[UrMomReadsHN]

I don't think prep work is part of the joy of cooking and I still don't see the point of this. Why does takeout need an alternative?

This is more expensive or just as expensive than takeout.

It has all the downsides of home cooking with ZERO of the upsides

So as far as I can see they are making takeout more expensive and less convenient.

[jayzee]

So I tried it and here is the upside compared to takeout:

- It tastes better. There IS a dramatic difference in the taste when something is served hot straight from the pan as opposed to something that had been cooked 45 minutes ago and has been winding its way towards you in a brown bag

- You can control ingredients like butter/oil/spice etc. You can add/remove and customize it to your taste.

- It is fun. You can cook something tasty and unique and interesting and learn how to cook new dishes.

[UrMomReadsHN]

You can't really customize. You can customize at an extremely superficial level unless you go to the store and buy your own ingredients and are ok with throwing out the ingredients they sent you that you don't like. Which completely defeats the purpose. You can customize takeout the same amount, perhaps even more "hold the onions" "light on the spice" "sub beans for beef" "sub onions for mushrooms" I do it ALL THE TIME.

Perhaps because to me if I am going to cook something, I'm going to cook something that is to my tastes as well as how much cooking as I'm feeling like doing today. I see recipes as suggestions more than anything.

I also don't like my food hot. It tastes much much better when you let it sit for 10 minutes or so.