20 Trader Joe's Items Worth Selling Your Soul For And 10 That Are, TBH, Overrated
Hard pass on the cauliflower NO-cchi.
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But of all the many hit products they carry, there are some misses.
Nobody's perfect! Here are a bunch of wins that you maybe haven't tried yet, and some controversial "flops" that don't quite live up to the hype. Scroll down for the hot takes!
1. Underrated: Umami Seasoning Blend
"That shit is fantastic!!! I’ve used it in marinara, as a rub, marinade, meatloaf...I also hate the taste of mushrooms. Hard to describe, but this is not 'mushroomy.' It’s magical, really!"
2. Underrated: Gummy Tummies (Penguin Edition)
"I'm a sucker for gummy candy, and the Gummy Tummy Penguins are the best!"
3. Underrated: Queso Cheese Dip
"The queso is so good! It just doesn't have that artificial taste like most other store-bought queso, which makes it far better, in my opinion."
4. Underrated: Super Lemon Room Spritz
5. Underrated: Everything but the Bagel Greek Style Yogurt Dip
"It's Greek yogurt and it is delicious, almost like a low-calorie French onion dip!"
6. Underrated: Aloe Vera Gel
"Trader Joe’s aloe is the best stuff. It’s not even 100% aloe, but it’s the best moisturizer ever."
7. Underrated: Smashing S'mores
"Anyone else try the S’mashing S’mores? They’re basically s’mores in a little cube, and they are fucking to die for. Sometimes I just eat them right out of the container, but when you heat them up, they taste EXACTLY like regular s’mores."
8. Underrated: The Flower Section
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"Always buy my bouquets there and they have a huge variety. Plus, they always last long."
9. Underrated: Chewable Melatonin
"I've tried other brands, but I always grab a bottle from T.J.'s. They are 3 milligrams and have a pleasant minty flavor. I take two and am usually dozing off within the next 20 minutes."
10. Underrated: Zhoug Sauce
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It's a surprisingly versatile sauce made from cilantro that you can throw on anything that needs a little something saucy — pita with hummus, steamed vegetables and rice, grilled chicken, or salmon.
11. Underrated: Strawberry Licorice Twists
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"Honestly, I’m not a big licorice fan, but I really loved these Strawberry Licorice Twists! They are short, thick pieces of licorice with a delicious strawberry flavor that I found not to be too artificial, as some strawberry candies tend to be."
12. Underrated: Habanero Hot Sauce
This is one of my personal faves that I always stock up on at T.J.'s. It's a truly spicy hot sauce that will draw tears from your eyes, and I love how nonvinegary it is (despite the fact that there is, in fact, vinegar in the ingredients). It's like pure spiciness with a mild but delicious flavor, so it goes on any kind of cuisine.
13. Underrated: Virtuoso Lip Balm
"The Virtuoso Lip Balm is the only lip balm in my life now. Tried it last winter when my lips were cracking apart, along with a whole pile of other balms. I was desperate! Now all the others are in the trash, and this one is the keeper."
14. Underrated: The Chimichurri Rice in the Frozen Section
"I put the T.J. salsa verde, cotija cheese (not T.J.'s), and fresh cilantro on top for a twist, and the whole thing takes five minutes. Also this is the busy-mom dish, when the kids have something basic and Mom craves more."
15. Underrated: Crunchy Mochi Rice Nuggets
"These pair with wine so well. I don't allow myself to buy them anymore because I eat the entire bag at once."
16. Underrated: Soy Chorizo
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I implore you to try to tell the difference between this stuff and the real thing.
18. Underrated: Field Fresh Salad (with black currants, asiago cheese, chicken, and sweet basil dressing)
Field Fresh Chopped Salad with Grilled Chicken Breast from Trader Joe’s http://t.co/RXEKt9gnCp
"In the prepackaged salad section. This is a new find for me, but I've had it three times in the last week. So good!"
19. Underrated: Spicy Cashew Butter Dressing
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"It is fantastic on noodles. Add tofu (T.J.'s baked tofu is great), some veggies (like broccoli or soycotash), some fresh basil if you have some, etc. Any or all. My spouse's go-to meal when it's his turn to fix something."
Thin enough to be used on salads; rich enough to act as a sauce on rice, noodles, or veggies; and also works great as a marinade.
20. Underrated: Masala Simmer Sauce
"The Masala Simmer Sauce is so good. ... It’s a great pizza sauce for an Indian-style pizza."
1. Overrated: Cookie Butter
"I was visiting family in America and a friend BEGGED ME to bring back three jars of Cookie Butter. I ended up opening one up just to try it (she was fine with this) and thought it was so bland. That was a few years ago, so I don’t know if they still make it, but I definitely thought it was overrated."
2. Overrated: Dried Mandarins
"Not bad, just really overhyped (in my opinion) compared with all the other dried fruit, which is all pretty great."
3. Overrated: Cauliflower Gnocchi
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"Everyone raved about it, but I found it bland...maybe I didn't cook it the proper way or use the right sauce..."
Some people do swear by it when it's made in an air fryer, though.
4. Overrated: Jackfruit Fishcakes
"I didn't care for Jackfruit Fishcakes. I like jackfruit, I like fish, I like cakes, but somehow the combination was not a hit."
5. Overrated: Danish Kringle
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"They're pretty solid, pretty good, but with the level of hype and excitement that gets posted every time they come in stock, I was expecting something that would completely blow my mind. Unfortunately, I just thought they were good, but nowhere near as mind-blowing as the first times I've had other pastries."
Overall, people find them to be wayyyy too sweet, and they could benefit from a little tartness.
7. Overrated: Mandarin Orange Chicken
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"I bit into a piece that was pure fat; never again. I have an aversion to any orange/sesame chicken that I didn't make myself. The fear of biting into a piece of gross skin or chewy fat makes the whole experience too unpleasant."
Although some argue that the aversion is really about how you actually cook it...
"I had a bad time cooking it on the stove, but in the oven on a cookie sheet or preheated cast iron, it's great. Make sure you don't undercook it. I only use half the orange sauce and save the rest of the sauce to use with something later. Add the chicken to a rice bowl or stir-fry and you're set."
9. Overrated: The Sushi Section
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"Please add their sushi to the overrated list. That stuff belongs in the garbage."
10. Overrated: Everything but the Bagel Seasoning Blend
"The only thing it tastes good on, in my opinion, is egg salad sandwiches lol."
Note: Responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.