Fresh Prep Kitchens

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With Fresh Prep Kitchens, you can enjoy fresh and healthy dinners in a new convenient way. We do the shopping, prep and clean-up to make your dinnertime easy and stress free! Enjoy assembling your own dinners at our kitchen or we'll assemble them for you at no extra charge (just order online and pick up at one of our 3 locations).

Our service is great for singles, couples, families and retirees. We also help many people who are caring for their elderly parents who need healthy and easy to prepare meals.

How much do the dinners cost?
Each of our dinners are 4-6 adult serving and are priced individually from $19.95 to $23.95 per complete dinner for four persons. Our tasty and varied dinner choices change monthly and include side dishes and salads or vegetables to complete your meals. You can place an online order for any combination of dinners from our menus. View our menus on our website under the "menus" page.

What options are offered for dinner service?

Self-Assembly Option--You assemble your dinners at our kitchen in Santa Cruz
We Assemble-Pick-Up Option--We assemble--you pick-up! Three locations to serve you; Santa Cruz, Aptos and Scotts Valley.
Delivery Option--We assemble--we deliver! Call us for list of delivery zones.

Can I bring a friend, spouse, relative or child with me if I choose to assemble my own meals?
Yes! You may bring one guest with you to assemble your meals. You must call ahead to let us know so that we can reserve a spot for your guest. Your guest must be 12 years or older to assemble meals. If you bring more than 1 child with you to our facility, the child in the waiting area must be supervised. If you bring an infant or toddler, they must be in a front or back child carrier at all times. Babies and toddlers cannot be left unattended in the meal assembly area, but can remain in the waiting area if supervised. If you bring a guest, you must work together with your guest at each meal assembly station while assembling your meals.

What kind of packaging is used?
The majority of packaging used for the meals is Ziploc freezer bags-the remainder is aluminum pans. You are likely to take your dinners home in a combination of both types of packaging. The packaging is designed to preserve your dinners beautifully if you choose to freeze them.

Do I cook the meals I assemble at your kitchen?
No. You will take your assembled dinners to cook at your convenience. We provide written cooking directions.

If I freeze my dinners, how do I thaw my food?
Almost all of the Fresh Prep Kitchens dinners are designed to be removed from the freezer and placed into the refrigerator at least 24 hours before you plan to begin cooking them. Some can go directly from freezer to oven. DO NOT thaw food on your countertop as this can cause food-borne illness. If you must thaw your dinner quickly, follow your microwave oven manufacturers' instructions on defrosting procedures.

What do I bring to my self-assembly session?
Bring a cooler for transporting your meals home. Wear comfortable shoes and clothing. We will provide aprons.

What do I bring if I have registered for a pick up order?
Be Safe! Bring a cooler for transporting your meals home.

What about sanitation issues?
If you are assembling your own meals, we provide food-handling gloves. You will be required to wear food-handling gloves while assembling your meals. We use a Nitrile glove rather than Latex. You will be required to wash your hands before you begin assembling your dinners, in-between each dinner station and before you leave the restroom and again when you arrive back to the kitchen area. We also request that all shoulder-length or longer hair be tied back.

How do I pay for my kitchen session?
To reserve your self-assembly session or "pick up order time", order online with a credit or debit card on our secure website which utilizes data encryption for your protection. Or call us to pay by credit card over the phone.

Large groups/Corporate Teams/Private Sessions/Cooking or Birthday Parties:
We offer group reservations and special pricing. Please call 831-429-1390 for arrangements.

Refund/Cancellation Policy
If you cannot attend your reserved self-assembly kitchen session call us prior to the start of that session to let us know that you cannot attend. Then you will have the following options:

You may reschedule for a future kitchen session and we will apply your payment/credit toward that future kitchen session.
Refunds or credits will not be given for no-shows.