The 6 Best Freezer Finds We Bought at Trader Joe’s in 2022

If you’ve ever been in the Trader Joe’s frozen section, you know it’s a veritable treasure trove. Shopping in the culinary playground that is TJ’s perfectly encapsulates that feeling of sampling a box of chocolates: You really don’t know what you’re going to get. Just the way we like it!

Our weekly runs this year certainly felt like a gold rush, helping us transform breakfast, dinner, and even tea time from “meh” to “marvelous.” Whether we picked up cheesy breakfast bites or new staples that turned our kitchen into a veritable tea shop, what we know for sure is we were never bored scanning the freezer cases at Trader Joe’s.

So what were our standout frozen favorites this year? Well, let’s just say we found a little bit of sweet, spice, and everything nice in 2022. 

These frozen cubes of crushed ginger are our newest no-brainer freezer staple. It’s no surprise why these became one of our favorite shortcuts in 2022. We’ve used these cubes as an addition to chicken soup recipes, stir-fries, and curries. We’ve even been known to thaw some and add them to fresh juice, marinades, salad dressings, and a mug of hot water with sliced lemon (aka a veritable hug in a cup).

We eat breakfast for dinner all the time, which got us thinking: Could we flip that and eat dinner for breakfast? Well, meet one of our favorite crossover meals. This frozen melange of quinoa and vegetables comes all the way from France and includes two types of quinoa (a good source of fiber and protein!) to keep you full for hours. The sweet potatoes and zucchini medley add plenty of color and texture. Plus, it’s a great way to work some extra veggies into your morning meal. Add a fried egg and you’re golden.

We love these brand-new Cheese Pastry Rolls even more than their buttery, flaky, chocolate-filled cousins. (You know the ones.) Do yourself a favor and pop these in the oven and watch these pastries toast up nice and brown, while the sweet cheese filling oozes out just a little bit. The best way to explain these little guys is to tell you to imagine a cross between a cheese blintz and a croissant. They’re sweet yet a little savory, and a ridiculously indulgent way to start the day.

Thai Namwa bananas are the key to these sweet street food-inspired fritters, providing a more vanilla-y flavor to the treat than Cavendish bananas. A crispy, coconut-studded batter encloses a creamy, rich center — these are just begging to be dipped in a salted caramel sauce or topped with vanilla ice cream, chocolate nibs, or roasted peanuts. Bonus: They’re vegan, gluten-free, and crisp right up in the air fryer. 

We’re no strangers to our neighborhood boba tea shops, but when we got the chance to turn our own kitchen into one with these new Instant Boba Kits, we jumped (almost literally) at the opportunity. They even include wide boba straws, and are loaded with plenty of chewy mini tapioca pearls so you won’t finish all the boba before you finish your beverage. We used whole milk for ours and it lent itself well to the caramel-y brown sugar flavor, but we think any unsweetened milk alternative would let the flavor truly shine, too. 

Even the most stubborn breakfast-avoiders can’t deny how delicious Trader Joe’s Brazilian Style Cheese Bread is. The grocer’s spin on the popular snack and breakfast food, pão de queijo, is made with a mix of tapioca flour and nutty Parmesan cheese. One bite reveals a crispy, crunchy crust that then reveals an airy-yet-chewy cheesy middle. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself stocking up on these on your next TJ’s run.

Did your favorite freezer find make the list? Tell us about it in the comments below!