Factor Meals Review: Taste, Protein, and the Best Way to Reheat Them

Factor’s menu includes hearty Midwestern meat-and-potatoes meals, barramundi filet mignon topped with a “Nice Words” olive topping, Caribbean-spiced chicken thighs, and premium-priced filet mignon with truffle butter. More than half of the meals contain over 30 grams of protein, and more than half are gluten-free. Most meals also come with a side of rice or potatoes.

However, Factor meals are not prepared in a completely gluten-free facility, so people with celiac disease or severe gluten sensitivities should keep that in mind.

What Does Factor Offer Besides Prepared Meals?

In recent years, Factor has expanded its menu to include more fresh ingredients and baked goods. The selection now includes calzones, flatbread pizzas, mixed salads, and hot soups. Factor also offers add-ons such as smoothies, protein shakes, and juice blends.

What Do Factor Meals Taste Like?

Over the past two years, I’ve tried about 30 different Factor meals, including breakfast pancakes, steak, shrimp, and pork chop dishes. After reheating them in the oven, air fryer, or microwave, the results are not exactly the same as freshly prepared meals—or meal kits that you cook yourself, such as HelloFresh’s other services.

Meals that look as though they might turn out mushy probably will. However, Factor’s proteins generally perform well, especially the shrimp, fish, and pork chops.

Chicken breasts that have been cooked, frozen, and reheated tend to develop a wet, chalky texture. Factor’s never-frozen chicken breast, by contrast, had the texture of—wait for it—chicken breast. The shrimp were tender, too.

When I steamed Factor’s truffled medium-rare filet mignon in the microwave according to the company’s instructions, I was surprised by its tenderness, juiciness, and pink center.

The Best Way to Reheat Factor Meals

When I ignored Factor’s instructions and cooked a meal for 8 minutes at 340 degrees Fahrenheit in an air fryer—specifically the Ninja Crispi (7/10, WIRED recommended)—the results were even better.

The Ninja Crispi lets you place wet ingredients under the crisper plate and proteins or potatoes on top. This gave the pork chops a light browning and significantly improved the crispiness, especially around the edges of the green beans, carrots, and potatoes.

For me, an air fryer is the best way to reheat Factor meals. I’ll continue pushing for Factor to add dedicated air-fryer instructions to its cooking directions.