How to use FreshDirect to make grocery shopping easy and convenient

Insider Picks writes about products and services to help you navigate when shopping online. Insider Inc. receives a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

FreshDirect/Facebook

Going grocery shopping no longer has to mean getting off your couch — at least, not if FreshDirect has anything to say about it.
Here’s how to use the grocery delivery service to get all your favorite foods, produce, and even alcohol shipped right to your door.
You can also read our full review of FreshDirect to learn more about the service.

Fresh Direct is an online grocery delivery service that is on a mission to deliver foodstuffs directly to your door. The service offers both convenience and quality for people who may not have time to pick up groceries from the store.

The service makes it easier than ever to get both your special salami for your next fancy dinner party as well as fresh foods and ready-to-eat entrees for lunch tomorrow.

Best of all, FreshDirect delivers beer, wine, and spirits in some locations across the US, which truly makes it the one-stop-shop for all your culinary needs. Read on to learn how to use FreshDirect.

Sign up for an account

Signing up with FreshDirect is easier than signing up for most services. Simply click the "Sign Up" button on the homepage, and enter an email address and a password. You won’t have to verify your account or anything — just start shopping.

Select your delivery address

To make things easy for you, FreshDirect first asks you for your zip code. If the company delivers to your area, then you’ll be prompted to enter your exact address, which will also allow you to select your preferred time for delivery.

Select a time slot

Once FreshDirect knows where it’s delivering, it’ll ask for when it’s meant to be delivering. Time slots span two hours, and are available throughout the course of the day. In New York, for example, you can ask for delivery any time between 6 a.m. and 11:30 p.m.

Get to shopping

FreshDirect’s expansive selection of groceries are laid out in an easy-to-navigate manner. Choose from Meals, Fruits, Vegetables, Meat & Poultry, Seafood, Dairy, Deli & Cheese, Bakery & Pastry, Party Platters, Grocery, Frozen, Beer, and Wine & Spirits.

The Grocery section also contains your non-food items like paper towels, dish soap, and toilet paper. Fresh Direct also has Sale, Coupon, and Top-Rated sections for easy perusal.

Once you’ve filled your digital shopping cart with everything you need, you’re ready to check out.

At this point, you’re welcome to add an address (if you haven’t already), select a delivery time, and add a payment method. You also have the option of adding a tip, though the default is $0. Note that if you don’t hit the minimum basket amount (which varies by city), you may have to pay an additional delivery fee — in New York, that’s $5.99.

Get your groceries

Your FreshDirect will be delivered directly to you. The company notes that it will always try to deliver directly to the customer whenever possible. That means that you won’t get your groceries in a temperature-controlled bag. Rather, you’ll be getting bagfuls of groceries as though you’ve just come home from the store. Be sure that you’re around to receive that delivery. If you don’t, you may be charged a re-delivery fee.