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I worked at Trader Joe's for almost 3 years. Here are 12 things I always buy there.https://www.businessinsider.in/thelife/food/news/i-worked-at-trader-joeaposs-for-almost-3-years-here-are-12-things-i-always-buy-there-/slidelist/84946041.cms2021-08-01T18:23:04+05:30

I worked at Trader Joe's for almost 3 years. Here are 12 things I always buy there.

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Jonathan Chandler Aug 1, 2021, 18:23 IST

I worked at Trader Joe's for almost 3 years. Here are 12 things I always buy there. — Trader Joe's has a lot of great products.Jonathan Chandler for Insider
I worked at Trader Joe's for almost 3 years, and there are a number of products I still love to buy.
I like to stock up on sensible things like sourdough bread, fruit, and kale.
I'm also a fan of some of its popular items, like the orange chicken and peanut-butter cups.

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The sourdough baguette is fresh and perfect for sandwiches.

The sourdough baguette is fresh and perfect for sandwiches. — The loaves are fresh and affordable. Jonathan Chandler for Insider
Trader Joe's sourdough baguettes are delivered every morning freshly baked, and they're perfect for sandwiches.
I personally like to use it to make grilled cheese or garlic bread.
The quality loaf is just $2.49.

The fruitful medley is always fresh.

The fruitful medley is always fresh. — I like the blend of fresh fruit. Jonathan Chandler for Insider
At $3.69, the mixed-fruit container with grapes, pineapple, cantaloupe, and melon is fresh, affordable, and keeps me from snacking on processed foods throughout the day.

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The store has the best kale around.

The store has the best kale around. — I use the kale in salads, smoothies, and more. Jonathan Chandler for Insider
I love using Trader Joe's prewashed kale to make salads, smoothies, and kale chips.
You get a lot of kale in each bag for $1.99, but I usually buy two or three at a time.

The store's corn chip dippers are perfect for snacking.

The store's corn chip dippers are perfect for snacking. — The chips pair well with a number of dips. Jonathan Chandler for Insider
The corn dippers pair well with a variety of Trader Joe's dips, but they taste really good plain as well.
They're less salty and thicker than name-brand corn chips, and they're just $1.99 a bag.

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Trader Joe's dried strawberries taste like candy.

Trader Joe's dried strawberries taste like candy. — I put the strawberries in oatmeal, cereal, and salads. Jonathan Chandler for Insider
I love putting dried strawberries in my oatmeal, cereal, or even salads.
They taste like candy, but there's no added sugar.
They're $3.49 a bag, and I usually grab two.

The five-layer dip tastes homemade.

The five-layer dip tastes homemade. — The dip would go nicely with the corn dippers. Jonathan Chandler for Insider
Trader Joe's five-layer dip is perfect for any party, and I usually pair it with the corn dippers.
For $4.99, the dip includes sour cream, black-bean hummus, mixed Mexican cheese, pico de gallo, and guacamole.

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I think the famous orange chicken tastes better than takeout.

I think the famous orange chicken tastes better than takeout. — The orange chicken is famous for a reason. Jonathan Chandler for Insider
Trader Joe's is known for its frozen meals, and the classic orange chicken doesn't disappoint.
I love to cook it in the air fryer and pair it with brown rice. It makes an easy, tasty meal for $4.99 a bag.

Nothing compares to the frozen hatch-chile mac and cheese.

Nothing compares to the frozen hatch-chile mac and cheese. — I prefer to make the frozen meal in the oven. Jonathan Chandler for Insider
I promise you won't find another frozen mac and cheese that's as good as Trader Joe's hatch-chile variety.
I prefer to make it in the oven, but you can easily cook the filling meal in the microwave.
It's super flavorful and all for $2.99.

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The kale chicken Caesar is my favorite salad to eat on my lunch breaks.

The kale chicken Caesar is my favorite salad to eat on my lunch breaks. — The premade salads are super convenient. Jonathan Chandler for Insider
Trader Joe's premade kale chicken Caesar salad is the best if you're looking for a quick lunch or an easy dinner side.
For $5.99, the salad is pretty filling. But I like to add avocado so it keeps me fuller longer.

This Grana Padano cheese from Trader Joe's is amazing.

This Grana Padano cheese from Trader Joe's is amazing. — The cheese is perfect for grating on salads and pizzas. Jonathan Chandler for Insider
Trader Joe's has an amazing collection of artisanal cheeses, but this imported Parmesan is absolutely divine.
I love adding it to salads and on top of pizzas.
The price depends on the weight of the cheese, but I tend to pick up blocks in the $5 range.

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The potato tots are amazing in the air fryer.

The potato tots are amazing in the air fryer. — The air fryer makes them nice and crispy. Jonathan Chandler for Insider
The potato tots are the perfect, crunchy air-fryer snack.
I like to add avocado and mixed cheese on top for added flavor, but they're also great on their own.
Each bag of frozen tots is $2.49.

The dark-chocolate peanut-butter cups are worth the hype.

The dark-chocolate peanut-butter cups are worth the hype. — I like to pick up the smaller pack of this treat. Jonathan Chandler for Insider
The dark-chocolate peanut-butter cups are the perfect dessert.
There's a larger container in the dessert aisle, but I like to pick up the smaller, $0.99 bag of individually wrapped cups near the checkout stands.
Click to keep reading Trader Joe's diaries like this one.

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