The pros:Â Trader Joe's Les Petites Carrots of Many Colors are ready to go peeled and similar sized carrots ready to be roasted.
The cons: This item is pricey as compared to a very similar product called Carrots of Many Colors. You'll want to put something under the carrots. The purple ones let go enough moisture that you would think a squid as on your pan.
The verdict: Â ...
Trader Joe's Wild Alaskan Sockeye Salmon comes vacuum-sealed in the refrigerated section and typically contains two fillets weighing around 1 pound total. It's previously frozen, wild-caught, skin-on, and sold ready to cook.
This salmon isn't farm-raised or muted in color. It's boldly red, lean, and unapologetically flavorful, basically the opposite of those sad, pinkish fillets that taste like they've been working from home for too long.
Let's get this out of the way: this isn't your buttery, farm-raised Atlantic salmon that tastes like it's been massaged daily and fed spa water. This is wild Alaskan sockeye. It's leaner, meatier, and has a bold, almost "I work out" flavor.
When I opened the pack, I was struck by how vibrantly red the fillets were: no weird off-colors or fishy smell. That's always a good start. After patting it dry and seasoning with a little salt, pepper, and lemon zest, I seared it skin-side down in a hot pan and let the skin crisp up while the kitchen filled with that unmistakable aroma of "I'm making real food tonight."
The taste? It delivers. The flavor is bold, slightly briny, and rich with that distinct wild salmon character. It's not overly oily, and because it's leaner than farmed salmon, it's easy to overcook if you're not careful. But get it right, and it flakes beautifully while still staying moist in the center.
Texture-wise, it's firm and satisfying. This isn't a melt-in-your-mouth fish, but that's not what sockeye is about. It's more of a fork-and-knife situation, and it holds up well to sauces and sides without falling apart into salmon confetti.
That said, it's not for everyone. If you're used to milder or fattier salmon, this may be a flavor leap. But for salmon lovers or anyone wanting to feel like they're cooking something slightly gourmet without a ton of effort, this is an excellent go-to.
The skin crisps up like a dream in the pan or under the broiler, and if you're into crispy salmon skin (bless you, you are correct), it's one of the best parts of the whole experience.
The following are commonly asked questions about this product:
Raw. You'll need to cook it before digging in.
Not recommended once thawed. Cook it within a couple days.
It may have the occasional pin bone, but most are removed. Run your fingers along the fillet before cooking just in case.
Nope! It has a bold, clean flavor but not a strong "fishy" aftertaste when fresh.
Trader Joe's Wild Alaskan Sockeye Salmon is a solid pick for anyone who loves bold seafood flavor without the hassle of seafood markets or mystery fillets. It's vibrant, firm, and tastes like the kind of salmon you'd get at a nice restaurant, if that restaurant let you wear slippers and burn the garlic bread. Just don't overcook it, and it'll reward you with flavor and flakiness in every bite.
Don't forget to share your thoughts by going to the "user review" at the bottom of the box (click on the number of stars you believe this product deserves) and leave a comment below.
The pros: Trader Joe's 3 Cheese Vegetable Ravioli seems to the fresh pasta section in the refrigerated case.
The cons: Flavors here might not be for everyone. Some of mine were very stuck together. One leaked its filling
The verdict: Â ...
The pros: Trader Joe's Banh Mi Inspired Noodle Bowl is a well done refrigerated item that manages to be fresh, filling, and not overly expensive. It is also a reasonable number of calories.
The cons: My package was a complete pain to open. I almost ended up spilling it all over the kitchen in an effort to release the top from the bottom.
The verdict: Â ...
The pros: Trader Joe's Queso Cheese Dip is a low-calorie dip that will partially satisfy your spicy cheese dip cravings.
The cons: While low in calories, this makes sacrifices in other areas like thickness. This is a thin dip that is in no danger of breaking any chip that is placed into it.
The verdict:
I remember when I was a kid, my cousin first introduced me to Velveeta and salsa. When those two items melt together they make some form of liquid gold for my palate. Now, I fully understand that the use of Velveeta is a far cry from a real cheese fondue, but hey, when I was a kid that was life altering queso dip that I did not need go to the movie theatre to enjoy.
Fast forward to adulthood and I've had variations of queso fundido at restaurants that would make me question why I ever thought adding velveeta was ever a good idea. But there is something completely magical about melty cheese. Except when they come in a jar.
For some reason, jarred quesos can't live up to the ones I had as a kid (forget even the queso fundidos). This queso is no exception.
For $2.49 this is priced right. It's inexpensive, but it shows. As a dip, it lacks the thickness of most other dips. It's thin enough that no chip could ever be threatened by its viscosity. When I read through the ingredients it became clear why this is such a thin dip. While the words cheese blend would make me have high expectations, the first ingredient in parenthesis gives me every reason for concern: water.
Beyond the thinness of this dip is a sorta cheese, kinda mild to medium heat, with the occasional chunk of veggie be it tomato or perhaps onion or pepper. In any case it seems the use of heat is there to cover up the lack of thickness to this dip.
This is an absolute bare basics queso dip. It's not restaurant quality, but I would consider grabbing American cheese slices or velveeta and reaching for some salsa before reaching for this dip again. It's just too thin and trying to cover up its flaws.
On the upside, it's not inedible. I wasn't grossed out by it; I just wasn't impressed by it. Actually, the only thing that is impressive is the calorie count. You can snack freely on this jar of sorta spicy cheese as polishing off this entire jar is only 165 calories. So perhaps with veggies, you are getting a paired down healthy snack.
But if you are hoping for inexpensive cheesy dip goodness in a jar, you might find yourself disappointed.
6/2025- This product has been discontinued. However, it has been replaced by the refrigerated White Queso Dip.
Here is the visual run down of what you get if you buy this product:
The jar of Trader Joe's Queso Cheese Dip:
The nutritional information:
The ingredients:
Out of the package you get:
Would I buy this again? No, I would not buy Trader Joe's Queso Cheese Dip again.
Want to see more items I've reviewed from Trader Joe's? Click on Thoughts & Reviews of Trader Joe's for a searchable list.
Did you try it? Let me know what you think in the comments section!
