These store-bought foods are so much better than you might think!

Yes, it is true that all the foods you make from scratch are better than anything you can get from the market, but there are some store-bought foods that are amazing. They are so great that even top chefs love them!

Having these ingredients in the kitchen is a good idea, and this is why we believe you should know about them. Some of them are logical; you would expect to find them in any kitchen, but others are truly surprising.

All of the info from this article is gathered from professional chefs who were asked about their favorite store-bought ingredients. Get ready to step up your cooking game! So, without wasting any more of your time, here are the best store-bought foods you can get!

Breadcrumbs

The easiest way to get breadcrumbs is by toasting and grinding stale bread. This is a straightforward process, and all you need is some bread and a food processor. If you don’t have stale bread or your only loaf of bread is a fresh artisanal one, well, this is when keeping a bag of breadcrumbs in your pantry is a good idea.

They are among the store-bought foods you can find literally anywhere, and even more importantly, these breadcrumbs are also very affordable. A truly small price to pay for the flavor you get! Add them to dishes like broiled crab cakes or crispy chicken nuggets.

Now, it is important to know that there is a big difference between regular breadcrumbs and panko. The latter originates from Japan and is made from crustless white bread, which gives it a more airier texture.

Standard breadcrumbs can be made from almost any type of bread, and most of the time they come pre-seasoned. This means you can adapt the flavor according to the dish you want to prepare.

Nuts and seed butters

Tahini, peanut butter, almond butter, or simply nuts are incredible store-bought foods anyone should have at home. Why? Well, it is kind of hard to grow your own nuts at home. And after all, top chefs do the same, so why wouldn’t you?

Ok, now you might say that if you have all the ingredients, you can make butter at home. You just need the nuts, a high-power blender, and a pinch of salt. Indeed, this is as true as it can be, but these are some of the store-bought foods experts recommend to just get from the market.

The reason behind this piece of advice is shelf life. Homemade nut butter can turn rancid quickly due to oxidation, and this is especially true if you don’t know how to store it properly. On the other hand, the store-bought versions are more stable because factories use specific tools that don’t rely on heat and also use machines that grind the nuts more finely, giving the butter that smooth texture we all love.

If you have an excess of nuts or seeds and plan to consume the butter quickly, homemade butter is an amazing idea. This is a rewarding process, but you need to be aware of the shelf life; this is all.

Spice blends

When you want flavor, you are probably not thinking about store-bought foods, but please wait a second before thinking about it further. The greatest way to make your dishes taste good is to know what spices work the best.

You may think that professional chefs carefully prepare their own spice blends, but this is not always true. Yes, some do that, but many times, they prefer store-bought versions. If you know where to buy your spices, you have nothing to be afraid of; your food will taste incredible no matter what.

So, if you don’t cook often or you don’t have enough space to store an extensive collection of spices, keep in mind that among all store-bought foods, spices are probably the safest choice.

Pre-made mixes, such as shawarma seasoning, curry powder, and taco seasoning, provide convenience and consistency, avoiding the effort of purchasing and storing individual spices.

Canned tomatoes

Just imagine those ripe and fresh tomatoes you can pick from the garden in the middle of summer! Yeah, we know that this kind of taste is irreplaceable, but one of the best store-bought foods you could ever get is the canned tomatoes. When you don’t have fresh tomatoes at hand, this is the perfect alternative.

The main advantage of canned tomatoes is their consistency. They will always taste good compared to out-of-season fresh tomatoes, which can have a rather bland taste. Canned varieties are packed at their ripest, and this preserves that rich flavor we all are looking for when eating a tomato.

Another thing chefs like about canned tomatoes is that they are incredibly versatile. Do you want to make a stew? Or a soup? Or maybe some pasta? You don’t have to worry because the universal answer is canned tomatoes!

Of course, not all canned tomatoes are created equal. This is why you should pick your canned tomatoes wisely and based on your taste. Some brands use higher-quality tomatoes and fewer additives. This makes the tomatoes more flavorful. Our pro tip is to always look for the brands that use fewer ingredients. These tend to be the best!

Jam

If you have a sweet tooth but you are not sure about the quality of most store-bought sweet foods, we are here to help you a little bit.  Indeed, sugar is not the healthiest thing on this earth, but it tastes so good that sometimes you feel like you need to eat it. This is ok. We are not judging. We also love sweet things. But a smart thing you can do is to find the healthiest alternative out there.

In this case, the answer is JAM! You can find amazing ones in the stores, and we believe that this will be enough to put down your sugar cravings. The store-bought versions are affordable, convenient, and delicious if you pick the right ones.

Making jam from scratch is a tedious process and requires hours of simmering, sterilizing jars, and carefully storing the final product. This is a lot of work, and the store alternatives nowadays are just as good as the homemade ones.

Hopefully, there are also a lot of types of jams you can easily find on the market. From classic strawberry and raspberry to gourmet blends with unique fruit combinations, there’s something for everyone. Also, there are many high-quality brands that use minimal ingredients, ensuring a fresh, homemade-like taste without you needing to do all the work.

What do you think about these store-bought foods? Are they among your favorites? If you have any suggestions, please don’t shy away and leave them in the comments!

If you need a place to store your spices, this might be a good solution: Nature’s Own Stainless Steel Spice Box with 7 Compartments

You should also read: Too Many Carbs? 6 Ways Your Body Tells You to Stop