Thistle vs Splendid Spoon 2026: Which Plant-Based Service Wins?

I spent $347 testing both Thistle and Splendid Spoon over three weeks. Same credit card, same delivery ZIP code in Oakland, same goal: figure out which plant-based meal service is actually worth the money in 2026.

Here’s what happened. Thistle showed up fresh twice a week in compostable containers. Real vegetables, no freezer burn, ready to eat straight from the fridge. Splendid Spoon arrived frozen in one weekly shipment. smoothies, soups, grain bowls, all shelf-stable for weeks. Different philosophies. Different price tags. Both trying to solve the same problem: eating plants without the sad salad energy.

The verdict? Thistle wins on taste and freshness, but Splendid Spoon wins on price and flexibility. If you’re in California or one of the 8 East Coast cities Thistle delivers to, and you’ve got $60-80/week to spend, Thistle is the move. If you’re anywhere else in the country, or you’re watching your budget, Splendid Spoon is genuinely the better option. That’s the short version. Here’s the breakdown with real numbers.

Quick Verdict: Thistle vs Splendid Spoon

Thistle is the premium fresh option with limited delivery. Splendid Spoon is the budget-friendly frozen option that ships nationwide. Both are plant-based, both are gluten-free, both skip the cooking. The difference is freshness vs convenience, and about $3-5 per meal.

Who Should Pick Thistle

You live in one of Thistle’s delivery zones. If you’re not in California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, NYC, Boston, Philly, DC, Chicago, Atlanta, or Raleigh, this decision is made for you. Thistle doesn’t ship frozen nationally. they deliver fresh regionally. Check your ZIP code first.

You want fresh meals, not frozen. Thistle’s food shows up in the fridge section of your life, not the freezer. The kale doesn’t have ice crystals. The quinoa bowls taste like they were made yesterday, because they were. If the idea of microwaving frozen soup makes you sad, Thistle fixes that.

You’re willing to pay $12-18/meal for quality. This isn’t Dinnerly pricing. Thistle uses organic ingredients, works with nutritionists, and delivers twice a week. That costs money. If your budget is tight, Splendid Spoon makes more sense. If you’ve got room in the budget and you care about ingredient sourcing, Thistle justifies the premium.

You want plant-based but not strictly vegan. Thistle started as a vegan service, but now they offer chicken and pork add-ons. If you’re plant-forward but not plant-only, that flexibility matters. Splendid Spoon is 100% vegan with zero animal products. Ever.

You like variety but don’t need 50 menu options. Thistle’s menu rotates weekly with seasonal ingredients. You’ll see new dishes every week, but the selection is curated. maybe 15-20 options at a time. If decision paralysis is real for you, that’s a feature, not a bug.

Who Should Pick Splendid Spoon

You live literally anywhere in the continental US. Splendid Spoon ships frozen nationwide. Thistle doesn’t. If you’re in Texas, Florida, the Midwest, the South, or anywhere Thistle doesn’t reach, Splendid Spoon is your only option in this matchup. And honestly? It’s a good option.

You’re on a budget. $9.99 smoothies vs $15.49 Thistle lunches. That’s a $5.50 gap per meal. Over a week, that’s $38.50 saved. Over a month, you’re looking at $150+ in savings. If you’re trying to eat healthy without the $80/week price tag, Splendid Spoon wins this category decisively.

You want flexibility and shelf life. Frozen meals last weeks in your freezer. Fresh Thistle meals last 5-7 days in the fridge. If your schedule is unpredictable, if you travel for work, if you don’t want to commit to eating everything before it goes bad, frozen is genuinely better. You can order 18 meals and eat them over three weeks. Thistle doesn’t work that way.

You’re strictly vegan. No animal products. Not now, not ever. Splendid Spoon is 100% plant-based with zero exceptions. Thistle offers meat add-ons, which might not matter to you, but if you want a service that’s philosophically committed to veganism, Splendid Spoon is that.

You love smoothies and light meals. Splendid Spoon’s menu is smoothie-heavy. If you’re someone who actually wants a 200-calorie smoothie for breakfast and considers that a meal, this service is built for you. Thistle skews toward heartier lunch and dinner bowls. Different energy.

You want extensive dietary filters. Splendid Spoon lets you filter by high protein, low carb, low sodium, low sugar, soy-free, and specific allergens (bananas, mushrooms, tree nuts, sesame). Thistle is all gluten-free and dairy-free by default, but Splendid Spoon gives you more granular control if you’re tracking macros or avoiding specific ingredients.

Pricing Breakdown: What You’re Actually Spending

Let’s do the math with real 2026 prices, because “affordable” means nothing without numbers.

Thistle Pricing

Thistle charges per meal, and the price drops slightly with volume, but not dramatically:

• Vegan lunches/dinners: $12.50/meal (as low as)
• Meat lunches/dinners: $15.49/meal (as low as)
• Breakfasts: $11.50/meal (as low as)
• Delivery fee: $4.95 per delivery (1-2x/week depending on plan)

Example weekly spend: 4 vegan lunches ($50) + 3 breakfasts ($34.50) + delivery ($4.95) = $89.45/week. That’s $357.80/month for 7 meals per week. If you add meat, bump that to $15.49/meal for lunches, and you’re at $96.46/week or $385.84/month.

Thistle’s current promo: $100 off sign-up offer, plus 50% off first week for frontline workers. Referrals get your friend $120 off, you get $60 credit. That $100 off basically makes your first week $44.73 instead of $89.45 if you’re doing the 7-meal plan. Worth it to test.

Splendid Spoon Pricing

Splendid Spoon breaks down by meal type and volume:

• Smoothies: $9.99 each
• Soups/grain bowls: $12.49 each
• Noodles: $13.49 each
• Light soups: $12.49 each
• Shipping: $12.99 for orders under 10 meals, FREE on 10+ meals

Plans: 6, 12, or 18 meals/week (can go up to 28 meals with volume discounts).

Example weekly spend: 12-meal plan with 6 smoothies ($59.94) + 6 soups ($74.94) = $134.88/week with free shipping. That’s $539.52/month for 12 meals/week. But here’s the thing. Splendid Spoon counts smoothies as meals. A 200-calorie smoothie is not the same as a 450-calorie Thistle bowl. Adjust expectations accordingly.

If you do 6 meals/week (3 smoothies, 3 soups), you’re at $29.97 + $37.47 + $12.99 shipping = $80.43/week or $321.72/month. That’s cheaper than Thistle’s 7-meal plan, but you’re getting one fewer meal and paying for shipping.

Current Splendid Spoon promos: 20% off codes (SPLENDID20, IGNITE20, FALL50), $60 off across first 3 boxes for new customers. That $60 spread over 3 weeks is $20/week off, so your first month on the 12-meal plan is more like $114.88/week instead of $134.88.

Head-to-Head: 4 Weeks, Same Budget

Let’s say you’ve got $350/month to spend. What do you get?

Thistle: $357.80/month gets you 7 meals/week (4 lunches, 3 breakfasts). 28 meals total. Fresh delivery 1-2x/week. All vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free. Cost per meal: $12.78.

Splendid Spoon: $321.72/month gets you 6 meals/week (mix of smoothies and soups). 24 meals total. Frozen delivery once a week. 100% vegan. Cost per meal: $13.41.

Wait. Splendid Spoon is cheaper overall but more expensive per meal in this scenario? Yes. Because you’re paying $12.99/week for shipping on the 6-meal plan. If you bump to 10+ meals for free shipping, the math flips. 12 meals/week for $134.88 = $11.24/meal. Now Splendid Spoon wins on per-meal cost.

The real question: do you want 28 fresh meals from Thistle, or 48 frozen meals from Splendid Spoon? That’s the tradeoff.

Menu and Meal Options

Thistle and Splendid Spoon both do plant-based, but the execution is completely different.

Thistle’s Menu

Thistle rotates weekly with seasonal ingredients. You don’t get 50 options at once. you get a curated menu of maybe 15-20 dishes that change every week. The meals are designed by chefs and nutritionists, which sounds like marketing until you actually eat them and realize they’re balanced differently than most meal delivery food.

Specific meals I tried: Moroccan Chickpea Bowl (roasted chickpeas, quinoa, harissa tahini, pickled onions), Thai Peanut Noodles (rice noodles, snap peas, carrots, peanut sauce), Southwest Tofu Scramble (breakfast. tofu, black beans, salsa verde, avocado). Every meal hit 450-650 calories and 20g+ protein. The portions were honest. not huge, not tiny, just right for lunch.

Thistle is all gluten-free and dairy-free by default. If you want meat, they offer chicken and pork add-ons, but the base menu is plant-forward. The meals come ready-to-eat, no reheating required, though you can warm them if you want. I ate most of them cold straight from the fridge because the flavors actually worked that way.

Dietary options: plant-based vegan, plant-based with meat, gluten-free (all meals), dairy-free (all meals). You can customize by meal type (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, juices). If you’re in their local delivery zone, you get full customization. If you’re in their shipping zone (limited West Coast), you get curated boxes like “Vegan Essentials” or “Enhanced Boxes” with less flexibility.

Splendid Spoon’s Menu

Splendid Spoon has 50+ menu items at any given time: smoothies, soups, grain bowls, noodles, light soups, wellness shots. The menu changes every 4-6 months, so you’re not seeing new dishes every week like Thistle, but you’ve got way more options to choose from upfront.

Specific meals I tried: Carrot Chili (smoky, thick, actually filling), Mint Cacao Smoothie (200 calories, tasted like a milkshake, not a meal), Red Lentil Dal (solid, needed salt), Spicy Peanut Noodles (best thing I had from them. actually slaps). The soups and grain bowls ranged from 250-400 calories. The smoothies were 180-220 calories. That’s a problem if you’re trying to replace a meal, not supplement one.

Splendid Spoon is 100% vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, and non-GMO. You can filter by dietary needs: high protein, low carb, low sodium, low sugar, and allergen exclusions (bananas, mushrooms, tree nuts, sesame). If you’re tracking macros or avoiding specific ingredients, Splendid Spoon gives you more control than Thistle.

Plans: 6, 12, or 18 meals per week, with the option to go up to 28 meals if you want to stock the freezer. Everything arrives frozen in one weekly shipment. Shelf life is weeks, not days, which is genuinely useful if your schedule is chaotic.

Variety Winner

Splendid Spoon wins on sheer volume of options. 50+ items vs Thistle’s weekly rotating 15-20 is a big gap. But Thistle’s weekly rotation means you’re seeing new dishes more frequently, even if the total menu is smaller. If you get bored easily, Thistle’s rotation keeps things fresh (literally). If you want a huge menu to pick from and don’t mind slower turnover, Splendid Spoon is the move.

How They Actually Taste

This is the part that matters. I don’t care how cheap or convenient a service is if the food tastes like sad desk lunch energy. So let’s talk about what actually showed up and what it tasted like.

Thistle: Fresh and Surprisingly Good

I ordered Thistle twice a week for two weeks. Eight meals total. The Moroccan Chickpea Bowl was the standout. roasted chickpeas with actual char, quinoa that wasn’t mushy, harissa tahini that had heat and depth, pickled onions that added brightness. This tasted like something I’d order at a fast-casual spot for $14. The fact that it showed up ready-to-eat in a compostable container is the only reason I know it’s meal delivery.

The Thai Peanut Noodles were good but not great. The peanut sauce was a little thin, the snap peas were crisp, the rice noodles were fine. Tasted fresh, no weird freezer texture, but it needed more sauce. I added Sriracha and it fixed the problem. Still better than anything I’d make myself on a Tuesday night.

The Southwest Tofu Scramble (breakfast) was legitimately impressive. Tofu scrambles are usually sad, but this one had black beans, salsa verde, avocado, and enough seasoning that it didn’t taste like health food. The portion was smaller than I wanted. this is a 350-calorie breakfast, not a 600-calorie one. but the flavor was there.

Portion sizes: honest but not generous. These are 450-650 calorie meals designed by nutritionists, which means they’re portioned for balance, not for eating until you’re uncomfortably full. If you’re 6’2″ and trying to bulk, Thistle is not going to cut it. If you’re eating normal human portions, it’s fine. I was satisfied but not stuffed after every meal.

Presentation: Thistle meals look like real food. The containers are clear plastic (compostable), the ingredients are layered, the colors are vibrant. You can see the vegetables. It doesn’t look like it was assembled by a robot in a warehouse, even though it probably was.

Splendid Spoon: Good for Frozen, Not Fresh

I ordered Splendid Spoon once a week for three weeks. Eighteen meals total, mix of smoothies, soups, and noodles. The Spicy Peanut Noodles were the best thing I had. thick rice noodles, good peanut sauce, vegetables that held up after microwaving. This tasted like takeout, not meal delivery. Genuinely the move if you’re ordering from Splendid Spoon.

The Carrot Chili was solid. Thick, smoky, filling. Reheated well on the stovetop. The texture was better than I expected for frozen soup. My only complaint: it needed salt. I added a pinch and it went from “fine” to “actually good.”

The Red Lentil Dal was mid. Tasted healthy in the bad way. bland, underseasoned, the kind of thing you eat because it’s good for you, not because it’s good. I added hot sauce and ate it anyway, but I wouldn’t order it again.

The Mint Cacao Smoothie tasted like a milkshake, which is a compliment, but it’s 200 calories. That’s not a meal. That’s a snack. Splendid Spoon counts smoothies as “meals” in their plans, which is fine if you’re someone who considers a smoothie a meal, but I’m not that person. If you order the 12-meal plan and half of it is smoothies, you’re not actually getting 12 meals’ worth of food. Adjust expectations.

Portion sizes: light. The soups and grain bowls are 250-400 calories. That’s lunch if you’re also eating something else, or if you’re not very hungry. If you’re trying to replace a full meal, order two. The smoothies are 180-220 calories, which is breakfast if you’re also having toast, not breakfast by itself.

Reheating: microwave 2-3 minutes or stovetop 5-7 minutes. I preferred stovetop for soups (better texture), microwave for noodles and grain bowls (faster, same result). Everything reheated fine. No weird freezer burn, no ice crystals in the food, no “this has been frozen for six months” taste.

The Verdict

Thistle tastes better. Full stop. Fresh beats frozen when it comes to flavor, texture, and presentation. If taste is your #1 priority and you’re in Thistle’s delivery zone, that’s the answer. But Splendid Spoon is genuinely good for frozen food, and the price gap makes it worth the tradeoff if you’re on a budget or need nationwide delivery.

Cooking and Prep Experience

Neither of these services requires actual cooking, which is the point. But there’s a difference between “ready-to-eat” and “microwave for 3 minutes,” so let’s break it down.

Thistle: Zero Prep

Thistle meals come ready-to-eat. Open the container, eat the food. That’s it. You can reheat them if you want (30-60 seconds in the microwave, or eat them at room temp), but they’re designed to be eaten cold. The flavors work cold. The textures work cold. I ate most of them straight from the fridge because I’m lazy and it tasted fine.

The containers are compostable plastic with clear lids. The ingredients are layered so you can see what you’re eating. No assembly required, no mixing, no “shake well before opening.” Just open and eat. Prep time: 0 minutes.

Packaging quality: solid. The containers didn’t leak in my fridge. The lids stayed on during delivery. The food arrived looking like the photos on the website, which is rare for meal delivery. No sad soggy greens, no dressing that leaked everywhere, no ingredients that shifted during shipping and turned into mush.

Splendid Spoon: 2-4 Minutes

Splendid Spoon meals are frozen, so you have to reheat them. Microwave 2-3 minutes or stovetop 5-7 minutes. The smoothies you just thaw overnight in the fridge or run under warm water for 2 minutes, then shake and drink.

I preferred stovetop for soups because the texture was better. microwaving sometimes made the edges too hot and the center still cold, and stirring halfway through was annoying. Stovetop gave me more control. But for noodles and grain bowls, microwave was fine and faster. Prep time: 2-4 minutes depending on method.

The containers are plastic, recyclable but not compostable. The lids come off easily. The portions are single-serving, so you’re not dealing with giant family-size containers. Everything fits in a standard freezer without Tetris-level stacking.

Instruction clarity: printed on every container. “Microwave 2-3 minutes, stir halfway” or “Stovetop 5-7 minutes, stir occasionally.” Simple, clear, hard to mess up. I didn’t need to check the website for reheating instructions, which is good because I wasn’t going to.

Winner: Thistle

Zero prep beats 2-4 minutes of prep. If convenience is the goal, Thistle wins. But Splendid Spoon’s 2-4 minutes is still easier than cooking, and the frozen format gives you more flexibility on when you eat. If you want to meal prep on Sunday and have food for the week, Splendid Spoon works better. If you want to grab lunch and go, Thistle is the move.

Delivery and Packaging

Thistle and Splendid Spoon have completely different delivery models, and it matters more than you’d think.

Thistle: Regional Fresh Delivery

Thistle delivers fresh 1-2 times per week, depending on your plan. If you’re in California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, or Nevada, you get local delivery. If you’re in NYC, Boston, Philly, DC, Chicago, Atlanta, or Raleigh, you also get local delivery. That’s it. If you’re anywhere else, Thistle doesn’t reach you. They have limited West Coast shipping (parts of CA, NV, AZ, ID, OR, WA), but it’s curated boxes only, not full customization.

Delivery cost: $4.95 per delivery. If you’re getting deliveries twice a week, that’s $9.90/week or $39.60/month in delivery fees. Factor that into the total cost.

My experience: Thistle delivered on Tuesday and Friday mornings in Oakland. The meals showed up in an insulated bag with ice packs. Everything was cold when I opened it. The packaging is eco-friendly. compostable containers, recyclable bags, plant-based ice packs that you can dump down the sink. Thistle makes a big deal about sustainability, and the packaging backs it up.

The meals arrived fresh with 5-7 days of fridge life. I ate them over the week without any spoilage. The ingredients looked and tasted fresh. no wilted greens, no slimy vegetables, no weird smells. The delivery window was consistent (always between 6-9 AM), which is early but predictable.

Splendid Spoon: Nationwide Frozen Delivery

Splendid Spoon ships frozen once a week, nationwide. You pick your delivery day (Monday-Friday), and everything shows up in one box with dry ice. The meals stay frozen during shipping and arrive ready to toss in the freezer.

Shipping cost: $12.99 for orders under 10 meals, free on 10+ meals. If you’re ordering 6 meals/week, you’re paying for shipping. If you’re ordering 12+, shipping is free. The math matters here.

My experience: Splendid Spoon delivered on Thursdays in Oakland. The box arrived with enough dry ice that everything was still frozen solid. I unpacked it immediately and put everything in the freezer. The meals have a shelf life of weeks (the website says “months” but I didn’t test that long). This is genuinely useful if you travel or have an unpredictable schedule. you can order 18 meals and eat them over three weeks without worrying about spoilage.

The packaging is less eco-friendly than Thistle. Plastic containers, cardboard box, dry ice (which evaporates, so no waste, but not compostable). The box is recyclable, but it’s not the same sustainability story as Thistle’s compostable setup.

Coverage Winner: Splendid Spoon

Nationwide beats regional. If you’re in Texas, Florida, the Midwest, or anywhere Thistle doesn’t deliver, Splendid Spoon is your only option. If you’re in Thistle’s delivery zone, you have a choice, and the fresh delivery is a real advantage. But Splendid Spoon’s frozen nationwide model is more accessible for most people.

The Final Call: Thistle vs Splendid Spoon

Thistle wins if you’re in their delivery zone and you care about fresh food. Splendid Spoon wins if you’re anywhere else, or if you’re on a budget, or if you want more flexibility.

Here’s the breakdown by scenario:

You live in California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, NYC, Boston, Philly, DC, Chicago, Atlanta, or Raleigh, and you’ve got $60-80/week to spend on food: Get Thistle. The fresh delivery, the taste quality, the ready-to-eat convenience. it’s worth the premium if you’re in the delivery zone. The meals taste like real food, not meal delivery food. That matters.

You live anywhere else in the US: Get Splendid Spoon. Thistle doesn’t reach you. Splendid Spoon ships nationwide, and the frozen format works better than you’d expect. The Spicy Peanut Noodles and Carrot Chili are genuinely good. The smoothies are fine if you’re into smoothies. The price is better. The flexibility is better. It’s the right call.

You’re on a tight budget: Splendid Spoon. $9.99/meal beats $12.50-18/meal. The gap is real. Over a month, you’re saving $100-150. That’s grocery money. Thistle is premium pricing for premium quality, but if you’re watching your spending, Splendid Spoon is the move.

You’re strictly vegan and care about ingredient sourcing: Thistle if you’re in the delivery zone, Splendid Spoon if you’re not. Thistle uses organic ingredients and works with nutritionists. Splendid Spoon is 100% vegan with no exceptions. Both are good options for plant-based eating. Thistle is more premium, Splendid Spoon is more accessible.

You want zero prep and maximum convenience: Thistle. Ready-to-eat beats microwave-for-3-minutes. If you’re eating lunch at your desk or grabbing food between meetings, Thistle is faster. Splendid Spoon requires reheating, which is still easy, but it’s not zero-effort.

You want flexibility and shelf life: Splendid Spoon. Frozen meals last weeks. Fresh Thistle meals last 5-7 days. If you travel, if your schedule is unpredictable, if you want to stock the freezer and eat whenever, Splendid Spoon is better. Thistle locks you into eating everything within a week.

Real talk: I kept ordering Thistle longer because the food tasted better and I’m in Oakland (prime delivery zone). But I recommended Splendid Spoon to friends in Texas and Florida because Thistle doesn’t reach them and Splendid Spoon is legitimately good for the price. Both services work. The right answer depends on where you live and what you’re willing to pay.

If you’re in Thistle’s delivery zone, start with their $100 off sign-up offer and test it for a week. If you’re anywhere else, start with Splendid Spoon’s $60 off across 3 boxes and see if the frozen format works for you. Both offers make the first month basically free to try. No reason not to test both if you’re in the delivery zone and you’ve got the budget.

FAQ: Thistle vs Splendid Spoon

Is Thistle better than Splendid Spoon?

Thistle is better if you’re in their delivery zone (CA, OR, WA, AZ, NV, or select East Coast cities) and you care about fresh meals. The food tastes better, the ingredients are fresher, and the ready-to-eat format is more convenient. Splendid Spoon is better if you live anywhere else, if you’re on a budget, or if you want more menu variety and flexibility. Thistle is premium, Splendid Spoon is accessible.

Which is cheaper, Thistle or Splendid Spoon?

Splendid Spoon is cheaper. Smoothies start at $9.99, soups and bowls at $12.49-$13.49. Thistle starts at $11.50/meal for breakfast and goes up to $18/meal for meat options. Over a month, Splendid Spoon saves you $100-150 depending on your plan. But Thistle’s meals are larger and fresher, so the price gap reflects quality and delivery model differences.

Which has better tasting meals?

Thistle. Fresh beats frozen when it comes to flavor and texture. The Moroccan Chickpea Bowl and Thai Peanut Noodles from Thistle tasted restaurant-quality. Splendid Spoon’s Spicy Peanut Noodles and Carrot Chili were good for frozen meals, but not at the same level as Thistle’s fresh options. If taste is your #1 priority, Thistle wins.

Which should I try first?

If you’re in Thistle’s delivery zone and you’ve got the budget, try Thistle first with their $100 off sign-up offer. If you’re anywhere else in the US, or if you’re watching your spending, try Splendid Spoon with their $60 off across 3 boxes. Both promos make the first month cheap enough to test without commitment. If you’re in the delivery zone and you can afford both, order one week of each and compare directly. That’s what I did.

Can I get both services at the same time?

Yes, but I wouldn’t recommend it unless you’re specifically testing them head-to-head. Both services send weekly deliveries, and you’ll end up with a fridge/freezer full of meals. If you want variety, rotate between services month-to-month instead of stacking them. Order Thistle for a month, then switch to Splendid Spoon, then decide which one you want to keep long-term.

Do either of these services work for weight loss?

Both can work for weight loss if you’re eating at a calorie deficit. Thistle meals are 450-650 calories, portioned by nutritionists. Splendid Spoon meals are lighter (250-400 calories for soups/bowls, 180-220 for smoothies), so you’ll need to plan your total daily intake carefully. Neither service is specifically designed for weight loss, but both are portion-controlled and nutrient-dense. If you’re tracking calories, both make it easier than cooking from scratch or ordering takeout.

Are these services worth it compared to cooking?

Depends on your time and budget. Thistle at $12-18/meal is more expensive than cooking, but cheaper than restaurant delivery and way faster. Splendid Spoon at $10-13/meal is closer to home-cooked pricing if you factor in grocery shopping time and food waste. If you value convenience and you’re currently spending $28/meal on Uber Eats, both services are worth it. If you’re a good cook who enjoys meal prep, neither service beats the cost of cooking. But if you’re bad at cooking or you hate it, these are both solid options.