The Trader Joe's Product Discussion Thread (S/D)

Because I have one in my neighborhood now and because I can't afford to shop much in the foodie shops.

Great stuff I have tried:

The trail mixes (especially "Simply the Best" w/cranberries, cherries, cashews, almonds, pineapple, etc.)
The tamales (cheese > chicken > beef imo)
Seeded Whole Wheat Bread (the one that looks kind of like a knockoff of "The Baker")
European Style Whole Milk Yogurt (plain)
Swiss Dark Chocolate
Gyoza Dumplings (esp. pork)

Good/Decent:
Hofbrau Bock beer
Pollo Asado (the pre-marinated one you cook yourself)
Salmon Roulettes (frozen)
Fajita Burrito
Enchiladas Verdes
Crab Patties
Quesadillas (the non-frozen ones)
Natural peanut butter (hard to fuck this up)
Whole Wheat Blueberry Muffins
French Vanilla Ice Cream

Meh:
Wild salmon
Vegetable Burrito
Some kind of frozen vegetable medley with weird flavored-butter melty clumps
Most of the other jarred pasta sauces

It's a bit disturbing how easily Trader Joe's has lulled me into eating so much frozen food. But I guess law school is partly to blame for that.

classic: lb bag of pecans for $6
sourdough bread
hard-to-find red-label california style sourdough bread
focaccia ($2.99)
seasonal spiced apple drink with cloves and things
dud: recalled peanut products
not selling individual avocados
some weird kind of carrots that sound delicious but you get them home and they're just more frozen carrots with weird lumps of ginger infused butter that you eat on their own, just a bowl of carrots whose refined charisma you thought might carry them.

chili mango slices <3

some weird kind of carrots that sound delicious but you get them home and they're just more frozen carrots with weird lumps of ginger infused butter that you eat on their own, just a bowl of carrots whose refined charisma you thought might carry them.

― deveraux billings (schlump), Tuesday, March 10, 2009 11:16 PM (13 minutes ago) Bookmark

Yeah, that! It was gross!

classic:

salmon patties
peanut butter filled pretzels
i will second gyoza dumplings and seeded whole wheat
one of the bacons they sell, can't recall details

dud:

andouille sausage (this made me feel fucked up)

i don't have a microwave so large swaths of their frozen stuff is useless to me.

The cioppino is the absolute most refined, delicious, and clutch frozen dinner I have ever had. Throw it on some spaghetti and you have an even bigger meal.

do you have to microwave that?

s: that white cheddar w/ the carmalized onions in it (<---- my favorite shit ever)

s: mango mochi

classic:
vege medley w/balsamic butter dressing
vege medley w/potato wedges
^both great tossed with spag and oil
vegan choc chip cookies
almond caramel clusters
chocolate ice cream (some of the best ice cream and it's CHEAP)
hashbrowns
frozen vege lasagna

i wish trader joe's was not so crowded so i could go more often and buy cheap delicious things.

their fresh fruit is shit - every time we get stuff from there it goes rotten in a couple of days

no one's mentioned the dark chocolate ginger pieces...they're...delightful

oh i had a party and put out the dark chocolate covered almonds rolled in dark cocoa and ppl were like omg nommmmm

lacey cookies A++++++ not sure if they're TJ brand though

Yeah, produce is generally hit or miss. I like buying their big bags o' mixed chard or "southern greens." I love cooking greens and cleaning/cutting them is such a pain, especially in my tiny-ass kitchen.

As far as crowds -- best time to go is 10AM or earlier on a weekend (well, excluding going on a weekday during work hours, which you probably can't do). Another good time -- dinner hours, Friday evening.

their fresh fruit is shit - every time we get stuff from there it goes rotten in a couple of days

the way they treat their apples makes me want to cry. you can paw through a whole shelf of apples and find none that aren't bruised

i always feel sorry for the people who are holding the signs that shepherd the line. at first i thought it was a pretty good lazy job, then i realised that it's queueing, ALL DAY LONG, never getting anywhere. when you're at the bank and there's a massive line, you always rely on that schadenfreude of other people piling up behind you and having to wait longer. but if you're the trader joe linesman ... always at the end of the line.

they also call it 'twelve items or fewer' which is nice

I always find the cashiers super nice -- do they pay unusually well or something?

their bagged greens do seem to last really well - we get the baby spinach a lot, it's a big bag and stays fresh for close to two weeks.

dinner hours?? no way. that is also known as 'after work' when everyone in the world goes!

omfg
http://justinsomnia.org/images/trader-joes-chocolate-croissants.jpg

dinner hours?? no way. that is also known as 'after work' when everyone in the world goes!

But Friday night it seems to work, like maybe 7:30 or later.

good:

bread
peanut butter (also almond butter)
three cheese frozen pizza
sole filets
sharp cheddar (cheap!)
chocolate-covered edamame
tomato soup (okay, not as good as Amy's)

always disappointing:

anything salsa-related
produce

i stay away from the frozen dinners and pre-marinated crap too, and the overpriced meats.

they have nicely prized frozen meats.
i prefer whole foods' frozen fishes.

cheeapest clif bars off the net!

"good:

bread"

But not good, the plain-old "Whole Wheat Bread" (the one with very small slices) -- cardboardy. Same with the bread that comes in imitation Alvarado Street Bakery packaging.

It's funny how TJ will have like five different brands of the same product that are all TJ's and all knockoffs of other brands, and then they compete against each other.

classic x100:
free samples of coffee

i always feel sorry for the people who are holding the signs that shepherd the line. at first i thought it was a pretty good lazy job, then i realised that it's queueing, ALL DAY LONG, never getting anywhere. when you're at the bank and there's a massive line, you always rely on that schadenfreude of other people piling up behind you and having to wait longer. but if you're the trader joe linesman ... always at the end of the line.

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― deveraux billings (schlump), Tuesday, March 10, 2009 10:02 PM Bookmark

I have never seen this

I like the "New Zealand Grass Fed Organic Cheddar" -- very cheap! (not as yummy as Cabot, but, you know, in this economy...)

i have never bought any of the cheese/fresh meats because the line wraps around the store and makes it impossible to get to anything in that case

I have never seen this

do you live in somewhere with a breezy, unencumbered open plan trader joe's? like one in arizona where they test out new products?

i think there is a bit on the website dedicated to regional variations, if anyone is keen for more idiosyncratic tj innovation

I like the "New Zealand Grass Fed Organic Cheddar" -- very cheap!

That stuff's good -- it's a little earthy-tasting, though. I usually just get the Wisconsin sharp white cheddar.

You know what's pretty good, and new I think (at least in my neck of the woods)? The edamame hummus.

My favorite of their hummuses is the Mediterranean Hummus

should be its own thread/poll, but i have come to the conclusion that all other houmouses are bullshit. i have been burned too many times. original is BEST, though red pepper is sometimes acceptable.

Do you specifically mean Trader Joe's original or are you just against flavored hummuses in general?

The cioppino is the absolute most refined, delicious, and clutch frozen dinner I have ever had. Throw it on some spaghetti and you have an even bigger meal.

― throwbookatface (skygreenleopard)

One of my all-time faves too. I put it on rice at first but it's even better on pasta. And you can cook the seafood/sauce in a pan - no microwave necessary.

Also the Chicken Gorgonzola in the frozen section is classic. Make a sandwich with their cibatta.

A lot of their frozen stuff works in the toaster oven if you can wait around for a little while.

their veggie meatballs are awesome. also, their wheat tortillas are shit for everything EXCEPT making enchiladas, we discovered today, in which case they are the best tortillas you can possibly buy.

Do the frozen stuff (entrees & such) on the stovetop with a little oil, maybe a little water--set it on medium-low and stir.

best:
chocolate covered pretzels
chocolate mint hot chocolate
chocolate covered fruit
lacey cookies
brie - good price compared to Whole Foods
some of the frozen appetizers - mushroom turnovers I remember being pretty yummy, though I haven't had them in awhile
greek style yogurt
decent prices on fancy brand hard liquor
big jugs of juice
spiced apple cider

they have nicely prized frozen meats.
i prefer whole foods' frozen fishes.

agreed - Whole Foods has frozen soft-shell crab. They spent almost a year building a Whole Foods down my block, and I resented it a lot. Then I saw the frozen soft-shell crab. Best sandwich I've ever had was a soft-shell crab prepared burger like. Sorry to derail TJ thread with WF talk.

I fuck w/ the mushroom turnovers

i don't really buy stuff from the freezer aisle much, but the frozen naan is classic! dud: i bought some frozen egg rolls recently and they came out kinda mushy and greasy. but classic: frozen puff pastry. and their pizzas aren't half bad, esp. the roasted vegetable one.

i'm stoked that they have the winter loaf fruit and nut bread right now! it's super-delicious, esp. the bits of candied orange peel.

one of my other favorite things is the nitrate-free pastrami, which has a very beefy/briny flavor.

if i buy pre-sliced sandwich bread at all, i buy the milton's whole grain bread or the new repackaged TJ's version of it (it's cheaper).

the cheese selection is somewhat meh, but i'm all about that cotswold cheddar. and i've been keeping little hunks of their grana padano around to grate on pasta, etc.

they used to have these triple-shot cans of iced espresso at a very good price. i'm deeply dismayed that they've stopped carrying them.

so many things i've had from TJs were good or great the first time, horrible the second. the veggie chorizo, for instance. i hardly buy anything but staples there these days, the occasional lazy can of veggie chili... my wife loves their frozen pizzas. i find them pretty disgusting. they got rid of a lot of my favorite stuff in the past year or so.

quinoa bread - yum. not good for toast, though, just making sandwiches. everything bagels are okay. i'm really straining to think of anything exciting... um, chili-lime pistachios.

the balsamic veggie medley - blarrgh. canned soups - blarrgh.

when has something called a "veggie medley" EVER been good?

they had this half-round of sourdough bread, might've been whole wheat sourdough that was awesome.

when has something called a "veggie medley" EVER been good?

maybe if it was fried veggie medley, it'd be good. However, most things called "veggie medley" tend not to be fried.

veggie medleys/mixed vegetable mixes are never good, this is true

pretty good -
moroccan salted olives
greek yogurt
baby beets
ginger cookies, the small ones that come in a round plastic container
some of the frozen enchiladas (chicken chile verde)
relatively inexpensive walnuts, almonds, also almond butter

i ate two boxes of the pickle dogs. they arent that good.

Are those the pickle corn dogs?

yes

has anyone tried both the original cascatelli and the TJ version?

I've only seen it Trader Joe's. I tried a recipe with it that included olives, Calabrian chilis, lemon, bread crumbs and tuna, and it was pretty good

https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/2021/05/27/cascatelli-pasta-salad-recipe-tuna/

many xp i feel they could carry a higher quality, bit more expensive dry bean at a good price. Something like those eden boxes. I cook dry beans often to also get the broth for veg dishes.

(I asked management.)

TJs carries dry lentils and a couple other legumes, but not just like black and white beans. It's partly due to demand and space required, not so much needing to get "a deal" - TJs deals are mostly because TJs purchases from suppliers cash up front rather than on credit through a distributor. They're not a clearance retailer of food goods. Beans (like flours) have a pretty big spoil rate because of how easily bags can rip and how that ruins an entire pound or more of product.

It's also partly a difficulty in finding a good supplier. TJs has tried selling dry beans in the past but couldn't get one that met quality standards who was willing to private label.

TJ’s can be your primary grocery if it’s close, but their value is in being an auxiliary imo

It kind of depends on what kind of cook/eater you are. I think if you enjoy cooking, TJs def isn’t the main place you’d shop but it’s great for people like me who hate cooking and hate thinking about food - their choices are limited so eliminates a lot of decision fatigue for me.

They do have a way better candy/cookie selection than most supermarkets, and at good prices.

their chocolate is generally great and v cheap

ack!

TJs round our way was giving free sample bags of the Salsa Verde Tortilla Chips. Given that I was asked "how many?" when I said I would try some, my expectations drifted from "poor" to "must be disgusting"

Love that Chocholate Lover's bar, even with all the lead a cadmium

https://www.consumerreports.org/health/food-safety/lead-and-cadmium-in-dark-chocolate-a8480295550/

you can have a little lead and cadmium, as a treat

honestly, i was very enthusiastic about cooking at the beginning of the pandemic and went through waves of cooking a fair bit and then being completely burned out. having enough room at my place to buy a chest freezer was a boon -- i'd roll through trader joe's and buy half a cart full of frozen stuff and not have to do any shopping for weeks at a time.

there are occasional exceptions but imo the quality/price ratio of their frozen foods is a lot more predictable than standard grocery stores. that and, with a few exceptions, the local grocery chains here have been cranking up food prices like crazy

It kind of depends on what kind of cook/eater you are. I think if you enjoy cooking, TJs def isn’t the main place you’d shop but it’s great for people like me who hate cooking and hate thinking about food - their choices are limited so eliminates a lot of decision fatigue for me.

i don't agree with this. at least from my pov they have most of the staples i need

it depends on the size and location of the store imo

we have exactly one and it's in the suburbs

TJ’s is my primary for most food. There are a few items that I go to the Walmart Neighborhood Market for and all non-food household supplies.

huh, i believe you but i've used 4 regularly in my life. 2 in sf, one in Chico, other in SoCal and they all had similar stock even though store sizes varied greatly. maybe it gets dicier outside of CA?

xp

Looking at my spending data for the past four years, of all the money I've spent on groceries, 53% of that has been at Trader Joes. 21% at Walmart, 9% at Mariano's, 17% other.

TJs is more or less primary for us, and more than fulfills our ingredient needs. Proteins (tofu, chicken, fish, plus other sometimes stuff like ground beef/pork or whatever), plenty of sturdy vegetables (Brussels sprouts, carrots, potatoes, peppers, et al.), spices, fruits, cheese, garlic/onions/shallots, wine, flour, eggs, canned veggies, and so on. The only weak links for me are salad greens and bread, but I can pick them up somewhere else on the way home. And of course TJs has tons of snacks and frozen goods. So I don't know what else I'd need beyond something really specific for a specific recipe.

Best chocolate bar is this one, btw, though it may be seasonal:

https://preview.redd.it/h714cairdtka1.jpg

https://preview.redd.it/h714cairdtka1.jpg?width=640&crop=smart&auto=webp&v=enabled&s=823819a41be476b563631d90dcc4899185a3bde9

I only buy bag salads.

See, I think their bag salads suck and go bad really quickly. Especially here, there are all sorts of local clamshell options that are and stay much fresher, longer.

clamshell option is the worst/most wasteful form of packaging of all time

You can recycle it at least, can't you? We recycle ours.

you put them in a recycle bin. they possibly end up in a landfill.

many xps thanks for the inside bean info, Xii!

For 100% sure the plastic produce bags go in landfill, though.

I think a shocking amount of 'recyclable' plastic goes straight into the landfill - if not here, then in Bangladesh where they'll probably burn it

That's why I don't like to buy fresh fruit in a plastic box

yeah TJs not the best for produce packaging. I will defend some of their breads. Good brioche buns and english muffins. The ciabatta demi-baguette is my go to for fast grilled bread.

I think a shocking amount of 'recyclable' plastic goes straight into the landfill - if not here, then in Bangladesh where they'll probably burn it

That's why I don't like to buy fresh fruit in a plastic box

I've stopped buying bloobs for precisely this reason. Unless the plastic has a 1 or 2 inside the recycle symbol, recycling centers are probably going to put it into the landfill, IIRC because of the cost involved in recycling (also because if the plastic is too dirty). That said, I don't know how much of an affect that I as a single consumer can have on the environment, especially considering industrial-scale waste nightmare.

I've had a lot of visitors over the last year and am startled at how wasteful they are, contributing mountains of plastic containers and bottles of water and cardboard boxes to the pile that I end up having to put into the recycling bin.

I am addicted to Trader Joe European Style Whole Milk Yogurt and go through a large container of it every few days, and I feel really bad about the amount of plastic involved, but I haven't found decent yogurt that comes in better packaging. I wish there were, like, a gas station for yogurt where I could just fill up a jug from a pump.

idk I was just shopping at Target, and with the exception of onions and avocados in their non-supermarket stores, everything is in plastic. we’re not going to stop it from the bottom up and in most of the country or most stores at least, that’s what you get because small stores aren’t rotating product under a couple produce sprayers

aside from that dire tangential note, the Organic Elote Corn Chip Dippers are a delight. alone, with salsa or cheese dip, really anything

I haven't found decent yogurt that comes in better packaging

I guess you could always make your own. My parents used to do it when I was little.

i used to think "every bit counts" when it comes to plastic waste but you're point is probably right, mh. like it's a bigass world with neverending plastic at this point.

at least those yogurt containers are likely to get recycled, Lily
xp

Hopefully plastic-eating bacteria gets scaled up soon

If not it’ll evolve eventually

I seem to recall a great Carlin bit about plastic. The gist being, what if the planet *wants* plastic, and evolved us to harvest it for them, while simultaneously ensuring our own doom? So that it can live happily ever after with all the plastic and none of the people.

I wish there were, like, a gas station for yogurt

I was actually looking around for local bulk white vinegar, so I could just bring in a gallon jug rather than buying a new one - alas, this doesn't appear to be a thing

When my sister lived in Sacramento, she would shop at a store called Refill Madness, which only sold items in bulk. You had to bring in and tare your own containers. Idk if that concept is widespread (nothing like that exists here in the Inland Empire) but I think it will become more prevalent over time to the point that mainstream stores will also have to start accommodating it.

There is a store in Pasadena that does that, though I've never tried it. And we used to have a food co-op where you could do that for some items.

There are a few places/products that encourage that, especially for shelf-stable stuff like shampoo. A few years back I want to say I heard a radio piece on how difficult it was to find a pizza place that would allow you to pick up the pie minus the box, using your own container.

https://www.wbez.org/stories/can-you-get-takeout-without-a-side-of-trash-in-chicago/fdab4761-534c-4cb2-9131-17979e34ae66

https://preview.redd.it/gdbv8dnsntta1.jpg?width=640&crop=smart&auto=webp&v=enabled&s=133b2e5b0d90d6574e60b0667937f0cde3ea41da

Top two look like hippos, middle two like goats, far right is a horse, lower left maybe a tiger, or a polar bear.

Maybe top center is a rhino with a truncated horn.

animals.

I just ate an entire Jalapeno Cheddar Bread in one and sitting and aside from feeling like I'm about to burst, my biggest regret is that I don't have any more to eat tomorrow.

The French onion focaccia is really good too. Also those new Thai noodle rice snacks.