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Yesterday โ€” 22 December 2024Main stream

I tried roast-beef sandwiches from Jimmy John's, Subway, and Jersey Mike's. None were perfect, but one stood out.

22 December 2024 at 04:34
wrapped sandwiches from subway, jimmy johns, and jersey mike's
I compared roast-beef sandwiches from Subway, Jimmy John's, and Jersey Mike's.

Steven John

  • I compared roast-beef sandwiches at Jimmy John's, Jersey Mike's, and Subway to find the best one.
  • The bread at Jimmy John's never fails to impress me, but I thought the rest of the sub was bland.
  • My Subway sub was made with remarkably crisp produce, but Jersey Mike's easily had the best meat.

I could probably eat a sandwich for lunch every day for the rest of my life.

On my quest to compare popular chains, I put roast-beef subs from Jimmy John's, Jersey Mike's, and Subway to the test.

I ordered each sandwich on the shop's standard bread and piled them with provolone cheese, lettuce, tomato, and mayo.

Here's how the roast-beef sandwiches stacked up.

Subway is easily one of the biggest fast-food chains.
outside a subway sandwich shop
I'm not always that impressed by Subway.

Steven John

Subway is one of the largest global chains, but its ubiquity hasn't necessarily led to an overly positive public opinion.

I'll admit that I've been let down by the restaurant more than once, but nonetheless, I count myself among its fans. Because Subway has over 30,000 locations globally, it's still nice to know I can probably grab something familiar at one, no matter where in the world I am.

I ordered a 12-inch roast-beef sub for $16.28, which breaks down to about $1.36 an inch.

The produce at Subway tasted surprisingly fresh.
12-inch roast beef sandwich from subway cut in half
The freshness won me over at Subway.

Steven John

Subway employees can sometimes go a little heavy on the sauce, but the few stripes of mayo I got were well-portioned.

The bread and cheese were nothing special, but the roast beef was actually pretty tasty โ€” I just wish there was more of it.

The produce truly stood out here. The tomatoes were thickly cut and actually had good flavor, and the lettuce tasted fresh and crisp.

I'd argue that roast beef should be the star of a roast-beef sandwich, but I'm certainly not mad at the Subway sub.

Jimmy John's Big John sandwich was next on my list.
inside a jimmy johns sandwich shop
I had to pay extra for cheese at Jimmy John's.

Steven John

Jimmy John's is a Midwest staple that's spread to over 2,000 locations across the US. It's perhaps most famous for its fresh-baked bread.

I ordered a regular (8-inch) Big John but paid $1 extra to add provolone cheese. The total came to $11.41, or about $1.43 an inch.

The bread makes the meal at Jimmy John's.
jimmy johns roast beef sandwich cut in half
I love Jimmy John's bread.

Steven John

Sadly, I thought my roast-beef sandwich from Jimmy John's tasted rather bland overall.

It needed a bit more meat, the meat needed a bit more salt, the cheese was all but undetectable, and the veggies faded into the background.

You'd think that would mean I didn't enjoy this sandwich, but that wasn't the case because of one thing: the bread.

Jimmy John's French bread is good enough to be enjoyed on its own with just some butter or perhaps a spread of Dijon mustard. It readily elevates what would've been an underwhelming sandwich into a perfectly decent meal.

Jersey Mike's served up freshly sliced meat.
outside a jersey mikes sub shop
I had high hopes for Jersey Mike's.

Steven John

New Jersey-based chain Jersey Mikes has over 2,000 locations throughout the US and Canada.

It's famous for building sandwiches with freshly sliced cold cuts, and it was the only chain where I watched an employee slice my roast beef seconds after I placed my order.

My No. 6 (roast beef and provolone) 7-inch sub cost me $12.36, or about $1.77 an inch.

My Jersey Mike's sandwich reminded me of one from a mom-and-pop deli.
jersey mike's roast beef sandwich cut in half
The meat was piled high at Jersey Mike's.

Steven John

The roast beef piled onto my Jersey Mike's sandwich was well over an inch thick. I pulled a few pieces of meat out to try on its own and found that it tasted high quality, too

The provolone cheese also had good flavor, but I didn't think there was enough lettuce, and the tomatoes tasted a bit bland.

However, the biggest issue I had with the sandwich was the rather sloppy, messy assembly. It was difficult to hold together as a cohesive unit, and the mayo was slapped on too heavily and unevenly.

I haven't ordered this enough to know if it was a one-off problem or a consistent problem with the chain's sandwich assembly.

There were pros and cons to each sandwich โ€” I wish I could combine them.
roast beef sandwiches from subway, jimmy johns, and jersey mikes
It was hard to pick the best roast-beef sandwich.

Steven John

The generous portion of roast beef and the quality of the meat at Jersey Mike's easily would've made it my favorite sandwich had it been assembled with more care.

However, as it is, there were things I liked and disliked about each sub. Jimmy John's sandwich tasted pretty bland despite its amazing bread, and Subway's felt underfilled but had lovely tomatoes and lettuce.

It would be divine if I could combine the meat from Jersey Mike's and the produce from Subway on the bread from Jimmy John's.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Before yesterdayMain stream

I'm a sommelier. I found 7 of the best cabernet sauvignons at the grocery store, and they're all $35 and under.

20 December 2024 at 04:55
seven bottles of cabernet sauvignon on a counter
I found the best cabernet sauvignon at the grocery store.

Brianne Cohen

  • Grocery-store wines vary in quality, and as a sommelier, I'm here to help.
  • Cabernet sauvignon is one of the most popular red wines and is easy to find at most stores.
  • I found seven different bottles, all $35 and under, that I think are best.

Selecting a bottle of wine can be daunting. The labels often have confusing jargon, and it's hard to know if you're getting a good deal.

As a sommelier, I'm here to help. The good news is you don't have to spend a fortune. There are probably several solid bottles of good-quality wine right at your local grocery store.

Let's start with cabernet sauvignon, one of the world's most widely planted wine grapes that's especially prominent in places like Napa Valley, Bordeaux, and Chile.

Here are seven cabernets I like to pick up at the grocery store, all $35 and under, listed from cheapest to most expensive.

Ironstone Vineyards cabernet sauvignon is easy to drink โ€” and easy to love.
glass of Ironstone Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon next to the bottle
Ironstone Vineyards cabernet is a staple at elevated weeknight dinners in my house.

Brianne Cohen

If you're looking for a wine that's super easy to drink and that's enjoyable both on its own or with a weeknight meal, the cabernet sauvignon from Ironstone Vineyards is the one.

At $14, it's also the most affordable option I reach for.

The pleasant, light-red blend offers notes of juicy, ripe fruits on the nose and palate. It has just a touch of residual sugar for those who prefer sweeter fruity notes.

For an organic option, pick up Domaine Bousquet Reserve's cabernet sauvignon.
glass of Domaine Bousquet Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon next to the bottle
The Domaine Bousquet cabernet is my old reliable.

Brianne Cohen

Domaine Bousquet is a family-owned estate in the Mendoza region of Argentina. Its reserve wines are made with hand-picked, certified organic fruit.

I love the brand's cabernet sauvignon because it tastes exactly like a cab should (full-bodied and dark) for only $18 a bottle.

The wine has a nice tannin structure, so it's on the drier side. Additionally, the notes on both the nose and palate are dark and complex.

In the winter, I reach for Juggernaut Hillside cabernet.
glass of Juggernaut Hillside Cabernet Sauvignon next to a bottle
I love a glass of Juggernaut cabernet with a warming winter meal.

Brianne Cohen

Juggernaut's cabernet โ€” made from grapes on hillside vineyards โ€” majorly over-delivers for its $20 price point.

Upon first taste, the wine is dark-fruited and herbaceous in nature. Then, a smooth and velvety side comes through with some chocolate notes, giving it a rich and warming impression.

It's the perfect winter cabernet to enjoy with a pot roast in front of a crackling fireplace.

Bonterra Estate Collection's cabernet sauvignon is everywhere.
glass of Bonterra Estate Collection Cabernet Sauvignon next to the bottle
I can find Bonterra Estate Collection's cabernet at Trader Joe's.

Brianne Cohen

Bonterra, a leader in sustainable winemaking, offers an easier-drinking cabernet sauvignon with little tannin impression, making it less dry and bitter on the palate.

I think it delivers precisely what a cabernet should for $22: A quaffable glass of red everyone can enjoy.

Bonterra is also one of the easiest-to-find brands on the list. It has wide distribution in major retailers such as Whole Foods, Albertsons, and Trader Joe's.

If you're hosting dinner, check out Ancient Peaks' cabernet sauvignon.
glass of Ancient Peaks Estate Cabernet Sauvignon next to the bottle
Ancient Peaks makes a bold, spicy cabernet.

Brianne Cohen

From the sprawling Santa Margarita Ranch on the south side of Paso Robles, California, comes a spicy little number from Ancient Peaks Winery.

The brand's $25 cabernet has a more dramatic nose and palate, with notes of cinnamon, cloves, and vanilla.

Although some cabernets can be sipped on their own, this bottle is best enjoyed with food. I think it would shine with a hickory-grilled burger, grilled portabellas, or a spiced pork tenderloin.

Alta Nova's cabernet sauvignon is great if you have a little more room in your budget
glass of Alta Nova Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon next tot he bottle
Alta Nova makes wines in Paso Robles, California.

Brianne Cohen

Founded and owned by master sommelier Des Echavarrie, Alta Nova highlights wines made from grapes grown at high elevations in Paso Robles, which is located halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Its $33 cabernet is deep, dark, and brooding in nature, with a good tannin structure. However, it's still a ripe, fruity crowd-pleaser.

Rounding out the top of the list is Rodney Strong's cabernet sauvignon.
glass of Rodney Strong Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon next to the bottle
Rodney Strong's cabernet is great with steak.

Brianne Cohen

Rodney Strong Winery is a legacy Sonoma producer that showcases beautiful grapes from the Alexander Valley.

Its cabernet is dark-fruited, with a lovely note of sweet spice from the oak influence.

Although it's the most expensive on the list at $35, it's the perfect bottle to enjoy with grilled steak or braised short ribs.

Read the original article on Business Insider

I tried 5 different brands of powdered hot cocoa from the grocery store, and the best won by a landslide

17 December 2024 at 10:03
five different hot cocoa mixes laid out on sofa
I taste-tested five hot-cocoa mixes from Ghirardelli, Hershey's, Land O'Lakes, Publix, and Swiss Miss and compared the results.

Abigail Abesamis Demarest

  • To find the best store-bought hot cocoa, I tried prepackaged powders from five different brands.
  • I bought standard mixes from Ghirardelli, Hershey's, Land O'Lakes, Publix, and Swiss Miss.
  • Ghirardelli's hot cocoa was the best โ€” it was rich and chocolaty.

There are a lot of hot-cocoa mixes at the grocery store, but which is the best?

To find out, I reviewed standard mixes from Ghirardelli, Hershey's, Land O'Lakes, Publix, and Swiss Miss. To keep things consistent, I made each with warm water instead of milk.

Here's a breakdown of how they compared, plus which store-bought hot cocoa I liked the best.ย 

I first tried Publix's original hot-cocoa mix.
box of Publix hot cocoa with pack taken out
Publix's hot cocoa came in single-serve packets.

Abigail Abesamis Demarest

This store-brand hot-cocoa mix had the simplest packaging, from the brown-and-white box to the plain single-serve bags.

The package featured instructions for preparing the hot cocoa using hot water and a microwave.

I had a small microwave mishap, but it didn't affect the hot cocoa's flavor.
white mug of prepared Publix hot cocoa
The hot cocoa overflowed in the microwave.

Abigail Abesamis Demarest

Per the package instructions, I mixed the contents of a singular pouch with 3/4 cup (6 ounces) of water in a mug and heated the drink in the microwave for a minute and a half.

I wasn't watching the mug closely, and the hot cocoa overflowed a few seconds before it was done warming up.

I waited for the hot cocoa to cool enough before trying it, but I thought it tasted very sweet and watery and lacked a strong chocolate flavor.

I tried Hershey's milk-chocolate-flavored mix, which has "real milk" as an ingredient.
brown box of Hershey's hot cocoa with pack taken out
The Hershey's hot-cocoa mix packaging looks like a chocolate bar.

Abigail Abesamis Demarest

I imagined this hot cocoa would taste like a melted Hershey's chocolate bar, and I was lookingย forward to trying it.ย 

Each single-serve packet had foil edges to resemble the iconic Hershey's bar wrapper, which I thought was a nice touch.ย 

Although the hot cocoa didn't spill this time, its flavor was disappointing.
white polka-dot mug of Hersheys hot cocoa
Hershey's hot-cocoa mix didn't dissolve as well as the others.

Abigail Abesamis Demarest

I followed the package instructions and microwaved 3/4 cup of water for a minute. Then, I added the cocoa mix and stirred until it was fully dissolved. The water must not have been hot enough, though, because some powder pooled at the top.

Although Hershey's hot cocoa had a richer feel and smoother texture compared to Publix's, the flavor was unusual and hard to place.

It tasted slightly bitter and very artificial โ€” definitely not like chocolate, Hershey's or otherwise.ย 

I'm most familiar with Swiss Miss hot cocoa.
blue box of Swiss Miss hot cocoa with pack taken out
Swiss Miss hot cocoa says it makes a larger mug.

Abigail Abesamis Demarest

I drank Swiss Miss growing up, so it's the brand I most associate with hot cocoa.

Although I'd usually go for the marshmallow variety, I picked up the milk-chocolate flavor for the sake of consistency in this taste test.

Swiss Miss' hot cocoa was frothy and made the largest cup.
white mug of Swiss Miss hot cocoa
Swiss Miss' hot cocoa had a nice, balanced taste.

Abigail Abesamis Demarest

The other hot-cocoa mixes called for 3/4 cup water, but Swiss Miss' required a full cup, so I got felt like I got more bang for my buck. All of the powder quickly dissolved in the hot water without hassle.

Although the chocolate flavor wasn't strong, the taste was balanced โ€” not too sweet or too milky. Despite not tasting the sweetest, it had the most added sugar of any brand I tried at 28 grams per serving.ย 

This Ghirardelli's hot-cocoa mix is made with semisweet chocolate chips.
blue package of Ghirardelli hot cocoa with pack taken out
Ghirardelli's hot-cocoa packaging was the fanciest.

Abigail Abesamis Demarest

The Ghirardelli hot-cocoa mix had the most polished packaging, which was a nice touch that suggested a more premium product and experience.

The instructions on the box included options for cooktop and microwave preparation but also offered a third recipe for "decadent hot chocolate," in which a square of Ghirardelli chocolate is added to the drink.

My first sip of the Ghirardelli hot cocoa was rich and chocolaty.
white mug of Ghirardelli hot cocoa
Ghirardelli's hot cocoa tasted delicious and decadent.

Abigail Abesamis Demarest

I added the package contents to a mug with 3/4 cup of water and microwaved it for a minute.

The Ghirardelli hot cocoa definitely had the most intense chocolate flavor, which I appreciated. The drink's rich taste and texture felt gourmet, but it wasn't heavy enough that I couldn't finish the whole cup.

There was a depth of flavor and body to this hot cocoa that stood out above the others โ€” it almost reminded me of drinking a bar of chocolate.

The last hot cocoa I tried was from Land O'Lakes.
brown single pack of land o'lakes hot cocoa
Land O'Lakes offers a range of hot-cocoa flavors.

Abigail Abesamis Demarest

This hot-cocoa mix was the only one I found sold as a single-serve packet, which is nice if you want to sample different flavors.

I also liked thatย Land O'Lakes had a range of fun flavors, like mint, raspberry, caramel, hazelnut, and Irish creme.

The packet offered instructions for preparing the cocoa as a hot or cold drink.

Land O'Lakes' hot cocoa had a creamy texture, but the strongest flavor didn't seem to be chocolate.
white mug of Land O Lakes  hot cocoa
The Land O'Lakes hot cocoa was sweet, though I thought it had hints of caramel and vanilla.

Abigail Abesamis Demarest

I followed the instructions for the warm alternative, pouring the mix into a mug and stirring in 3/4 cup of hot water.ย 

Like the Hershey's hot cocoa, the Land O'Lakes mix didn't taste much like chocolate โ€” it was sweet, with hints of caramel and vanilla. Despite not having the expected flavor, this hot cocoa was more enjoyable than some others because of its creamy texture that wasn't too watery.

Although these hot-cocoa mixes were inexpensive and easily accessible, they lacked the deep, chocolaty flavor I craved.
five white mugs of hot cocoa
If you want a more chocolaty flavor, skip mixes and try making hot chocolate instead.

Abigail Abesamis Demarest

As I conducted this taste test, it became clear that prepackaged hot cocoa wasn't the best option for a drink with a rich texture and deep chocolate flavor.

For these qualities, I'd recommend making hot chocolate, which is made with melted chocolate instead of cocoa powder.

Even so, Ghirardelli's hot cocoa was the clear winner of this taste test.
five different individual packs of hot cocoa
Ghirardelli's mix took the cake, and Swiss Miss' hot cocoa was the runner-up.

Abigail Abesamis Demarest

Ghirardelli's hot cocoa satisfied my desire for a rich, chocolaty drink, and its thicker texture made it taste more gourmet than the others.

My runner-up is Swiss Missย because of the nostalgia factor and theย balanced flavor โ€” it wasn't too sweet nor so milky that the chocolate flavor disappeared.

  • This story was originally published on November 16, 2020, and most recently updated on December 17, 2024.

Read the original article on Business Insider

I tried store-brand Greek yogurt from Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Costco, and Wegmans. The winner has a permanent spot in my fridge.

13 December 2024 at 13:54
Four containers of yogurt, stacked in two rows, on a gray countertop. They include a white container of Kirkland Signature organic plain Greek yogurt, a white, blue, and green container of Wegmans organic plain nonfat Greek yogurt, a yellow container of 365 organic plain Greek yogurt, and a blue and white container of Trader Joe's plain nonfat Greek yogurt
I compared plain Greek yogurt from Wegmans, Costco, Whole Foods, and Trader Joe's.

Andrea McHugh

  • My family tried and ranked plain Greek yogurt fromย four grocery stores.
  • My daughter and I thought Trader Joe'sย Greek nonfat yogurtย had an odd flavor.
  • The organic plain nonfat Greek yogurt from Wegmans was our winner.

My family consumes a lot of Greek yogurt โ€” most brands are low in carbs, high in protein, and contain probiotics. Plus, it serves as a filling breakfast or snack for my daughter.

Though many brands offer Greek-style varieties, I find they're often twice the price of standard plain yogurt. So, to see which Greek yogurt is the best value, I tried store-brand versions from Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, Costco, and Wegmans.

I bought the most basic plain Greek yogurt I could find at each store and sampled them without any toppings. All were nonfat except the 365 brand from Whole Foods, which contained 3.5% milk fat.

Here's how the Greek yogurt stacked up, from worst to best.

Trader Joe's nonfat plain Greek yogurt had a medium-thick consistency.ย 
A white and light-blue tub of Trader Joe's Greek nonfat yogurt, with illustrations of spoons on the packaging. The container sits on a gray marble countertop with blue-and-white bowls in the background
I wanted to like Trader Joe's nonfat plain Greek yogurt.

Andrea McHugh

I liked that Trader Joe's option didn't have the ubiquitous pool of milky whey that sometimes settles on top of yogurt when I open it. The yogurt seemed to have a nice, medium-thick consistency.ย 

At $5.50, the 32-ounce tub of Greek yogurt was the least expensive of the four brands I tried.ย 

The yogurt was creamy but a bit too tangy for my taste.
A white and light-blue container of Trader Joe's Greek nonfat yogurt with illustrations of spoons of yogurt on the container. A blue-and-white bowl filled with white yogurt sits next to the container
In my opinion, Trader Joe's nonfat plain Greek yogurt was very tangy.

Andrea McHugh

Sadly, I thought this yogurt had an intensely tangy, almost sour flavor. Because of its standout creaminess, I'd be more inclined to buy Trader Joe's flavored Greek yogurt with honey the next time I'm at the store.

The 365 organic 3.5% milk fat plain Greek yogurt from Whole Foods was the most expensive option.ย 
A light-yellow container of 365 organic plain Greek yogurt with a red, orange, and yellow design on the packaging. The container sits on a gray marble countertop with blue-and-white bowls in the backgrounds
The 365 organic 3.5% milk fat plain Greek yogurt was the most expensive yogurt I tried.

Andrea McHugh

At $6.70, this 32-ounce tub was the highest-priced yogurt I tried. When I opened the container, the yogurt looked creamy and smooth.

The 365 Greek yogurt tasted mildly sweet, with no tanginess.ย 
A light-yellow container of 365 organic plain Greek yogurt with a red, orange, and yellow design and green lid. The container sits next to a blue-and-white bowl filled with white yogurt
The 365 organic 3.5% milk fat plain Greek yogurt was pretty tasty.

Andrea McHugh

The 365 Greek yogurt tasted fresh and was well-balanced โ€” mildly sweet and not too tangy or tart.

I'd likely use this yogurt in one of my smoothies, as I don't feel it would alter the taste but would add a nice boost of protein.

The Kirkland Signature organic nonfat plain Greek yogurt from Costco was the best bang for my buck.
A large white container with Kirkland Signature and black and green text spelling out "organic Greek yogurt plain" on a gray countertop with blue-and-white bowls in the background
The Kirkland Signature organic nonfat plain Greek yogurt came in a large tub.

Andrea McHugh

Costco sells many items in bulk, including the $6 Kirkland Signature organic nonfat Greek yogurt, which comes in a 48-ounce tub.ย 

At cost-per-ounce, it was the best-value item in this taste test. The entire tub was cheaper than the 365 organic yogurt from Whole Foods and contained 16 more ounces.

The Kirkland Signature yogurt would make a great base for fruit or granola.ย 
A large white container of Kirkland Signature organic plain Greek yogurt with a green lid. The container sits on a gray counter next to a blue-and-white bowl filled with white Greek yogurt
I really liked the flavor of the Kirkland Signature organic nonfat plain Greek yogurt.

Andrea McHugh

The Kirkland Signature yogurt was rich and full-bodied, with just enough tartness to give it some depth.ย 

I appreciated that this yogurt, though less dense than the others, didn't have a puddle of whey at the top.ย It seemed like an ideal base for fruit, granola, or other add-ins.

Finally, I tried Wegmans' organic nonfat plain Greek yogurt.
A white container with a green Greek key pattern in the shape of a circle, Wegmans organic logo, and text spelling out "Greek nonfat yogurt plain." The container sits on a gray counter with blue-and-white bowls in the background.
Wegmans' organic nonfat plain Greek yogurt had a creamy consistency.

Andrea McHugh

The 32-ounce tub of organic Greek yogurt from Wegmans cost $6 โ€” a pleasant surprise, as I thought it would be more expensive.

Some whey floated at the top of the yogurt, but only creamy goodness remained once I dumped it out.ย 

The yogurt from Wegmans was my favorite.
A white container with a green Greek key pattern in a circle, a Wegmans organic logo, and "Greek nonfat yogurt plain" text with blue design on the container. The package sits next to a blue-and-white bowl filled with white yogurt
I immediately thought Wegmans' organic nonfat plain Greek yogurt was delicious.

Andrea McHugh

This Greek yogurt was creamy and smooth with the slightest tang, making it a solid base for add-ins. I think its light consistency would also be ideal for recipes that call for Greek yogurt.

Notably, this yogurt had the most sugar (7 grams) of all four options. My daughter also liked it the most, so I plan on packing it in a container with some toppings for her lunch.

I liked this yogurt so much that I'm permanently keeping it in my refrigerator. The next time we need Greek yogurt, I'll reach for this one from Wegmans.

This story was originally published on June 9, 2024, and most recently updated on December 13, 2024.

Read the original article on Business Insider

I tried 13 of Trader Joe's holiday meal items, and I'd buy 7 of them again

By: Ted Berg
11 December 2024 at 13:41
A wooden table filled with boxes of Trader Joe's holiday meal items, including pork, frozen appetizers, and a wedge of cheese
I tried 13 of Trader Joe's holiday meal items.

Ted Berg

  • I tried 13 of Trader Joe's holiday meal items to see which ingredients and appetizers were the best.
  • I don't think I'd buy Trader Joe's artichoke bread pudding or Portuguese bacalhau tartelettes again.
  • I was a big fan of Trader Joe's family-style meat lasagna and eggplant parmigiana sfogliatelle.

When it comes to seasonal meal items at Trader Joe's, it can be difficult to figure out what to get to entertain family and friends for the holidays.

So, I tried 13 of Trader Joe's holiday food items to see which were the best and what I wouldn't get next time.

Here's how each food item stacked up.

Editor's Note: This story was originally published on December 22, 2023, and most recently updated on December 11, 2024. Product availability varies โ€” some items on this list may not currently be available at Trader Joe's.

The eggplant parmigiana sfogliatelle seemed like an easy-to-make appetizer.
A purple bag of Trader Joe's eggplant parmigiana sfogliatelle on a wooden table
I looked forward to seeing what Trader Joe's eggplant parmigiana sfogliatelle would be like.

Ted Berg

Trader Joe's eggplant parmigiana sfogliatelle was the first time I saw sfogliatelle, an Italian pastry, used in a savory dish.

I thought the delicate layered pastry would make for a phenomenal texture.

The eggplant parmigiana sfogliatelle was a satisfying, cheesy appetizer.
Six pieces of eggplant parmigiana sfogliatelle on a white plate
Trader Joe's eggplant parmigiana sfogliatelle was full of cheese and sauce.

Ted Berg

When I baked the appetizer, the exterior became crispy and flaky, and the interior was moist and chewy.

The eggplant pieces pulled apart easily, though the cheesy, saucy filling was a little messy.

They were simple to make in the air fryer, and I thought they looked more elegant than anything you'd expect to come from the freezer aisle.

Trader Joe's figgy cheddar combines sweet and savory notes.
Yellow block of Trader Joe's figgy cheddar with purple label on a wooden cutting board
Trader Joe's figgy cheddar was made with spiced fruit.

Ted Berg

I wasn't sure if I'd like Trader Joe's figgy cheddar because I usually prefer unadulterated cheeses. However, I decided to give it a try.

The figgy cheddar was so hearty and rich that it hardly needed a cracker.
Yellow block of figgy cheddar on a black cutting board
Trader Joe's figgy cheddar had a tasty flavor.

Ted Berg

The fig flavor gave the cheese a subtle hint of sweetness, and the rum (in which the figs were marinated) contributed a light, pleasant spiced note.

The cheese paired well with the chili cracker from Trader Joe's scalloped cracker trio, as the sweetness of the fig complemented the spice.

I thought Trader Joe's mini quiche duo looked delicious.
Brown box of Trader Joe's mini quiche duo with photo of quiches on the packaging on a gray counter
Trader Joe's mini quiche duo came with two different flavors.

Ted Berg

This pack of Trader Joe's mini quiches comes with two flavors: uncured bacon with sweet onion and Swiss cheese with mushroom.

Out of the package, I thought they looked promising and perfectly portioned.

These tasty two-bite appetizers were ready in 10 minutes.
12 mini quiche duos on a plate. Six of the quiches are dark brown and the other six are a lighter tan color
I prepared Trader Joe's mini quiches in the oven.

Ted Berg

The mini quiches were surprisingly moist.

I especially liked the version with uncured bacon and sweet onion, because they had a nice smoky flavor.

My wife preferred the mushroom-and-Swiss option, but that one was a touch too mushroom-heavy for my taste.

I wasn't sure how good Trader Joe's family-style meat lasagna would actually be.
Package of Trader Joe's family-style meat lasagna with a photo of lasagna on the box placed on a wooden counter
I had high hopes for Trader Joe's family-style lasagna.

Ted Berg

Lasagna is a holiday staple for the Italian-American half of my family, so I had high expectations for Trader Joe's family-style meat lasagna.

Donโ€™t tell my actual family that I enjoyed the meat lasagna.
A black container of Trader Joe's baked family-style lasagna on a gray counter
Trader Joe's family-style lasagna looked delicious after I baked it.

Ted Berg

At first glance, the components of the baked lasagna were oddly distributed โ€” all the meat sauce was on top of the noodles and the bottom layers were solely pasta and ricotta.

Luckily, there was plenty of sauce to spread around.

I wouldn't be able to pass it off as homemade, but it was good enough to buy for my family of four again.

However, if the Italian side of my family finds out I'm praising a store-bought lasagna, I might not be welcome at the next party.

Trader Joe's shrimp pouches of many colors looked like a festive treat.
Box of Trader Joe's shrimp pouches of many colors with a picture of dumplings in a steamer on the box placed on a wooden counter
I liked that Trader Joe's shrimp pouches of many colors came with white, green, red, and yellow hues.

Ted Berg

If there's one thing I could tell from Trader Joe's shrimp pouches of many colors, it's that food in various hues is always better than boring old monochromatic options.

The tasty shrimp pouches were an especially fun treat for my kids.
Three each of green, white, red, and yellow shrimp pouches on white a plate placed on a wooden counter
My children were fans of Trader Joe's shrimp pouches of many colors.

Ted Berg

My 3-year-old daughter squealed with delight and insisted on trying each color when she saw these festive dumplings.

I pan-fried my shrimp dumplings so they'd be crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside.

The dumplings weren't anything super special, but they were still pretty good and fun to look at.

I'll likely serve these as an appetizer this holiday season.

Trader Joe's Brie en croรปte didnโ€™t look great, but it's hard to mess up baked cheese.
Box of Trader Joe's Brie en croute with a picture of oozing baked Brie on the package placed on a wooden counter
I wasn't sure how much flavor Trader Joe's Brie en croรปte would have.

Ted Berg

The label for Trader Joe's Brie en croรปte listed all sorts of ways to gussy the thing up โ€” like dolloping raspberry preserves or red peppers and pine nuts on top.

I went for the most basic preparation.

The baked Brie was surprisingly delicious.
Golden-brown baked Brie wrapped in pastry on a white plate
The Brie tasted better than it looked.

Ted Berg

On its own, the pastry-wrapped Brie didn't look like something I'd want to put out for guests.

But when I sliced into it, all the molten Brie came cascading out, and I was reminded that cheese is delicious.

I thought the Brie paired perfectly with the flaky bits of pastry.

Trader Joe's scalloped cracker trio might prove to be divisive on a cheese plate.
White box of Trader Joe's scalloped cracker trio on a wooden table
Trader Joe's scalloped cracker trio had rosemary, red-chili, and garlic flavors.

Ted Berg

Many people eat crackers straight from a box, but I usually prefer them crumbled into soup or used as a vessel for a spread.

Though these crackers come in rosemary, red-chili, and garlic flavors, my family wasn't exactly thrilled to try Trader Joe's scalloped cracker trio.

I had fun experimenting with different cheese-and-cracker pairings.
Several light-brown and tan scalloped crackers on a black cutting board
Trader Joe's scalloped crackers were actually pretty hearty.

Ted Berg

The crackers were a bit thicker and less crunchy than the kinds we usually like.

That being said, they were heartier, and I could see them holding up on a charcuterie tray, especially if dipped into an antipasto spread.

Trader Joe's fried olive bites reminded me of another classic appetizer.
Green box of Trader Joe's fried-olive bites on a gray counter
Right off the bat, I thought Trader Joe's fried olive bites looked like jalapeรฑo poppers.

Ted Berg

Trader Joe's fried olive bites looked like a simple variation of jalapeรฑo poppers.

When I air-fried them, a lot of the cheese filling oozed out onto the appliance's tray.

The olive flavor was very powerful.
Trader Joe's fried-olive bites served on a white plate alongside a red sauce
Trader Joe's fried olive bites would be a great appetizer for fans of the briny snack.

Ted Berg

I expected a full olive stuffed with cheese, but these were more like breaded and fried cheese-filled balls of olive tapenade.

If you truly love the flavor of olives, this is the appetizer for you.

Trader Joe's holiday vegetable hash comes with a myriad of vegetables and herbs.
Clear container of Trader Joe's vegetable holiday hash with a pink label on a gray counter
Trader Joe's holiday vegetable hash has a selection of chopped squash, potatoes, onions, celery, and herbs.

Ted Berg

The label on Trader Joe's holiday hash suggests using the mix of diced butternut squash, sweet potato, red onion, and celery in soups and stuffings.

I sautรฉed the hash to use as a side dish.

The hash would be a better ingredient than a side dish.
Clear glass bowl of orange cooked holiday hash on a gray counter
I'd likely use Trader Joe's holiday hash in a stew.

Ted Berg

The holiday hash was tasty, thanks to the sage's assertive flavor and the squash's sweetness.

However, the slightly mushy hash didn't look the most appetizing, and it even turned off my squash-loving son.

Still, I could imagine it being a time-saver if I was making a wintertime stew.

I was excited to try Trader Joe's uncured bacon-wrapped porchetta pork roast.
Black shrink-wrapped Trader Joe's uncured bacon porchetta roast on a gray counter
Trader Joe's uncured bacon-wrapped porchetta pork roast seemed promising.

Ted Berg

As a porchetta lover, I had high hopes for Trader Joe's uncured bacon-wrapped porchetta pork roast.

Per the instructions, I roasted the pork at 500 degrees Fahrenheit until the bacon was browned and crispy.

This was supposed to take 25 minutes, but the bacon didn't seem that crispy even after 30 minutes in the oven.

I still followed the instructions and lowered the temperature to 325 degrees, as I feared I'd scorch the thing.

By the time it was finished, the inside was a little dry, but the bacon wasnโ€™t very crunchy.
Sliced pork and bacon on a white plate on a gray counter
I tried a small slice of Trader Joe's uncured bacon-wrapped porchetta pork roast.

Ted Berg

I enjoy rosemary, but, in my opinion, too much of the herb was stuffed into the pork.

The meat tasted best in a sandwich alongside the holiday vegetable hash, as the vegetables and bread helped cut the rosemary flavor.

Trader Joe's cranberry chevre had pieces of fruit inside the cheese.
Clear package of Trader Joe's cranberry chevre on wooden counter
Trader Joe's cranberry chevre was packed with fruit.

Ted Berg

I assumed Trader Joe's cranberry chevre would just be goat cheese rolled in sweetened, dried cranberries. However, it looked like the fruit was also whipped into the cheese.

I might have liked the cranberry chevre if it was presented as a dessert.
Unwrapped cranberry chevre on a black cutting board
I'd add Trader Joe's cranberry chevre to a sandwich.

Ted Berg

I didn't find the chevre to have enough of a tangy edge.

It was OK on one of the rosemary crackers from the scalloped cracker trio, but I could also picture it on a sandwich with the porchetta and holiday hash.

Trader Joe's artichoke bread pudding looked interesting.
Black package of Trader Joe's artichoke bread budding on wooden counter
Trader Joe's artichoke bread pudding seemed like it had a lot going on.

Ted Berg

I didn't know what to expect from Trader Joe's artichoke bread pudding.

Judging from the label, it seemed like a reconfiguration of stuffed artichokes.

The bread pudding also came in an oven-safe casserole dish.

I thought Trader Joe's artichoke bread pudding looked unappetizing and greasy.
Black tray of artichoke bread pudding on a gray counter
Unfortunately, I thought Trader Joe's artichoke bread was unpleasant.

Ted Berg

The oven didn't fix the bread pudding's off-putting appearance, in my opinion.

Taste-wise, it was too heavy and had a strong black-pepper flavor.

It was the type of thing that tasted good on the first bite but was unpleasant by the third.

I wasn't sure how Trader Joe's Portuguese bacalhau tartelettes would taste.
Box of Trader Joe's Portuguese Bacalhau tartelettes with a picture of tarts and blue plate on the packaging on a wooden counter
Trader Joe's Portuguese bacalhau tartelettes were made with bechamel, egg yolks, potatoes, and cod.

Ted Berg

I wasn't certain if I'd like Trader Joe's Portuguese tarts, which had a filling of bechamel, egg yolks, diced potato, and salted cod.

I tried not to let the "cod custard tarts" label deter me.

To put it gently, bacalhau tarts are not for me.
Eight golden-brown Portuguese custard tarts on a white plate on a gray counter
Trader Joe's Portuguese bacalhau tartelettes wouldn't be a repeat purchase for me.

Ted Berg

We try pretty hard not to waste much food in my household but we didn't even come close to finishing the tarts.

These were a bit like a cream-based seafood chowder embedded in pastry, but they mostly tasted like goopy cod.

Read the original article on Business Insider

I compared store-bought ginger cookies and the cheapest, most festive kind was my favorite

11 December 2024 at 10:12
ginger cookies
I tried three different kinds to determine the best store-bought ginger cookie.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

  • I tried three kinds of packaged ginger cookies from the grocery store.
  • Tate's gluten-free ginger zinger cookies impressed me with bits of crystallized ginger.
  • The best store-bought gingerbread cookies were Little Debbie's iced gingerbread cookies.

Nothing says the holiday season like a ginger cookie for dessert.

Many brands release seasonal versions of their most popular items during the holidays, from peppermint Milano cookies to Reese's peanut-butter Christmas trees.

I tried three kinds of ginger-flavored cookies, all of which can be found on most grocery store shelves and pack just the right amount of spice for the holiday season.

Here's how store-bought gingerbread cookies ranked, from worst to best.

My least favorite brand of cookie was Tate's Bake Shop's gingersnap cookies.
tates bake shop gingersnap cookies
I tried Tate's Bakeshop gingersnap cookies.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The bag cost $5.79 at my local Key Food Marketplace.

The bag came with 14 cookies.
tates bake shop gingersnap cookies
The bag came with an impressive serving of cookies inside.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

This is comparable to other brands of packaged cookies I usually buy.

The cookies were very crispy, but they were not hard to bite into.
tates bake shop gingersnap cookies
The cookies were slightly smaller than the size of my palm.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

Sometimes I find ginger snaps can be a little tough, but these ones crumbled easily.

The cookies were a touch too spicy for my liking.
tates bake shop gingersnap cookies
The cookies had a little too much spice.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I thought the cookies tasted strongly of spices like cinnamon and molasses but were slightly off-balance in sweetness.

These cookies were borderline spicy, which I'm personally not a huge fan of. However, I did enjoy the texture.

Next up were Tate's gluten-free ginger zinger cookies.
tates bake shop gluten free ginger zinger cookies
I tried Tate's gluten-free ginger zinger cookies.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

These cookies, the most expensive of the ones I tried, cost $5.99 at my local Key Food Marketplace.

This package also came with 14 cookies.
tates bake shop gluten free ginger zinger cookies
The cookies were slightly thicker than the ginger snaps.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

However, unlike the ginger snaps, these cookies supposedly contained pieces of crystallized ginger. I was excited to see how the flavors would measure up.

The cookies were about the same size as the ginger snaps but slightly thicker.
tates bake shop gluten free ginger zinger cookies
They had a golden ginger color.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I could also see the pieces of ginger on the surface of the crispy cookies.

These cookies were sweet, with just the right amount of ginger flavor.
tates bake shop gluten free ginger zinger cookies
I preferred the texture of the ginger zingers to the gingersnaps.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I loved the texture of the crispy cookies and the crystallized ginger and thought these were just as good as any non-gluten-free cookies I've ever tried.

My favorite of the three kinds of ginger cookies was the Christmas gingerbread soft cookies from Little Debbie.
little debbies christmas gingerbread soft cookies
I tried the Christmas gingerbread soft cookies from Little Debbie.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

At my local Stop & Shop grocery store, a box of eight cookies cost $3.59. They were the least expensive, but the box also contained the fewest cookies.

Each cookie came individually wrapped.
little debbies christmas gingerbread soft cookies
The cookies came wrapped in festive packaging.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I thought these cookies would be a really cute touch for a festive school lunch or snack on the go.

The cookies were sweeter than the other two kinds I tried.
little debbie gingerbread cookies
I loved the look of these cookies.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The icing and smattering of red and green sprinkles upped the sweetness, but I also preferred the softer texture of these gingerbread cookies compared to the other two kinds.

Aesthetically, I also thought these were the most festive for the holiday season.

The cookies brought me back to my childhood with their perfect balance of sweetness, spiciness, and soft texture.
little debbies christmas gingerbread soft cookies
They were soft, sweet, flavorful, and extremely festive-looking.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

While I enjoyed all of these cookies, I would choose the classic gingerbread cookies for a sweet, festive treat.

Read the original article on Business Insider

I compared store-bought cinnamon rolls, and the best brand almost tasted like a croissant

8 December 2024 at 06:49
cinnamon rolls from five different brands on a white plate
I tried store-bought cinnamon rolls from four different brands and ranked them from worst to best.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

  • I tried cinnamon rolls from Pillsbury, Immaculate Baking Company, Annie's, and Amazon.
  • The Pillsbury Grands flaky cinnamon rolls blew me away with their fluffy, doughnut-like texture.
  • The Amazon-brand cinnamon rolls were a little too bread-like for my taste.

For many people, there's nothing better than the smell of cinnamon rolls straight out of the oven wafting through the house, especially around the holidays.

The comforting aroma of cinnamon rolls is more than nostalgic โ€” it's also a major business driver, especially during the holiday season when sales of seasonal products like store-bought cinnamon rolls rise.

Pillsbury is one brand dominating the ready-to-bake market, but smaller brands like Immaculate Baking Company and Annie's Organic also have their own versions. Even Amazon, which has its own e-commerce grocery brand, has joined the competition with its own line of cinnamon rolls.

I tried five different kinds of store-bought, canned cinnamon rolls from Pillsbury's, Immaculate Baking Company, Annie's Organic, and Amazon to see which brand had the best-canned cinnamon rolls.

Here's how the store-bought cinnamon rolls ranked, from worst to best.

Ahead of the holiday season, I tried cinnamon rolls from four different brands.
canned cinnamon rolls from Pillsbury's, Immaculate Baking Company, Annie's Organic, and Amazon
The five different kinds of cinnamon rolls I tried.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I tried cinnamon rolls from Pillsbury, Immaculate Baking Company, Annie's, and Amazon's Happy Belly, which has since rebranded as Amazon Fresh.

To make the cinnamon rolls, I greased a baking sheet and baked them according to the instructions on each can. They all took around 20 minutes to bake in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Each can of cinnamon rolls also came with icing, which I allowed to come to room temperature while the rolls were baking.

My least favorite brand was Amazon's Happy Belly cinnamon rolls, which have since rebranded to Amazon Fresh.
amazon fresh cinnamon rolls
I tried the Amazon Fresh cinnamon rolls.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The can cost $2.49 and included eight rolls plus a bag of icing. This was the least expensive brand I tried, and it came with the most rolls.

The can contained more rolls than the other brands.
amazon fresh cinnamon rolls
The cinnamon rolls were smaller than some of the other brands.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

However, each cinnamon roll was smaller. The icing, which came in a small plastic bag, melted nicely onto the rolls when they were fresh out of the oven.

I thought the texture of the cinnamon roll was a little bread-like.
amazon fresh cinnamon rolls
I wasn't a fan of the texture of these cinnamon rolls.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I didn't love the texture of this cinnamon roll. It was a little stodgy and thick rather than flaky.

It also lacked the spiced flavor I expect from a cinnamon roll. It was a touch bland, and all I could taste was the sweet, sticky icing. It wasn't bad, per se, but it wasn't my favorite out of all of the rolls I tried.

My fourth-favorite brand of cinnamon roll was from Immaculate Baking Company.
immaculate cinnamon rolls
Next up was the Immaculate cinnamon rolls.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The can came with five cinnamon rolls and icing. It cost $8.49, making it the most expensive brand I tried.

The cinnamon rolls were medium-sized.
immaculate cinnamon rolls
These cinnamon rolls had a thick layer of cinnamon spice inside.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

This made them easy to hold and bite into. I could see a rich layer of cinnamon swirled inside the bun.

The texture was on the thicker side, but fluffier than the Amazon-brand cinnamon rolls.
immaculate cinnamon rolls
They were sweet and buttery.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The cinnamon roll was sweet, spicy, and buttery, and the icing wasn't too sweet โ€” it was just right. However, for such a high price tag, I expected to be more impressed with these rolls than I was.

The Pillsbury Grands cinnamon rolls landed square in the middle of my ranking.
pillsbury grands cinnamon rolls
These cinnamon rolls were inexpensive.

Erin McDowell/Insider

A can of five rolls, including Cinnabon icing, cost $3.49.

The cinnamon roll was among the largest of the rolls and rose a significant amount while baking.
cinnamon rolls
The Pillsbury Grands cinnamon rolls were the largest I tried.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The icing, which came in a small plastic tub, did require a knife to spread over the top of the roll, which added an extra step. However, I thought it was worth it.

The cinnamon roll was light and flaky, with a balanced amount of sweetness.
cinnamon rolls
The cinnamon rolls were crispy on the outside.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The roll was slightly crispy on the outside but fluffy in the center. The Cinnabon icing was also very decadent, without being sickly sweet or toothache-inducing.

The second-best brand I tried was Annie's organic cinnamon rolls.
annies cinnamon rolls
I also tried Annie's Organic cinnamon rolls.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The can came with five cinnamon rolls and cost $7.99.

These cinnamon rolls were packed with cinnamon flavor.
annies cinnamon rolls
These cinnamon rolls were really flavorful.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The icing settled into a creamy coating over the top of the rolls.

The texture was also very flaky, almost like a croissant.
annies cinnamon rolls
I enjoyed the flakey texture.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I thought these cinnamon rolls had the perfect balance between buttery and flaky texture, without being too sweet.

But my favorite brand that I tried was the Pillsbury Flaky Grands cinnamon rolls.
pillsbury flaky grands cinnamon rolls
My favorite brand was the Pillsbury Flaky Grands cinnamon rolls.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

A can of five rolls, including Cinnabon icing, cost $7.69.

The cinnamon roll was the largest of the ones I tried.
cinnamon rolls
The rolls were large and flakey, almost like a croissant.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

Its texture was super flaky, just as the packaging promised, and the texture of the roll was very similar to a croissant.

When I bit in, the roll reminded me of a buttery, flaky doughnut.
cinnamon rolls
The strong cinnamon and butter flavor reminded me of a doughnut.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The roll had just the right amount of cinnamon and butter flavor, but its texture blew me away. It practically melted in my mouth.

I enjoyed all of the rolls, but the flakiest one was the winner in my book.
finished cinnamon rolls with bite taken out of each one
The finished cinnamon rolls.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

Not only did the Pillsbury Flaky Grands cinnamon rolls have the best flavor and texture, but I also thought they were well-priced for such a decadent dessert. They tasted like they could have come from an actual bakery.

The next time I'm looking to make a cozy, holiday breakfast, I know which brand I'll be reaching for at the grocery store.

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I tried 10 of Trader Joe's holiday snacks, and I'd buy at least 7 of them again

6 December 2024 at 13:25
Trader Joe's winter snacks on a table
I tried all of the seasonal Trader Joe's holiday snacks that I could find.

Paige Bennett

  • I tried 10 of Trader Joe's holiday snacks to see which were the tastiest choices.
  • The peppermint pretzel thins had a unique minty, salty flavor, so I'm not sure I'd buy them again.
  • I'll definitely repurchase the Nuts About Rosemary mix and Jingle Jangle.

I love delicious, satisfying snacks, and with the holiday season in full swing, I decided to see which Trader Joe's holiday items I could try.

Here's how 10 Trader Joe's holiday snacks stacked up.

Editor's Note: This story was originally published on December 1, 2023, and most recently updated on December 6, 2024. Product availability varies โ€” some items on this list may not currently be available at Trader Joe's.

I was impressed by the number of gingerbread sandwich cookies in each package.
Trader Joe's gingerbread sandwich cookies
The gingerbread sandwich cookies looked large.

Paige Bennett

My first thought upon opening the frosting-filled gingerbread sandwich cookies was, "Wow, that's a lot of cookies!"

Each box held 18 sandwich cookies, which were on the softer side.

I was a little concerned about how the cookies would be texture-wise because the box I picked up had large oil spots seeping through the packaging.

Trader Joe's gingerbread sandwich cookes were sugar, spice, and everything nice.
Gingerbread sandwich cookie
I liked the sweet, spicy flavors of Trader Joe's gingerbread sandwich cookies.

Paige Bennett

The gingerbread sandwich cookies were a hit in my house.

The cookies were soft, the filling was creamy, and the top had a slight crunch from a sugary coating.

I also thought the cookies had a good balance of spice and sweetness.

I was skeptical of the salty, minty Trader Joe's peppermint pretzel slims.
Trader Joe's peppermint pretzel slims
Trader Joe's peppermint pretzel slims combined sweet and savory flavors.

Paige Bennett

I love chocolate-covered pretzels and combinations of sweet and savory flavors.

But I wasn't sure how the pieces of peppermint candy would taste with the salty pretzel slims.

The flavors of mint, sweetness, and saltiness came in waves.
Peppermint pretzel slims on a plate
I thought the peppermint pretzel slims might have had too much going on.

Paige Bennett

I first noticed a strong peppermint flavor when I took a bite.

Then I got the flavor of the pretzel and a hint of the candy coating, which tasted like white chocolate.

I liked the combination of a thin pretzel and a thick candy coating, as it made for a crispy yet chewy texture that's good for snacking.

The pretzel bites were better than I thought they'd be, but I don't know if I'd grab them again.

The Scandinavian Tidings gummies looked really cute in the package.
Trader Joe's Scandinavian Tidings snacks
The Scandinavian Tidings came with three different shapes.

Paige Bennett

As a vegetarian, there are a lot of gummy candies out there that I don't eat because they contain gelatin, so I loved that the Scandinavian Tidings gummies were an option I could enjoy.

In the package, the tree, star, and ornament-shaped candies looked cute.

However, I didn't love the smell of this candy because the scent reminded me of cherry-flavored medicine.

The gummies were OK, but I prefer Trader Joe's Scandinavian Swimmers.
Scandinavian Tidings snacks in writer's hand
Trader Joe's Scandinavian Tidings were all right.

Paige Bennett

I tried Trader Joe's Scandinavian Swimmers earlier this year, and I think I'd prefer them over the holiday gummies.

I didn't notice a flavor difference between the various shapes or colors of the gummies. They were all chewy with a mildly sweet flavor.

Though they weren't my favorite, my partner really liked them. For that reason alone, I'll buy them again for stocking stuffers.

I wondered how flavorful the Nuts About Rosemary mix would be.
Trader Joe's Nuts About Rosemary mix
Trader Joe's Nuts About Rosemary mix packed a lot of crunch.

Paige Bennett

The shelves at my local Trader Joe's were packed with sweet holiday snacks and desserts, so it was nice to see a savory snack option, the Nuts About Rosemary mix.

I liked that the mix had a good variety, with almonds, pecans, hazelnuts, and cashews.

I liked the nut mix, though I wish it had a little more seasoning.
Nuts About Rosemary mix in a bowl
Trader Joe's Nuts About Rosemary mix would've been better with more garlic or pepper.

Paige Bennett

Rosemary can be a strong flavor, but I thought the nuts had a pretty mild taste.

They were good and not too salty, but I wished they had more garlic or black pepper.

Still, I'd buy the mix again to eat as-is or use as a salad topping.

I was excited to try the Trader Joe's sweet and salty snack mix.
Trader Joe's sweet and salty snack mix
Trader Joe's sweet and salty snack mix had potato chips and other salted items in it.

Paige Bennett

Earlier this year, I tried Trader Joe's snacky clusters, which has chocolate-covered potato chips, corn chips, and mini pretzel nuggets.

I loved those, so I hoped this snack mix would be similar.

I was excited to try the half-dipped, chocolate-covered potato chips in the holiday sweet and salty snack mix.

The potato chips were easily the best part.
Sweet and salty snack mix in a bowl
The sweet and salty snack mix was fine.

Paige Bennett

When I opened the bag, it seemed like the mix mainly had pretzel and popcorn pieces, which was a bit disappointing.

I thought the pretzels were fine. They seemed like a smaller version of Trader Joe's peanut butter-filled pretzels, but this version didn't have quite enough filling.

The peanuts tasted pretty standard, but I liked the dark-chocolate-drizzled popcorn.

Out of all of the components, the chip pieces were the best. They had a sweet yet slightly bitter taste from the dark chocolate and saltiness that blended well together.

The cute packaging for the Danish butter cookies caught my eye.
Trader Joe's Danish butter cookies
I bought Trader Joe's Danish butter cookies based on the packaging alone.

Paige Bennett

Trader Joe's Danish butter cookies' packaging was too cute to pass up.

I didn't expect much in terms of the flavor, but I liked that the reusable tin housed a variety of cookie shapes.

The Danish butter cookies were nostalgic, though they werenโ€™t my favorite snack.
Danish cookies in tin
The Danish butter cookies were light and crunchy.

Paige Bennett

The cookies were light and crisp, and they melted in my mouth when I took a bite.

They had a subtle sweetness that reminded me of cookies I'd had as a kid.

I don't know that I'd buy these again for myself, but they could be useful in a gift box.

The cinnamon-bun-inspired kettle popcorn seemed interesting.
Trader Joe's cinnamon-bun-inspired kettle corn
The cinnamon-bun-inspired kettle corn had an odd smell.

Paige Bennett

I don't usually eat a lot of popcorn, but I was intrigued by the cinnamon-bun-inspired kettle corn.

I expected it to be pretty sticky and chewy from the flavor coating.

When I opened the bag, I was a bit confused by the smell. The popcorn didn't smell like kettle corn or a cinnamon bun to me.

Iโ€™m not typically a popcorn fan, but I'd repurchase the kettle corn.
Cinnamon-bun-inspired kettle corn in a bowl
I'd use Trader Joe's cinnamon-bun-inspired kettle corn for popcorn balls.

Paige Bennett

The kettle corn was light and airy without any of the stickiness, density, or chewiness I predicted it would have.

The cinnamon glaze was strong but not overly sweet, which was nice.

Because this kettle corn wasn't super sweet, I think it'd be good for holiday popcorn balls.

I was intrigued by the big box of multi-flavor mini pretzels.
Trader Joe's Astounding multi-flavor mini pretzels
Trader Joe's Astounding multi-flavor mini pretzels came in a large box.

Paige Bennett

When I walked into Trader Joe's, the big, brightly colored box of Astounding multi-flavor mini pretzels was front and center by the entrance.

The flavors sounded fun and festive: dark-chocolate peppermint, milk chocolate with rainbow pearl sprinkles, peanut butter and candy-coated pretzels with cookie pieces and chocolate gems, and coffee and dark chocolate.

As expected, the coffee and peanut butter pretzels were my favorite.
Astounding multi-flavor pretzels on plate
Two kinds of Trader Joe's Astounding multi-flavor mini pretzels stood out to me.

Paige Bennett

The box contained four smaller bags of each flavor of pretzel. I liked that the flavors were separated, but I wish the bags were resealable.

I had the same issues with the peppermint and dark chocolate pretzels as I did with Trader Joe's peppermint pretzel slims. To me, the peppermint and salty pretzel were a weird food combination.

I thought the milk-chocolate pretzels with pearls tasted OK, but I didn't like the texture of the sprinkles.

The pretzels with the coffee-flavored coating and dark-chocolate drizzle and the ones coated in peanut butter were my favorites.

However, I wish the cookie and candy pieces stuck to the peanut-butter-coated pretzels better. Most of the cookie and candy pieces were loose in the bag.

I was impressed by the giant tin of the Baton Loverโ€™s Quartet.
Trader Joe's Baton Lover's Quartet wafer cookies
Trader Joe's Baton Lover's Quartet wafer cookies came in a cute tin.

Paige Bennett

The Baton Lover's Quartet came in a canister that looked ready to be gifted and included four flavors: chocolate orange, cookies and cream, cocoa, and hazelnut.

Iโ€™d probably skip the Baton Lover's Quartet in the future, as I didnโ€™t love any of the flavors.
Baton Lover's Quartet wafer cookies on a plate
The Baton Lover's Quartet wafer cookies had a good texture.

Paige Bennett

When I opened the tin, I saw that each flavor was individually packaged.

I tried the cookies-and-cream baton first and thought it was very chocolaty and tasty. It didn't really taste like cookies and cream to me, though.

I thought the chocolate-orange baton's wafer overwhelmingly tasted like artificial orange, though the chocolate center mellowed it.

The cocoa baton's wafer exterior didn't really have any strong flavor but the filling was rich and chocolaty.

The hazelnut baton tasted more chocolaty to me than anything else.

The texture of all the wafer batons was nice, as the exteriors were light and crisp and the fillings were rich and creamy.

But overall, I didn't love any of the flavors enough to warrant buying the multipack again.

Jingle Jangle is already a treat I look forward to buying every year.
Trader Joe's Jingle Jangle tin
Trader Joe's Jingle Jangle contains chocolate-coated treats.

Paige Bennett

Each year, I eagerly head to Trader Joe's in search of the brand's Jingle Jangle mix.

The container includes a range of milk- and dark-chocolate-covered treats, like pieces of Joe-Joe's cookies and mini pretzels.

I always love to get this mix, eat all the dark-chocolate-covered pieces, and offer my partner the milk-chocolate ones.

Jingle Jangle is still one of my favorite Trader Joeโ€™s snacks of all time.
Trader Joe's Jingle Jangle pretzels
I love how Trader Joe's Jingle Jangle lasts all season long in my house.

Paige Bennett

The mix was just as delicious as I remembered it.

The Jingle Jangle is pretty rich because each piece has a thick chocolate coating. Due to its intensity, I typically enjoy only a few bites at a time.

One tin tends to last me all season long. I already have my tin for this year, but I already know I'll buy this again next winter.

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I tried all the premade soups I could find at Trader Joe's and ranked them from worst to best

By: Ted Berg
5 December 2024 at 13:18
six container of trader joe's soup lined up on a kitchen counter
There were six premade soups available at my Trader Joe's.

Ted Berg

  • I tried all the premade soups available at my local Trader Joe's.ย 
  • I wasn't a big fan of the flavor and texture, respectively, of the minestrone and lentil soups.ย 
  • The clam chowder and tomato soup are something I could see myself buying for lunch.ย 

My local Trader Joe's has nine premade soups available this winter: kettle-cooked chicken soup, lentil soup with ancient grains, New England clam chowder, organic hearty minestrone soup, tomato-feta soup, organic creamy mushroom soup with carrots and kale, pumpkin-butternut squash bisque, lobster bisque, and Unexpected cheddar-broccoli soup.ย 

To find out which I liked best, I tried each one heated up with a side of warm bread.

Here's how I'd rank them from worst to best.

9. Organic hearty minestrone soup
container of trader joe's hearty minestrone soup on a kitchen counter
Trader Joe's minestrone soup looked pretty thick.

Ted Berg

The broth looked a bit thicker than I usually expect from a minestrone โ€” it really was "hearty." There were also a lot of flecks of what appeared to be seasoning and some big hunks of stewed tomato.

I could tell right out of the package there was less orzo and more carrots than I'd like.

In my opinion, there wasn't much flavor throughout the minestrone soup.
trader joe's hearty minestrone soup in a bowl with a piece of bread next to it
Trader Joe's minestrone tasted incomplete โ€” I wanted more flavor.

Ted Berg

There was a strong, sweet flavor of tomato, but not much to balance it out. It could've used something tangy or spicy, fragrant seasonings, or some more flavorful vegetables.

As I suspected, it also could've used more orzo.

I've noticed several Trader Joe's soups go heavy on the carrots, but this is the only place where the carrots are the best part of the soup.

8. Lentil soup with ancient grains
container of trader joes lentil soup on a kitchen counter
I was turned off by the look of the lentil soup.

Ted Berg

I could list some things that this soup looks like, but I don't want to gross anybody out. I'll just say it looked very unappetizing gurgling out of the container.

The label said it's high in fiber โ€” and it looked it.

However, it smelled lightly of nutmeg and cloves, which was a pleasant autumnal aroma.ย 

The lentil soup was actually a bit better than I expected โ€” but I'm still not a huge fan.
trader joes lentil soup in a bowl with a piece of bread next to it
I wasn't blown away by Trader Joe's lentil soup.

Ted Berg

Like the minestrone, it had an assertive, tomato-y sweetness. Luckily, it was a bit more palatable here with the warm spices.

Unfortunately, lentils tend to be mealy, and the lumpy-grainy texture wasn't very appealing to me. It paired pretty well with the crusty bread โ€” mostly because the bread masked the texture a bit.

I'm not eager to eat the soup again.

7. Organic creamy mushroom soup with carrots and kale
container of mushroom soup from trader joes
I kind of wrote off the mushroom soup before I even heated it up.

Ted Berg

I'm not a fan of mushrooms, so off the bat, I didn't expect to like the organic creamy mushroom soup with carrots and kale.ย 

The soup was also a greyish-brownish color that wasn't necessarily appetizing.

I was pleasantly surprised by the mushroom soup.
bowl of creamy mushroom soup on a plate with some bread
I'm not planning on repurchasing the mushroom soup, but it wasn't bad.

Ted Berg

Trader Joe's mushroom soup was a pleasant surprise, in that I didn't mind it all. It didn't taste much like mushrooms, and it had a nice, thick consistency.

It tasted like the most generic, basic version of soup imaginable โ€” sort of vaguely salty and vegetal. If any flavor stood out, it was probably the hunks of carrot.

I wouldn't buy it again, but I wouldn't push it away if it were served to me.

6. Kettle-cooked chicken soup
container of trader joes kettle cooked chicken noodle soup on a kitchen counter
Trader Joe's take on chicken soup is kettle-cooked.

Ted Berg

It looked like chicken soup.

Until I filled up a bowl, I actually didn't realize it wasn't chicken-noodle soup, which seems like a far preferable and more filling meal option. There were also a lot of carrots again.

Before I even tried this, I could tell I'd like it better with noodles.ย 

It's a simple, mild chicken soup option.
bowl of trader joes chicken noodle soup with a piece of bread next to it
Trader Joe's chicken soup wasn't groundbreaking, but it wasn't bad.

Ted Berg

It was very mild, even by the standards of chicken soup.

There was a good portion of chicken, which I appreciated, and the meat itself was tender. However, in my opinion, the broth was bland and the vegetables were mushy. With bread, I thought it tasted almost indistinguishable from warm, salty water.

It's good enough that it'd certainly do the trick when you're under the weather, but I can't imagine choosing it for a meal when I'm healthy.

5. Pumpkin-butternut squash bisque
container of pumpki squash bisque from trader joe's
The bisque looked rather runny.

Ted Berg

Just from transferring the pumpkin-butternut squash bisque to a bowl, I could tell it was thinner and less creamy looking than similar bisques I've enjoyed.ย 

Nevertheless, the orangish-brown color was appetizing and appropriate for the fall, and the soup smelled autumnal, like nutmeg.

The seasonal bisque was a little thin for my liking.
bowl of pumpkin squash soup on a plate with some bread
The flavor of the squash soup was nice.

Ted Berg

As I expected, the soup wasn't as thick as I hoped.

It was rich with flavor โ€” sweet, with a mild kick of black pepper and some vinegary tang โ€” but I would've liked something a bit more substantive. It almost overwhelmed my taste buds without doing much to fill my stomach.

Luckily, the bisque was better with a spoonful of sour cream stirred in, but I couldn't imagine buying it again.

4. Unexpected broccoli-cheddar soup
container of trader joe's unexpected broccoli cheddar soup on a kitchen counter
Trader Joe's broccoli-cheddar soup uses the store's popular Unexpected cheddar.

Ted Berg

It was a bit thinner than I want a broccoli-cheddar soup to be โ€” I'm ideally looking for some cheesy goopiness.

However, I appreciated the reasonably large florets of broccoli. Sometimes, elsewhere, the soup feels like it's just made of broccoli scraps.ย 

I'm a fan of the broccoli-cheddar soup, but I think it needs a little more seasoning.
bowl of trader joes broccoli cheddar soup with a piece of bread next to it
I liked the Trader Joe's broccoli-cheddar soup with some extra fresh pepper.

Ted Berg

The soup was cheesy, but not overpoweringly so. It was smooth and not too rich, which can be an issue for this style of soup. There was also a good texture to the vegetables, especially the broccoli.

However, I felt like it needed an extra kick of some sort, especially when I tried it with bread. A little bit of black pepper served it well.

3. New England clam chowder
container of tradr joes new england clam chowder on a kitchen counter
Trader Joe's New England clam chowder was thick.

Ted Berg

Out of the container, the chowder was easily the thickest of the soups I tried. Luckily, it thinned out a bit once I heated it up.

There was a subtle seafood scent to it, but it also looked and smelled a bit like white gravy โ€” something you might serve over biscuits for breakfast.ย 

It was spicier than I expected New England clam chowder to be, but that's a good thing.
bowl of trader joe's clam chowder with a piece of bread next to it
There were more potatoes than clams in the clam chowder.

Ted Berg

The chowder wasn't extremely spicy, just surprisingly so from the cracks of black pepper.

There was some ambient clammy flavor in the soup, and the clams themselves were pleasantly tender and tasty, but I wanted more of them. The cubes of potato provided much of the bulk of the soup.ย 

2. Lobster bisque
container of lobster bisque from trader joe's
I was surprised Trader Joe's carried something as fancy as lobster.

Ted Berg

I liked the look of the lobster bisque.

I could tell it was thicker than most of the Trader Joe's soups I tried, and the bright pinkish-orange color seemed right for the flavor. The visible bits of thyme and black pepper also boded well.

I wish there was more lobster, but it was still good.
bowl of lobster bisque on a plate with some bread
For the price, you can't beat Trader Joe's lobster bisque.

Ted Berg

Perhaps unsurprisingly, given the $5 price tag, there's not much lobster in the lobster bisque โ€” it's mostly there in tiny little shreds that add some texture to the soup.

Regardless, the bisque is very tasty. It's rich and buttery, with the sweet, delicate acidity of sherry wine and savory hints of thyme.

Sometimes, I find lobster bisques a little too heavy, but this one was hearty without feeling overindulgent.ย 

1. Tomato-feta soup
container of trader joe's tomato feta soup on a kitchen counter
Trader Joe's tomato-feta soup was a nice spin on the classic flavor.

Ted Berg

It was a little toward the pinkish side of the tomato-soup color spectrum, but not nearly as pink as most cream-heavy versions.

The soup was sort of lumpy in consistency, not blender-smooth, and there were small, dark-green bits of basil floating around.ย 

Trader Joe's tomato-feta soup was absolutely delicious.
bowl of trader joe's tomato feta soup with a piece of bread next to it
I loved dipping bread into the creamy tomato soup.

Ted Berg

The tomato flavor was bright and tangy, and there was just enough cream to smooth out the acidity.

The taste of the feta was subtle, but the cheese came across in moist bursts of crumbly texture mixed in with bits of finely diced onion.

The herbs, though visible, weren't especially pungent, but there was a freshness to the flavor that made it the best of the bunch. Plus, it married perfectly with the toasty, crusty bread.

I was a little underwhelmed by Trader Joe's soup selection, but I found a couple of winners.
all the trader joe's soup containers lined up on a kitchen counter
The clam chowder and the tomato soup were my favorites from Trader Joe's.

Ted Berg

None of the Trader Joe's soups felt especially indulgent or adventurous, and that's OK. People looking for extravagant lunches probably aren't buying soup at Trader Joe's.

Although the taste of the minestrone and the texture of the lentils turned me off, the other seven ranged from fine to very good.ย 

The New England clam chowder, lobster bisque, and tomato feta will all probably find a place in my lunch rotation.

This story was originally published in October 2023 and most recently updated on December 5, 2024.ย 

Read the original article on Business Insider

I'm a chef comparing 5 popular store-bought red sauces, and the best tasted homemade

3 December 2024 at 13:58
Tomato sauces from Primal Kitchen, Classico, Rao's, Barilla, and Newman's Own with bowls of sauce in front of each jar on a wooden table
I tried tomato sauce from five different grocery-store brands.

Lizzy Briskin

  • I used my expertise as a professional chef to review five brands of store-bought marinara sauce.
  • Classico's marinara seemed more appropriate for pizza and the Newman's Own sauce was just OK.
  • Rao's Sensitive marinara sauce, which doesn't contain onions or garlic, was my favorite.

I used my expertise as a chef to find the best store-bought red sauce. I taste-tested brands like Classico, Rao's, and Barilla.

Here's how each sauce stacked up.

First, I tasted the Classico Cabernet marinara with herbs.
Front of Classico marinara sauce jar; Back of Classico marinara sauce jar with nutrition facts
According to its ingredients list, Classico's marinara is made with Cabernet wine.

Lizzy Briskin

Though I was intrigued by Classico's use of Cabernet, the sauce just didn't feel right on pasta.

Out of the jar, the sauce was completely smooth, so it was probably pureed and strained before canning.

Classico's Cabernet marinara might be better as a pizza sauce.
Classico marinara sauce in a white bowl with Classico jar next to it on wooden table
I thought Classico's marinara was just too sweet.

Lizzy Briskin

When I tasted the sauce, I thought it had a strong sweetness that didn't pair well with pasta. I also prefer some texture in my pasta sauce, so this was too smooth for me.

Because of its sweetness and texture, I think Classico's marinara might work better on pizza.ย 

The Newman's Own marinara was up next.
Front of Newman's Own marinara sauce; Back of jar of Newman's Own marinara sauce with nutrition facts
I thought the Newman's Own marinara was just OK.

Lizzy Briskin

Unfortunately, I thought the Newman's Own marinara sauce didn't stack up in the flavor department compared to the others.

The sauce fell a little flat and had what I thought was an uninspiring, smooth, and almost watery texture.

The Newman's Own marinara was too thin for me.
White bowl of Newman's Own marinara sauce next to jar of sauce on a wood table
The Newman's Own marinara didn't have a standout flavor.

Lizzy Briskin

Since the texture of the Newman's Own sauce was so watery, it didn't cling to the noodles very well.

However, I also saw a tomato-basil sauce from the brand when I was at the store, and that may have more promise.ย 

I also tried Primal Kitchen's tomato-basil marinara sauce made with avocado oil.
Front of jar of Primal Kitchen marinara sauce; Back of jar of Primal Kitchen marinara sauce with nutrition facts
Primal Kitchen's marinara sauce was the only one made with avocado oil.

Lizzy Briskin

The most expensive marinara I tried came from Primal Kitchen, which was made with avocado oil rather than the Italian standard, olive oil. To me, the addition of avocado oil in itself wasn't necessarily a benefit or worth paying more for.

When I poured some sauce into a bowl, I noticed it was quite chunky and thick with small pieces of diced onion and lots of herbs.

Primal Kitchen's marinara sauce was pretty tasty.
Clear bowl of chunky Primal Kitchen marinara sauce next to jar on a wooden table
The marinara from Primal Kitchen was hearty.

Lizzy Briskin

Despite my initial opinions about the avocado oil, the sauce was tasty. I think the avocado oil gave the marinara a richer, heartier flavor than the other sauces, which tasted brighter and more acidic in comparison.

The oregano and basil flavors were also prominent in this marinara.

I tried Barilla's marinara next.
Jar of Barilla marinara sauce; Back of jar of Barilla marinara sauce
Barilla's marinara had some specks of herbs and onion.

Lizzy Briskin

When I tried Barilla's marinara, which says it has "no sugar added," I was surprised by how tasty it was.

The texture was looser than some of the other sauces, with visible specks of herbs and onion and some larger chunks of tomato.

I thought Barilla's sauce had a good herb flavor.
Barilla marinara sauce in a glass bowl next to a jar on a wooden table
The Barilla marinara was pretty tasty.

Lizzy Briskin

I could certainly taste the basil and oregano but it wasn't overpowering the entire dish.

It separated a bit in the jar but came back together when stirred.ย 

Finally, I tried Rao's Homemade Sensitive marinara.
Front of jar of Rao's Sensitive marinara; Back of jar of Rao's Sensitive marinara sauce
Rao's Sensitive marinara was made without onions or garlic.

Lizzy Briskin

The difference between Rao's Sensitive marinara and the regular one is that the former is made without onion or garlic.ย 

Out of the jar, the sauce was mostly smooth with a nice amount of larger crushed tomato pieces.

Out of all of the marinara I tried, Rao's sauce was my favorite of the bunch and is my personal go-to at home.
Rao's marinara sauce in a clear glass bowl next to jar on table
I thought Rao's marinara sauce truly tasted homemade.

Lizzy Briskin

Rao's marinara had a slightly smoky flavor, perhaps from roasting the tomatoes. The concentrated-tomato flavor really was the most prominent taste in this jar, which I appreciated.

Rao's marinara had the flavor of a homemade sauce that had been simmering all day long.ย 

This story was originally published on October 4, 2022, and most recently updated on December 3, 2024.

Read the original article on Business Insider

I ordered cupcakes from Wegmans, Publix, and Walmart, and the cheapest ones were mostly a hit

5 December 2024 at 08:17
Three packs of vanilla and chocolate cupcakes with white frosting and rainbow sprinkles one from Wegmans (bottom left), Publix (top), Walmart (bottom right)
I got cupcakes from Wegmans (bottom left), Publix (top), and Walmart (bottom right).

Elliott Harrell

  • I ordered a dozen custom cupcakes from Walmart, Publix, and Wegmans.
  • The Wegmans cupcakes were the adult favorite, but more than double the price of the other options.
  • Walmart's cupcakes were the kids' favorite and the cheapest option โ€” but Publix also impressed me.

With my daughter's 4th birthday coming up, I started to scope out different cupcake options for her party.

Parents will be attending with their kids, which means buying enough cupcakes for the group could get expensive.

As I researched, I was surprised by the price differences for custom cupcakes from some of my nearby chains, including Walmart, Wegmans, and Publix.

So, I ordered a dozen from each to see which cupcakes would have the best value, look, and flavor. Here's how they stacked up.

I ordered cupcakes with white buttercream frosting and rainbow sprinkles from each store.
Vanilla cupcakes with sprinkles from Walmart, Publix, Wegmans
I ordered the same cupcakes from Walmart, Publix, and Wegmans.

Elliott Harrell

Each of these stores has premade cupcakes available in their bakery sections, but I wanted to see how the chains would handle my custom order.

I used the online ordering option for each store and chose cupcakes topped with white buttercream frosting and rainbow sprinkles.

All three chains had an easy-to-use system that let me quickly choose the options I wanted. Each of my orders was ready on time and accurate.

Kids and adults judged the cupcakes on appearance and taste.
Wegmans, Publix, and Walmart vanilla cupcakes with white frosting and rainbow sprinkles all half-eaten on plate
From left to right: Half-eaten cupcakes from Wegmans, Publix, and Walmart.

Elliott Harrell

My priority was finding a good-value cupcake that my daughter loved, though I also wanted to see what the adults at the party thought.

I had seven kids, ages 4 to 12, and eight adults try each cupcake in a blind taste test.

Each participant rated which cupcake was the most aesthetically pleasing and which tasted best without knowing what store it came from.

The Walmart cupcakes were the smallest but also the cheapest.
Vanilla and chocolate cupcakes with vanilla frosting and rainbow sprinkles in a plastic clamshell container from Walmart
The Walmart cupcakes were the cheapest.

Elliott Harrell

I paid $8.13, including tax, for a dozen cupcakes at Walmart. They were the cheapest option by far.

These cupcakes were noticeably smaller than the rest, but if they'd been the only option, I don't think I would've thought they were small.

Even so, the kids unanimously agreed these were the most visually appealing and that they'd choose to eat them first.

It seemed fair considering these cupcakes had the most sprinkles in the most vibrant colors compared to the ones from Wegmans and Publix.

The kids loved the Walmart cupcake. The adults did not.
Vanilla cupcake with white frosting and rainbow sprinkles from Walmart
The Walmart cupcakes were a hit with the kids.

Elliott Harrell

In my opinion, the frosting on the Walmart cupcakes was overwhelmingly sweet and the cake was dry with little flavor.

The other adults agreed and, as a result, we ranked these as our least favorite.

However, all of the kids rated the Walmart cupcakes as their top pick, likely due to the super-sweet frosting and pretty aesthetic.

Wegmans' cupcakes looked the most gourmet but came with a high price tag.
Vanilla and chocolate cupcakes with vanilla frosting and rainbow sprinkles in a plastic clamshell container from Wegmans
The cupcakes from Wegmans looked like they could be from a high-end bakery.

Elliott Harrell

The cupcakes from Wegmans were the most expensive at $24.90 for a dozen โ€” more than triple the cost of the Walmart cupcakes.

The cupcakes were almost identical in size to the Publix ones and bigger than the Walmart ones. The frosting on these was swirled the highest.

Wegmans' cupcakes had the best flavor and frosting.
Vanilla cupcake with white frosting and rainbow sprinkles  from E Wegmans
Wegmans' cupcake looked pretty high-end.

Elliott Harrell

The adults unanimously picked the cupcakes from Wegmans as their favorite. The buttercream frosting was light, airy, and perfectly sweet.

We also agreed the cake was also the most moist and flavorful of the ones we tried.

The icing didn't extend all the way to the edge of the cupcake, which made it look like it came from a more high-end bakery. This might have been a more important factor had these been for an adult gathering, not a kid's birthday party.

The Publix cupcakes were a good compromise between flavor and price.
Vanilla and chocolate cupcakes with vanilla frosting and rainbow sprinkles in a plastic clamshell container from Publix
The Publix cupcakes looked pretty good.

Elliott Harrell

A dozen cupcakes from Publix set me back $10.81.

I personally found these cupcakes to be the most visually appealing, with large amounts of icing and an array of sprinkles on top. Their flavor was good, too.

The Publix cupcakes seemed pretty balanced.
Vanilla cupcake with white frosting and sprinkles from Publix
I really liked the look of the Publix cupcakes.

Elliott Harrell

Publix's frosting wasn't as light as Wegmans' frosting, but it wasn't as overly sweet as Walmart's.

The cake was also fairly moist and had more notes of vanilla than Walmart's, but wasn't as flavorful as Wegmans' version.

For the occasion and the price, Walmart was the winner โ€”otherwise, I'd choose Publix.
Three vanilla cupcakes with white frosting and rainbow sprinkles one from Wegmans, Publix, Walmart on plate
From left to right: A cupcake from Wegmans, Publix, and Walmart.

Elliott Harrell

Even though we adults thought Wegmans' cupcakes were the best, I didn't think they were worth the high price tag.

For a child's birthday, I'll probably stick to the Walmart cupcakes since they were the least expensive and the clear kids' favorite.

For adult birthdays or celebrations, I still wouldn't pick Wegmans. The price is just too high for me to justify buying them.

Instead, I'd go for Publix cupcakes, which are almost as good and less than half the price.

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I'm a private chef. After trying croissants at Key Food, Whole Foods, and Trader Joe's, there was an obvious winner.

2 December 2024 at 07:37
composite image of croissants from key foods, whole foods, and trader joe's
I taste-tested the croissants in the bakery sections at Key Food, Whole Foods, and Trader Joe's.

Fatima Khawaja

  • I'm a private chef, and I compared croissants at Key Food, Trader Joe's, and Whole Foods.
  • Key Food sold the biggest croissant, but the inside looked more like bread than pastry.
  • I like Trader Joe's offering, but Whole Foods' pastry was the closest to a fresh croissant.

I like having croissants at home for a quick breakfast for me and my daughter before work or school. They're one of those staples I know will be enjoyed before they get moldy.

As a private chef, I know croissants are a highly technical pastry that requires a lot of time and effort. As a working mom, I don't have either of those.

Fresh croissants from our local bakery can be expensive, about $5 to $6 each, so it's more economical to grab a pack of four to six at the grocery store.

Here's how the bakery-section croissants at Key Food, Whole Foods, and Trader Joe's stack up.

Key Food is a staple grocery store throughout the boroughs of New York.
croissant from key foods on a plate
Key Food had the biggest croissants.

Fatima Khawaja

The first croissants I tried were from Key Food, an NYC-based chain with locations across the East Coast. A pack of four was $4.99, or about $1.25 each, which is a great deal.

The croissants were huge โ€” easily the biggest I bought or saw at any store.

They were also slightly flat, with a pale golden-brown color.

When I cut them open, I was unimpressed with the lamination.
cross section of a croissant from key foods
The interior of the croissant looked more like bread.

Fatima Khawaja

The Key Food croissant hardly had any lamination โ€” thin layers created by folding butter into the dough.

There weren't many distinct layers, and it didn't have the crispy, airy texture I expect from a croissant.

I've tried Trader Joe's croissants before.
croissant from trader joe's on a plate
Trader Joe's croissants often make it into my cart at the chain.

Fatima Khawaja

Trader Joe's croissants are regulars in my shopping rotation because I frequent the chain a lot.

The store sells a three-pack for $3.99, or about $1.33 each. I think that's a great price for the quality.

The croissants were medium-sized and had a nice golden-brown color.

The croissant was fine, but it was missing a textural element.
cross section of a croissant from trader joe's
I wish there were more of a flaky crunch on Trader Joe's croissants.

Fatima Khawaja

Trader Joe's pastries have a lovely buttery texture and slightly more lift and airiness than the Key Food ones.

However, they still lack the crackly, messy quality that is so identifiable when it comes to croissants.

I enjoy these from time to time with just some jam, but they're not the crรจme de la crรจme.

Whole Foods' croissant looked the most authentic.
croissant from whole foods on a plate
I was happy to see some visible layers on Whole Foods' croissant.

Fatima Khawaja

The last croissants I tried were from Whole Foods, where a pack of four cost $7.49, or $1.87 apiece.

Despite being the most expensive of the bunch, they were absolutely worth it.

The croissants were the perfect size โ€” exactly as big as my hand โ€” and had nice domed tops that gave me a peek at the layers underneath. The deep-brown exterior was also tantalizing.

Whole Foods had the closest thing to a bakery croissant.
cross section of a croissant from whole foods
There were nice, fluffy layers in Whole Foods' croissants.

Fatima Khawaja

When I bit into the beautifully layered croissant from Whole Foods, I truly felt like I was eating a pastry, not just a piece of bread.

The flavor had a nice butteriness, but there was still that nice, slightly sour taste from the yeast.

For me, the winner was clear.
croissant from whole foods cut open on a plate
Whole Foods had the best grocery-store croissant by far.

Fatima Khawaja

Whole Foods was my clear and obvious winner. I'd rather have a nice pastry that's so good I'm guaranteed to eat the whole thing than opt for a cheaper version that's unsatisfying.

Without a doubt, I'll be returning to Whole Foods' bakery section for the four-pack. On weeks when I'm on a tighter budget, though, Trader Joe's pack of three is my runner-up.

With other, better options available, I don't think I'd buy the Key Food croissants again.

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I ate every frozen appetizer I could find at Trader Joe's. Here's what is and isn't worth buying for a crowd.

27 November 2024 at 13:36
The writer sits at a table filled with Trader Joe's appetizers
I compared 19 different frozen appetizers from Trader Joe's.

Lucien Formichella

  • I tried 19 Trader Joe's frozen appetizers to figure out which is the best for a large party.ย 
  • I thought the artichoke timbales were kind of bland and the pastry pups left much to be desired.
  • I was a big fan of the breaded mozzarella-cheese sticks because they were delicious and flavorful.

As a habitual snacker, it'd be cruel not to share my opinions on the best Trader Joe's frozen appetizers to bust out for a party.

So, I picked out 19 of the best-looking frozen appetizers at Trader Joe's to review.

Because none of the items came with a sauce I tried almost every item by itself to see how the flavor stood up.ย 

As for the cooking, I ignored the instructions for most dishes and put everything in the air fryer for five to eight minutes at either 370 or 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Most of them turned out fine.ย 

Here's how the appetizers stacked up, from my least favorite to my top picks I'd love to eat at a party.ย 

Editor's Note: Product availability varies โ€” some items on this list may not currently be available at Trader Joe's.

I started off with a wildcard item, Trader Joe's artichoke timbales.
An artichoke timbale with a golden-brown crust sits on a plate with a green box behind it
The artichoke timbales weren't anything special to me.

Lucien Formichella

First Impression: Trader Joe's artichoke timbales were one of the biggest wildcards. I was afraid it would have too much cheese and not enough flavor but I also could see it tasting like spanakopita.

I also anticipated a longer time in the air fryer. The artichoke timbales took 18 minutes to cook at about 370 degrees.ย 

Review: If I were eating Trader Joe's artichoke timbales at a gathering, I'd likely only have one or half because I think they're pretty big for an appetizer.

I love spinach and artichoke, but this didn't do it for me. I didn't think there was enough cheese to call it cheesy, and I felt like the artichoke tasted bland and salty โ€” there didn't seem to be any additional spice.

I think the timbales would've been much better with lemon and butter. I also didn't like how crispy the top got by the time it was finished cooking.

The coconut shrimp didn't have a lot of flavor to me.
A piece of coconut shrimp on a white plate with a green box of shrimp behind plate
At least Trader Joe's coconut shrimp was juicy.

Lucien Formichella

First Impression: Out of the box, I already thought Trader Joe's coconut shrimp could benefit from a sweet-and-sour sauce. I thought they looked easy to overcook, which I could see impacting my decision to repurchase.

I also wondered how well this snack would hold its flavor on its own.

Review: If I was at a party, I'd have two of these. The coconut flavor wasn't very prominent, but I enjoyed the shrimp. After five minutes at 370 degrees, the coconut shrimp was still quite juicy.

I could enjoy the shrimp with the proper sauce but I think it really needs it. By themselves, the breading was way too overpowering and didn't taste like coconut to me.

Trader Joe's Parmesan pastry pups combine cheese and hot dogs.
A golden-brown pastry pup on a white plate with a blue box of pastry pups behind it
The pastry puffs had a decent dough, but I wasn't a fan of the hot dog part.

Lucien Formichella

First Impression: I thought Trader Joe's Parmesan pastry pups looked exciting. I hoped the dough would rise in the air fryer and have a buttery flavor.

I wasn't totally sold on the cheese โ€” I just don't put that on my hot dogs.

Review: I'd only eat about three of the Parmesan pastry pups. The bun tasted close to a Costco chicken bake with its delicious doughy breading and slightly cheesy flavor but it didn't hit the mark. I thought it was a little too bland to carry the entire dish.

The hot dog was basically all end, which, to me, is the worst part of the food. But if the pastry puffs came with a honey-mustard sauce, I might've been down for more.

There was a little too much going on in the vegetable spring rolls.
A golden-brown vegetable spring roll with a gray box of spring rolls behind the plate
I think the edamame, kale, and tofu were just too much.

Lucien Formichella

First Impression: I like spring rolls a lot so I was excited to try the kind from Trader Joe's, which has shredded tofu, kale, mushrooms, and edamame.

I was confused about why Trader Joe's version needed kale โ€” I feel like there are better vegetables for spring rolls. Nevertheless, I love mushrooms and I thought the edamame could be interesting.

Review: I could see myself eating about two of Trader Joe's vegetable spring rolls at a party. In my opinion, the flavors just didn't go well together.

To me, there were too many alpha dogs in the room between the edamame, kale, and tofu so they didn't mesh as a unit. I think the spring rolls needed a sweet-and-sour sauce, just like the coconut shrimp.

I wasn't sure what to expect with the ratatouille bites.
Trader Joe's ratatouille bite on a plate with a white box of bites behind the plate
I think there was a little too much bread on Trader Joe's ratatouille bites.

Lucien Formichella

First Impression: Primarily, I predicted the ratatouille bites would be too bread-heavy. I was also a little concerned by the lack of cheese since I'm used to having this ingredient in fried dishes. Still, as a ratatouille fan, I had high hopes for the quality.

Review: I could eat about four or five of Trader Joe's ratatouille bites at a party but I didn't feel the breading was necessary. At the same time, the vegetables weren't enough to carry this dish. I'd rather have a bowl of ratatouille.

However, the bites were easy to eat and unoffensive to the mouth.

Trader Joe's gnocchi alla Romana was missing something.
A white plate of yellow gnocchi alla romana in front of an orange bag with pictures of gnocchi on it
Trader Joe's gnocchi alla Romana looked huge.

Lucien Formichella

First Impression: The gnocchi alla Romana looked pretty delicious, but I've been fooled by clever appetizer packaging before.

These were larger than I expected, so I air-fried them at 430 degrees for 13 minutes. The fully cooked gnocchi smelled cheesy, but I was worried they'd taste bland.ย 

Review: I liked these, but not as much as the other appetizers on this list. The gnocchi texture with the semolina was a little mealy, and I felt like I needed to drink water after I took a bite.

The cheese sauce added a lot of flavor, and the gnocchi itself was well-seasoned with the perfect amount of pepper. But ultimately, it needed another texture or flavor to reach its full potential.ย 

The mini vegetable samosas were a little bland.
A samosa with browned edges on a white plate with a green box
I thought Trader Joe's vegetable samosas were just OK.

Lucien Formichella

First Impression: I like samosas but I'd never tried a frozen prepackaged version. I was a little nervous to see what they'd taste like but they looked like they'd be good.

I regretted not having a sweet-and-sour sauce.

Review: I could eat three or four samosas. Trader Joe's vegetable samosas were certainly spicier than I expected but ultimately lacked a deep flavor.

I thought the potato and crust were good, but nothing more. I'd like to see what the samosas would taste like with a sauce.

The mini beef tacos were all right but I think they needed more fixings.
A taco with a beef filling on a plate with a brown box with pictures of tacos behind
I almost didn't notice the salsa in Trader Joe's mini beef tacos.

Lucien Formichella

First Impression: I thought Trader Joe's mini tacos seemed bare, just beef in a shell, but according to the label, there were salsa ingredients somewhere in there. Looking at the taco, I wasn't sure how it would cook in the air fryer.

Review: I'd eat three or four of the mini beef tacos. The shell held up well while not being overly crunchy and the beef was OK. But my first impression was spot on. I got only a little of the salsa flavor (it was mixed in with the meat), including the tiniest hint of lime.

If I could dip Trader Joe's mini beef tacos in salsa and add other fixings, they'd be pretty good, it just requires more preparation. Later on, I had them with sriracha and enjoyed the dish.

Trader Joe's Southwest-style chicken quesadillas were pretty hearty.
A white plate of Southwest-style chicken quesadillas, with visible pieces of beans and corn in front of a red box
Trader Joe's Southwest-style quesadillas had a chicken, corn, and bean filling.

Lucien Formichella

First Impression: When I took the quesadillas out of the box, they looked really good. I was hoping for a little more cheese but I liked how large each quesadilla was.

I thought the beans and corn would go well together and make the quesadillas heartier than the average appetizer.

Review: These were good. There was a decent amount of chicken, but they could have used more cheese. Here, I tasted more corn than cheese and believe those ratios should have been flipped.

Trader Joe's perfectly pickled pups surprised me.
A plate of three pickled pups with a greenish-brown breading in front of a green box
The breading on the exterior of the perfectly pickled pups was nice and crunchy.

Lucien Formichella

First Impression: I'd tried Trader Joe's dill-pickle items before, so I was excited to try the pickled pups. I didn't have any mustard in my fridge, so I used ketchup for dipping.ย 

Review:ย The pickled pups were fantastic. I can't believe I didn't have the foresight to realize that a dipping sauce wasn't even necessary. The dill already gave the pups so much flavor.

The breading was perfect and the hot dog inside was nice and soft. The bread got a little dry by the end, but I didn't mind too much.ย 

Trader Joe's Buffalo-style chicken poppers came in a shape I didn't expect.
A golden-brown chicken popper on a white plate in front of a green box of chicken poppers
I thought the Buffalo-style chicken poppers had a great filling.

Lucien Formichella

First Impression: I feel like poppers are usually molded into spheres, but I thought an appetizer of any other shape would taste as good. Though the label said the Trader Joe's Buffalo-style chicken poppers were fried, they didn't look particularly crispy to me.

Still, I love Buffalo chickenย so I was excited to try them. But even before I tasted them, I felt they'd need sour cream.

Review: I'd eat five or six of Trader Joe's Buffalo-style chicken poppers. For me, there was too much wrapper around the corners of the poppers but the filling was fantastic. I thought it was spicy, with a Frank's RedHot-flavor profile.

I can see them being excellent with a little sour cream just as I predicted. I also thought they could've used more cheese because the amount there was in the filling didn't feel very satisfying.

The mac-and-cheese bites needed a sauce in my opinion.
A golden-brown mac-and-cheese bite ball sits on a white plate in front of a gray box of mac and cheese bites
Trader Joe's mac-and-cheese bites were pretty decent.

Lucien Formichella

First Impression: I heard Trader Joe's mac-and-cheese bites had a moment a couple of years ago, though I don't remember trying them. Mac-and-cheese balls seem hard to mess up so I had high hopes.

Review: Trader Joe's mac-and-cheese bites were gooey but the number I'd eat depends on what kind of sauce I'd have with them. The picture on the box depicted what seemed like a marinara, which would have paired well.

With the proper accompaniment, I could have about 10 of these. Without it, I'd probably eat six. Appetizers with cheese are easy for me to eat, though I'd use a tiny pinch of salt and even more pepper if I prepared the mac-and-cheese bites again.

The crispy vegetable pouches had a great combination of ingredients.
A golden-brown vegetable pouch with crispy ends sits on a white plate in front of a gray box
I really enjoyed the crispy vegetable pouches.

Lucien Formichella

First Impression: Trader Joe's crispy vegetable pouches, a holiday item, had what I considered the most exciting vegetables, with jicama, taro, cabbage, carrot, onion, shiitake mushrooms, and garlic.

I was also interested because soy sauce was included in the box. I saw myself having quite a few of these bad boys.

Review: I'd have 10 to 12 of Trader Joe's crispy vegetable pouches at a party. There was a ginger flavor at the end and the jicama and delicious flaky pastry gave them a great crunch.

With some soy sauce, the pouches reached another level. I didn't get that many mushrooms, but overall, this was a tremendous team effort from all of the vegetables. The top of the pouches had too much pastry for me but I ate from the bottom and felt satisfied.

The breaded fried ravioli was tasty.
A piece of breaded ravioli sits on a plate with a brown bag of breaded fried ravioli behind plate
I wish I had a sauce to dip the ravioli into.

Lucien Formichella

First Impression: I hoped there'd be some sauce in Trader Joe's breaded fried ravioli. Judging by the packaging, it looked like just bread and cheese. I feared the ravioli would leave me wanting more.

Review: I could probably eat 15. The ravioli tasted almost exactly like Trader Joe's mozzarella sticks but not as good. I prefer the stick's single cheese to the ravioli's complex taste of ricotta, Monterey Jack, mozzarella, Asiago, and Parmesan.

Secondly, the ravioli had a little too much breading that wasn't as flavorful as I hoped. It also didn't have any kind of marinara-sauce filling.

The pastry bites with feta cheese and caramelized onions had a great taste.
A golden-brown pastry bite with a darkened cheesy filling sits on a white plate with a red box behind the plate
The feta and caramelized onions worked together nicely.

Lucien Formichella

First Impression: I thought Trader Joe's pastry bites with feta and caramelized onions would be the hardest to cook. I put them in my air fryer for a bit, and they burned a little, but I still wasn't sure if they cooked through. Still, done well, I thought they'd be excellent.

Review: I'd eat 15 of these, if not the entire tray. They were much easier to cook than I thought โ€” seven or eight minutes in my air fryer at 375 degrees โ€” and the caramelized onion added an irresistible sweetness.

The onions went perfectly with the melted feta cheese. I thought the pastry itself was the tiniest bit bland but it didn't matter because it was surrounded by premiere flavors.

Spanakopita was a childhood favorite of mine.
A white plate with a light brown spanakopita pastry. A blue box sits behind plate
I loved the flavor and flaky dough in the spanakopita.

Lucien Formichella

First Impression: Full disclosure, I already knew I loved spanakopita. I made them all the time as a child and had my own method of eating them slowly and savoring the leftover phyllo dough.

Review: ย I could see myself having about 18 pieces of spanakopita. I loved the blend of feta and ricotta, and the spinach balanced it nicely.

Somehow, the dough remained soft and chewy on the inside while staying flaky on the outside. Even the extra-crispy parts were delicious. Trader Joe's spanakopita is a must-have for every plate.

Trader Joe's corn-and-cheese arepas looked amazing when I took them out of the box.
A plate with a corn-and-cheese arepa in front of a gray box of arepas
I was excited to try Trader Joe's corn-and-cheese arepas.

Lucien Formichella

First Impression: Right off the bat, I was a big fan of how the corn-and-cheese arepas looked. The cheese seemed fluffy and rich, and the corn appeared flaky.

I knew the final verdict would come down to the ingredients and flavor, but it looked like the pieces were all there.ย 

Review: Truthfully, Trader Joe's nailed it. The rich, savory cheese paired perfectly with the sweet corn.

A frozen meal can only be so good, but this was a fantastic imitation of street arepas. My only critique is that it could've used more cheese.ย ย 

The breaded mozzarella-cheese sticks were basically perfect.
A mozzarella stick with some cheese oozing out sits on a plate in front of an orange bag of mozzarella sticks
I love a cheesy appetizer.

Lucien Formichella

First Impression: It killed me to not eat Trader Joe's breaded mozzarella-cheese sticks with tomato sauce, but in the name of consistency, I didn't.

I thought the picture on the bag made them look more seasoned than I remembered from times previous times I'd had them. I was expecting delicious melty cheese.

Review: I could easily eat 20 Trader Joe's mozzarella-cheese sticks. The cheese was delicious and worked alongside a tasty, flavorful breading.

Just get a hearty marinara sauce, and you're well on your way to a satisfying appetizer. I also love that the cheese is a little stringy and firm, even after I've cooked it.

I'll definitely be repurchasing Trader Joe's mini cheeseburgers.
A plate with a mini cheeseburger containing oozing cheddar cheese in front of a small red box
Trader Joe's mini cheeseburgers tasted delicious.

Lucien Formichella

First Impression: I was excited to try Trader Joe's mini cheeseburgers, especially since they came with their own sauce.

The bun got a little hard when I air-fried it at 350 degrees for seven minutes, but I'm not holding it against the cheeseburgers. If I'd prepared them in a microwave, I'm sure the bun would've been light and fluffy.ย 

Review:ย This is another item I'll buy more of. The bread was good, the meat was perfectly seasoned, and the cheese tied everything together.

Honestly, I'd choose these over a McDonald's patty any day. Even the sweet-and-tangy burger sauce was delicious. I only hope Trader Joe's will consider including more cheeseburgers in the box one day.ย 

In the end, the mozzarella-cheese bites were the winner.
The writer, wearing a green hoodie and black baseball cap, sits at a table full of Trader Joe's appetizers
I liked quite a few of the Trader Joe's appetizers.

Lucien Formichella

Overall, there are a variety of respectable contenders for the perfect appetizer. All of the Trader Joe's foods I tried wouldn't require much oversight, so they'd give any host more time to chat with guests.

But in the end, Trader Joe's mozzarella-cheese sticks came out on top. Not only are the cheese sticks a classic choice for any party but they're also easy to eat, simple to cook, and pack a wallop. The sticks I had sorely missed a red sauce, but they were still delicious even without it.

I think the spanakopita and the pastry bites with feta and onion would also satisfy even the hungriest of guests. Both dishes had great flavors and included plenty of cheese.

The next time I'm choosing what to eat during a party, I know which appetizers I'm picking.

This story was originally published on February 9, 2023, and most recently updated on November 27, 2024.

Read the original article on Business Insider

I tried 3 leftover turkey recipes, and I'd cook a whole bird just to remake the soup again

27 November 2024 at 10:26
Writer with turkey salad; Turkey soup
I made a turkey salad, creamy soup, and a Thanksgiving sandwich.

Terri Peters

  • In preparation for Thanksgiving, I looked for good ways to use up leftover turkey breast.
  • I made a Thanksgiving-leftover sandwich but found it took more effort than it was worth.
  • I discovered a soup that was so delicious I'd make another turkey just to have an excuse to eat it.

Each Thanksgiving, I cook a full family meal and have lots of leftover turkey in my fridge.

I tried making dishes with varying levels of difficulty to find the best leftover turkey recipes. I opted to make a Thanksgiving-leftover sandwich, turkey salad, and soup with slices of leftover roasted 4-pound turkey breast.

Here's how each recipe stacked up.

I began by making a Thanksgiving-inspired sandwich.
Ingredients for leftover turkey sandwich including stuffing, gravy, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, and bread
The Thanksgiving sandwich called for turkey, stuffing, mac and cheese, and mashed potatoes.

Terri Peters

For the first recipe, I utilized all of my Thanksgiving leftovers to make a sandwich from The New York Times.

Our typical Thanksgiving leftovers include mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, and green-bean casserole, so I bought a few store-bought versions for my test.

I also grabbed thick sandwich bread and turkey gravy.

The stuffing layer was the most labor-intensive part of the sandwich.
Stuffing in a frying pan
I fried the stuffing layer in some oil.

Terri Peters

I began by mixing the mayonnaise and cranberry sauce to create a cranberry mayo and combined the chopped turkey and gravy to make a sauce.

Next, I made a box of stuffing, pressed it into a square pan, and refrigerated it until it hardened.

Once it was solid, I fried each side in a bit of oil. This step took the longest to prepare and required some planning ahead.

Unfortunately, layering all of the ingredients was pretty messy.
Layers of food on leftover turkey sandwich
The sandwich called for lots of layers.

Terri Peters

The sandwich recipe called for stacking layers of cranberry mayonnaise, gravy, mac and cheese, stuffing, green-bean casserole, mashed potatoes, and the turkey between two slices of bread.

I knew it would be a messy disaster before I even put the two pieces of bread together.

The sandwich tasted good but wasnโ€™t worth the hassle.
Leftover turkey sandwich
The finished Thanksgiving sandwich looked OK but was messy to eat.

Terri Peters

Overall, the sandwich was messy and difficult to eat. When I tried to take a bite out of it, all of the ingredients slid out onto the plate.

I ended up eating everything with a knife and fork, which made me wonder why I went through the hassle of stacking it all into a sandwich.

Next up, I tried making turkey salad.
Ingredients for turkey salad
The salad called for Dijon mustard, paprika, mayo, and turkey.

Terri Peters

The easiest dish to make was the turkey salad, which was similar to chicken versions I've made in the past.

The ingredients were simple: celery, green onion, paprika, mayo, Dijon mustard, salt, pepper, and finely chopped leftover turkey.

I made a few changes to the recipe, but the dish was still good.
Finished turkey salad in bowl
I used celery salt in the turkey salad.

Terri Peters

I don't like the crunch of celery or onion, so for this turkey salad, I changed things up a bit.

Instead of adding diced celery, green onion, and salt, I just added celery salt to flavor the dish without adding a harsh crunch to the salad.

The turkey salad made a great sandwich that I'd try again.
Turkey sandwich on a plate
I put the turkey salad between two slices of bread.

Terri Peters

I love chicken salad, so I was excited to try the turkey recipe in the form of a sandwich.

It tasted great, as it had plenty of flavor from the mustard, paprika, and celery salt while showcasing the turkey.

Overall, I thought it was simple to make and, as an added bonus, required ingredients I already had in my pantry and refrigerator.

I'd make this turkey-salad recipe again if I had leftovers on hand.

Lastly, I tried a recipe for turkey soup.
Ingredients for turkey
The ingredients included vegetables, turkey, wild rice, and chicken broth.

Terri Peters

I'm a fan of hearty fall meals, so I was happy to find a recipe for leftover turkey soup.

Out of the three recipes, the soup had the longest ingredient list, including long-grain wild rice, chicken broth, and diced carrots, celery, and onions.

After some chopping, I was ready to try the recipe out.

Right from the beginning, the soup felt perfectly rustic.
Carrots, celery, and onions simmering
I simmered the chopped carrots, celery, and onion.

Terri Peters

I love a soup dish that starts with cooking aromatics like carrots, celery, and onions.

Simmering the chopped vegetables in a bit of butter immediately set the tone for the savory soup I was about to enjoy.

Even before I added the cream, I could tell the soup was going to be good.
Turkey soup in pot with wooden spoon
I let the soup simmer for a little while.

Terri Peters

After sautรฉeing the chopped vegetables, I added chicken broth and a box of long-grain wild rice to the pot. Then, I let it simmer until the grains were cooked through.

I also added the half-and-half the recipe called for, though I think you could forgo it to make a lighter soup.

I'd cook another Thanksgiving turkey just to have an excuse to make the soup.
Turkey soup in a pot
The turkey soup had a great flavor.

Terri Peters

Once I added the half-and-half, the soup was creamy and ready to serve.

I thought the finished dish was so delicious, hearty, and savory. I loved the flavor of the vegetables and turkey.

My family returned for seconds, so we hardly had any leftovers the following day.

I wouldn't mind cooking turkey breast again just to make the soup.

The turkey-soup recipe was my winner.
Selfie of the writer with turkey soup
I thought the turkey-wild-rice soup was delicious.

Terri Peters

Of all three recipes, the one I'd be most likely to make again is the creamy, delicious turkey-and-wild-rice soup.

Though the Thanksgiving leftovers sandwich and turkey salad were good, I wouldn't go out of my way to cook another bird for either dish.

If I were looking for a way to use pieces of a leftover Thanksgiving turkey, I'd make the wild-rice soup.

This story was originally published on November 23, 2023, and most recently updated on November 27, 2024.

Read the original article on Business Insider

I tried apple pies from 6 fast-food chains and ranked them from worst to best

27 November 2024 at 08:32
Three apple pies.
I tried many fast-food apple pies, but Taco Bell's caramel apple empanada ultimately won the top spot.

Priyanka Rajput/Business Insider

  • I tried apple pies from Arby's, KFC, McDonald's, Panda Express, Popeyes, and Taco Bell.
  • I loved Arby's apple-infused croissant-textured pie.
  • However, my favorite was the $3.65 caramel apple empanada from Taco Bell.

Year-round, I opt for savory pies. But come fall, I ditch my go-to chicken potpies for the season's staple: apple pie.

When it comes to pies, everyone has their own traditions and favorite flavors, but apples have endured as one of the more popular choices.

Earlier this year, Holiday Calendar, a platform dedicated to holiday lists, analyzed the grocery habits of 12 million Americans and surveyed 4,500 people across 15 states to determine their favorite pie. It found that apple pie consistently ranked in the top five most popular pies across the country. Additionally, in 2022, Instacart revealed that apple pie accounted for over 27% of its pie sales between February 2021 and January 2022, declaring it a clear favorite among the American crowd.

While there's no substitute for the fresh-out-of-the-oven homemade version, on-the-go options served at fast-food chains make for good alternatives.

To find which fast-food chain serves the best apple pie, I tried pies from Arby's, KFC, McDonald's, Panda Express, Popeyes, and Taco Bell and ranked them from my least favorite to my favorite based on flavor, texture, and value.

Here's how every fast-food apple pie ranked.

My least favorite were the Apple Pie Poppers, which were added to KFC menus earlier this year.
Apple Popper Pies from KFC.
Apple Pie Poppers from KFC are last on my list of apple pies.

Priyanka Rajput/Business Insider

A serving of four bite-sized apple pies cost $2.91, excluding tax and fees, at my local KFC in Manhattan, New York. When I tried these in August, the pies also came in a 10-count serving.

The apple pie poppers were only added to KFC's menu in April, so I was excited to try them. KFC's menu no longer lists the apple pies, but it did add a cherry pie version in October. The brand did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Each pastry was about 2 inches long and had slits on one side.
The Apple Popper Pies from KFC.
The Apple Pie Poppers from KFC.

Priyanka Rajput/Business Insider

I placed an online order through DoorDash and received my pastries within 14 minutes. Despite the quick delivery, when I opened the packet, the pastries were barely lukewarm and already slightly soggy.

When I tasted them, I thought the ratio of fruit to dough was off, with each popper only holding about two tiny cubes of apple.
The Apple Popper Pies from KFC.
The Apple Pie Poppers from KFC.

Priyanka Rajput/Business Insider

Three bites into the tiny pocket pie, I still hadn't gotten the gooey apple taste I love. Instead, I felt like I was eating fried flour.

I thought the four mini pies, which were 340 calories, would be great for groups to share.
The Apple Popper Pies from KFC.
The Apple Pie Poppers from KFC.

Priyanka Rajput/Business Insider

While these weren't my favorite apple-pie dessert, I could see how they could be a good snack option because of their size. Given that they came in packs of four or 10, I thought groups might enjoy ordering them.

My fifth favorite was the Apple Pie Roll from Panda Express.
The Apple Pie Roll from Panda Express.
The Apple Pie Roll from Panda Express was my fifth favorite.

Priyanka Rajput/Business Insider

The pie roll cost $2, excluding tax and fees, at a Panda Express I visited in Chicago.

At first glance, it looked like a cross between a pie and a Chinese egg roll.
The Apple Pie Roll from Panda Express.
The Apple Pie Roll from Panda Express.

Priyanka Rajput/Business Insider

The chain's first-ever dessert option, introduced in 2023, was created to combine the flavors and textures of an American apple pie and a Chinese egg roll.

It's made using a wonton wrapper and apple filling, topped with cinnamon sugar.

It came hot and crispy straight out of the fryer and had a warm cinnamon smell.
The Apple Pie Roll from Panda Express.
The Apple Pie Roll from Panda Express.

Priyanka Rajput/Business Insider

I was impressed with the freshness of this roll and liked that it is always served hot. Before I even took a bite, I could tell the pastry had a nice crunchy exterior.

However, the overpowering cinnamon and sugar coating made this pie roll too sweet for my taste.
The Apple Pie Roll from Panda Express.
The Apple Pie Roll from Panda Express.

Priyanka Rajput/Business Insider

A dessert doesn't need to be doused in sugar, but this one was, putting it fifth in my ranking.

However, I loved the crunch of the pastry, and the serving had the fewest calories of all the pies I tried โ€”ย 150 calories โ€”ย so it may be a good sweet option for some diners looking for lower-calorie options.

My fourth favorite was Popeyes' Cinnamon Apple Pie.
The Cinnamon Apple Pie from Popeyes.
The Cinnamon Apple Pie from Popeyes was my fourth favorite.

Priyanka Rajput/Business Insider

The cinnamon-coated dessert cost $1.89, without taxes and fees, at the Popeyes I visited in Chicago.

The pie was not as hot as I would've liked, but it had a nice crispy exterior.
The Cinnamon Apple Pie from Popeyes.
The Cinnamon Apple Pie from Popeyes.

Priyanka Rajput/Business Insider

Unlike the pies from KFC, this 240-calorie pie has no slits or holes on either side. It comes wrapped with a few fork-like impressions on its corners to prevent the filling from escaping.

I thought this pie had an overpowering cinnamon flavor.
The Cinnamon Apple Pie from Popeyes.
The Cinnamon Apple Pie from Popeyes.

Priyanka Rajput/Business Insider

I think spices like cinnamon are less for taste and more for their fragrance โ€”ย if you add just the right amount, it can be a game changer, but overdo it, as in the case of this Popeyes pie, and it can really throw the whole recipe off-balance.

But I enjoyed its slightly zesty apple filling.
The Cinnamon Apple Pie from Popeyes.
The Cinnamon Apple Pie from Popeyes.

Priyanka Rajput/Business Insider

The one thing Popeyes got right was the flavor of its filling, which had just the right hint of lemon and some apple chunks. I'm obsessed with mixing tangy and sweet flavor profiles, and I think it helped this pie stand out from the rest.

My third favorite was Arby's Apple Turnover.
The Apple Turnover from Arby's.
The Apple Turnover from Arby's was part of my top three.

Priyanka Rajput/Business Insider

It cost $2.40 at the Arby's I visited in Chicago, excluding tax and fees.

At first glance, I thought the frosting drizzle on top seemed unnecessary.
The Apple Turnover from Arby's.
The Apple Turnover from Arby's.

Priyanka Rajput/Business Insider

The turnover came in a regular, white-colored pastry packet with no branding. The basic packaging and the sugary drizzle didn't appeal to me at first, but when I did take a bite, I was pleasantly surprised.

I loved its flaky croissant-like texture and the jam-like apple filling inside.
The Apple Turnover from Arby's.
The Apple Turnover from Arby's was well-balanced.

Priyanka Rajput/Business Insider

The inside had the perfect layer of apple filling, which was molten but still a bit thick. It was encased in crisp pastry.

Despite having only one layer of apple filling, this 430-calorie pie did not taste doughy and was well-balanced.

However, it did not have that overall pie feeling. I felt as though I was eating a stuffed croissant.
The Apple Turnover from Arby's.
The Apple Turnover from Arby's.

Priyanka Rajput/Business Insider

Most importantly, the apple chunks were missing. The jam-like texture in the filling meant there was a hint of artificialness, which took away from the spirit of the season and the pie for me.

My second favorite was the Baked Apple Pie from McDonald's.
An apple pie from McDonald's.
The apple pie from McDonald's came really close to being the best.

Priyanka Rajput/Business Insider

At $1.89 โ€” excluding tax and feesโ€” this apple pie from a Chicago McDonald's was priced similarly to the one at Popeyes.

The pie came in a signature yellow box and was served warm.
The apple pie from McDonald's
The apple pie from McDonald's.

Priyanka Rajput/Business Insider

First launched in 1968, the brand's apple pie was fried in its early days. Over the years, though, it has undergone several transformations. The most significant of these was the switch from frying to baking in 1992. It's now 243 calories.

I loved that it had a pie-like texture with a lattice on top.
The apple pie from McDonald's
The apple pie from McDonald's.

Priyanka Rajput/Business Insider

Although the shape of the pie was pretty standard, I was happy to see McDonald's added patterns to the pastry.

It had the perfect tartness, a nice crunch, and big, chunky apple pieces spread evenly throughout.
The apple pie from McDonald's
The apple pie from McDonald's.

Priyanka Rajput/Business Insider

This pie had the right ratio of apples to dough, and I enjoyed the warm and soft interior and its crispy biscuit-like exterior.

My favorite was Taco Bell's limited-time caramel apple empanada.
A Taco Bell packet.
My favorite pie from Taco Bell was also the most expensive.

Priyanka Rajput/Business Insider

At $3.65 โ€” excluding tax and feesโ€” this apple pie from my local Taco Bell in New York, which I ordered via DoorDash, was the most expensive on the list.

The empanada is part of Taco Bell's new limited-time menu, which features fan-favorite items from the past.
The caramel apple empanada from Taco Bell.
The caramel apple empanada from Taco Bell.

Priyanka Rajput/Business Insider

Last month, Taco Bell unveiled a new "Decades" menu featuring old favorites. The menu included popular items that had been previously discontinued from each decade since the brand launched.

Four items have been available since Halloween, but the brand recently added its 2004 hit, the caramel apple empanada.

The empanada was first introduced as part of the brand's Big Bell Value Menu but was discontinued in 2019 until now.

I loved that I could taste the filling right from my first bite.
The caramel apple empanada from Taco Bell.
The caramel apple empanada from Taco Bell.

Priyanka Rajput/Business Insider

As soon as I held the pastry's paper sleeve, I noticed how warm it felt. It had remained hot even though I was trying it about 15 minutes after I received it on a cold day.

As I took my first bite, I could immediately taste the warm and velvety filling alongside the crispy pastry. Its freshness stood out, and unlike the other pies I'd tried, this one got to the star of the dish โ€” the filling โ€” right from the start.

Even the apples had a nice tart and juicy crunch to them and paired nicely with the caramel.

All the elements of a pie perfectly align in this one: a warm and creamy filling paired with the crunchiest pastry.
Taco Bell's caramel apple empanada.
Taco Bell's caramel apple empanada.

Priyanka Rajput/Business Insider

As far as fast-food pies go, this was by far the best I'd tried.

The filling struck a perfect balance and was not overly sweet, and it paired beautifully with the crispy, lightly salted dough. I had every intention of sharing a few bites with a friend but ended up eating the entire pastry myself.

It also felt slightly larger and more satisfying than the other pies on this list, which perhaps explains why it's also the priciest option.

Overall, each pie I tried had a unique flavor profile and varied textures, ranging from crispy and toasted to soft and molten.

But Taco Bell's caramel apple empanada stood out for its well-balanced flavors: a warm, crispy pie with juicy whole chunks of apple complemented by creamy caramel, setting the perfect tone for the cozy days ahead.

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I tried 3 different store-bought pie crusts. One had the best flavor but another looked nicest and was easiest to use.

26 November 2024 at 10:01
Pie made with Pillsbury crust, Giant Eagle crust, and Marie Callender's crust on counter
I made pies using dough from Pillsbury, Giant Eagle, and Marie Callender's to find the best store-bought pie crust.

Paige Bennett

  • I tested three store-bought pie crusts from Pillsbury, Giant Eagle, and Marie Callender's.
  • The Pillsbury crust was easy to work with and looked almost pristine after I baked it.
  • Marie Callender's crust had the best butter flavor and thick-yet-flaky texture.

With the holidays upon us, it's easy to fall short on time to prep pies for gatherings.

That's where store-bought pie crusts, already fitted into oven-safe containers, can come in handy. But which is the best for wowing a crowd?

To find out, I reviewed crusts from Pillsbury, Marie Callender's, and Giant Eagle (the grocery store's generic brand) and compared them on price, looks, usability, and flavor.

All three crusts had similar basic instructions.
Pillsbury pie crust, Pillsbury, Marie Callender's pie crust, and store brand (Giant Eagle) pie crust in packaging.
I tried pie crusts from Pillsbury, Marie Callender's, and Giant Eagle.

Paige Bennett

I chose three similar crust products from the freezer section. Each came in an oven-safe disposable pan, and I used the same premade pie filling for all three.

The crusts had pretty similar prep instructions, so I thawed each for 20 minutes and baked my pies at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 50 minutes.

None of the instructions called for blind baking (baking the crust before adding filling), so I didn't do so.

The Pillsbury crust seemed simple to use.
Pillsbury uncooked pie crust next to packaging
The Pillsbury pie crust didn't have super-fancy edges.

Paige Bennett

I bought the Pillsbury pie crust on sale for $3.50, although it usually costs $4.49 at my local grocery store.

The other two brands instructed me to remove one pie crust and let it thaw on wax paper before adding it over the base crust for fruit-filling pies โ€” Pillsbury did not.

Instead, I had to cut the crimped edges off of one crust, immediately place it over the filled base crust, then let it thaw.

I was impressed by how easy the Pillsbury crust was to work with.
uncooked pie made using Pillsbury pie crust
It wasn't hard to get my top crust to fit over the bottom.

Paige Bennett

Even before thawing, this crust felt very pliable and easy to shape.

I didn't do anything fancy with my crust, but the dough was so soft I felt like I could've easily cut it and used strips to create a basket-weave design.

The pie crust was thin but held together better than I expected.
Golden-brown pie made with Pillsbury pie crust
The final pie hardly had any cracks.

Paige Bennett

My pie looked almost perfect when I removed it from the oven with just a few super-small cracks.

The Pillsbury crust was noticeably thin, but it held its shape fairly well when I cut a slice and put it on my plate. It held together better than the other two crusts I tried.

This crust was slightly buttery, very flaky, and not dry at all.

The Giant Eagle crust had pretty edges.
Giant Eagle uncooked pie crust in plastic container
The Giant Eagle crust had a nice edge design I didn't want to cover.

Paige Bennett

The store-brand Giant Eagle pie crust was the least expensive at just $2.49.

I liked the edges of this crust, which looked neater than the ones on Pillsbury's. Unfortunately, I had to cover them because my pie needed a top.

I busted out my rolling pin for the Giant Eagle pie crust.
Uncooked pie made with Giant Eagle crust
I had to use a rolling pin to flatten the top piece of crust so it'd lie flat.

Paige Bennett

It took a lot of work to get the second piece of dough to sit on top of my pie.

This crust felt so dry that, even after thawing, I couldn't get the top portion to lie flat and neatly over the base.

It kept ripping apart and I eventually used a rolling pin to get the pieces to stick back together.

I thought this crust was lacking in flavor and texture.
Cooked pie made with Giant Eagle crust
I wasn't blown away by the Giant Eagle crust.

Paige Bennett

My pie had a few cracks on top and this crust didn't quite hold together as well as the one from Pillsbury.

Of the three crusts I tried, I found this one to be the driest and least flavorful. Unfortunately, the berry filling also leaked through the bottom crust, leaving my pie fairly soggy underneath.

The Marie Callender's crust looked impressive.
Uncooked Marie Callender's pie crust next to packaging
The Marie Callender's crust also had pretty edges.

Paige Bennett

The Marie Callender's crust was the most expensive at $5.69, so I had high expectations.

The edges looked very neat, so I was once again sad I had to cover them with a top crust.

I also had a tough time working with Marie Callender's dough.
Uncooked pie made with Marie Callender's pie crust
I had to mess around with the top crust quite a bit to make it fit nicely on top of my pie.

Paige Bennett

As with the Giant Eagle dough, the Marie Callender's crust was also difficult to work with.

The crust fell apart as I tried to secure it to my base. With my fingers, a fork, and patience, I was able to cobble it together before getting the pie into the oven.

This crust looked messy, but it was so tasty.
Cooked pie with Marie Callender's pie crust
The Marie Callender's crust had the best flavor of the three I tried, in my opinion.

Paige Bennett

Once this pie came out of the oven, the top had quite a few cracks.

When I grabbed a slice, the crust completely fell apart onto my plate. It hadn't held up nearly as well as the other two pies.

But what the pie lacked in presentation, it made up for in flavor. The nice, thick crust was buttery and flaky.

I'd buy the Marie Callender's or Pillsbury crust again, but I wouldn't follow the directions on either package.
Pillsbury pie crust, Pillsbury, Marie Callender's pie crust, and store brand (Giant Eagle) packages above their respective pie crusts
Pillsbury and Marie Callender's both had crusts that impressed me.

Paige Bennett

I'd buy Marie Callender's crust again, especially for a one-crust pie. Although it was the most expensive and the dough was tough to work with, I thought it had the best texture and flavor.

For future double-crust pies, I'd choose Pillsbury. The dough was so easy to maneuver, and the resulting crust had good flavor.

However, for all three brands, I'd ignore some of the package directions and blind bake the crusts to create a more stable base.

If I were serving these to a group, I'd also add egg wash and sugar to the top crust before baking so it could easily become sparkly and golden.

Read the original article on Business Insider

I tried 8 different types of store-bought biscuits, and the best melted in my mouth

26 November 2024 at 08:15
all the biscuits i made
All of my biscuits.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

  • Biscuits are a beloved side at many Thanksgiving meals.
  • Last Thanksgiving, I tried eight different biscuit mixes and doughs to see which was the tastiest.
  • The original Pillsbury Biscuits and the Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits came out on top.

Thanksgiving is upon us, which means families around the country are preparing their kitchens for a long day of cooking.

Not every dish needs to be made from scratch, though. I decided to test eight store-bought biscuit brands to see which might make it to my Thanksgiving table.

In time for the holidays last year, I tried Annie's Organic Flaky Biscuits, Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits, Trader Joe's Organic Biscuits, Immaculate Organic Biscuits, Happy Belly Jumbo Buttermilk Biscuits, and three different kinds from Pillsbury: its Original Flaky Layers, Grands! Southern Homestyle Southern Recipe, and Grands! Southern Homestyle Butter Tastin'. All brands are still available this year, but Happy Belly has rebranded to Amazon Fresh.

All were delicious but some were slightly tastier โ€”ย and better value โ€” than others.

Here's how I ranked them, from my least favorite to my favorite.

For me, biscuits are one of the most beloved parts of Thanksgiving dinner.
biscuits
I put eight types of store-bought biscuits (from six different brands) to the test.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

There are a lot of options in grocery stores, so I decided to try all the biscuit mixes and doughs I could find โ€”ย both in my local store and online โ€” ahead of my Thanksgiving feast.

I was looking for biscuits that were light, flaky, and buttery, with a hint of sweetness. I'm put off by biscuits that are thick and cakey, and seem more like dinner rolls.

In my opinion, a good biscuit will taste delicious without needing butter, so I didn't add any butter to the ones I bought, apart from when the biscuits came with it.

I ended up with seven tubes of dough and one boxed mix.
biscuit mixes
The biscuits ahead of my day of baking.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

I bought bake-at-home biscuits from Annie's, Red Lobster, Trader Joe's, Immaculate Organic Biscuits, Pillsbury, and Happy Belly, which has since rebranded to Amazon Fresh.

The Red Lobster biscuits were the only ones to come in a box, and its recipe yielded six to 10 biscuits. The other types, which were all canned, each contained eight.

For each tube, I had to peel off the wrapper and use a spoon to pop the seam of the packaging.
a pillsbury biscuit can
A popped biscuit can.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

I did this seven times, and it scared me every time.

In terms of preparation, the brands were almost exactly the same.
biscuit dough
Biscuit dough.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

The oven temperatures ranged from 350 to 375 degrees, but that was essentially the only difference between recipes.

I appreciated that the Pillsbury options included directions for using an air fryer, too.

The only baking experience that was significantly different was for the Red Lobster biscuits.
combining the red lobster biscuits
My messy hands.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

The recipe required combining the dry mix, water, and cheese. I then had to portion out the biscuits, leaving me with sticky, messy hands.

The biscuits also mostly looked the same before baking, apart from one.
butter biscuits
Butter Tastin' biscuits.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

Pillsbury's Butter Tastin' flavor, pictured, looked slightly different โ€” it had butter flecks that were visible in the dough.

After a day of baking, I ended up with a platter of golden biscuits and I was ready to compare them.
all the biscuits i made
All of my biscuits.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

It took a few hours of swapping out baking sheets in my oven, but eventually it was time to taste them.

My least favorite were the Pillsbury Southern Homestyle Southern Recipe biscuits.
pillsbury southern homestyle grands southern reicpe
Pillsbury Southern Homestyle Grands Southern Recipe.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

The biscuits, which cost $4.99 for eight, emerged from the oven looking golden and smelling delicious, but unfortunately, they tasted dry and cakey to me.

I had a similar experience with the Happy Belly biscuits, now Amazon Fresh.
happy belly jumbo buttermilk biscuits
Happy Belly Jumbo Buttermilk Biscuits.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

I thought they were more like thick dinner rolls than light biscuits. But at $2.69, these were nearly half the price of the Pillsbury Southern Homestyle Southern Recipe.

The next three brands in my ranking were all virtually indistinguishable from each other.
biscuits
Annie's, Trader Joe's, and Immaculate biscuits.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

I thought Annie's Organic Flaky Biscuits ($6.49), Trader Joe's Organic Biscuits ($3.99), and Immaculate Organic Biscuits ($7.39) ranked equally.

All three had layers, a similar golden-brown crust, and weren't too heavy.
trader joes biscuits
Trader Joe's biscuits.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

Since the Trader Joe's biscuits were the cheapest, I'd recommend them first, but you can't go wrong with any of these three options, if they are the brands available to you.

My third favorite biscuits were the Butter Tastin' Pillsbury biscuits.
pillsbury southern homestyle grands butter tastin
Butter Tastin' Pillsbury biscuits.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

These cost $4.99 for eight, putting them in the middle of the pack in terms of price.

I was impressed with the subtle flavor.
butter biscuits
Inside the Butter Tastin' biscuits.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

I was apprehensive that the butter flavoring would be overwhelmingly artificial, but instead, I found there was more of a hint of butter.

My second favorite biscuit was the Pillsbury Original Flaky Layers.
pillsbury flaky layers
Pillsbury Original Flaky Layers.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

These also cost $4.99 for eight.

The Flaky Layers were, indeed, as flaky as any tasty biscuit could hope to be.
pillsbury original flaky layers
Pillsbury Original Flaky Layers.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

During the tasting, I described these as the "platonic ideal of a biscuit."

But by far, my favorite biscuits were the Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits, which came with a garlic-herb butter.
red lobster biscuits
The Red Lobster biscuits.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

At $2.99, they also cost less than most of the others I tried.

They had the perfect crunchy outer layer and a melt-in-your-mouth interior.
red lobster biscuits
Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

Plus, the garlic butter complemented the sweetness of the biscuit.

Ultimately, I had to declare this brand as the winner.
biscuit selfie
A biscuit selfie.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

If you're short on time and are looking for a more classic biscuit, you can't go wrong with the Pillsbury Original Flaky Layers. But if you have any extra time and counter space this Thanksgiving, I'd recommend the Red Lobster biscuits.

Read the original article on Business Insider

I'm a baker who tried to find the best store-bought pumpkin pie. Out of 4 desserts, there are only 2 I'd buy again.

25 November 2024 at 14:03
Four slices of pie on clear-glass plates, in rows of two. The plates sit on a light-brown table with a serving utensil to the left of them.
I compared desserts from Safeway, Costco, Kroger, and Walmart to find the best store-bought pumpkin pie.

Molly Allen

  • I'm a professional baker comparing pumpkin pies from Walmart, Kroger, Safeway, and Costco.
  • I didn't love the pumpkin pie from Kroger, but Costco's was really tasty and my second choice.
  • Safeway's was the best store-bought pumpkin pie because of its balanced taste and good structure.
I compared pumpkin pies from Walmart, Kroger, Safeway, and Costco.
Four pumpkin-pie slices on clear plates on a counter
I taste-tested pumpkin pies from four different grocery stores near me.

Molly Allen

As a professional baker, I know how to make a solid pumpkin pie at home โ€” but sometimes grabbing one from a local grocery store is the best option.ย 

To find the best store-bought pumpkin pie, I put four desserts โ€” from Costco, Safeway, Kroger, and Walmart โ€” to the test.

There are plenty of pies on display at most grocery stores in the fall, so I didn't call ahead at any of the places I went to and just walked in and grabbed the seasonal treat.

Because pumpkin pies are typically made with a custard filling, which contains milk and eggs, the USDA recommends keeping them refrigerated. At the Costco and Safeway, I went to, the pumpkin pies were kept in a refrigerated area.

At Walmart and Kroger, they were on display at room temperature, which means they likely contain preservatives or artificial ingredients to make them shelf-stable.

With all of these factors in mind, I judged each one for flavor and texture.

I bought a 10-inch pumpkin pie from Walmart.
A whole pumpkin pie from Walmart
Walmart's pumpkin pie came in an aluminum pan.

Molly Allen

Walmart had a huge display of pumpkin pies sitting out at room temperature so I grabbed a 10-inch one.

The pie came in an aluminum pie pan for easy serving and was packaged in a cardboard box.

Walmart's pumpkin pie had a great texture and well-balanced flavor.
A slice of pumpkin pie from Walmart on a clear plate
I liked Walmart's pumpkin pie.

Molly Allen

Walmart's pumpkin pie was easy to cut at room temperature so it was simple to get a clean slice that didn't fall apart. The crust was nice and light with a tasty flavor and the filling had good structure while still being smooth.

The balance of flavors was ideal, as the pie itself wasn't too sweet and the pumpkin-spice flavor wasn't overwhelming.

I found this pie on display at room temperature, which meant that Walmart's pumpkin treat likely had some added ingredients to make it shelf-stable.

I bought an 8-inch pumpkin pie from Kroger.
A whole pumpkin pie from Kroger
Kroger's pumpkin pie had a crinkled crust.

Molly Allen

Kroger sells pumpkin pies under the store's Bakery Fresh Goodness brand. According to the employees working at Kroger's bakery, the pies are baked and frozen prior to arriving at the store.

I bought an 8-inch pumpkin pie, which was packaged in an aluminum pan and a plastic container.

I thought Kroger's pumpkin pie had a strange but strong flavor.
A slice of Kroger pumpkin pie on a clear pumpkin
Kroger's pumpkin pie was the smallest out of those I tried.

Molly Allen

Kroger's pumpkin pie was the smallest of the four I tried, but it sliced beautifully at room temperature and looked appealing. However, I couldn't enjoy more than one bite.

In my opinion, the crust was lackluster without much flavor, and the taste of the filling was overpowering, with an odd combination of spices. I thought it had a slightly artificial taste to it as well.

Because this pie was shelf-stable, I'd guess that some of the preservative ingredients added to the mixture changed the classic pumpkin-pie taste I was looking for.

I bought an 11-inch pumpkin pie from Safeway.
A whole pumpkin pie from Safeway
Safeway's pumpkin pie had some small air bubbles on the surface.

Molly Allen

I used to work at Safeway's bakery, so I already knew the chain sells pumpkin pies that come prepared and frozen and are then baked in the store.

I had the option to grab pies with or without whipped cream, both of which were kept in a refrigerated case in the bakery section. According to the label on the pie, the whipped cream is made fresh on-site from real heavy whipping cream.

I bought an 11-inch pumpkin pie, which was packaged in an aluminum pan and placed in a plastic container.

I thought Safeway's pumpkin pie was deliciously flavored.
A slice of Safeway's pumpkin pie on a clear plate
I really enjoyed the flavor of Safeway's pumpkin pie.

Molly Allen

By the appearance of Safeway's pumpkin pie, I definitely could tell it was baked fresh in the store. It had a great structure and was easy to slice at room temperature.

The crust was light and flavorful, with a hint of salt that paired well with the filling, which was absolutely delicious. The balance of the pumpkin filling with the cinnamon and other spices was spot on.

I bought a 12-inch pumpkin pie from Costco.
A whole pumpkin pie from Costco
Costco's pie was the largest out of those I tried.

Molly Allen

You'll need a Costco membership to grab one of the jumbo pumpkin pies, which can be found in a refrigerated case in the bakery section.

When I asked the employees at the bakery, they told me Costco's pumpkin pies are baked at the warehouse.

I bought the 12-inch pumpkin pie, packaged in an aluminum pan and plastic container.

Costco's pumpkin pie was soft and fluffy, with a sweeter flavor.
Costco pumpkin-pie slice on a clear plate
I thought Costco's huge pumpkin pie was a great bargain.

Molly Allen

The pumpkin pie I got at Costco was over 3 pounds, so I knew it would certainly dish out plenty of servings. Notably, I found it difficult to get a clean slice out of the Costco pumpkin pie at room temperature, but I had an easier time when it was chilled.

The crust was thin, without much flavor or texture, and the filling was incredibly fluffy, as opposed to other richer, denser pies.

It had a sweeter taste, with notes of vanilla, but it didn't have as much pumpkin-spice flavor as the other pies did. Though it tasted good, I also wanted a bit more cinnamon.

Safeway's pumpkin pie was my favorite, but Costco's was a close second.
Four pumpkin-pie slices on clear plates with red "Winner" text and arrow pointing to one from Safeway
Safeway was my winner.

Molly Allen

As a baker, a homemade pie will always be at the top of my list. Still, I think some of the store-bought versions I tried were pretty tasty.

The textures of both Costco's and Safeway's pumpkin pies were very good. However, I thought Safeway's was the best store-bought pumpkin pie. Its flavor gave it an edge over Costco's famed dessert.

Though Costco's pie was really good and a great deal, in comparison to Safeway's, it was just a bit dull.

Next time I'm in a rush and want to grab a pumpkin pie, I'll head to Safeway's bakery section.

This story was originally published on November 18, 2022, and most recently updated on November 25, 2024.

Read the original article on Business Insider

I tried McDonald's $5 meal deal and understand why it's the cornerstone of the chain's new value menu

25 November 2024 at 09:29
McDonald's franchisees are upset by new royalty hike
McDonald's is seeing success with the addition of a new $5 value meal.

Nancy Luna/Business Insider

  • McDonald's is introducing a new permanent value menu, anchored by its new McValue meal.
  • Originally, the $5 deal was only supposed to be available for a month, beginning in June.
  • After trying the deal myself, I understand why it's been a success for the chain.

Fast-food chains across the country are pulling out all the stops to retain customers as food prices increase. Many chains, including McDonald's, have implemented value meals that cost around $5.

Originally, the McDonald's meal was only supposed to stick around for a month, from the end of June through July. However, the chain first extended the deal through August and then announced in September that it would be around through the end of the year.

Then, in November, the chain announced the value meal would be the centerpiece of a new menu, dubbed the McValue menu, launching in Q1 next year.

I recently tried the $5 Meal Deal and understand why the chain is keeping it around. Here's what I got in the meal and what I thought of each component.

For $5 โ€” give or take a few cents after tax โ€” I was able to get a small Diet Coke, four Chicken McNuggets, a McDouble, and small fries.
the mcdouble meal from mcdonald's
My $5 Meal Deal from McDonald's.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

If I ordered these items separately at my local McDonald's in New York, it would cost $3.39 for the McDouble, $2.59 for the McNuggets, $2.79 for the fries, and $1.49 for the Diet Coke, which would come out to $10.26 before tax.

The McDouble wasn't the best burger I've ever had, but it was certainly passable.
mcdouble burger from McDonald's
My McDouble left something to be desired.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

A McDouble is a hamburger with two patties. It comes with cheese, ketchup, pickles, and onions. The McDonald's website says it should also include mustard, but I didn't taste any or see any.

My biggest issue with the burger was that I thought it was bone-dry. After taking a few bites, I needed to chug my soda.

But even though I didn't love my McDouble, I'm not writing the meal off. I could always get a McChicken as part of the deal instead or try a different location's McDouble burger.

I'm a big McNugget fan, so I was happy to have some in my meal.
chicken nuggets from mcdonald's
McNuggets are my favorite item at McDonald's.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

The $5 Meal Deal comes with four Chicken McNuggets.

My typical McDonald's order is a medium 10-piece McNugget meal, so I was happy to snack on a few. Even though these ended up not being my favorite nuggets when I compared $5 meal deals from McDonald's, Wendy's, and Burger King โ€” Wendy's has the best nuggets in my opinion โ€” McNuggets are a safe bet.

They have a good texture, the breaded coating isn't too salty or thick, and the nuggets aren't dense at all. These are classic for a reason.

McDonald's fries cannot be beat.
the fries from wendy's, mcdonald's, and burger king
McDonald's has the best fries of any fast-food chain.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

As this photo shows, McDonald's fries were the thinnest of the three chains I tried.

They were also the saltiest, which is the key to tasty french fries, and had the best texture. I thought Wendy's and Burger King's fries were too dense and almost soggy, while McDonald's fries were the perfect amount of crispy.

My McDonald's drink was a good size, especially when compared to other chains' meal deals.
the drinks from mcdonald's, wendy's, and burger king
The soda from Burger King was visibly smaller.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

As you can see, the McDonald's and Wendy's sodas โ€”ย 21 ounces and 20 ounces, respectively โ€” are significantly larger than the 16-ounce drink offered by Burger King, and all three meals are the same price.

I can see why the $5 Meal Deal is driving customers to the Golden Arches.
people standing outside of a mcdonald's location in london
The foot traffic at McDonald's has increased since the value meal was introduced.

Mike Kemp/In Pictures/Getty Images

In a July memo, McDonald's executives wrote that the meal is "meeting the objective of driving guests back to our restaurants."

As Business Insider reported using Placer.ai data, which keeps track of foot traffic at restaurants, there were 8% more visitors to McDonald's on the day the meal deal was introduced back in June โ€” and it was the busiest Tuesday of the year to that point.

That record was broken the following week.

After getting a good amount of food at a considerably lower price, I can see why people love the deal. I correctly predicted back in July that the Meal Deal would be extended and eventually be permanently added to the menu โ€” and in 2025, I'll be proven right.

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I'm a professional baker. I compared apple pies from 3 grocery stores, and I'd only consider buying 1 again

25 November 2024 at 08:22
Several apple pies and slices on plate on table
I tried apple pies from Kroger, Whole Foods, and Safeway.

Molly Allen

  • I'm a professional baker who tried apple pies from the stores Kroger, Whole Foods, and Safeway.
  • In my opinion, Kroger and Safeway's pies were quite underbaked and didn't taste great.
  • Whole Foods had the best option, but I'd probably just opt to make my own dessert at home.
I compared apple pies from Kroger, Whole Foods, and Safeway.
Three apple pie slices from Safeway, Whole foods, and Kroger on clear plates on table
Apple pie is a fall staple.

Molly Allen

Apple pie is delicious any time of year, but it's especially tasty in the fall.

Baking a pie from scratch can require a lot of effort, and sometimes, you may need to take a shortcut.

So I tried options from Kroger, Whole Foods, and Safeway to find the best grocery-store apple pie you can pick up in a pinch.

I purchased a 9-inch toffee apple pie from Kroger.
Whole baked apple pie from Kroger on red table
Kroger's apple pie was toffee flavored.

Molly Allen

Kroger's bakery offered a toffee apple pie, and the label said it was freshly baked in the store.

Surprisingly, I didn't see any typical lattice apple pies. The only other option was flavored like brown sugar and maple, so I went with the toffee one.

The pie was underbaked and I thought it had a strange flavor.
Slice of kroger apple pie on small clear plate on red table
Kroger's apple pie tasted a bit artificial.

Molly Allen

The golden apple pie from Kroger looked very good, but cutting into it was incredibly difficult. It was soft and mushy, and it started to fall apart as I removed a slice.

The bottom crust on this pie seemed underbaked, and the streusel topping was doughy. It certainly needed more time to cook. That said, it could've just been that someone took my particular pie out of the oven too soon.ย 

The outer crust was good, but the rest of the pie's flavor fell flat for me. I thought the apple filling had an odd artificial taste, and the soft texture was unappetizing.

Whole Foods typically sells halves of 9-inch apple pies.
Whole apple pie from whole foods on red table
I had to buy two halves of a Whole Foods apple pie.

Molly Allen

When I arrived at Whole Foods, the only options were half pies. A bakery employee told me that the pies are baked in the morning, then are typically cut in half.

If you're looking for a whole pie, it's apparently best to call ahead in the morning and ask that one be set aside. I asked for two halves to be put in a box so I could take home an entire pie.

The pie tasted homemade.
Slice of apple pie from whole foods on small clear plate on red table
Whole Foods' apple pie had a great flavor.

Molly Allen

The flavor of Whole Foods' apple pie absolutely blew me away. It tasted homemade.

The crust was flaky and buttery. Even though the center wasn't quite fully baked, the filling still tasted fresh and flavorful with a slight crunch.

The apples tasted fresh and had just a touch of sugar and cinnamon to enhance their flavor.

Other than the middle of the crust being a bit soft, it was a very good pie. Maybe the one I got was just taken out of the oven too soon.ย 

I snagged an 11-inch apple pie from Safeway.
whole apple pie from safeway on red table
Safeway's apple pie was large and looked fantastic.

Molly Allen

Safeway sells much larger pies, and I found both lattice and Dutch options. The raw pies apparently come to the store frozen and are then baked on-site.

I bought an 11-inch lattice pie.

Safeway's pie was beautiful, but it was underbaked and too sweet for me.
slice of safeway apple pie on small clear plate on red table
Safeway's apple pie let me down.

Molly Allen

The apple pie from Safeway was beautiful, with a nice lattice topping. But it was tricky to cut โ€” the slice fell apart as I removed it from the pie dish.

The crust was underbaked and quite soggy in the middle, even though the outer portions had a nice golden look and crispy texture. I wondered if my specific pie was just not left in the oven long enough or not baked at an ideal temperature.

I also thought it tasted fairly bland and was not very flaky. Plus the filling tasted incredibly sweet to me, with an overwhelming cinnamon flavor.

Overall, each option was quick and convenient, but I'm not sure I'd buy any of them again.
Slices of apple pies from whole foods, krogers, and safeway on red table
If I had to buy one again, I'd choose Whole Foods' apple pie.

Molly Allen

It was easy to head into each store and find an apple pie when I visited in September. It was a bit trickier to get a whole one at Whole Foods, but the bakery employee I spoke to was incredibly helpful.

For each store, it's also possible to call ahead of time and ask the bakery to put a pie aside for you.

But I was disappointed that all three seemed to have an underbaked crust. It takes a lot of patience to bake an apple pie โ€” at home, it can take close to an hour โ€” but it seemed like each grocery story didn't leave the dessert in the oven long enough.ย 

I thought Kroger and Safeway's pies tasted a bit too artificial, and their crusts did not impress me.ย 

If I needed to purchase a grocery-store apple pie again, I'd only consider Whole Foods' option because the flavor was so incredible. But in general, I'd probably just carve out the time to bake my own dessert at home.ย 

This story was originally published on October 5, 2022, and most recently updated on November 25, 2024.

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