All products featured on Bon Appétit are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links.
Everyone grocery shops, Bon Appétit editors included. Often we snag the same staples—a carton of eggs, a loaf of bread, a bunch of whatever leafy greens are in season—but every so often we stumble upon a particularly shiny gem. Read on for the products that stood out most from our recent receipts.
Frozen mango
No matter what time of year it is, we always keep fruit in our freezer. And while frozen mango is one I can’t live without, the quality varies extremely by brand. My latest find at Whole Foods is this Regenerative Organic Mango from Pitaya Foods. The bite-size pieces are properly creamy after just a couple minutes of thawing and they are just as good eaten straight from the bag, in a smoothie with greens, or in my meal-prepped chia pudding for the week. —Kate Kassin, editorial operations manager
Seedy bread
As soon as I saw Trader Joe’s European Grains & Seeds Bread, I knew we were meant to be together. Made in Denmark, it’s a dense, thin-sliced loaf that starts with sourdough rye, then gets packed with flaxseeds, sunflower seeds, wheat bran, and more nutritious ingredients that promise to solve all your problems. After trying it at home—aggressively toasted, plus avocado, olive oil, lemon, and urfa chile—I had two competing feelings: pure joy about all the potential toppings (buttery scrambled eggs; tinned sardines and spicy mayo; cucumber and cream cheese), and utter panic that TJ’s would discontinue it. So at my next grocery run, I bought multiple loaves to stash in the freezer, just in case. —Emma Laperruque, associate director of cooking
S’mores ice cream
As s’more’s number one fan, I’ve made it my mission to find the best version in ice cream form. Graeter’s S’more’s ice cream is the best I’ve tried. The custard captures that graham cracker taste without being gritty. The marshmallow is pillowy and gooey, not chewy like other flavors I’ve tried. Perhaps best of all: The chocolate curls that are layered in, staying delicate and pliable. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that it’s that good after the Cincinnati brand was one of the top performers for our cookies and cream ice cream taste test. —Urmila Ramakrishan, associate director of social media
Apple soda
When I first became a “healthy soda” drinker, I sampled as many flavors as possible to see what could hold up to my beloved aspartame-filled standbys. No flavor from any brand compared to Olipop’s Crisp Apple. It has a fruity, creamy not-too-sweet taste and is gorgeously fizzy. A truly satisfying swap for traditional soda. This fall, when I saw it return to my local Whole Foods, I bought way more than I needed in fear that the limited edition flavor would disappear before my next grocery trip. So when I recently learned that the flavor has become a part of Olipop’s permanent roster, it was a huge win. —Phoebe Dishner, entertainment talent manager
Lemon curd
When I need a hit of serotonin, I reach for the jar of Bonne Maman's lemon curd in my fridge. It is a burst of sunshine on a cloudy day, great for myriad on-the-fly desserts or snacks. Mix it into yogurt with berries and crunchy bits (granola, nuts, seeds—do you!) for a luxe breakfast parfait. Or use my universally appealing non-recipe recipe: carb + curd + dairy = bliss. Dollop a slice of angel food cake with the stuff plus a big helping of whipped cream. Slather it into a halved croissant with your Good Butter. Layer it between blueberry pancakes or waffles. Or top sourdough with ricotta and a heaping spoonful of curd for a très élégante afternoon snack. —Joseph Hernandez, associate director of drinks
Thai curry tofu
My local H-E-B has recently undergone an expansion, and luckily for me, they now have many more vegetarian options available. My favorites have all been from the plant-based brand Hodo Foods. I have tried their Moroccan and harissa tofu cubes to great success, but my favorite is the Thai Curry Tofu Nuggets. They’re my essential for emergency meals when I don’t have time to cook something from scratch. Out of leftovers and need a nourishing lunch? Heat the nuggets in a pan and tuck into tortillas with some cheese and a swoop of the sauce of your choice. Get home late from an event or errands and don’t know what to make for dinner? Heat up some rice and serve up the nuggets with peanuts and sliced cucumbers. Need a low-cook meal for the hottest days? You’ll only need to turn your stove on for a few minutes to warm the nuggets and then drop them onto a quick salad. —Olivia Quintana, social media manager
Go-to peanut butter
As we’ve learned from our staff taste tests over the years, Target has a surprisingly good grocery selection for a store that also sells bikinis, phone chargers, and midsummer-night-scented candles. Great frozen pizza. Great vanilla ice cream. It also reliably stocks my go-to peanut butter: Smucker’s Natural Creamy. With no sugar, just the right amount of salt, and a satisfyingly nubby texture, it tastes way more expensive than it is (currently less than $5 for a 16-oz. jar). I use it for matzo PB&Js and sauces of all stripes. —E.L.
Marinated cheese
I first picked up Meredith Dairy Marinated Sheep and Goat Cheese from Whole Foods, and now get it often because it conveniently happens to be at every grocery store I go to. It was the container that caught my eye—cloud-like cubes of cheese, submerged in golden oil with whole peppercorns and thyme. It’s aromatic, tangy, and perfectly spreadable on practically everything. Even just the oil on salads makes a meal 100 times better. —Cristina Correa, freelance social media manager
Rose pistachio butter
Browsing through Borough Market on a recent trip, I all but stopped traffic when I saw the gorgeous jars at the ButterNut London stall. But their beauty was not limited to their colorful branding. I forced myself to stop at three samples, choosing the coconut-cardamom cashew butter, maple-turmeric cashew butter, and rose pistachio butter. (But lo, how I dream of the missed connections I might have had with the cocoa hazelnut butter!) The pistachio one hit the hardest, its flavor perfectly understated. I bought a jar for myself and one for my mother. Once home, I put it toward toast with Bonne Maman’s blackcurrant jelly (stunning). I then brushed it onto a banana (wow!). And my greatest achievement was when I spooned cottage cheese into a bowl and scattered strawberries on top. —Joe Sevier, senior editor of cooking and SEO
Nondairy milk
I’m a devout almond or coconut milk consumer when opting for nondairy milk, and I typically alternate between MALK and Elmhurst depending on what’s on sale at Whole Foods. But this creature of habit has recently discovered a new favorite: Elmhurst’s Milked Coconut & Cashews. With only four ingredients (filtered water, coconut cream, cashews, salt), it’s creamy in texture, boasts a rich and buttery flavor, and froths beautifully into my morning matcha. And Elmhurst’s milks are shelf-stable, so you can buy a case and stockpile in case of emergency. —K.K.