Trader Joe’s is one of those stores that can be hard to visit without tossing a few extra things into the cart. A product catches your eye, someone online raves about it, or you spot a seasonal item you’ve been meaning to try. Before you know it, you’ve got a bag full of things you didn’t plan to buy.

That can be especially tempting if your nearest Trader Joe’s is a bit of a drive. When you only make the trip every couple of weeks, it’s easy to stock up and try something new while you’re there.

The problem is that plenty of Trader Joe’s products have mixed reviews. Some are perfectly fine but don’t seem worth the price, while others have issues with taste, texture, freshness, or longevity once you get them home.

Here are some of the products shoppers say they would think twice about buying again.

Trader's Joe supermarket front — Image credit: Deposit Photos

Pre-Cut Fruit

Pre-cut fruit sounds like an easy win. There’s no washing, peeling, or chopping, so it can save a few minutes when you need a quick snack.

The trouble is that cut fruit can lose its appeal pretty fast. Once it has been sitting in the container for a while, pieces may become soft, watery, or less flavorful. If you’re not planning to eat it soon after bringing it home, some shoppers feel it’s better to buy whole fruit and cut it yourself.

That extra bit of work can also make a difference if you’re trying to stretch your groceries through the week.

Fresh Produce

Fresh produce is another category that gets mixed reactions from Trader Joe’s shoppers. Berries, leafy greens, and other delicate fruits and vegetables can have a short window before they start looking past their prime.

You might bring home a package that looks perfectly fresh, only to find a few days later that the berries are softening or the greens are wilting. That can be frustrating if you’re shopping for several days at once.

This doesn’t mean all Trader Joe’s produce is a bad buy. Some shoppers are perfectly happy with it, while others prefer to buy produce at a grocery store, where they can choose individual pieces and inspect everything more closely.

Packaged Seafood

Trader Joe’s has plenty of frozen meals and pantry staples, but seafood is one category where some shoppers prefer to shop elsewhere.

The selection tends to be smaller than what you’ll find at a full-service grocery store or seafood market. If you’re looking for a certain cut, fresh fish, or a particular type of seafood, you may have fewer choices.

Packaged salmon, cod, and other seafood options can still work for an easy dinner. But shoppers who cook fish often may prefer a store with a larger selection and a dedicated seafood counter, especially when freshness is a top priority.

Fresh Meat and Packaged Chicken

Trader Joe’s has plenty of convenient foods, but fresh meat isn’t always the first thing shoppers think of when they walk through the store.

One reason is the smaller selection. A regular supermarket or butcher shop will usually give you more cuts, sizes, and brands to choose from. At Trader Joe’s, you may have fewer options if you’re looking for a particular cut of steak, chicken, or other type of meat.

Some shoppers also feel that the quality doesn’t always stand out enough to justify buying it there. For them, Trader Joe’s is a better stop for snacks, frozen foods, sauces, and specialty items, while meat comes from somewhere else.

Bagged Greens and Spring Mixes

Bagged greens can be one of those purchases that starts with good intentions. You picture yourself making salads all week, then open the bag a few days later and find wilted leaves or slimy greens.

That short shelf life is one reason some shoppers skip these mixes. It’s especially annoying when you only needed a small amount but ended up throwing most of the bag away.

If you know you’ll eat the greens quickly, they may work just fine. For shoppers who want their produce to last through several meals, though, this category gets plenty of complaints.

Prepared Salads and Wraps

Prepared salads and wraps seem like an easy lunch for work, errands, or days when you don’t feel like cooking. They’re already assembled, packaged, and ready to grab from the refrigerator.

The issue is that the texture can change quickly. Shoppers have complained about wilted lettuce, soggy wraps, and fillings that don’t taste as fresh as they expected.

A prepared meal has to be convenient enough to justify the higher price and shorter shelf life. When the food ends up tasting tired, it can feel like money better spent elsewhere.

Sushi Rolls and California Rolls

Trader Joe’s sushi has plenty of shoppers willing to give it a try, but it also has plenty of people who would skip it.

Rice texture is one of the complaints that comes up often. It can be dry, sticky, or gummy, while the fillings may leave something to be desired. California rolls tend to get mentioned when shoppers talk about products they found underwhelming.

It can work if you need something quick and happen to be at Trader Joe’s already. But shoppers who regularly eat sushi often prefer to buy it from a dedicated sushi restaurant or a grocery store with a larger selection.

Bread

Bread can be another hit-or-miss purchase at Trader Joe’s. Some shoppers have a favorite loaf they buy every time, while others say certain varieties dry out or become stale sooner than expected.

That can be frustrating if you’re buying bread for the week and don’t get through it quickly. Bakery bread from another grocery store may also have a texture or freshness that some shoppers prefer.

Tortillas get similar complaints from time to time. Some shoppers like them, while others say the texture changes quickly after opening the package.

Paper Products

Paper towels, tissues, and toilet paper aren’t usually the reason people make a trip to Trader Joe’s, and some shoppers say there’s a good reason for that.

Complaints tend to focus on texture and performance. Some people find the toilet paper too rough, while others feel the paper towels don’t absorb as well as their usual brand.

There are shoppers who are perfectly happy with Trader Joe’s paper products, but if you already have a brand you like, switching may not seem worthwhile.

Hand Soaps and Certain Personal Care Items

Trader Joe’s has a handful of body care products with devoted fans, but personal care items can be more a matter of personal preference than a guaranteed favorite.

Hand soaps are sometimes praised for their scents but criticized for leaving hands feeling dry. Certain lotions and other scented products also get mixed reactions based on fragrance, texture, and how they feel after use.

These items can be tempting because Trader Joe’s often changes up its selection and offers interesting scents. Still, a product that smells great on the shelf may not become something you want to use every day.

For shoppers who already have personal care products they love, these Trader Joe’s finds may be easier to leave behind.