CR’s tests of coffee, cheddar cheese, hummus, yogurt, and more uncovered some great-tasting, money-saving choices (plus a few to skip)
These were some of the best-tasting foods in our tests.
By Trisha Calvo, Amy Keating
There was a time when buying a supermarket version of a food or drink meant you’d save money—and possibly sacrifice flavor. But in our recent tests, we found that store brands can taste just as good as or better than iconic names like Dannon yogurt, Starbucks coffee, and Tropicana orange juice—and many are half the price or even less.
Our experts tasted the products “blind”—that is, without any labels—so the reputation of a brand or store wouldn’t influence the outcome. We then divided the products into three groups based on how good they tasted. “Best-Tasting” products are those that our panel judged as having the best flavor and texture. The “Good” products are slightly less tasty. Those in the “Skip It” group don’t taste terrible, exactly, but their flavor is subpar compared with the other products in the same category. Fortunately, we didn’t find many of those. Read on for all the details of our tests. (The products appear in alphabetical order for each category.)
White Cheddar Popcorn
Best-Tasting
• Angie’s Boomchickapop White Cheddar Popcorn, 84¢
• Smartfood White Cheddar Popcorn, 71¢
• Walmart Great Value Fully Loaded Popcorn White Cheddar, 30¢
Good
• 365 Whole Foods Market Organic White Cheddar Popcorn, 70¢
• Aldi Clancy’s White Cheddar Popcorn, 28¢
• Target Good & Gather Organic White Cheddar Popcorn, 56¢
• Trader Joe’s White Cheddar Popcorn, 40¢
Skip It
• Sam’s Club Member’s Mark White Cheddar Flavored Popcorn, 29¢
Cost is per oz. (2 to 3 cups).
Photo: Ben Goldstein
How the popcorn tasted: The three best-tasting popcorns delivered big cheese flavor. Walmart’s was crunchy and buttery, and it’s about half the price of Smartfood—the brand that started the cheese popcorn craze. Angie’s was a bit saltier (but still very good) and the priciest in our tests. Some of the cheesiness in these three may be due in part to the added natural flavors they contain.
None of the other brands except for Sam’s Club had added flavors, and they had a less intense cheese flavor. Of those, Trader Joe’s had the most cheese. It also had the least sodium, with 180 mg. The popcorn from 365 Whole Foods Market and Target had tougher kernels and a milder cheese flavor than the others. Some samples of Sam’s Club’s were extremely salty and had an “off” flavor. And with 330 mg per serving, its popcorn was the highest in sodium.
Honey-Roasted Peanuts
Best-Tasting
• Trader Joe’s The Original Honey Roasted Peanuts, 22¢
Good
• Aldi Southern Grove Honey Dry Roasted Peanuts, 14¢
• BJ’s Wellsley Farms Peanuts Honey Roasted With Sea Salt (dry roasted), 13¢
• Planters Honey Dry Roasted Peanuts, 23¢
• Planters Honey Roasted Peanuts, 21¢
• Walmart Great Value Honey Roasted Peanuts, 16¢
Skip It
• Amazon Happy Belly Honey Roasted Peanuts, 23¢
• Target Good & Gather Honey Dry Roasted Peanuts, 16¢
Cost is per oz.
Photo: Ben Goldstein
How the peanuts tasted: We tested both oil- and dry-roasted peanuts. The oil-roasted ones had a more even honey coating and were more flavorful. Trader Joe’s oil-roasted nuts cost about the same as those from Planters, but TJ’s had a better sweet and salty flavor, and the nuts were plumper. If you prefer dry-roasted, opt for BJ’s. They had a richer flavor and cost much less than Planters. Amazon’s peanuts were the most attractive, and the sweet/salty flavor was good, but one sample tasted stale. Target’s nuts didn’t have enough honey-roasted flavor.
Low-Fat Vanilla Yogurt
Best-Tasting
• Dannon Low Fat Yogurt Vanilla, 75¢
• Trader Joe’s Organic Low Fat Yogurt French Vanilla, 75¢
Good
• Whole Foods Market Organic Low Fat Yogurt, 75¢
• Yoplait Original Low Fat Yogurt Vanilla, 66¢
Skip It
• Walmart Great Value Low Fat Yogurt Vanilla, 49¢
Cost is per 6-oz. serving.
Photo: Ben Goldstein
How the yogurts tasted: Dannon’s and Trader Joe’s were both great and cost the same. Dannon’s was thicker and had a stronger vanilla flavor than TJ’s. TJ’s, however, was lower in added sugars (9 grams in 6 ounces vs. 14 grams). It was also tastier than the Whole Foods Market yogurt, the other lower-sugar option we tested. Our tasters said the vanilla flavor in that one didn’t come through enough. Walmart and Yoplait had a fruity vanilla flavor; Yoplait was creamier. Both were very sweet, so it wasn’t surprising that they were also the highest in added sugars, with 16 grams (4 teaspoons) per serving. (Check out CR’s tests of strawberry yogurts.)
Orange Juice
Best-Tasting
• Costco Kirkland Signature Organic Orange Juice, 93¢
• Simply Orange Juice Pulp Free, 69¢
Good
• Aldi Nature’s Nectar Orange Juice Pulp Free, 54¢
• Sam’s Club Member’s Mark 100% Orange Juice Pulp Free, 48¢
• Target Good & Gather 100% Orange Juice Pulp Free, 56¢
Skip It
• 365 Whole Foods Market Orange Juice No Pulp, 83¢
• Trader Joe’s Orange Juice No Pulp, 77¢
• Tropicana 100% Orange Juice No Pulp, 73¢
Cost is per cup.
Photo: Ben Goldstein
How the orange juices tasted: Move over, Tropicana. The top-selling brand of OJ wasn’t the best we tasted—in fact, it was one of our least favorites. Coming out on top were juices from Costco’s Kirkland and brand-name Simply. Although no one would mistake either one for freshly squeezed OJ, they were fresher-tasting than the others we tried. Simply had a balanced sweet and tangy flavor while Costco’s juice was on the sweeter side. You might be just as happy with those from Sam’s Club, Aldi, or Target, though. They were slightly less fresh-tasting but would save you 13 to 21 cents per cup compared with Simply. Tropicana had a hint of the bitter taste you’d get from the pith of an orange. There are better options at a lower price, so we say “skip it.”
Caesar Salad Dressing
Best-Tasting
• Ken’s Creamy Caesar, 22¢
• Newman’s Own Creamy Caesar, 28¢
Good
• 365 Whole Foods Market Organic Caesar, 25¢
• Aldi Tuscan Garden Classic Caesar, 13¢
• Amazon Happy Belly Caesar Dressing, 13¢
• Trader Joe’s Romano Caesar, 25¢
• Walmart Great Value Creamy Caesar, 13¢
Cost is per 2 Tbsp.
Photo: Ben Goldstein
How the salad dressings tasted: You can save big by buying a store-brand dressing, but none were quite as good as Ken’s and Newman’s Own, the name-brand Caesar dressings we tried. Ken’s was creamy and had the classic Caesar flavors of garlic, lemon, cheese, and a little anchovy. Newman’s Own wasn’t as creamy; it was a little like a vinaigrette. But it still had pleasantly tangy Caesar flavors along with some mustard. Aldi’s and Amazon’s dressings were closest to Ken’s, but they were a little light on the lemon and anchovy. Trader Joe’s was similar to Newman’s Own. It wasn’t quite as tasty but was far lower in sodium.
Mayonnaise
Best-Tasting
• Hellmann’s Real Mayonnaise, 11¢
Good
• 365 Whole Foods Market Mayonnaise, 11¢
• Aldi Burman’s Real Mayonnaise, 6¢
• Amazon Happy Belly Real Mayonnaise, 6¢
• Target Market Pantry Real Mayonnaise, 6¢
• Trader Joe’s Organic Mayonnaise, 12¢
• Walmart Great Value Mayo, 6¢
Cost is per 1 Tbsp.
Photo: Ben Goldstein
How the mayonnaise tasted: Hellmann’s was tops in taste, with a creamy texture and a delicious balance of egg, vinegar, salt, and mustard flavors. But our testers tried the mayos straight out of the jar. In sandwiches, dips, dressings, etc., you probably won’t notice much difference between this iconic brand and the spreads from Aldi, Target, and Walmart—and they’re about half the price. Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods Market’s were a bit tangier, with more vinegar and less egg flavor than the others. Both cost about the same as Hellmann’s.
Colombian Coffee
Best-Tasting
• Starbucks Colombia Ground Medium Roast, 83¢
• Trader Joe’s Colombia Supremo Whole Bean Medium Roast, 54¢
• Walmart Great Value 100% Colombian Ground Medium Dark, 44¢
Good
• Amazon Fresh Colombia Ground Medium Roast, 55¢
• BJ’s Wellsley Farms Colombian Ground Medium Dark Roast, 33¢
• Costco Kirkland Signature 100% Colombian Ground Dark Roast, 35¢
• Folgers Colombian Ground Medium Roast, 53¢
• Sam’s Club Member’s Mark Classic Roast 100% Colombian Ground Medium Dark, 25¢
Skip It
• Aldi Beaumont 100% Colombian Ground Coffee Medium Dark Roast, 35¢
Cost is per oz.
Photo: Ben Goldstein
How the coffees tasted: Walmart’s coffee is complex with fruity and sweet flavors, and it’s about half the price of Starbucks’. Trader Joe’s tasted similar but was more darkly roasted. Sam’s Club, BJ’s, and Costco’s coffee flavors were somewhat dull and a little less complex than Walmart’s or TJ’s. Starbucks is your best bet if you prefer a very dark-roasted brew. Although it’s labeled medium roast, it has the slightly harsh and smoky flavors that are typical of darker coffees, and they’re balanced by rich chocolate and caramel notes. We advise skipping Aldi’s version; the flavor was unpleasantly harsh and smoky without other flavors to balance it.
Honey-Oat Granola
Best-Tasting
• Kind Oats & Honey Granola with Toasted Coconut, $1.09
• Target Good & Gather Organic Honey Almond Granola, 92¢
Good
• 365 Whole Foods Market Organic Oat & Honey Granola, 71¢
• Aldi Simply Nature Organic Oats & Honey Granola Cereal, 53¢
• Nature Valley Oats & Honey Crunchy Granola, 69¢
• Sam’s Club Member’s Mark Honey Almond Granola, 41¢
• Walmart Great Value Oats & Honey Granola, 49¢
Cost is per 2 oz. (about ½ to ⅔ cup).
Photo: Ben Goldstein
How the granolas tasted: Target’s granola surprisingly costs about a third more than brand-name Nature Valley’s—and more than the other store brands we tested. But its crunchy oats and perfect amount of brown sugar make it worth the higher price. If you like coconut, go with Kind’s. It’s lower in added sugars (11 grams vs. 15 grams), too. (Check out the results of our tests on other flavors of granola.)
Hummus
Best-Tasting
• Target Good & Gather Classic Hummus, 60¢
Good
• 365 Whole Foods Market Original Hummus, 60¢
• Aldi Park Street Deli Classic Hummus, 52¢
• BJ’s Wellsley Farms Original Hummus, 37¢
• Cedar’s Original Hommus, 98¢
• Costco Kirkland Signature Organic Hummus (singles), 39¢
• Sam’s Club Member’s Mark Classic Hummus (singles), 35¢
• Trader Joe’s Hummus Dip, 50¢
• Walmart Marketside Classic Hummus, 58¢
Skip It
• Sabra Classic Hummus, 90¢
Cost is per ¼ cup or individual serving cup.
Photo: Ben Goldstein
How the hummus tasted: Target’s hummus was tops, beating brand-name Cedar’s and Sabra—and it costs about a third less. It had the tanginess of a good hummus and a balance of chickpea, tahini, garlic, and cumin flavors with some lemony zip. If you prefer individual serving cups, try Kirkland or Sam’s Club hummus. Both had a nice garlicky flavor. BJ’s hummus is a good low-priced option but only comes in a large container, so consider whether you’ll eat 30 ounces of hummus before it goes bad (about seven days after opening). Skip pricey name-brand Sabra. The garlic flavor was overpowering and made the dip taste bitter.
Sharp Cheddar Cheese
Best-Tasting
• Cracker Barrel Sharp Yellow Cheddar Cheese, 58¢
• Sam’s Club Member’s Mark Sharp Cheddar Cheese, 23¢
Good
• 365 Whole Foods Market Sharp Cheddar Cheese, 38¢
• BJ’s Wellsley Farms Sharp Cheddar Cheese Yellow, 19¢
• Cabot Vermont Sharp Cheddar Cheese, 50¢
• Target Good & Gather Sharp Cheddar Cheese, 31¢
• Walmart Great Value Sharp Cheddar Cheese, 25¢
Skip It
• Aldi Happy Farms Sharp Cheddar Cheese, 25¢
Cost is per oz.
Photo: Ben Goldstein
How the cheeses tasted: All of the cheddars were tasty. What set Sam’s Club’s and Cracker Barrel’s apart? Sam’s Club’s had a slightly sweet, buttery flavor and a creamy texture, while Cracker Barrel’s was the sharpest and both nutty and firm. If you like a firmer cheese, consider BJ’s. It wasn’t as nutty as Cracker Barrel’s but costs a lot less. Aldi’s wasn’t bad; it was just mild, lacking the sharpness you’d expect.
Lime Seltzer
Best-Tasting
• La Croix Sparkling Water Lime, 52 cents
• Trader Joe’s Flavored Sparkling Water Lime, 44 cents
Good
• 365 Whole Foods Market Sparkling Water Lime, 37 cents
• Costco Kirkland Signature Sparkling Water Lime, 31 cents
• Polar Seltzer Lime, 46 cents
Skip It
• Aldi PurAqua Belle Vie Sparkling Water Lime, 32 cents
• BJ’s Wellsley Farms Sparkling Seltzer Water Lime, 28 cents
Cost is per 12 oz.
Photo: Ben Goldstein
How the seltzers tasted: There’s a reason why La Croix seltzer is hugely popular. Of all the seltzers in our tests, it tasted closest to plain seltzer with a squeeze of fresh lime. But Trader Joe’s wasn’t far behind—and it’s 15 percent cheaper. Costco’s seltzer had hints of sweet floral flavor along with the lime. Whole Foods Market and brand-name Polar had slight to moderate lime flavor. All of these were pleasantly bubbly, with a moderate amount of fizz. Don’t bother quenching your thirst with Aldi and BJ’s brands. Aldi’s had an artificial lemony-lime flavor, while the lime flavor in BJ’s tasted more like it came from a bottle than a fruit. (See the results of our tests of plain seltzer and sparkling water.)
Editor’s Note: This article also appeared in the March 2025 issue of Consumer Reports magazine.
Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright © 2025, Consumer Reports, Inc.
Source link
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
