[dbot]

Cooking involves 3 steps: (1) recipe selection, (2) ingredient acquisition, and (3) cooking.

Blue Apron takes care of the first two, which I don't enjoy, and let's me do (3), which I very much enjoy. A grocery store doesn't solve (1) and only partially solves (2) (often has item availability, too much quantity issues, and then I have to measure it, too).

[ghaff]

I'd argue prep and cleanup are in there too which I enjoy less. Some kits help with the first and none help with the second :-)

But that's a good way of looking at it. Personally I like selecting (and modifying) recipes. I agree that getting the ingredients is often a pain--especially to the degree they invalidate the first step. My general philosophy is that if any of these services get people cooking rather than eating fast food that's a good thing.