As a former Trader Joe’s employee and a food-industry professional with over eight years of experience as a bread baker, I have a unique perspective when walking the grocery store aisles.
I love to cook — from scratch, as often as I can — but after (or before) a long shift working at the bakery, I don’t always have the energy for a grandiose culinary adventure.
Here are some of the Trader Joe’s products that I always buy, from quick snacks to ingredients I use in easy, home-cooked meals.
For me, it’s imperative to start the day off with a cup of Black Acres Colombia Aponte Honey coffee.
I can be a bit picky when it comes to coffee, and as a Philadelphia resident, I am surrounded by many small, high-quality roasters.
However, I often find myself turning to Black Acres’ Colombia Aponte Honey beans — a regional coffee option that my local TJ’s carries. It’s medium-roast, bright, a little fruity, well-balanced, and easy to brew.
I use smoked rainbow trout fillets to make my go-to breakfast.
This smoked rainbow trout can be used in so many ways — sometimes, I’ll throw it on a fresh baguette, with just a schmear of sour cream or labneh.
My favorite thing to do, though, is make a super quick and inexpensive whitefish-style salad. I’ll simply take the skin off the fish and mix thoroughly with mayo, mascarpone, red onion, salt, pepper, and a ton of lemon juice. Then, I’ll throw it on a bagel.
Trader Joe’s dark russet potato chips are my favorite snack.
If you’re a fan of crispy, dark french fries like I am, you’ll love these deep-roasted potato chips that have a super strong and rich flavor.
Here’s a secret tip from one of my favorite former TJ’s managers: Heat up TJ’s frozen chicken wings, then throw the hot wings onto a plate of these chips. Pile crumbled blue cheese on top of the whole thing. You will not regret it.
Tabbouli salad is one of my must-buys.
Trader Joe’s tabbouli is tasty, simple, and always tastes fresh. It’s great with some dolmas and a container of the Mediterranean hummus.
My go-to move, though, is to mix the tabbouli with a can of Greek chickpeas, parsley, and cumin. Boom: a delicious, healthy salad.
Crushed ginger goes a long way in my house.
This Dorot Gardens pre-crushed ginger is one of my favorite Trader Joe’s staples.
As someone who loves to cook, especially East Asian food, I’m always chopping fresh ginger and garlic. I’m used to it, and I have pretty good knife skills, but sometimes it’s nice to just reach into the freezer and pop a tablespoon or so of crushed ginger into the frying pan.
I love buying calamari pieces to add to soups and pastas.
These calamari pieces, tinned in olive oil, can really improve a weeknight stir-fry, a warm soup, or even a pasta dish. They have a great, not-too-chewy texture and delicious flavor.
I like to add these to my homemade sundubu-jjigae, a simple Korean soup featuring silken tofu and seafood.
One of my favorite sweet treats is the milk-chocolate bar with corn flakes.
Trader Joe’s has incredible sweets; it’s difficult to choose between my many favorites. One standout, though, is this milk-chocolate bar.
The soft, rich Belgian chocolate pairs perfectly with crunchy cornflakes — so perfectly, in fact, that I usually have to hide these from my roommate so he doesn’t eat them all.
Trader Joe’s was not involved in the sourcing or writing of this story. The views contained within represent the author’s personal views.
Keep reading our Trader Joe’s Diaries to see what other shoppers like to buy at the chain.
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