Groceries

We don’t always have time to whip up a luxe Italian buttercream. Heck, sometimes even the quick frosting recipe on the back of the powdered sugar box is too tall an order. For those weeknights when you need to get some frosting on your cake (or cupcakes or cinnamon rolls) fast, a tub of ready-made frosting is your best friend. But choosing one is a big decision, because if you pick a bad one, you might as well toss the whole cake.

Between the vegan bakers, Paleo eaters, and lovers of all things coconut, there’s a big market for coconut oil out there — and manufacturers have certainly taken note. These days there’s coconut oil at every supermarket, not just the health food stores. Heck, even HomeGoods is flooded with the stuff. There are dozens of brands to choose from, but there’s only one brand we reach for: Artisana Organics.

Whether you're making a simple cake or you want it to look like a unicorn exploded, we've got what you need.

You might think it would be embarrassing to whip out your own personal stash of soy sauce when you go to a sushi joint. But you’d only think that if you haven’t had Bourbon Barrel Foods’ small-batch soy sauce aged in bourbon barrels. Once you’ve had this sultry, complex soy sauce, you’ll never go back. Really? You might think. It’s just soy sauce. Oh, but that’s like saying white truffles of Alba, Italy, are just mushrooms.

How many of these have you tried?

Tucked somewhere near the cans of condensed milk and Jell-O pudding at the supermarket (or maybe by the hot chocolate) is a canister that will change your life. What’s in this oft-overlooked and unassuming little package? It’s malted milk powder. Okay, so malted milk powder might not change your entire life, but it very well may change the way you bake.

Happy (chocolatey) baking!

There might have been some debate about what exactly constitutes a condiment, but one thing is absolutely certain: Kitchn editors love condiments. They occupy a whole lot of real estate in our fridges and are that little something extra that we use to take meals from good to great. Here are our favorites. I don’t have a huge tolerance for spiciness, but Cholula is an exception. I use it on my breakfast every single morning since it pairs really well with eggs or avocado toast.

I used to make secret Costco trips. “Where are you right now?” a friend would ask over the phone. “Shh, don’t tell anyone, but I’m at Costco shopping for the party.” Giant shrimp platters and vats of cocktail sauce aside, Costco has become a part of my weekly life in shopping for my restaurant in California.

How do you usually shop for meat when you’re in Costco? You go to the meat section, pick out a package, and put it in your cart, right? Wrong! Well, that’s probably how you do it. But there’s a better way — when it comes to ground beef, at least. See, we ran this story earlier this year and one of the items really stuck with us. Costco employees dished on Reddit about their favorite budget grocery finds and one thing kept coming up again and again: chubs!

Step away from the cider. Don’t even think about making a batch of hot cocoa. Summer isn’t over yet, and Trader Joe’s has a blood orange rosé wine to prove it. In fact, this unusual wine is perfect for dealing with that awkward phase in between seasons. You know what I’m talking about: It’s not rosé-all-day season anymore, but you’re not yet at the ‘let me pile on the sweaters, and sit by a fire with a hot toddy,’ stage.

When I was a child I thought Disney was the happiest place on earth, but now that I’m an adult I’m pretty sure it’s Costco. Disney has Space Mountain, but Costco has avocados that stay ripe twice as long, and really good Prosecco for just $6.99 a bottle. There’s no contest.

Apple cider doughnuts, hard cider, pumpkin spice everything — the arrival of these beloved things at shops, cafes, and farmers market stands sweetly whisper fall is coming. Candy corn popcorn? Ahh … we’re not sure we’re ready to add that one to the list. The fall-themed snack was recently spotted at a Trader Joe’s store in Elk Grove, California, by Instagram user @vegan_tinymomgram.

If you love Aldi products but hate putting on pants, do we have news for you: Aldi is about to start offering online delivery through Instacart across 35 states. Before, Aldi was only running a pilot program with Instacart — in just four cities (Los Angeles, Atlanta, Dallas, and Chicago). This new roll-out adds 5,000 new zip codes, including ones in New York City, San Diego, Miami, Raleigh, and Minneapolis.

The hardest thing about being a Trader Joe’s shopper has nothing to do with budgeting for groceries or dealing with the crowds (that’s just the most annoying thing about being a Trader Joe’s shopper). The hardest thing is keeping up with all the new product introductions. (And, I guess, saying bye to the things you love when they have to go away to make room for new items.) We’re only halfway into September and, already, there have been at least a half-dozen new products.

When do you usually go to Costco? Right after work? Every other Sunday? Whenever you actually have a free 15 minutes and happen to be on the right side of the highway? Obviously, there are a lot of factors that come into play when it comes to figuring out the best time for you to hit the warehouse store. If you’re trying to avoid the crowds, stock up on free samples, or get the best deal possible, though, we’ve got some suggestions for you.

Meal kits were once the realm of the online shopping market. Don’t have time to grab ingredients for a complete meal from the grocery store? Teaching yourself how to cook for the first time? Order from a company liked Plated or Blue Apron, and you’d get everything you need for dinner dropped on your doorstep. Over the summer though, many meal kit services shifted that business model and began appearing in grocery stores.

If there’s one Costco fact we’ve been trying to prove to you lately, it’s that the warehouse store carries plenty of healthy foods. For starters, there’s the top-quality produce. There’s also all sorts of healthy snacks for a lunch box, good-for-you frozen items, and even a pretty healthy food court option. We actually have a favorite among the many healthy options — and it happens to currently be on sale.

In this day and age, companies who seem like they really care about their customers are few and far between. Costco — with its fair pay and benefits, low prices, and giant plush teddy bears — really seems to be one of the good ones, and a new, very expensive move to keep down the price of one of their food staples just adds to the list of why we love the wholesale chain.

Fall, more than any other season, seems to have the most iconic foods. The pumpkins! The apples! The caramel! You get the point. And if any grocer leans into this the most, it’s Trader Joe’s. Year after year, the chain brings back and adds new festive foods to get us all in the mood for sweaters and hay rides. Honestly, it’s kind of working!

It's only going to be around for a limited time.

The most wonderful time of the year continues: fall grocery season! Aldi has been rolling out all sorts of pumpkin-, maple-, and cinnamon-centric treats all month long (with even more coming out in October). Each seasonal item will only be available for a limited time, so I wasted no time taste testing some of the most fall-y items. Here’s what I thought.

Among the short list of ingredients I always have stocked in my freezer, puff pastry ranks high at the top. It’s a good thing to have on hand to turn out fast and fancy appetizers like baked brie and cheesy pinwheels — and it makes for quick savory dinner tarts and bakery-worthy breakfast treats. So it’s totally worth having a couple of boxes on hand at all times.

In its most recent "Fearless Flyer," Trader Joe's announced the arrival of a new condiment: Carrot Cake Spread. I'm sorry to say it was disappointing.

Do you know what today is? It’s the day that new Costco sales start! We flipped through the circular to pick out the 10 very best deals to hit stores this month. Some fine print: They’re good for members only, valid between October 3 and October 28, and prices (and availability) will vary by location, so we only included the sale information. Related: Should You Get a Costco Membership? Take a look. There’s stuff in here to help you win Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

So novel, so smart.

One of my favorite aisles to browse at Costco is in, you guessed it, the wine section. I’m a value-oriented wine shopper (please don’t call me cheap), so I tend to skip right past the fancy-looking wooden crates of wine priced at more than $20 and head to the shelves, which are typically loaded with more affordable wines.

No two Thanksgivings are the same. We may all celebrate with nearly identical menus, but family dynamics are different for everyone. And they’re, um, pretty interesting. So, I’ve decided to offer wine pairings based on some of the most awkward situations possible. If you’re wondering why I’m not addressing the more traditional food-and-wine pairing aspect of Thanksgiving, there are two reasons.

While it would be great if we could all exclusively buy wine from cute independent wine shops, it’s not always possible. Not everyone lives near a great independent wine shop. Not everyone feels comfortable in one. And sometimes you have to buy toilet bowl cleaner, socks, and a gift for a housewarming party — all in one shopping trip because you’re busy and that’s just how life works sometimes. I get it.

Tasting wine isn’t just for sommeliers who can call what vineyard a wine came from in a single sniff. Blind tasting helps you hone in on what you actually like without being influenced by labels, prices, or marketing, so it’s something that anyone who likes wine should try a few times. Plus, it’s fun! In order to find out what people really think of wines from Trader Joe’s, Aldi, and Costco, I strong-armed a few folks into blind tasting them. My tasters?

You’re not going to find a wild grape variety no one’s ever heard of at Costco, and you’re definitely not going to find someone to make suggestions perfectly tailored to your taste. What you will find, though, are great deals on famous brands and some shockingly good Kirkland private-label wines. That’s why Costco is a great place to go for all your wine needs, if you’re looking to bring someone a bottle this holiday season.

The perfect go-to gift — one that’s sure to please just about anyone and doesn’t cost an arm and a leg — is pretty hard to find. But there’s one thing at Trader Joe’s that I buy for everyone I know, and I’ll keep doing it until I die. I’m talking about succulents, those delightful diminutive plants that everyone’s crazy about these days. They’re cute and they are easy to care for.

With Prime shipping, no less!

Just when you thought #pumpkineverything had reached peak saturation, Trader Joe’s has raised the stakes (again) with even more pumpkin offerings than last year. We’ve already told you about a couple, but there are more, people! Many, many more. So naturally, when October rolled around this week, I did as any card-carrying fall-lover might do and headed to my local TJ’s (in flannel, of course) and filled my cart with a little taste of the season.

Just because you love two things more than anything else in this world, that doesn’t mean they should ever meet. In fact, in most cases, they shouldn’t. Take, for example, pasta and your new white sweater. Or dogs and chocolate. Or, um, cheese and pumpkin spice. No matter how fanatical you are about pumpkin spice (we’re talking going to get the first latte of the season in August), we’re betting you are not going to like this new mash-up.

It seems like every company in the world is involved in the “personal hydration” business. That’s corporate speak for “water bottles,” and some of these bottles are better than others. While there are hundreds (thousands?) of pretty, Instagram-worthy bottles out there, they don’t all keep your water cold, clean up easily, or offer a leak-proof seal.

I mean, why not?

If there’s one person who has been against getting groceries delivered, it’s me. See, I actually love grocery shopping and happen to have several good stores within a few miles of my home. I love sifting through all the fresh produce, checking out the aisles, and scanning the end caps. And I always will. But when I heard that Aldi, one of my favorite grocery stores, was expanding its reach on Instacart, I knew I’d have to give it a try.

Someone's got a big heart to go along with all those big boxes.

I’m a grazer — it’s probably one of my biggest diet downfalls. I’d rather pick on a couple of little things every few hours than down a heavy meal. (I blame it partially on the fact that I haven’t had a job that actually encouraged taking a lunch hour in more than a decade.) Which brings me to a recent road trip I took. I obviously needed car snacks! And Trader Joe’s was clearly the place to go for such provisions.

If you’re not familiar with the term “Aldi Finds,” allow us to explain: Every Wednesday, the store brings new products into rotation for a limited time. And they’re called, you guessed it, Aldi Finds. These special products can be anything from frozen pizzas with fun toppings, to drawer organizers, and even chainsaws. The brand has lots of great finds coming up between now and the holidays (for gifting and entertaining!

Perhaps you’ve heard us wax poetic about Costco’s private-label brand, Kirkland Signature, before? Perhaps you’ve also waxed poetic about how much you love it? The private-label brand includes all sorts of things like plastic wrap, applesauce pouches, vodka, and much more. And the stuff is always just as good as the name-brand stuff — if not better! People have all sorts of questions around the brand.

Costco is my one-stop shop for organic foods, plant-based snacks, and bulk health and wellness items. (I eat pretty healthfully, if you can’t tell! I’m a nutritionist, after all!) It’s also one of my favorite places to discover new things at a great price. A lot of people say Costco isn’t the best place to try new things — if you don’t like something, you’re usually stuck with a lot of it — but I’m so rarely disappointed!

Have you tried any of these?

You would think her favorite product would be something low-calorie, but it's not.

They're only $1.99!

You can currently buy a four-pack of the sparkling coconut water for $3.99.

According to the New York Times, Quaker Oats plans to release its own oat milk.

As much as we talk about the food court at Sam’s Club (and those Polish hot dogs!), we talk about the food court at Costco way, way more. And maybe that’s a mistake on our part. We’re starting to think the Sam’s Club Café deserves even more love — especially after the news we got today. Allow us to explain. Did you know that October is both National Pizza Month and National Pretzel Month? It is! And apparently, Sam’s Club has been celebrating accordingly!

It feels almost sacrilege to utter these words, but my favorite grocery store, the one that can do (almost) no wrong, actually makes the world’s worst sushi. Now, before the Authentic Sushi brigade comes out, let me get in front with a proclamation: I have a thing for grocery store sushi. I know I shouldn’t. I know it’s, well, it’s grocery store sushi. And I’ve even had good sushi.

Ice cream is never really on my shopping list, but I tell myself I should walk down the aisle “just in case,” which means I’ll inevitably fall for a sale, or a new flavor will convince me to grab a pint. A couple of weeks ago, I did exactly this at Trader Joe’s and I like to think it paid off because I spotted a Talenti lookalike (which Trader Joe’s announced this week)!

You may have been planning to bake a decadent Thanksgiving dessert all on your own this year, but you should probably abandon those plans, because Costco is now selling the ultimate addition to your holiday dinner table: a pumpkin spice cheesecake that weighs an astonishing five pounds and costs $15. I’m now picturing how much cream cheese it takes to make just one of these beauties.

And Hermione's and Dumbledore's wands, too.

It’s November! And that means it’s time for us to take a look at the upcoming Aldi Finds that we’re most excited about this month. (If you’re not familiar with Aldi Finds, they’re new products that get brought into stores for a limited time. These Finds can be interesting pizzas, fleece jackets, or, well, anything else.) Here are November’s Aldi Finds that we’re planning our shopping lists (and our schedules) around.

I often have lofty goals when it comes to my dinners. Around noon, I’ll start to plan the elaborate meal I’m going to cook myself, complete with fresh bread and a glass of wine. (Hey, I deserve the best of the best.) I’ll spend my afternoons daydreaming about flaky salmon, moist chicken, or cheesy potatoes. However, by the time the evening comes around, it’s a whole different story. At 7 p.m.

Butternut squash is really, really good on top of pizza. But what happens when the butternut squash BECOMES the pizza? That’s what I imagine was the lightbulb moment somewhere in a faraway Trader Joe’s HQ conference room, during their company-wide brainstorm for their newest seasonal, alternative pizza crust offering: Butternut squash pizza crust.

The things are awfully hard to pour.

Reader beware: You might walk into Target for paper towels and walk out with more milk than can fit in your fridge.

Kid costumes for Halloween are all super cute, but this one might be the cutest. Facebook and Reddit are abuzz with a photograph of an unidentified child (although their name seems to be Sloan by the nametag) offering their best “Would you like to try a sample of Kirkland signature’s new granola bar?” as a Costco employee.

Avocado toast has become much maligned in the last couple years, but let’s not deny the facts: Bottom line, avocado toast is a nutritious, simple snack, that, if you know how to season avocado properly, actually tastes great. It is certainly not the reason millennials are going broke, or a sign of the end times. So that’s why, on the surface, it should be good news that Sabra has made a portable, pre-packaged avocado toast kit.

For the past four or five years, my friend has hosted a pre-Thanksgiving dinner that he calls “Sidesgiving” because everyone brings their favorite holiday-season side dish. Even though he sets the date and sends invitations several weeks in advance, every single year I’m late because, at dinnertime, I’m still leaning down and peering into the oven, wondering whether hissing “OMGGGG COME ONNNNNN” will make those sweet potatoes cook any faster.

With holiday shopping season now in full swing, we wanted to take a minute to remind everyone that Costco is good for more than just giant containers of peanut butter and party trays. It’s also a place to find lots of presents to wrap and put in a stocking or under a tree. And with new sale prices valid now through December 24, you’ll find some extra-great bargains. Here are five of the best sales happening at Costco right now. (Note: They’re good for members only!

I’m a bit of a fanatic when it comes to herbs and spices. (I just love how much they can transform what would otherwise be a pretty boring dish.) I’m also on a budget, though, which means I have to save where I can. Enter: Costco, the warehouse store I’ve written about again and again.

Stuff your cart, then your stockings.

There's chocolate, chocolate, and more chocolate. And a few non-chocolate items, too, of course.

In case you haven’t noticed by now, we love Costco. Like, a lot. We write about it on a weekly basis — and that’s because you guys love it too. Whether you weren’t paying attention or you just want a refresher, here are the 10 most important things you need to know about Costco for 2019. Costco’s rotisserie chicken has been less than $5 since 2009. (That’s at least a dollar less than most other stores.) And it always will be.

As far as I’m concerned, celebrations big and small deserve bubbles — which means I’ve been popping quite a few bottles of sparkling wine this holiday season. I don’t exactly have the means to uncork pricey Champagne and other bottles of high-end sparkling wine on the regular, though. My eyes pretty much always narrow in on the under-$15 shelf when I’m out shopping.

Every single year, despite my best efforts to plan ahead, I wind up with a lot of last-minute gifts to buy. As hard as this is to admit, when absolute desperation strikes there’s one last resort: the grocery store. (Please make me feel better and say that you’ve been there too.) While perusing my local Trader Joe’s for some fun holiday finds, I found one grocery store gift that is, dare I say, actually kind of cool and might just save my butt in a pinch: the chocolate passport.

I have finally found the END ALL, BE ALL condiment, people! To be completely honest, when I first heard about my favorite grocery store’s (Trader Joe’s) new Blue Cheese Mustard, I had a few questions and concerns. Do those two entities go together? Why are we messing with a good thing? Do I really need another mustard in my fridge? (I already have yellow mustard, Dijon mustard, honey mustard, and spicy brown mustard.) What will it SMELL like?

When my siblings and I used to act up in the grocery store, my mom had a very unique way of deescalating the situation. She’d force the three of us to hold hands in whatever aisle we were in and sing this, uh, special song and whatever fist fight or hair pulling had broken out would immediately dissolve into an embarrassed fit of giggles. Public humiliation for the win! No one said bringing your kids to the grocery store was easy.

Grocery shopping used to be my least favorite chore. The crowded aisles, the crying children, the stress of figuring out what to buy and what it would cost. I would walk through the doors of my local grocery store less like a person shopping for food and more like an angry robot programmed to kill for (or cry over) the best broccoli heads. I’d rush through the entire trip, glaring at anyone who dared to stand in the middle of an aisle looking at which brand of pasta to buy.

Is there anything cozier than sitting in your favorite spot and leaning in to your mug of hot tea to smell the steamy herbs wafting out? It’s my nighttime ritual all year round, but even more so when it gets too cold to function outside. I’m not alone! Here are Kitchn staffers’ favorite teas that help us unwind and REMAIN CALM. All of them are available on Amazon, which means you definitely don’t have to go outside to get them! “This is my everyday tea.