Trader Joe’s is a veritable treasure trove offine cheeses,frozen foods, andcrave-worthy snacks.
Each one promises to save you both time and money.
No advanced planning or prep work requiredand no lengthy shopping list of ingredients to ring up at the register.
Photos: Trader Joe’s. Design: Eat This, Not That!
All you need is one convenient, self-contained package.
Just slap on a hot grill, and within minutes, dinner is ready.
I paid $9.42 for just over a pound of the product.
Photo: Chris Shott/Eat This, Not That!
The look: Bathed in a reddish, syrupy liquid.
The taste: Zesty and relatively moist.
The citrusy flavor was immediate and unmistakable, if not exactly enjoyable.
Photo: Chris Shott/Eat This, Not That!
One remarked, “When I first tried it, I thought of Subway.”
It’s regularly priced at $8.99 per pound.
I paid $14.20 for a plump package of the prepped poultry.
Photo: Chris Shott/Eat This, Not That!
The look:Lean and green.
The pack contained seven separate pieces of breast meat in various sizes.
The taste:Tangy and herby.
Photo: Chris Shott/Eat This, Not That!
On first bite, the chicken seemed juicy and flavorful, but subsequent samples felt rubbery and unpleasant.
My fellow tasters experienced similarly mixed results.
One sampler liked the dish, noting the pesto “wasn’t too garlicky.”
Photo: Chris Shott/Eat This, Not That!
Another suggested it might work better as a salad topping than a standalone entree.
The listed ingredients include soy sauce, sesame oil, sugar, salt, and garlic.
I paid a cool $20 for this onemaking it the most expensive item in this survey.
Photo: Chris Shott/Eat This, Not That!
The look: Soaked in deep brown gravy.
The taste: Rich and a bit sweet.
The flavor proved consistent throughout, but the texture less so.
Some bites felt pleasingly tender.
Others were too tough.
Some were downright gristly.
My tasters described the meat as either old, low-grade, or possibly both.
The package contains thinly sliced sirloin, seasoned with “an authentic recipe,” according to the retailer.
It’s regularly priced at $11.99 per pound.I paid $14.99 for a chunky bundle of the beef.
The look: Immersed in a reddish-brown solution.
The taste: Layered.
The flavors came in waves.
The taste: Powerfully peppery.
Everyone liked the spice, even if the pepper dominated over all other flavors.
Even so, there was one other meat that stood out above all the rest.
It comes seasoned with a bevy of spices, includingcinnamon, coriander, cumin, paprika, and turmeric.
I paid $10.76 for just over a pound of the appetizing protein.
The look: Awash in reddish orange.
The taste:Succulent and satisfying.
Its soft texture proved equally pleasing.
