Ready meals
3–4 min
In the microwave, every night
Then the disappointment of a portion that doesn't quite fill you up, and a tray straight in the bin.
How using Cheffo compares to ready meals
Supermarket ready meals are quick, but thin on quality and portion. A personal cook on Cheffo costs a similar amount and gives you a proper meal instead.
See how a cook fits your week
Verified cooksRequest in minutes
- REAL INGREDIENTS
- PROPER PORTIONS
- SAFE PAYMENT
- NO SUBSCRIPTION
If ready meals are your default, a Cheffo cook costs about the same and actually fills you up.
Cheffo vs ready meals
Compare the true cost, freshness, and nutrition of Cheffo versus supermarket ready meals.
Ready meals
Cost (2 people, 4 nights)
~£30-45/week
From £15/week
Ingredients
Preservatives, additives, long shelf life
Fresh, recognisable ingredients
Portion size
Fixed, often small
Sized to you
Nutrition
High salt & sugar, low fibre
Balanced, cooked to your needs
Choice
Whatever's in the chiller aisle
Pick by cuisine, diet, specialism
Waste
A plastic tray and film per meal
Zero packaging waste
Ready meals
Costs ~£30-45 a week
From £15/week
Preservatives and additives for shelf life
Fresh, recognisable ingredients
Fixed portions, often too small
Portions sized to you
Often high in salt and sugar
Balanced and cooked to your needs
Limited to the chiller aisle
Pick by cuisine, diet, specialism
A plastic tray and film every meal
Zero packaging waste
What it actually costs
See how switching from supermarket ready meals to a personal cook compares, pound for pound.
Ready meals
Weekly spending*
£35/weekMonthly spending
£140/monthWeekly spending**
£40/weekMonthly spending
£160/month
Difference: roughly the same cost, for meals that actually fill you up.
*Based on an estimated £4.50 per ready meal, 2 people, 4 nights a week. **Based on 2 hours of cooking at £20/hr (yields 4 dinners).
Compared to what you spend now
See how Cheffo stacks up against a ready-meal habit. Similar spend, a proper plate of food.
One conversation
Then your cook handles the rest
A properly sized, freshly cooked meal — no microwave, no tray, no top-up snack an hour later.
Why a cook on Cheffo wins
It costs about the same
For a similar weekly spend to ready meals, Cheffo gets you food cooked that day, not sealed months ago.
The portions actually fill you up
A cook sizes meals to you and your household, not to a standard tray.
It's tailored to you
A cook who knows your household — allergies, dislikes, how much spice you want — is a different category of meal from a supermarket shelf.
What this looks like in practice
From students to retirees — see how a personal cook replaces a ready-meal habit.
Robert
Retired · Cooks for one
Before Cheffo
Relied on 4-5 ready meals a week, spending ~£20 but often eating a second one straight after to feel full.
After Cheffo
A cook now visits once a week to prepare properly sized meals to reheat. Robert spends a little more but eats better and stops topping up.
Frequently asked questions
Cheffo connects you with vetted local cooks who cook for you on a regular basis — in your home, delivered to your door, or ready to collect.
You agree the price directly with your cook. Personal cooking usually works out far cheaper than a private chef and comparable to a regular takeaway habit.
Tell us what you need, we match you with local cooks, you pick the one that fits, and you sort out the details together.
No. There is no membership or subscription — you only pay for the cooking you book.
We're growing across the UK. Enter your postcode and we'll show you the cooks available near you.
Share a few details about what you need, browse the cooks we match you with, and send a request to the one you like. It only takes a couple of minutes.
Ready for a proper meal instead of a tray?
