2026 Trader Joe’s Product Reviews – YEA/NAY/MEH

Not a big ranch fan. The TJ closest to me has very few dressings - it only stocks 1 or 2 kinds in the fridge, and I think it’s usually the Caesar. I don’t recall seeing the green goddess. TJ did have a carrot ginger dressing that I stumbled upon at a different store at some point, but have never seen that at the local store. That one was quite good.

I don’t like the “probably healthy” carrot dressing that comes with the Super Spinach Salad; I discard it and just make a vinaigrette, only takes a couple of minutes.

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I remember this from the easy TJs meals thread!
I had not seen the vacuum packed beets at my store in a while, but this made me look again, and they are back.

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I use various things that aren’t technically salad dressing as such (diluted with something – yogurt, sour cream, water / vinegar) – lemon pesto, zhoug, chimichurri, etc. Many of the seasoning blends also make a quick and flavorful dressing mixed into something – onion salt, green goddess, citrus garlic, and so on.

I don’t really buy their (or any) bottled dressings, but I always have some condiment at hand and something to dilute it with.

It’s not cloyingly sweet like most bagged dressings.

You mean you ACTUALLY make your own salad dressing? L Is that really a thing? Most people (as you said) have most of the ingredients already in their kitchen. There really is little or no need to only use bottled dressing. Even if just a good oil and vinegar and some herbs . Sometimes we rely too much on the “convenience” of products, especially at places like TJ’s . Home-made dressing can be put together in all of 10 minutes. And with the internet, anyone can find recipes to use as a base and even build upon.

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It’s weird to me that this is an “issue” that people harp on. People make all kinds of compromises to feed themselves and their families. Not everyone likes the type of vinaigrette they are able to make at home. Not everyone has the skill or experience to make a balanced dressing. Maybe one would never eat bottled salad dressing but feels OK with bagged bread; someone else might find that distasteful given that it’s just flour, water, and yeast – easily accessible raw ingredients. Maybe someone’s child or other family members will only eat vegetables with a particular bottled dressing…why is that something to get worked up over?

Not picking on you particularly, but just noting that it’s not just as simple as being too lazy to make dressing. As in most things in the kitchen, we make trade-offs all the time unless we have all the time, energy, and money in the world.

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I make my own dressing 99% of the time. As you said, it can be thrown together in less than 10 min… unless you finely dice shallots, take time to macerate the crushed garlic in your vinegar of choice, chop a variety of herbs that require washing), etc. etc.

Sometimes, I can’t be arsed to do that, and then it is quite nice to have a GOOD dressing one can just put on the salad and be TF done with it :woman_shrugging:t2:

TJ’s ranch dressing is nice for those (rare) occasions, but it doesn’t come close to most dressings I’ve tried from Cindy’s Kitchen.

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Thanks to you, I have tried a few of these. I haven’t liked them all but I have liked some and there are days when a shortcut makes the difference between having a salad and skipping it so I am very happy to have them in the fridge. And I too make my own dressing most of the time and prefer it.

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Their selection is VAST! I only ever tried the buttermilk ranch, which I am obsessed with, the very good blue cheese, the spicy pistachio dressing we never used bc it tasted weird to us, and the lemon vinaigrette, which I also didn’t like.

Still have an unopened bottle of their creamy Caesar that we have yet to try, and which I should really open. These don’t last forever, and I grabbed a bunch last November (! :grimacing:) at the Sprouts market in Philly, since we don’t have one here.

Best. Commercial. Salad. Dressing. The End.

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I think you inferred judgement where there was none.

People use conveniences for a range of reasons – we are also on a Trader Joe’s thread, and much of what they carry is a convenience.

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The corned beef is on the shelves – I’m going to wait so I don’t OD on it again :laughing:

They have a newish beef chuck roast vac pack that looked really good, so I picked it up even thought it was huge (for me) and will divvy it up and freeze for assorted use.

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Any faves?

I do make my own dressing when I’m in my salad mood, but I’m not someone who eats a ton of salads all the time at home, and it’s not worth the effort to make 1-2 tablespoons of salad dressing. Even if making more, I don’t go through it quick enough and I find the constantly having to remember to take it out of the fridge an hour early so the oil de-coagulates annoying. When I want my salad, I want my salad. I also personally don’t think one type of dressing goes with all salads and sometimes I want variations. I’m not going to leave 5 bottles of homemade dressing in my fridge depending on what I might have on hand for my salad.

Isn’t all package foods about convenience too? I understand that whipping up salad greens is also easy, but hey - many of us buy bagged salads and mixes too. I also buy the TJ salads for work, and I’m not whipping up fresh salad dressings at work.

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Greek with feta and black olives.

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Ooh! Sprouts did not carry that one.

Where do you get your CK dressings? Do you order straight from their website?

No, my little local co-op carries a small selection.

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Lucky you! Our Giant has a very good salad bar with GINORMOUS bottles of CK dressing, yet they do not carry it in their regular product range. Feh!

I have been tempted to fill a salad container with dressing instead and take that home :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes:

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That’s so odd!

Right? Maybe if enough locals demand they carry it, they will?

A girl can dream… :face_holding_back_tears: