Trader Joe's blog and cooking.
Trader Joe's offers a wide variety of meat products with an even wider selection of beef options. But quality can vary, fortunately, that's why you have this site!
From Beef Bool Kogi to the Grass Fed Organic Steak find dozens of reviews of Trader Joe's Beef products and see which ones are worth your time and which ones you may want to consider leaving on the shelf!
This won’t be my usual introduction but here goes: I hope you are reading this review of Trader Joe’s Beef en Croute before you make this. Or at least before bake this fully according to the directions. A while back I reviewed the turkey en croute. But there is a key difference: the turkey is cooked, but this isn’t.
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It’s been a while since Trader Joe’s has added anything new to the pre-marinated meat selection. But when they do it can be quite hit or miss. Since most Trader Joe’s customers do make meals in a hurry (from time to time at least) then it is only fair that they finally add a stir fry into the mix.
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Food fusion here. Now, if you are from Philly, let me apologize on behalf of Trader Joe’s. These do not do a good Philly Cheesesteak justice. But as far as bao go, the dough here is at least as good as the Pork Bao Buns. However, as a combination Trader Joe’s Philly Cheesesteak Bao Buns just don’t match the hype.
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Taco night and pizza night. They are things that happen in my household with some measure of frequency. Mostly because of the wide appeal of those items. I mean who doesn’t love pizza or tacos? Tacos are made to taste too. You put as much or as little as the ingredients as you like on them.
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If you’ve come to Trader Joe’s for your Corned Beef, you are in luck for St. Patrick’s Day. Even if you don’t celebrate that holiday, Trader Joe’s Corned Beef corned beef is something worth celebrating. Best of all there are two varieties: uncooked and precooked. This review focuses just on the corned beef you’ll be cooking for yourself. If you find that you are enjoying it, be prepared for this to disappear over the rainbow when corned beef season ends….
Behold, the most expensive thing I can get my hands on at Trader Joe’s. Clocking in at just shy of $50 for this one package is nearly four pounds of beefy goodness. However, beefy goodness is in the eyes of the beholder. How much you like this will be determined by how well you prepare this. So tonights review is a little bit of cooking with a bit of commentary on this slab of meat.
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I was really excited to see Trader Joe’s Beef Cabbage Rolls hit store shelves. I love stuffed items. Maybe one day we will see some stuffed peppers. For right now, we will have to settle for these.
So let’s go through the negatives here first. Usually, I save these for the end. But this is the order to which I experienced things.
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Most summers, my husband and I head towards the Finger Lakes to get away. We have a few favorite stops while we are there. Because up in farm country you can actual enjoy the real farm to table experience. If you are a city dweller, then the next best thing to look for are items labeled grass fed like this Trader Joe’s Grass Fed Organic Rib Eye Beef Steak.
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The pros: Trader Joe’s Kosher Beef Fully Trimmed Brisket is a reasonably price slab of brisket that only requires your touch.
The cons: This is not OU kosher. The oven directions were just ok.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Center Cut Filet Mignon Steak is a tender and high quality cut of meat. This is USDA Choice which is one step below USDA Prime.
The cons: Price. This is quite expensive and is a substantial jump in price compared to the Filet Mignon that I reviewed in 2017. Not only is the packaging, name and quality grade difference but this is almost $10 per pound more expensive.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Balsamic Rosemary Beef Steak Tips are new to the refrigerated aisle.
The cons: These are good, but don’t quite reach the level of great.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Marinated Beef Flank Steak Pesto Roll has a lot in common with the seasonal Trader Joe’s Porchetta Roast.
The cons: Make sure to use a roasting pan or a dish with a lip as a lot of liquid and oil came off of my roast. I’m still not sold on the idea of cooking pesto.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Gyro Slices are decent gyro, but nothing that will wow.
The cons: These are no where nearly as good as a Greek restaurant, however, if you are no where near a good Greek place, then these are a decent substitute.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Party Size Mini Meatballs are perfect as an appetizer or a smaller bite sized version of Trader Joe’s Italian Style Meatballs.
The cons: Won’t ever live up to Nonna’s, but for something that comes out of the freezer these are pretty good. Depending on how many you take out of the bag, you should consider adjusting the cook time.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Island Teriyaki Beef Steak Tips are some of the most tender beef aside from Trader Joe’s Filet Mignon.
The cons: This product does have a strong vinegar tang which might not appeal to everyone.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Family Style Meat Lasagna is an adequate meal for about 4 people in the freezer section.
The cons: There was absolutely nothing that made me say, “wow” about this product.
The verdict:…
The pros: Trader Joe’s Puff Dogs are a play on pigs in a blanket.
The cons: The puff didn’t rise as much as I would have liked. Also, this does not come in a resealable package
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Ground Buffalo Burgers are uncooked burgers in the freezer aisle. They are individually wrapped.
The cons: Only 3 burgers come in a pack and these are more expensive than Trader Joe’s frozen beef burgers. Very high in saturated fat.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Meat Lasagna is an item that I hadn’t noticed recently. The pasta and the cheese were fine but…
The cons: The meat was terrible. Out of the oven it was chewy and rubbery. It wasn’t isolated to a couple bites either. The calorie count is pretty high so if you are dieting, please read over the label (or check this post) before purchasing.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Craft Beer Sirloin Bavette Steak is tasty, tender, and can be prepared quickly as it’s already marinaded.
The cons: Some might find the acidity less than ideal.
The verdict: …
If you are searching through the fresh meat aisle there are a few selections which now include March’s new Trader Joe’s theme: coffee. Trader Joe’s Coffee Rubbed Flank Steak made a lot more sense than the Coffee Spatchcocked Chicken. The coffee here was a lot more subtle without being so forward. This makes me wonder why we haven’t seen any red-eye gravy with all this coffee craziness.
The pros: Trader Joe’s Coffee Rubbed Flank Steak is pre-marinaded so you don’t have to do any of the work.
The cons: Directions should remind you that for the most tender pieces you should cut the meat across the grain. Touching the meat or the marinade will leave an orange hued stain so be careful if you don’t wish to look like you’ve had a poorly done spray tan.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Beef Cabernet Pot Roast is well seasoned, well trimmed and tasty overall.
The cons: You might want a gravy with this, or at least make your own gravy out of the juices. No actual red wine in this.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Steak and Stout Pie has a delicious pie crust, directions were on point, surprisingly filling for a small pie.
The cons: Trader Joe’s Steak and Stout Pie is also a calorie and nutritional bomb. Microwave is not recommended if you want the crisp pastry crust which means if you are hungry right now you are at least 45 minutes from eating this.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Beef Shepherd’s Pie is an all in one meal that contains vegetables, meat and starch
The cons: Not a well done shepherd’s pie and some of the soggiest mashed potatoes I’ve had. The mashed potatoes overwhelmed this dish as did the lack of flavor here.
The verdict: …
