For most college-aged gals and young women, when it comes to spending money, Trader Joe’s can be a bit of a black hole, especially now that fall products are beginning to hit the shelves. That one thing you came in for quickly turns into a full cart of new frozen meals to try and a few extra bags of those iconic snacks you love that you can only find at your Trader Joe’s. To help your bank account (and your conscience) next time you’re out grocery shopping, here is a list of some Trader Joe’s products you simply need to try and some you might want to skip.
- British Style Crumpets – CASH
If you’ve never had a crumpet before, you’re missing out. A sort of cross between an English muffin and a pancake, these British breakfast staples are the perfect vehicles for butter, jam, cheese, avocado…whatever your heart desires! I like mine with a little olive oil and parmesan. Trader Joe’s does them quite well- spongy with the perfect crunch after being popped in the toaster for a few minutes. They do mold pretty quickly once the vacuum seal has been opened, so eat them fast! (But don’t worry. They’re so good that won’t be a problem.)
2. Korean Sweet Potato Glass Noodles & Vegetable Stir-Fry – CASH
Easy to whip up quickly in the microwave, these glass noodles and veggies get a good rating. They come in a savory-sweet sauce that compliments the soft, chewy sweet potato noodles and veggie medley of onion, spinach, bell peppers, and carrots quite nicely. This is a great edition to have in your freezer for a quick lunch or dinner with a pop of color.
3. Almond Butter Chia Overnight Oats – TRASH
Alright, these weren’t necessarily bad. They were just a bit blander than expected, and the texture was a bit pasty and more like fresh concrete compared to the creamy, porridge-like consistency most people expect out of overnight oats. You could probably save them by adding some fresh fruit or your favorite nut better, but overall I’d say you’re better off making your own.
4. Spanakopita – CASH
WOW WOW WOW! These are soooo good! Pop them in the air fryer or oven and voila: the perfect crunch of flaky phyllo dough filled with a warm marriage of spinach and soft feta and ricotta. And they’re mini. That’s the best part. Buy these.
5. Crunchy Curls – CASH
Yes, these blew up on Tik Tok, and yes, you should try them if you haven’t. Honestly, they’re known for their slightly tasteless taste, but once you experience that magnificent texture, you won’t really care about taste! Be warned: people might ask you for some once they hear that crunch!
6. Turkey Apple Cheddar Sandwich – TRASH
It’s safe to say fresh wraps and sandwiches aren’t necessarily TJ’s strong-suit, and this one is unfortunately no exception. The turkey was layered on in pretty thick chunks, the bread was kind of overpowering, and overall the sandwich was dry and bland. This one’s safe to skip.
7. Vegetable Pad Thai – TRASH 
This one seemed promising, but the noodles were kind of weird, clumped together, and sections of them were different textures, some gummy, some a little… crunchy. The sauce was more reminiscent of sweet-and-sour than traditional pad thai. Oh, and when they say the first ingredient listed is bean sprouts, they weren’t kidding! Also! This has cashews instead of peanuts, which I guess is more allergy-friendly, but I’m not sure it was a successful swap… or that you could really call this pad thai… just not quite what I was expecting.
9. Brookies – CASH
Whoever invented these is a genius. Torn between a brownie and a cookie for a little sweet treat to end the day? These bad boys are the perfect solution! Fantastic, chewy texture. Big chocolate chips. Not too sweet. All the best qualities of a brownie and chocolate chip cookie. What’s not to love?
10. Frozen Mango – CASH
Trader Joe’s typically has pretty good frozen fruit, but the frozen mango is the best of all. Delightfully tropically sweet, these frozen mango chunks are fantastic in smoothies or as a refreshing snack all on their own! Green flag: the only ingredient is organic mango, yet they taste like a popsicle!
11. Baby Corn – CASH
Super simple, but baby corn is such a fun addition to stir-fries and such. Trader Joe’s packages them in little microwaveable bags, which is so easy and convenient.
12. Cauliflower Gnocchi – CASH
This one has gotten some heat in the past, but if you cook it right, it’s actually a delicious way to get some extra vegetables in. In the air fryer or oven they get a slight crispness, and though the texture is certainly not that similar to traditional potato gnocchi, it satisfies. Pair with a protein, some veggies, and your favorite sauce and you’ve got a super easy balanced meal.
13. Pita Bite Crackers – CASH 
These pita bite crackers are the best crackers to pair with cheese. Period. They’re nice and salty and have the most satisfying little bubbles to crunch into. They’d be so cute on your next charcuterie board next to some slices of parmesan or asiago!
13. Bite Size Crispy Cookies Filled with Belgian Chocolate – TRASH
Are these good? Yes. Can you get the exact same thing at other grocery stores for way cheaper? Yes. I’d save your money on these. They’re nothing special.
14. Dark Chocolate Covered Caramels – CASH
If you like dark chocolate caramels, these are arguably some of the best ones out there. When you bite into the dark chocolate shell, you come to find that you’re not scammed at all and there’s so much caramel in each. It’s delightfully chewy and sweet. The only thing that could make them any better is some sea salt.
15. Organic Popcorn with Olive Oil – CASH
Better than all other popcorn flavors, the olive oil gives this popcorn a nice gourmet flair. This popcorn also has clean ingredients and the pieces are nice and big. There’s nothing worse than a bunch of un-popped kernels taking up precious space at the bottoms of the bag, and that is not the case at all with this popcorn!
16. Gluten Free Pumpkin Pancake Mix – CASH
Alright, here comes some seasonal stuff! This pumpkin pancake mix turns out the best pumpkin pancakes ever. The pancakes have just the right amount of pumpkin where it’s not overpowering combined with a hint of autumn spices, and they’re pleasantly fluffy. Plus, they’re fun to make!
17. Pecan Pumpkin Oatmeal – TRASH
Man, I really wanted to like this one. To be honest, it was just too sweet. Also, the water proportions recommended on the package made the oatmeal way too soupy, but that’s a fixable issue. If the pecan pieces were a little bigger, we might have something to work with, but sadly they get lost in the pumpkin slosh.
18. Flowers – CASH
Ok, not a food item, but Trader Joe’s flowers never miss! There are so many different kinds and colors to choose from, and they’re so reasonably priced! Great as a gift for someone or yourself, don’t leave Trader Joe’s without a bouquet!!
Companies mentioned:
https://www.traderjoes.com/home
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