You're already going to Trader Joe's for the cookie butter, and most of us swear by Two Buck Chuck(which is now actually $3 at most locations).
But there are many, manyTrader Joe's finds that you're not paying enough attention to ... unless you're a brilliant shopper, that is.
We asked a handful of HuffPost editors for their favorite under-appreciated or little-known items at America's most secretive supermarket.The lineup is equal parts useful (pre-marinated chicken!), surprising (who knew there were hybrid tortillas?!) and tastebud-tingling. Check out their descriptions of these must-have foods below.
1
Cilantro and Jalapeño Hummus
Suzy Strutner
"I eat it with a spoon. There's a spicy kick that you don't get in garlic or sundried tomato hummus."
2
Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Butter and Sage
Suzy Strutner
"The little dumplings heat up to chewy perfection. You'll literally lick the sauce out of your bowl."
3
Belgian Chocolate Pudding
Suzy Strutner
"Sweet but not too sweet, and it lasts more than one sitting. I eat it with fresh fruit."
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4
Farfalle with 4 Cheeses and Spinach
Suzy Strutner
"It'll get you that 'Oh HELL YEAH' reaction."
5
6
Organic Tuscan Kale
Suzy Strutner
"It's darker and meatier than regular kale."
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7
Frozen Mac 'N Cheese
Suzy Strutner
"As close to homemade mac and cheese as you'll get."
8
Premium Salmon Burgers
Suzy Strutner
"You can microwave them for a super quick dinner, and they're so flavorful that I eat them plain."
9
Cheddar Cheese With Caramelized Onions
Suzy Strutner
"The big nuggets of sweet onion are unreal. It's got a nice, crumbly texture, too."
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10
Handmade Chocolate Ganache Torte
Suzy Strutner
"My mom has asked for this for her birthday every year for a LONG time. It's stupidly delicious."
Corn & Wheat Tortillas
Suzy Strutner
"They have the texture of a flour tortilla with the taste of corn. Yum."
12
Pollo Asado
Suzy Strutner
"It saves you lots of time since it's pre-marinated, and it's great for tacos, salads and burritos."
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13
Creamy Spinach & Artichoke Dip
Suzy Strutner
"It's cheesy, perfectly seasoned, actually has real pieces of artichoke in it, and will completely satisfy any last-minute visitors who pop by your house."
14
Chicken Gyoza Potstickers
Suzy Strutner
"I could eat a bag in one sitting."
15
Burrata
Suzy Strutner
"The cheapest burrata you'll ever find."
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16
Chocolate Brooklyn Babka
Suzy Strutner
"Seriously decadent."
Oh, and while you're there, check out Trader Joe's selection of similarly under-loved beauty products:
Also on HuffPost:
Who Really Makes Trader Joe's Food?
Cream Of Tomato Soup: Trader Joe's vs. Pacific(01 of 10)
Pricing: Trader Joe's $2.49, Pacific $4.69Tasting notes: Aside from a slight difference in color and thickness (the Trader Joe's version may have been a bit thicker and darker colored), there was no discernible difference in taste between these two products, leading us to believe...The verdict: They're probably the same product. (credit: Damon Dahlen/The Huffington Post)
Organic Shells And White Cheddar : Trader Joe's vs. Annie's Homegrown (02 of 10)
Pricing: Trader Joe's $1.49, Annie's $3.29Tasting notes: There's no denying this one. From the packaging to the shape of the shells and the contents of the flavor packet …The verdict: These are the same product. (credit: Damon Dahlen/The Huffington Post)
Vegetarian Chili: Trader Joe's vs. Amy's(03 of 10)
Pricing: Trader Joe's $2.29, Amy's $4.19Tasting notes: Upon first tasting, there's no difference between these two products. So we took a closer look and noticed a few differences in the amount of tomato chunks and the level of spice, but they're such slight differences that the same could be found among any two cans of the same product. And then, the kicker: After the blind tasting, we looked at the cans and noticed the chili images on each label were identical, convincing us that …The verdict: They're probably the same product. (credit: Damon Dahlen/The Huffington Post)
Pretzel Chips: Trader Joe's vs. Snack Factory(04 of 10)
Pricing: Trader Joe's $2.19, Snack Factory $3.69Tasting notes: The Trader Joe's product comes in small, broken pieces, but appears to be just a broken version of Snack Factory. All of our tasters agreed that the flavor and crunch factor of both products are identical.The verdict: These are probably the same product, but we're guessing Trader Joe's sells the broken leftover pieces from Snack Factory to TJ's at a discounted price. (credit: Damon Dahlen/The Huffington Post)
Raisin Bran: Trader Joe's vs. Post(05 of 10)
Pricing: Trader Joe's $2.99, Post $5.49Tasting notes: There is no question that these two products look different. The Trader Joe's version is darker brown and tastes a bit maltier, while Post tastes sweeter and more "cardboard-like." Overall, our tasters preferred the Trader Joe's version. …The verdict: These are different products. (But you may want to save some cash and try the Trader Joe's version.) (credit: Damon Dahlen/The Huffington Post)
O's Cereal: Trader Joe's vs. Cheerios(06 of 10)
Pricing: Trader Joe's $1.99, Cheerios $4.99Tasting notes: Trader Joe's O's are paler and have a milder taste, whereas Cheerios are darker and have more depth of flavor. This leads us to believe that …The verdict: There is a difference in the quality of these two products, however it's possible that Joe's O's are the undercooked Cheerios rejects. (credit: Damon Dahlen/The Huffington Post)
Honey Nut O's Cereal: Trader Joe's vs. Cheerios (07 of 10)
Pricing: Trader Joe's $2.49, Cheerios $6.49Tasting notes: This is the exact same case as the traditional Joe's O's vs. Cheerios. Trader Joe's product is paler and milder in flavor, whereas Cheerios are darker and wheatier. There's not much of a discernible difference in fundamental flavors.The verdict: These appear to be slightly different, but it's possible that Joe's O's are the undercooked Cheerio rejects. (And wow, look at the difference in price.) (credit: Damon Dahlen/The Huffington Post)
Almond Thins: Trader Joe's vs. Jules Destrooper (08 of 10)
Pricing: Trader Joe's $2.79, Jules Destrooper $4.69Tasting notes: These look different, but taste exactly the same. Not only is the color slightly off, but the shape is different enough that it makes us wonder whether they can possibly be related.The verdict: These are probably not the same product, but the flavor is so similar that no one would notice the difference if you swapped them. (credit: Damon Dahlen/The Huffington Post)
Pita Chips: Trader Joe's vs. Stacy's(09 of 10)
Pricing: Trader Joe's $1.99, Stacy's $3.99Tasting notes: There is absolutely no question here. We're not even going to waste your time. …The verdict: These are the same product. (credit: Damon Dahlen/The Huffington Post)
Ginger Thins: Trader Joe's vs. Anna's(10 of 10)
Pricing: Trader Joe's $3.99 ($0.44/ounce), Anna's $2.75 ($0.52/ounce)Tasting notes: From looking at these products, they're clearly not the same. Visually, the scalloped edges are different sizes and the Trader Joe's packaging includes twice as many cookies as Anna's. In terms of flavor, our judges preferred Trader Joe's -- it exhibited more of a spicy flavor and a stronger ginger kick.The verdict: These are not the same. (And Trader Joe's is the preferred product.) (credit: Damon Dahlen/The Huffington Post)
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