Yes, Blue Apron offers gluten-free meal options for customers with dietary restrictions or preferences. The company provides ingredients and recipes that are specially designed to exclude gluten for those who need or want to avoid it in their diets.
Blue Apron’s Approach to Gluten-Free
Blue Apron recognizes that an increasing number of consumers require or prefer gluten-free meal solutions. According to various surveys and reports, approximitely 18 million Americans have adopted a gluten-free or gluten-restricted diet. Blue Apron has responded to this growing demand by making gluten-free meal options readily available.
The company’s approach to gluten-free is comprehensive. It starts with carefully sourcing and selecting ingredients from suppliers who can ensure gluten-free integrity throughout the supply chain. All gluten-free items are clearly marked. The recipes are crafted to align with gluten-free dietary needs. Additionally, the prep instructions provided with all orders contain allergen information, enabling customers to make informed choices.
Ingredient Sourcing Process
Blue Apron goes through a rigorous review process for all ingredients used in its gluten-free meals:
- Suppliers are required to provide certification that ingredients supplied are gluten-free.
- Ingredients are cross-checked against Blue Apron’s regularly updated list of gluten-containing foods.
- Suppliers must pass an audit ensuring proper protocols to keep gluten-free items segregated from other ingredients.
- Periodic testing is done to validate ingredients are meeting the less than 20ppm standard.
This level of scrutiny allows Blue Apron to stand behind the gluten-free status of its meal options.
Gluten-Free Recipes and Menus
Gluten-free customers can choose from a variety of recipes when selecting their weekly meal plan. Blue Apron’s culinary team designs dozens of gluten-free recipes spanning diverse cuisines and dietary preferences. The recipes range from familiar comfort foods to more adventurous international dishes. They are specially crafted to ensure no gluten-containing ingredients are included.
In addition to individual recipes labeled gluten-free, Blue Apron offers a gluten-free menu each week. The special menu features two recipes per meal specifically tailored to be gluten-free. So customers who require gluten-free have an easy way to select compliant options.
Prep Instructions and Allergen Information
All Blue Apron recipes include clearly labeled prep instructions accessible on the company’s website and app. These instructions call out allergens like gluten for each recipe. When cooking gluten-free dishes, customers can easily identify and avoid ingredients that may cause issues.
Blue Apron also indicates allergens directly on the packaging for each meal ingredient. Gluten is clearly called out on ingredient bags and bottles. This provides an extra layer of safety to prevent any cross-contamination during the cooking process.
Safe Food Handling Processes
In Blue Apron’s meal preparation facilities, protocols are in place to avoid cross-contamination of gluten-free ingredients and recipes:
- Gluten-free items are stored and prepared in separate areas from gluten-containing foods.
- Employees preparing gluten-free meals follow extensive safety, sanitation, and training procedures.
- Meals are assembled individually per order, avoiding the risk of mixing.
However, Blue Apron notes that its kitchens are not certified gluten-free facilities. The company states that individuals with celiac disease or severe gluten sensitivity should use caution when selecting meals.
How to Order Gluten-Free from Blue Apron
ordering gluten-free meals from Blue Apron is a straightforward process:
- Browse gluten-free recipes – Customers can search for and select individual gluten-free recipes to add to their weekly order.
- Choose the gluten-free menu – Each week, Blue Apron offers a special menu featuring only gluten-free recipes. Customers can pick this menu to receive two gluten-free meals.
- Note gluten-free preference – When signing up, customers can indicate gluten-free as a food preference. Blue Apron will suggest compliant recipes and menus each week.
- Receive recipe instructions – All orders include recipe instructions that clearly call out gluten and other allergens to aid in safe preparation.
- Follow safety practices – Blue Apron advises following best practices around safe gluten-free handling when cooking meals at home.
The company provides various resources to help customers craft gluten-free orders including FAQs, blog articles, and customer service support.
Blue Apron Gluten-Free Meal Examples
To give a better idea of the gluten-free meal options available from Blue Apron, here are some examples along with key recipe details:
1. Chipotle Chicken Tostadas
Flavorful shredded chicken and vegetables atop crispy corn tostadas. Gluten-free features include:
- Corn tostadas certified gluten-free
- Chicken and veggies contain no gluten-based ingredients
- Salsa and crema are prepared without gluten-containing foods
2. Summer Vegetable Stir-Fry
Fresh seasonal veggies stir-fried with shrimp or chicken. How this recipe avoids gluten:
- Sauce is thickened with cornstarch, not wheat flour
- Naturally gluten-free ingredients like bell peppers, carrots, snap peas
- Shrimp, chicken, and oils used contain no gluten
3. Pork Banh Mi Salad
Marinated pork is served over a salad of fresh greens, vegetables, and herbs. Gluten-free aspects include:
- No bread or baguette included
- Gluten-free fish sauce and mayonnaise used
- Naturally gluten-free vegetables and herbs
4. Beef Tacos with Pickled Onions
Savory, spice-rubbed beef tacos in corn tortillas with fresh salsas and pickled onions. Gluten-free qualifications:
- Corn tortillas verified gluten-free
- Beef, onions, and tomato-based salsas contain no gluten
- Spice rub excludes wheat and flour
These examples illustrate the diverse gluten-free meal choices Blue Apron provides. Customers have flexibility to accommodate taste preferences while meeting their dietary needs.
Benefits of Choosing Blue Apron for Gluten-Free
Blue Apron provides several advantages for those seeking convenient, gluten-free meal solutions:
Wide Variety of Recipes
Blue Apron offers dozens of different gluten-free recipes covering multiple cuisines and dietary preferences like vegetarian. Customers aren’t limited to just a few options.
Pre-Portioned Ingredients
Meals arrive with pre-measured ingredients, making it easy to follow recipe steps without needing to purchase/measure items separately.
Clear Allergen Labeling
Recipes and packaging distinctly identify gluten-containing components, enabling informed choices during prep and cooking.
Time Savings
Prepped ingredients and straightforward recipes provide convenience compared to sourcing and planning gluten-free meals from scratch.
Trusted Safety Procedures
Blue Apron’s supply chain oversight, handling policies, and allergen protocols promote confidence in gluten-free integrity.
Nutrition Balance
Meals provide well-rounded nutrition, an important consideration for those avoiding gluten who still need to maintain a healthy diet.
Affordability
Cost per serving is typically cheaper compared to other gluten-free meal delivery services
Potential Drawbacks of Blue Apron for Gluten-Free
While Blue Apron offers many gluten-free advantages, there are also some drawbacks customers should be aware of:
Risk for Contamination
Despite Blue Apron’s precautions, its facilities are not certified gluten-free, so risk of cross-contamination exists.
Limited Plan Flexibility
Menus are pre-set each week, so customers must select from recipes available and can’t fully customize.
Protein Portion Sizes
Some find the meat serving sizes to be on the smaller side, especially for some recipes.
Recipe Complexity
While improving, some recipes still involve many components and preparation steps.
Shipping/Delivery Issues
Late, missed, or damaged deliveries can force last-minute meal plan changes.
How Blue Apron Compares to Other Gluten-Free Meal Delivery Services
Blue Apron faces increasing competition in the meal kit delivery space from new and emerging brands. Several of these competitors also offer gluten-free meal choices and plans. Here’s an overview of how Blue Apron compares:
HelloFresh
– More chef-created recipes with restaurant influence
– Pre-made sauces and sides for quicker preparation
– Lower calorie meal options available
– More expensive for same serving sizes
– Fewer total gluten-free choices
Home Chef
– Menu categories help filter meal selection
– More customizable protein options
– Oven-ready meals for super quick prep
– Pricing similar to Blue Apron
– Smaller gluten-free selection outside special menu
Green Chef
– Specialized meal plans including gulten-free
– Organic ingredients used as much as possible
– Nutritionist-approved recipes
– Much higher cost per meal
– Limited delivery regions currently
Sun Basket
– Very wide assortment of gluten-free recipes
– Options like smoothies and breakfast bowls
– Targeted wellness programs available
– More complicated recipes and techniques
– Among the most expensive providers
Compared to competitors, Blue Apron strikes a solid balance of affordability, ease of use, customization flexibility, nutrition, and menu variety in its gluten-free offerings.
Frequently Asked Questions About Blue Apron Gluten-Free
Is Blue Apron 100% gluten-free?
No, Blue Apron is not an entirely gluten-free company. They offer gluten-free meals and options but their kitchens are not certified gluten-free facilities.
What happens if Blue Apron sends an incorrect order?
If any items are missing or incorrect in an order, customers should contact Blue Apron’s customer experience team who will determine the appropriate resolution based on the situation. Refunds, credits, or replacement items may be issued.
Can I choose my own recipes on a gluten-free plan?
Blue Apron’s meal plan options are pre-set menus each week. But customers can select recipes from upcoming weeks’ menus that are tagged as gluten-free when placing orders.
Is Blue Apron healthy for gluten-free diets?
Yes, Blue Apron gluten-free meals are designed to be healthful and nutritious using whole food ingredients, healthy fats, lean proteins, and produce while avoiding processed items.
Does Blue Apron offer desserts and snacks that are gluten-free?
Currently, Blue Apron’s menu focuses mainly on main entrees and does not consistently include dedicated gluten-free dessert or snack options. Some weeks may feature a gluten-free side treat.
Conclusion
In summary, Blue Apron has taken steps to provide a wide selection of gluten-free meals and menus. The company’s processes help identify ingredients that qualify while promoting safety and integrity through supply chain vetting and handling precautions. While not 100% gluten-free, Blue Apron gives those avoiding gluten more convenience and flexibility. Comparing favorably to competitors, Blue Apron balances cost, variety, nutrition and transparency. Their gluten-free offerings continue to expand and improve while maintaining the service’s fundamental value proposition – fresh, customizable home cooking with simplified recipes and pre-portioned ingredients.