Costco vs Trader Joe's prepared/frozen foods

[GilesMM]

We are generally not fans of prepared foods and typically stray toward mostly fresh produce and meat at the grocery.  However, we are occasionally tempted to buy frozen or chilled edibles at Costco or TJs.  Typically, these look great or taste great at the sample counter but once we get them home find them excessively salty, fatty, or otherwise unsavory, unhealthy and unappetizing.    Is TJ's better than CC in this regard??  We have a new store nearer us and might dip a toe in the frozen section soon.

[Avolonte]

I've found excessively salty prepared foods at both, but in general I feel I have better luck at Costco. Their tortilla crusted tilapia is a staple here. I usually find portions at TJs to be too small for a family of 3 as an entree, and sometimes they are too greasy for us (the scallion pancakes and breaded eggplant slices come to mind). However, we do have a few favorites there, like their frozen potato pancakes that we top with a fried egg for a quick meal.

[Dreamer40]

I can’t speak to Costco. But TJs has some options that are good and some that are terrible. Like the frozen palak paneer is just paneer, spinach, and spices. It seems pretty minimally processed compared to other frozen food. I’ll heat up that with their frozen Chana masala and make a pot of rice for an easy dinner. The frozen kibbeh also has a pretty basic ingredients list and is a nice supplement to a plate of veggies or a salad. But other stuff there is crammed full of ultra processed ingredients, sugar, salt, and cheap oil. So check the ingredients list and be picky. The green chile mac and cheese is so good, but not at all healthy. :)

[Josiecat22222]

I don't go to Costco (don't yell at me, @Dicey!!), but I really like TJ's.  They have some of the best produce and their nuts and cheese are great quality and often cheaper than Kroger.  I don't do a lot of prepared foods either, but I agree with previous posters that it is hit or miss.  They have pretty good vegetarian products (Beefless Bulgogi is really tasty) and their gyoza are good. I would say to be careful to read the labels and avoid their extensive snack/dessert collection which is where the real health bombs are located.

[Dicey]

I don't go to Costco (don't yell at me, @Dicey!!), but I really like TJ's.  They have some of the best produce and their nuts and cheese are great quality and often cheaper than Kroger.  I don't do a lot of prepared foods either, but I agree with previous posters that it is hit or miss.  They have pretty good vegetarian products (Beefless Bulgogi is really tasty) and their gyoza are good. I would say to be careful to read the labels and avoid their extensive snack/dessert collection which is where the real health bombs are located.

I wouldn't yell at you @Josiecat! When I lived in LA, I often shopped at the mothership in Pasadena. When I was single, I was much more excited about their prepared foods, but I don't really cook that way any more. In those days, they didn't really sell much produce.

When they started carrying more produce they used w-a-a-a-y too much plastic, though they have improved over the years. In California, plastic-wrapped produce was never really a thing until Saul Price came along. It still isn't, in most grocery stores here.

Funny,  I have two TJ's that are closer than Costco. One thing I love there is the tetra-pack whipping cream for $1.99. Shelf stable whipping cream readily on hand, yes, please!

[Tasse]

Seconding the recommendation for TJ's various frozen Indian foods - my favorite is the vegetable biryani - although they are too small to feed a whole family without supplementation.

[jeninco]

I don't go to Costco (don't yell at me, @Dicey!!), but I really like TJ's.  They have some of the best produce and their nuts and cheese are great quality and often cheaper than Kroger.  I don't do a lot of prepared foods either, but I agree with previous posters that it is hit or miss.  They have pretty good vegetarian products (Beefless Bulgogi is really tasty) and their gyoza are good. I would say to be careful to read the labels and avoid their extensive snack/dessert collection which is where the real health bombs are located.

I wouldn't yell at you @Josiecat! When I lived in LA, I often shopped at the mothership in Pasadena. When I was single, I was much more excited about their prepared foods, but I don't really cook that way any more. In those days, they didn't really sell much produce.

When they started carrying more produce they used w-a-a-a-y too much plastic, though they have improved over the years. In California, plastic-wrapped produce was never really a thing until Saul Price came along. It still isn't, in most grocery stores here.

Funny,  I have two TJ's that are closer than Costco. One thing I love there is the tetra-pack whipping cream for $1.99. Shelf stable whipping cream readily on hand, yes, please!

Haha, like, ALL the cheese, nuts, and dried fruit are cheaper than the Kroger stores here. Also flowers (which can be handy). I mostly only buy frozen fruit and veggies from the pre-prepared section, though. And it cracks me up that they sell bags of pre-washed kale, but no frozen kale?

[RWD]

Seconding the recommendation for TJ's various frozen Indian foods - my favorite is the vegetable biryani - although they are too small to feed a whole family without supplementation.

My favorite is the lamb vindaloo, I get it often when traveling. It was so good I just had to research how to make my own vindaloo curry.

[GilesMM]

Seconding the recommendation for TJ's various frozen Indian foods - my favorite is the vegetable biryani - although they are too small to feed a whole family without supplementation.

My favorite is the lamb vindaloo, I get it often when traveling. It was so good I just had to research how to make my own vindaloo curry.

Holy cow. We'll get some tomorrow.  TJs is a bit of a hike for us (10-15 minutes farther down a busy retail corridor), but next to a great Planet Fitness so we can work it out.

[GilesMM]

The lamb vindaloo is quite tasty although a bit greasy/fatty.  A cheap lunch!


We also got the vegan bulgogi which is excellent. The texture is sort of mushroomy. Even the dog liked it and she is the pickiest eater in the family by far.


We were there for the Kim Bap, which was sold out, perhaps due to the instagram frenzy about it.


Here is a good ref on healthy TJ dinners - https://www.eatthis.com/healthy-trader-joes-frozen-dinners/