Mara Weinraub

Senior Editor of Groceries at The Kitchn

I cover the latest and most exciting news about grocery launches and retailers, reviews of tried-and-true products, ingenious advice, and aha(!) industry trends.Brooklyn, NY

About Me

I nudged my way into writing about food after a too-long stint working in advertising. At first, I freelanced for several digital food media outlets, and then worked at Hearst Magazines as the Senior Food & Drink Editor across nearly all titles, including Delish, Good Housekeeping, and Pioneer Woman.

I’ve been at The Kitchn since August 2021, and one of my proudest accomplishments is my feature detailing the fascinating grocer solutions to America’s food waste problem. (If you haven’t read it, now’s the time!)

I nerd out over groceries. One of the best parts of my job is sharing little-known or untold stories that help shoppers navigate the aisles — and their budget — like the “two-finger” rule on how to pick out the perfect watermelon, our editors' favorite hot cocoa mix, or a corner of our country's food system. I’m always looking for new ways to expand the groceries conversation at The Kitchn.

My pronouns

she/her/hers

I'm an expert in

  • predicting when the next Inside Trader Joe's podcast episode will drop

My education

Boston University (BS in Communication)


Latest Stories

I Always Make a Double Batch of This Old-Fashioned British Pastry
Do future you a favor.
Oct 20, 2024
The 18 Best Groceries You Can Buy at BJ’s
Don't sleep on number 11.
Oct 9, 2024
The One Trader Joe’s Item You Should Grab Before Halloween, According to Store Employees
Plus, three more sweets returning to shelves.
Oct 8, 2024
How a Pennsylvania Family of 4 Spends $230 a Week on Groceries (Mostly) at Aldi
Meal planning also helps cut extra spending.
Oct 6, 2024
We Tried 7 Brands of Canned Pumpkin — And the Winner Is Not What You Think
Groceries
There’s a new number one in town.
Sep 25, 2024
My Simple Swap for Vegetable Oil That Makes Boxed Cake Mix Taste 1000x Better
I’ve been doing it for decades.
Sep 20, 2024
The $4 Frozen Chicken Pot Pie That’s (Almost) Better than Homemade
When it’s on sale, I get two.
Sep 19, 2024
I’m a Seasonal Actor, and My Partner Works at a Home Health Agency — We Spent $23 on a Week’s Worth of Groceries
They picked up some staples for free at a local food pantry.
Sep 19, 2024
My Husband and I Are Both Retired Teachers Living in Arizona — We Spent $146 on a Weekly Grocery Haul and Came in $34 Under Budget
Groceries
Meats are frequently added as a “condiment” in vegetable dishes.
Aug 23, 2023
I’m a House Cleaner Living on a Remote Alaskan Island — Here’s What I Make with a $144 Grocery Haul
Groceries
“Grocery prices are among the highest in the country” in her town.
Aug 10, 2023
My Great-Aunt Kitty's Ingenious Trick for Ripening Pineapple
It’s been passed down from generation to generation.
Aug 3, 2023
See How a Massachusetts Family of 4 Spends $200 on Groceries Every Week (After “Scouring” for Deals)
"I scour our grocery circulars for the best bulk sales."
Jul 27, 2024
See How a New York Couple Spends $189 a Week on Groceries (Mostly) at Costco
They stock up on meat once a month.
Jun 27, 2024
We Tried 11 Vanilla Ice Creams — and No One Saw the Winner Coming
Plus, four VERY worthy runners-up.
Jun 24, 2024
We Tried 11 Hummus Brands and the Winner Was Abundantly Clear
“The Platonic ideal of hummus.”
Jun 15, 2024
We Tried 20 Bottles of Barbecue Sauce — These Are the Ones Worth Eating
Groceries
Number 1 is “the platonic ideal of BBQ sauce.”
Jun 3, 2024
We Tried 12 Jars of Salsa — And No One Saw the Winner Coming
“It’s bright and fresh.”
May 30, 2024
The $5 California White Wine We’re Buying at Aldi All Summer Long
“This one is fire.”
May 17, 2024
We Tried 19 Margarita Mixes — And the Winner Tasted Like Freshly Squeezed Limes
Plus our favorite spicy and fruity mixes.
May 1, 2024
We Tried 16 Flour Tortillas — And We Did Not See This Winner Coming
It’s one of the most affordable we tried too.
Apr 25, 2024