Don’t Buy These 13 Items From Trader Joe’s
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Trader Joe’s is a beloved grocery store chain that has been operating since 1967. It has a loyal consumer demographic that appreciates its low prices, unique, seasonal, and convenient products, and casual atmosphere.
The company is also famous for its stance on never selling products with artificial or harmful ingredients. However, nothing is perfect and there is nothing consumers like to do than nitpick certain things about their favorite retailers. While most consumers love Trader Joe’s they often complain online about the worst products sold there.
Here are 13 items you should never buy from Trader Joe’s.
1. Bagged Salad
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Just buy fresh salad and make your own. Or compare the quality of other bagged salad brands. Many of TJ’s bagged salad house brands are of inferior quality, have a slimy consistency, and become discolored quickly. You may spend more time picking out discolored and unappetizing leaves than enjoying the meal.
2. Pre-Prepared Sandwiches and Wraps
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The pre-prepared sandwiches and wraps are not the worst things to buy at TJ’s, but it’s still a low bar of quality. The pre-prepared sandwiches and wraps at TJs are usually a soggy, aesthetically unpleasant, and flavorless mess to consume. While convenient, you will always have better options elsewhere when it comes to pre-prepared sandwiches and wraps.
3. Ranch Dressing
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Brand loyalty extends to many products for consumers, like beer, candy bars, fast food burgers, and even ranch dressing. While there are a lot of convenient products to buy at TJ’s ranch dressing is not one of them. Many online reviews have commented that the Store’s ranch dressing products are too sweet, have a runny consistency, and don’t compare to better, well-known plans.
4. Pre-Cooked Chicken Strips Meal
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Many online reviewers claim that the store’s pre-cooked chicken strips meal don’t have any flavor, weird taste texture, and become dry or rubbery after you heat it up. This product is convenient as a snack or add to a salad, but there are better options. You can buy pre-marinated chicken fillets from the TJ’s meat aisle and make your own chicken strips.
5. Mayonnaise
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There are plenty of TJ’s house brand products that you should give a try at least once, but you may want to skip the mayonnaise. There are just too many well-known and better-quality mayonnaise brands out there to choose from. Online reviewers have complained that TJ’s house brands are bland and unmemorable. Stick to well-known brands or make your own.
6. Cauliflower Pizza Crust Products
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The consumer trend of using cauliflower as a carb substitute does not seem to be going away soon. Whether that is a good or bad thing is up to you. Still, you should probably skip the Trader Joe’s cauliflower-derived pizza crust products. Online reviewers have complained that the mock crust easily crumbles and breaks apart when any kind of topping is added. You end up more with a cauliflower pizza mess than a pizza.
7. Fruits and Veggies
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Most prudent and quality-savvy consumers know where to buy their fruits and veggies at reasonable prices. Aside from their bananas, potatoes, onions, and citrus fruits, most of the produce at TJ’s is bland in flavor and molds very quickly after purchase. Head to a farmer’s market or stick to the supermarket to get your produce.
8. Ice Cream
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Unless you enjoy supporting independent, small-business ice cream brands, you should just skip the ice cream products at Trader Joe’s. It’s a waste of time and money and the quality is lacking. The ice cream selection here is limited, has an overly icy taste texture, overly soggy ingredient mix-ins, and is too sweet. They just don’t compare to other superior brand names you’re familiar with.
9. Bread
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The bread products at Trader Joe’s are sold to be conveniently purchased, not because it is fresh or delicious. A lot of commercial bread products sold at stores like Trader Joe’s are usually injected with air to aesthetically expand it and boost profits. The bread you find here is also usually stale and bland. It doesn’t contain preservatives or additives, so it won’t keep for long before becoming moldy.
10. Trader Joe’s Frozen Meatball Products
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Trader Joe’s frozen meatball products contain fillers and non-artificial preservatives designed to keep them in a freezer long-term. These meatballs have a weirdly soft texture and taste consistency that is not enjoyable to the palette. Simply put, they don’t taste like meatballs. Buy a higher-quality brand of frozen meatballs elsewhere or make them yourself at home.
11. Any Pre-Prepared Sushi Products
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Sushi used to be considered a gourmet delicacy at one point. Now, it is a commercialized fast food akin to a Whopper. You can buy pre-prepared sushi at supermarkets, gas stations, and Trader Joe’s. Pre-prepared sushi products are prepared off-site and delivered, contain additives to make them last, and are never fresh. Pre-prepared sushi products are usually stale, and bland, and defeat the purpose of their own existence. Learn to make it at home or go to a trusted restaurant.
12. Trader Joe’s House Brand and Assorted Craft Beer Products
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The previously mentioned appeal of Trader Joe’s is the ability to get unique products that you may not find elsewhere. While there is a large demographic of consumers who love the house brand and assorted craft beers at Trader Joe’s, there is just as big of one who doesn’t like them. Consumers complain that some of the beer products are too sweet, bland, tasteless, taste bad or strange, or have an off-putting aroma.
13. Trader Joe’s Teriyaki Sauce Brand Soyaki
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When you need to replenish your teriyaki sauce supplies, is your first thought to head to TJ’s? The store has a house brand called “Soyaki,” however, you may want to think twice before buying it. One bottle of Soyaki has 490 milligrams of sodium, which is one-fifth of the recommended daily intake. Compare other brands, use sparingly per dish, or dilute with water when using.
What Are Your Favorite or Most Hated Trader Joe’s Products?
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Trader Joe’s is a beloved American institution that is still thriving. While some of its products are not popular, the majority of its customers have scant complaints about shopping there.
What are your favorite or most disliked TJ’s products?
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Allen Francis is a full-time writer, prolific comic book investor and author of The Casual’s Guide: Why You Should Get Into Comic Book Investing. Allen holds a BA degree from Marymount Manhattan College. Before becoming a writer Allen was an academic advisor, librarian, and college adjunct for many years. Allen is an advocate of best personal financial practices including saving and investing in your own small business.
