couples. The difference with My Food Bag is that the recipes here are less “adventurous” (which some families might prefer) but the meals are of similar quality and the user experience is basically the same with both providers.
Since Bargain Box is part of My Food Bag, they have the same ambitions of sourcing most ingredients from local producers (98% of their ingredients are from NZ), reducing their impact on the environment by using mostly recyclable or compostable packaging and engaging with the community through outreach programmes.
Subscriptions are flexible, there are no minimum contracts and you can change the frequency of deliveries or the number of people the box feeds, as well as change your address, skip or re-schedule deliveries, and pause or cancel your subscription at any time. The cut-off time for switching plans, cancelling or skipping a delivery is 11:59pm Sunday before your next scheduled delivery. There is a separate cut-off for updating your delivery address or changing your delivery time, that is Wednesday at 7:00 pm (after the Sunday cut-off but before your week’s delivery).
Since Bargain Box is part of My Food Bag, they have the same ambitions of sourcing most ingredients from local producers (98% of their ingredients are from NZ), reducing their impact on the environment by using mostly recyclable or compostable packaging and engaging with the community through outreach programmes.
Subscriptions are flexible, there are no minimum contracts and you can change the frequency of deliveries or the number of people the box feeds, as well as change your address, skip or re-schedule deliveries, and pause or cancel your subscription at any time. The cut-off time for switching plans, cancelling or skipping a delivery is 11:59pm Sunday before your next scheduled delivery. There is a separate cut-off for updating your delivery address or changing your delivery time, that is Wednesday at 7:00 pm (after the Sunday cut-off but before your week’s delivery).
Prices, plans and availability
Bargain Box offers 2 plans:
- Bargain Box Choice, where you can select 3, 4 or 5 recipes from a menu of 8 possible options. These are available for 2, 4 or 6 people and the prices are as below:
Number of People |
Number of recipes |
Price |
Price per meal |
2 |
3 |
$89.99 |
$15.00 |
2 |
4 |
$101.99 |
$12.75 |
2 |
5 |
$114.99 |
$11.50 |
4 |
3 |
$109.99 |
$9.17 |
4 |
4 |
$129.99 |
$8.12 |
4 |
5 |
$144.99 |
$7.25 |
6 |
3 |
$135.99 |
$7.56 |
6 |
4 |
$165.99 |
$6.92 |
6 |
5 |
$189.99 |
$6.33 |
- Bargain Box Veggie, which offers vegetarian meals 3 times per week for 2 or 4 people (no option to select the recipes), prices as below:
Number of People |
Number of recipes |
Price |
Price per meal |
2 |
3 |
$87.99 |
$14.67 |
4 |
3 |
$105.99 |
$8.83 |
Bargain Box is available in most of New Zealand, this post lists all the postcodes where delivery is available.
You can’t easily view upcoming recipes for Bargain Box, you can only browse future recipes after you sign up and choose a delivery time, or once you have a subscription and choose the recipes for the following weeks.
You can’t easily view upcoming recipes for Bargain Box, you can only browse future recipes after you sign up and choose a delivery time, or once you have a subscription and choose the recipes for the following weeks.
What’s in the box?
Inside the box you will find all the ingredients needed for the week’s meals. The chilled products (meats and dairy ingredients) are packaged in a compostable wool pouch, mixed in with water-based ice packs. Outside of this section of the box, you will receive fresh produce, spices and recipe cards. The recipe cards show:
- An indication of how long it will take to prepare the meal, the estimated calories per serve and a suggestion of whether you should cook this meal before others.
- The list of ingredients organized by their part in the meal (under headings like “chicken”, “greens”, “sauce” for example)
- Step by step instructions for preparing the meal
- Nutritional details: energy in kilojoules and calories, carbohydrates, protein, fat
- Number of people the recipe will feed
Recipe evaluation
We carried out an investigation of the 2 plans available from Bargain Box, we tried each plan for 2 weeks, feeding 4 people each week. Our aim was to evaluate the recipes based on the estimated cooking time, the number of utensils/ equipment required, and whether or not it would be easy to repeat the meal if you were to source all the ingredients yourself (expecting that if you were to repeat them, they wouldn’t necessarily be on the same level of quality since some seasonings are mixed especially). Because taste is subjective, we didn’t aim to rate the recipes based on this criterion.
In this section you will find photos summarising the cooking process from start to finish, starting with the ingredients as provided by Bargain Box, the oven trays and frying pans required to cook the meal, and the finished meal served in individual plates so you can have an idea of the portion sizes.
In this section you will find photos summarising the cooking process from start to finish, starting with the ingredients as provided by Bargain Box, the oven trays and frying pans required to cook the meal, and the finished meal served in individual plates so you can have an idea of the portion sizes.
Bargain Box Choice plan
First, we tried out the plan Bargain Box Choice for two weeks, selecting 3 meals per week from a menu of 8 possible options. Averaging the information from the recipe cards, the expected cooking time was 35 minutes and 665 calories per meal and we considered all of them would be easy to replicate by sourcing the ingredients independently. Full details can be found below.
Bargain Box Choice meal 1: Garlicky Bacon Pasta with Cherry Toms & Crunchy Pangrattato
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Ingredients / Cooking process
Finished meal
Bargain Box Choice meal 2: Korean Style Chicken Bowl with Stir-Fry Greens & Peanuts
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Ingredients / Cooking process
Finished meal
Bargain Box Choice meal 3: Cheesy Spinach & Corn Quiche with Apple Almond Salad
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Ingredients / Cooking process
Finished meal
Bargain Box Choice meal 4: Lemony Seared Fish with Creamy Leek Sauce & Roasties
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Ingredients / Cooking process
Finished meal
Bargain Box Choice meal 5: Crispy Haloumi with Roasted Veggie Couscous & Garlic Yoghurt
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Ingredients / Cooking process
Finished meal
Bargain Box Choice meal 6: Laksa Fried Chicken with Noodles & Coconut Sauce
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Ingredients / Cooking process
Finished meal
We then tried the Bargain Box Veggie plan. Averaging the information from the recipe cards, the expected cooking time was 35 minutes and 630 calories per meal, and again we considered all of them would be easy to replicate by sourcing the ingredients independently. Full details can be found below.
Bargain Box Veggie meal 1: Grilled Double-Cheese Gnocchi with Mushrooms & Cherry Toms
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Ingredients / Cooking process
Finished meal
Bargain Box Veggie meal 2: Loaded Veggie Mexican Wedges with Chilli Beans & Sour Cream
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Ingredients / Cooking process
Finished meal
Bargain Box Veggie meal 3: Sticky Oven-Baked Tofu with Udon Noodles & Peanut sauce
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Ingredients / Cooking process
Finished meal
Bargain Box Veggie meal 4: Smoky Mexican Veggie Cheeseburger with Chipotle Sour Cream
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Ingredients / Cooking process
Finished meal
Bargain Box Veggie meal 5: Ultimate Mushroom & Lentil Ragu with Spaghetti & Parmesan
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Ingredients / Cooking process
Finished meal
Bargain Box Veggie meal 6: Bang Bang Peanut Cauliflower with Stir-Fry Greens & Garlic Rice
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Ingredients / Cooking process
Finished meal
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between My Food Bag and Bargain Box?
Their website explains that the main difference is that “While My Food Bag is all about introducing Kiwis to new and exciting ingredients and flavours, Bargain Box is totally focused on value and affordability and is perfect for larger families”.
We agree this is the case but we also found the following differences between their offerings:
We agree this is the case but we also found the following differences between their offerings:
- The ingredients included in a Bargain Box are not shared between various recipes. From the recipes we had in My Food Bag, it was common to have one pack containing all the herbs for the week and they were used on various recipes, and also sometimes you would receive one cucumber, and would use half of it for one recipe and the other half in another one. This does not seem to happen for Bargain Box.
- Recipe cards are printed on thinner paper than that used for My food bag
- Some produce used in Bargain Box requires more thorough cleaning compared to My Food bag. For example, potatoes and lettuce are not pre-washed.
How do I subscribe?
You can sign up online, start by viewing the available bags here. You can also check out the information on this page that describes how Bargain Box works.
Can I make changes to my subscription?
Yes, plans are flexible so once you’ve signed up, you can change plans, update your address, skip or change your delivery date and time. The cut-off time for switching plans, cancelling or skipping a delivery is 11:59pm Sunday before your next scheduled delivery.
Do I get notified of deliveries?
Yes, you receive a tracking link via SMS, which you can follow to check the current status of your delivery.
When are the boxes delivered?
Boxes are delivered on Saturday or Monday, depending on your location. With their regional service, deliveries happen on Mondays between 7am and 5pm.
Are the recipes easy to follow?
Yes, the recipe cards (and the app) contain step by step instructions on how to cook the meal.
Is there a mobile app for Bargain Box?
Yes, it’s the same app as for My food Bag (available for apple and android). From it you can update your details, change delivery dates, select your recipes and also access the cooking instructions for the week’s meals.
What do I do with the packaging?
- Wool pouch: re-use, re-cycle, compost or put it in your garden as it’s biodegradable
- Cardboard box: re-use or re-cycle, once flattened it can be collected by your kerbside recycling collection.
- Ice packs: re-use them; alternatively, as they are filled with water you can use them to water your garden or pour them down the sink
- Soft plastics: can be taken to your local soft plastics bin for recycling; you can find your nearest location here
Can I cancel or pause my subscription?
Subscriptions are flexible, while there is no option to “pause” you can cancel and (if you want) restart your subscription at any time. Their FAQ describes how to cancel your subscription. Full details of the cancellation policy can be found here.
Can I switch plans?
Yes, you can change plans, number of people and frequency of deliveries on the account section on the website, you just need to keep in mind the cut-off time for changes.
Can I select my recipes?
Yes, but only on for the plan “Bargain Box Choice”.
Where is Bargain Box available?
Bargain Box reaches approximately 86% of kiwis throughout the country, this post lists all the postcodes where delivery is available.
Does Bargain Box cater for food allergies?
At this stage, Bargain Box does not offer specific boxes for people with food allergies or dietary needs other than vegetarian, full details can be found here. Its parent company, My Food bag, does offer specific plans for “Gluten Free” and “Plant Based” (vegan and dairy free) diets. In addition, recipes online display the relevant allergen information, as do the labels in the actual ingredients in the box.
Does Bargain Box provide nutritional information?
At the bottom of each recipe card, you will find the total calories, carbohydrate, protein and fat amount per equal portion for the meal, so you know what you’re eating for your own dietary needs.
Do I need any ingredients not included in the box?
Yes, you will usually need some “pantry items” that you will most likely have at your disposal, basic things like oil, milk, eggs, salt, pepper, flour, butter, brown sugar, white vinegar, etc. For some recipes you will require less common ingredients like wholegrain mustard, rice vinegar and corn starch. Look out for the email “What’s in your bag” (which is sent out every Tuesday), this lists all the “pantry staples” you will need for each recipe.
What is the average calorie content per meal?
Bargain Box doesn’t list an average calorie content per meal on their site.
From the recipes we tried, the overall calorie average was 647 calories, the average calories per meal plan was as follows: “Bargain Box choice” 665 calories, “Bargain Box Veggie” 630 calories.
From the recipes we tried, the overall calorie average was 647 calories, the average calories per meal plan was as follows: “Bargain Box choice” 665 calories, “Bargain Box Veggie” 630 calories.
Are there any leftovers?
While the aim of all these meal kits is to reduce food waste, sometimes the packets of pasta, noodles and spices are not made to measure so you end up with some left overs. From the recipes we tried, we had left overs of half a bag of noodles, ¼ of a bag of couscous, 1/3 of a bag of spaghetti. Luckily, these are dry items that don’t need refrigeration so you have plenty of time to find something else you can use them on. We also had too much lettuce provided for one of the meals, it was enough to turn it into a salad the next day.
Are there any loyalty offers and perks?
Bargain Box subscribers are eligible to the same perks as those offered by My Food Bag. There is a loyalty program called “The Foodie Club”, you have to sign up to it separately but it’s free to do so. At the time of writing, you get rewards (delivered along with your regular box) on weeks 4 and 8. These rewards are either a digital thermometer or a French toast skillet bake box on week 4, and a beef wellington kit or a cast iron skillet on week 8.
There are various ways to save on Bargain Box subscriptions:
There are various ways to save on Bargain Box subscriptions:
- Vouchers: the company usually offers a discount on your first box, $30 off at the time of writing.
- Friend referrals: If you are referred to join Bargain Box by an existing subscriber, you'll both get $30 off. You will need to enter your friend’s unique referral code during check out when you subscribe. The process of referring friends is described here. Terms apply.
Bargain Box - Our Conclusion
Bargain Box provides value meals of comparable quality to other meal kit providers and it’s a good option for families for the following reasons:
Other things we liked about Bargain Box we had already mentioned on our review for My Food Bag, they apply to both as they use the same packaging, delivery channels, and technology infrastructure:
- This is the only meal provider we’ve found whose plans are able to feed 6 people (but it’s also available for couples)
- The portions tend to be rather large
- Most of their recipes would suit “fussy eaters” since many of the meals are “kiwi classics” like burgers, pastas and quiches
- Offers low prices per meal, especially for larger parties
Other things we liked about Bargain Box we had already mentioned on our review for My Food Bag, they apply to both as they use the same packaging, delivery channels, and technology infrastructure:
- Boxes are available in most areas of New Zealand and subscriptions are flexible
- The company sources 98% of their ingredients from local producers and is actively engaged with the community.
- The app is very useful: it allows you to follow the recipes step by step from your phone, you can also edit your subscription (change plans, skip deliveries, etc.) and select recipes (if you’re on a plan that allows this).
- Most of the packaging is compostable or recyclable. They use a compostable wool pouch or a cardboard box to keep the meat and dairy products chilled. The ice packs are filled with water, unlike other providers that use plastic pouches and ice packs filled with gel.