Simmer vs Gousto: Which is Better?
Simmer and Gousto are completely different services. Simmer delivers ready-to-eat meal prep, while Gousto is a recipe box where you cook. Here's how they compare.
Looking for something better?
HomeCooks offers restaurant-quality meals made by independent UK chefs. High protein (30-60g), balanced macros, 200+ dishes. Whether you're building muscle, losing weight, or just eating well - properly nutritious food that actually tastes great.
Quick Comparison
| Simmer | Gousto | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Ready to eat | Recipe box (you cook) |
| Prep time | 3-4 minutes | 10-50 minutes |
| Price per meal | £7.49-£7.96 | £3.20-£10.25/serving |
| Menu size | 22 dishes (50+ rotating) | 175+ recipes |
| Best for | Maximum convenience | Recipe variety/cooking |
Simmer
Simmer is a meal prep service delivering chilled, ready-to-eat meals with 30-50g protein per portion. No cooking required - just heat and eat in 3-4 minutes. They offer 22 dishes at a time with a rotating menu of 50+ recipes.
Gousto
Gousto is the UK's most popular recipe box with 175+ recipes per week. They deliver pre-portioned ingredients with recipes to cook at home. Great variety but requires 10-50 minutes cooking time plus washing up.
Key Differences
Cooking Required
Fundamental difference: Simmer is fully prepared, just microwave 3-4 minutes. Gousto requires cooking everything yourself - from quick 10-minute meals to 50-minute elaborate dishes.
Convenience vs Variety
Simmer: Maximum convenience, no cooking, 22 dishes (50+ rotating). Gousto: More variety (175+ recipes) but you do all the work. Classic trade-off.
Price
Gousto is £3.20-£10.25/serving but you're buying ingredients to cook. Simmer (£7.49-£7.96) includes chef preparation. Factor in your time.
Storage
Both are chilled/fresh - Simmer meals need eating within a few days. Gousto delivers fresh ingredients that must be used within the week.
Which Should You Choose?
- Choose Simmer if convenience is your priority. No cooking, no washing up, just heat and eat.
- Choose Gousto if you enjoy cooking and want maximum recipe variety. Be prepared to spend time in the kitchen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Simmer or Gousto more convenient?
Simmer by far. Heat and eat in 3-4 minutes vs 10-50 minutes cooking plus washing up with Gousto.
Which has more variety?
Gousto offers 175+ recipes per week vs Simmer's 22 dishes (50+ rotating). But Gousto requires cooking everything yourself.
Which is cheaper?
Gousto appears cheaper per serving, but you're paying for ingredients to cook yourself. Simmer includes preparation.
How long do meals/ingredients last?
Simmer: A few days (chilled, not frozen). Gousto: Must use fresh ingredients within the week.
Want the Best of Both Worlds?
Try HomeCooks instead
Comparing Simmer to Gousto means choosing between convenience and variety. HomeCooks gives you both.
200+ ready-to-eat dishes from independent chefs - similar variety to Gousto's recipe box, but with zero cooking required. Best of both worlds.
- Ultimate convenience - No prep, no cooking, no washing up
- 200+ dishes - More variety than any other meal prep service
- High protein - 30-60g per meal for fitness goals
- Perfectly balanced - Every meal nutritionally optimised
- Super high quality - Restaurant-quality ingredients, not mass-produced
- Independent chefs - Small batch quality, not factory production
- Beautiful presentation - Your meals arrive in lovely bento boxes, like this:
Ready for variety without cooking?
200+ chef-prepared meals ready in 3-4 minutes. The variety of a recipe box, zero effort required.
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