The pros: Â Trader Joe's Stone Ground White Grits are creamy and well done if you follow the directions listed on the bag. The bag is resealable
The cons:Â These are the real deal, so they can't be rushed. There are currently no quick grits or frozen grits available at Trader Joe's.
The verdict: Â I am born and raised in NY. Therefore, I am no expert in grits. But I do know one thing: these are tasty. If you've never had grits before, then this is basically corn risotto. By the time you finish preparing these they are creamy, but don't lack for texture. They are a long way from the stone ground dry texture that comes from the bag. For $2.29 you are getting 14 ounces of grits.
If there is someone with allergies in your home, then the only ingredient present here is corn. While these are labeled as vegan, you'll need to come up with a different recipe than the one listed on the back of the package.
When prepared according to the directions, what I got was nice and creamy like the more familiar risotto. It had just enough texture without being corn soup. It had a nice bite but was cooked through. The only adjustment you might want to make is the salt level. Both my husband and I found this recipe to under salt the grits. So a touch more and it was good. My husband enjoyed his with just butter but I preferred brown sugar.
Both bowls were clean by the end of breakfast. My only regret is that I can't enjoy this on a more regular basis. For me, this is a weekend type of breakfast. You will need to set aside about half an hour to active cooking to make sure the pot is being stirred so that none of the grits stick to the bottom of the pot.
Overall, if I see these again I would buy them. It's a manageable size for our household of two people and unlike some companies this bag can be resealed. The taste was good, but it is not a quick morning food. It's worth a try.
Here is the visual run down of what you get when you buy Trader Joe's Stone Ground White Grits.
The bag:
The nutritional information:
The ingredients and about these grits:
How to prepare:
After being prepared you get:
Would I buy this again? Yes. Trader Joe's Stone Ground White Grits came out like corn risotto. They were creamy, yet had texture. If you can find these, they are a solid choice if you like grits. But these grits can't be rushed.
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!
Angie says
I love the flavor, but how can I make them with less grit, or soften the harder pieces? I would love some suggestions!
becomebetty says
Hey Angie! I've found that sometimes if I extend the cooking time it is less gritty. I dont find it is a consistent time. I just taste as I go along. I hope that helps!
Curban says
Too many hard bits even after 40-50min of cooking. Also, I kept picking out hulls like you would have from popcorn. I hate popcorn hulls! I don't want them in grits too.
becomebetty says
Hey Curban! Sounds like you have a bad batch or I'll have to revisit this item and update the review. In the meanwhile, you can always go to your local TJs and ask for a refund if you were unhappy with the product. Thanks for taking the time out of your day to stop by and share.
Michael says
Rinse before cooking.
becomebetty says
Thanks for sharing.