Common Questions? | Top Chef Meals

Common Questions?

Delivery & Shipping

Where do we deliver?

We ship via FedEx to the Entire Continental US.     


We also hand deliver via our courier service to parts of the New York Tri-State area.

How do I know what day my order will arrive, and do you guarantee a delivery day or time?

First We do NOT guarantee either a day or time of delivery.

Our meals are made FRESH by professional chefs on Monday - Fridays.

  HOWEVER, due to kitchen workload, holidays, illnesses etc, we cannot guarantee that your order will be shipped in accordance with this schedule.

If you have a critical need for your order to be delivered on a specific day, of course we will do the best we can, but please call our kitchen office at 914-372-7080 for clarification.

Can I place an order and have it shipped to someone else?

Absolutely. Many of our customers throughout the country purchase meals and have them shipped to friends and family members in our shipping area. When you place your order, you can enter a separate shipping address from the billing address you supply.

Shipping Address: will be the address you want us to send the package to.

Billing Address: reflects your name, address and credit card information.

How do I dispose of the packaging?

Our insulation is made from recycled denim which can be reused in numerous ways around the house. All of our cardboard can be recycled and our plastic can be recycled at select facilities that process plastic bags. Our gel packs are drain safe and the wrapping is also recycable at select facilties that process plastic bags. Dry ice will naturally sublimate, which is the process of dry ice changing from a solid state to gas state without becoming a liquid.

I just placed an order online. How will I know that it has been received?

Once you place your order and complete the checkout process, the last page you see will tell you your checkout is complete (you will find your order number here as well).  Shortly after you place your order you will receive an email acknowledgement and your order summary.

How Are Your Meals Packed?

We use cardboard, jute, and plastic bags for packing your meals then we use dry ice and/or gel packs to keep your food safe during transit.

What do I do with the cotton insulation?

Our insulation is reusable, recyclable, and biodegradable. For more information on our insulation, including finding a recycling location, please visit https://kodiakooler.com/recycling/.

Ingredients and Nutrition

Are both microwave and oven heating instruction provided?

We include specific heating instructions with every order that gives detailed instructions for both a conventional oven and a microwave.

What about sodium or salt?

Top Chef Meals prepares our food with the highest quality ingredients with no preservatives added. Please know that some foods are naturally higher in sodium than others and we use salt very sparingly in our kitchen. We believe that it is much easier for you to add salt, to your taste, at the dinner table, than it is to remove salt if you are trying to watch your sodium intake.

Are the ingredients organic?

All our ingredients are always locally sourced whenever possible and carefully selected from responsible providers.  We support best beef, pork, chicken, and seafood practices to make sure our product has no antibiotics or hormones. Our produce is delivered by "Farm Fresh New York," which sources from over 50 different local farmers in New York and New Jersey.  So while we don’t exclusively source organic, our chefs inspect all of our produce for the very best fresh and seasonal product.

What is ultrasperce and why do we use it?

Ultrasperse is all natural starch made from maize, which is used in sauces and gravies. 

How many calories in the meals?

Calories and links to nutritional facts labels for each entree are located at the bottom of each picture of every entree on the menu.

Because we allow our customers to select each of the two sides, it is impossible to give you exact calories here because there are thousands of combinations of entrees, starches, and vegetables you can select.  If you want to know exactly then use the custom meal builder (located here) that gives you calorie information for every combination you select.  

Overall our lunch and dinner meals typically range between 300 - 500 calories per meal, and our breakfast meals range between 200 - 400 calories.

For successful weight loss that you can maintain over time, experts recommend choosing foods that are lower in calories but rich in protein, vitamins, minerals, fiber, and other nutrients. 

Gender Age Sedentary* Moderately Active* Active*
Females

19-30

31-50

51+

1800-2000

1800

1600

2000-2200

2000

1800

2400

2200

2000-2200

Males

19-30

31-50

51+

2400-2600

2200-2400

2000-2200

2600-2800

2400-2600

2200-2400

3000

2800-3000

2400-2800

*Sedentary means a lifestyle that includes light physical activity associated with typical activities of daily living. Moderately active consists of walking 1.5 to 3 miles daily at a pace of 3 to 4 miles per hour (or the equivalent). An active person walks more than 3 miles daily at the same pace, or equivalent exercise. 

SOURCE:  WEBMD.COM  How Many Calories Do You Really Need?

Are our containers BPA free?

Yes. Our trays are made from Crystallizable Polyethylene Terephthalate, known commonly as CPET. As a raw material, CPET is globally recognized as a safe, non-toxic, strong, lightweight, and flexible material that is 100% recyclable.

Managing My Account

Do I have to register on the website or can I simply place an order?

NO.  You do not have to register to place an order on our website.  However, if you are a senior citizen or wish to be able to reorder a past order you placed we highly recommend that you create an online account.  We will never pass your information on to anyone else ever.

General Questions

I've never purchased anything on the internet before, is it safe?

Top Chef Meals uses the most trusted on line credit card merchant account processor in the world - PayPal® Inc. Every time you enter your credit card number, billing or shipping information, PayPal® uses the industry-standard Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technology to prevent information from being intercepted.

PayPal® also encrypts your credit card number when they store your order and we at Top Chef Meals in fact never see you credit card data. To find out more Click Here

Can I place my order over the telephone?

If there are issues with our website, with our payment processor, or if our website is down, we are more than happy to take your order over the phone. Please call us at 1-800-616-8044 and you can speak to one of our customer service agents.

What discounts do we offer?

We offer two types of discounts:

  • 10% discount for senior citizens who register on our site
  • 5% discount based on the number of meals ordered.  (***Discount cannot be combined with the senior discount***)
Are there discounts for senior citizens?

Yes there is a 10% discount on your order for senior citizens.  To get your discount you must register on the site and make sure you enter the age of the person receiving the meals at the bottom of registration form.  If you have not already registered and logged in, please register here.

You must be logged in to receive the senior discount.

Are we part of Meals on Wheels?

No, we are not affiliated with the Meals on Wheels program.  We do, however, provide an alternative for those who are not eligible for the free meals on wheels service.  We also under contract to various insurance agencies in New York, providing meals for those in managed long term care programs.

Do we offer pre-payments or gift certificates?

Yes we do.  To set-up a gift certificate or pre-payment for someone, please click Gift Healthy Meals. Once there, fill out your information and the recipient's information, then proceed to checkout. 

Once set-up, the gift recipient will be able to choose their own meals and pay for their order with the pre-paid balance that will be on the account, labeled as "E-Balance."

 

Enjoying Your Meals

Are our meals made fresh?

Yes, every meal is made fresh to order.  Then we freeze your meals the night before delivery to make sure they stay absolutely fresh during delivery.

 

*Meals can arrive defrosted and are safe to refreeze for future use.

 

Do we have a Diabetic Meal Package

Yes.  These packages can be found on our Diabetic Meals page.

 

Do we have a Low Sodium Meal Package

Almost all of our meals are low in sodium. You can find meal packages on our Low Sodium Meals page.

Do we have a Low Cholesterol/Low Fat Meal Packages

Yes. The packages can be found on our Low Fat Meal packages.

Do we have a CKD or Renal/Kidney Failure Meal Packages

Yes.  We have designed meal packages for those clients who have CKD and/or are on hemodialysis. You can find our meals on our Renal Diet page.

Do we offer a diet / weight loss meal plan?

Yes. We offer both an accelerated weight loss Low Carb Diet Plan as well as a Paleo Meal Plans.

Preparing and Consuming

Is there a minimum or maximum number of meals to order?

We do not have a minimum or maximum for order size. In order to receive free shipping, a minimum order is required, which is based on your zip code.

How do I know what meals are gluten free, dairy free, low sodium, low fat, and/or other dietary restrictions?

Our downloadable menu indicates all dietary restrictions and allergen information.

 

GF = Gluten Free; DF = Dairy Free; LS = Low Sodium; LF = Low Fat;  LC = Low Choloesterol  

How many servings are in each meal?

Our meals are designed to provide enjoyment for one adult serving.

What if I receive my meals and the dry ice has melted?

If  your order arrives and the meals are still "refrigerator-cold" to the touch, they can be safely stored in your freezer with no reduction in quality.

100% QUALITY GUARANTEE


We guarantee the quality of our products and their delivery in the best condition possible. Because we produce a perishable product, we cannot accept returned food items. We will promptly replace or credit your Top Chef Meals account for any meals that are damaged, spoiled, or otherwise inedible as a direct result of shipping or delivery.  

We cannot guarantee meals that are unacceptable because of taste preferences or over heating by consumers.