6 Trader Joe's Items That Smart Shoppers Pass On
Walk into any Trader Joe's and you'll immediately spot several items you'll want to add to your cart. This is one of the many reasons the quirky grocery chain has built such a fan base, but you can't just buy everything you see.
So, how do you know what's worth skipping at TJ's and where you can find a cheaper alternative somewhere else? We reviewed shopper feedback, price comparisons and expert superfan opinions to uncover the top Trader Joe's items that just aren't worth buying.
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Here are six items you should avoid.
White Sliced Bread
Price: $2.29
Many shoppers don't recommend purchasing most of the items for sale in the bakery unless you plan to eat them quickly. This includes bread, cookies, cakes and tortillas. One of the biggest culprits for taking a turn is the white slices bread loaf, as it can turn moldy quickly or dry out just as fast.
Though you may feel like TJ's is the best retail invention since sliced bread, there are some things you may not want to add to your cart.
Sesame Teriyaki Beef Skirt Steak
Price: $16.99/one pound
With inflation and tariffs driving up the cost of beef, expensive meat sold at Trader Joe's should maybe be a skip for you. Marinated meats, including chicken and steak, often receive the most flak for their prices.
Non-Dairy Oat Beverage
Price: $4.29
Milk alternatives are popular, and Trader Joe's sells refrigerated and shelf-stable oat milk. Most users like the shelf-stable oat milk with its added pea protein.
However, the refrigerated version does not sit well with superfans. Apparently oat milk with extra pulp wasn't the hit Trader Joe's thought it would be.
Organic Tri-Color Bell Peppers
Price: $4.99
The math isn't really mathing for the tri-color bell peppers, as the combo pack costs more than if you just bought multiple individual peppers. You're essentially paying more for chopping -- so consider chopping this from your list.
Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
Price: $3.99
Many superfans have declared Trader Joe's ranch dressing to be the worst product sold by the company. These are bold claims from avid ranch lovers, but before you get lost in the sauce, you should know it does have pretty poor reviews.
Teeny Tiny Avocados
Price: $4.99 for a 6-count
Trader Joe's superfans may love the size of the Teeny Tiny Avocados, but they're not into how quickly these avocados go bad after purchase. Most avocados have a small window of being perfectly ripe, but these little guys tend to have a shelf life of what feels like 20 minutes.
Heather Taylor contributed to the reporting for this article. Prices and availability are subject to change.
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