Close Menu
    Money

    Best Things I Always Buy at Trader Joe’s, As a Professional Chef

    Press RoomBy No Comments4 Mins Read

    I work as a chef for a meal-prep company, often spending almost 10 hours a day on my feet in the kitchen. By the time I get home, I’m usually exhausted, and I don’t want to spend a second longer making dinner than I have to.

    Sometimes I can bring leftovers home from work, but most nights I have to cook dinner — especially since my husband also works long hours and usually comes home after me.

    Although I’m tired, I don’t want to rely on expensive take-out. I still want to eat tasty, healthy, affordable meals — I just don’t want to spend ages making them.

    These are my favorite Trader Joe’s products that make weeknights so much easier.

    I always stock up on Dorot Gardens crushed ginger and garlic.


    Dorot Gardens crushed garlic and crushed ginger.

    I use crushed ginger and garlic for curries, pasta sauces, and more.

    Laura Keys

    The last thing that I want to do after a long day in the kitchen is peel more garlic or ginger. Instead, I use these frozen, pre-portioned, crushed ginger and garlic cubes.

    They’re so easy to throw into a curry, stir-fry, or pasta sauce — I always keep these in my freezer.

    Super-firm tofu is one of my favorite sources of protein.


    Packets of organic super-firm tofu from Trader Joe's.

    I swear by Trader Joe’s super-firm tofu.

    Laura Keys

    I also usually keep a packet of super-firm tofu, which doesn’t need any pressing, in my fridge. I’ll use this as the base for a quick stir-fry or toss it in a sauce and bake it in the oven for some low-effort protein.

    Plus, it lasts for ages — so even if I do come home with leftovers from work, I don’t have to worry about my groceries going bad and wasting my money.

    I like to pair the tofu with pre-cooked wheat noodles and stir-fry sauce.


    Trader Joe's General Tsao stir-fry sauce and Thai wheat noodles.

    I’ll often make a stir-fry dish using Trader Joe’s staples.

    Laura Keys

    To go with the super-firm tofu, I keep a bottle of stir-fry sauce and pre-cooked Thai wheat noodles in my pantry.

    Then, all I need to grab is a packet of stir-fry veggie blend on my way home, and I can have dinner on the table in under 15 minutes.

    Vegetable fried rice is a great low-effort comfort meal.


    Bags of frozen fried rice from Trader Joe's.

    Trader Joe’s vegetable fried rice is a great comfort meal.

    Laura Keys

    I always keep a bag of vegetable fried rice in my freezer. It’s ready in five minutes and full of vegetables, and I can throw in some tofu, eggs, or pre-cooked chicken to amp up the protein if I want.

    It’s extremely comforting and easy to eat on the couch after a long day.

    I always swing by the fresh-pasta section.


    Refrigerated Trader Joe’s shelf displays packaged ravioli varieties with handwritten price signs.

    I never leave Trader Joe’s without buying a fresh pasta.

    Laura Keys

    I love Trader Joe’s selection of fresh, filled pastas. I’ve tried them all, but my favorites are the spinach-ricotta raviolini and the cheese tortellini.

    I’ve found that both of these cook in under five minutes, and are so good with jarred pesto. They’re perfect for days when I haven’t had the chance to eat much during my shift and feel starving by the time I get home.

    I’m obsessed with Trader Joe’s mini chicken tikka samosas.


    Trader Joe's mini chicken tikka samosas.

    Sometimes, I’ll eat an entire box of mini samosas as an easy meal.

    Laura Keys

    I cook dishes from a lot of different cuisines at work, but we rarely make Indian food.

    On days when I want to eat something completely different from what I’ve been cooking all day — and feel too tired to stand at the stove at all — I’ll eat an entire box of about 12 mini samosas in front of the TV.

    Crispy and flavorful, they manage to rival the best samosas I ate at London’s Indian restaurants.

    Keep reading our Trader Joe’s diaries here.

    Share.

    Related Posts

    Leave A Reply