Grocery Items To Avoid, According To Professional Chefs

Apparently, if you want to cook like a pro, you should avoid certain grocery items. Real Simple, a home and lifestyle magazine collaborated with professional chefs to compile a list of grocery items to avoid.

"We checked in with professional chefs who shared the items they never buy at the grocery store, at specialty shops, farmers markets, and even online," said the magazine. "Without these products, the pros say you’re in for more of that wow factor, cooking inspiration, and excellent, pro-level food coming out of your home kitchen."

After combing through their list of items I noticed that I also find myself avoiding some of them at the grocery store. Unless I'm in some sort of a pinch and need an item immediately. You know, before a get-together or a party. But what are some of the grocery items they’re saying to avoid?

You may have heard someone say that they don’t like store-bought pesto. Believe me, you’re not alone. I make it quite often for flatbreads, sandwiches, and pasta. It’s pretty easy to make if you’re up for it. You just need some fresh basil, pine nuts (but not if you have a nut allergy), parmesan cheese, garlic cloves, extra virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper, then blend in a food processor.

So, why are these professional chefs saying to avoid this item at the grocery store? One of the chefs points out that pesto is easy to make. They also mention that you can customize it and avoid preservatives.

Don't get me wrong, a jar of Rao’s tomato or alfredo sauce is my jam. And it’s great to have on hand when you’re whipping together a last-minute dish. But one of the things on their list is tomato sauce. “The sauces in the store are full of sugar and preservatives, and honestly do not taste very good. Instead, buy canned whole organic plum tomatoes, blend them up, and cook them down with your favorite aromatics,” said one chef. This is spot on to what I do. And when I’m lucky, I can snag fresh tomatoes from my friend’s garden and some herbs from my garden and really get creative with the flavors.

Interestingly, broth is on their list. After I learned how easy it is to make my own, I refused to buy a box of it. I get it, most of the time convenience wins. But with the prices on simple items like broth skyrocketing, I’m more than okay with cutting down on an expense. I take some water and boil it down with veggie scraps, herbs, peels, and whatever else I have on hand and strain it, to make a good portion of broth to separate and freeze for meals. Some of these meals include rice, soup, gravy, or adding to a specialty dish. With this grocery item, one chef highlights the low cost of just making it on your own.

You may have to add a bit more effort into pasta night with this next item on their list. They said that pre-grated parmesan should be avoided at all costs. If I could churn out my own cheese, I would. However, it's not that simple. But buying a block of fresh cheese is a better option. "True Parmigiano [Reggiano] is a culinary masterpiece, and one of the greatest gifts Italy has bestowed on humanity. Please seek out the real thing, preferably aged 36 months, and take the extra minute to grate it fresh when you need it. [It's] life-changing," said one chef.

Pizza Today reported that block cheese remains a whole food without additives or preservatives. They said when you purchase pre-shredded cheese, the only way to prevent it from clumping and molding is to add potato starch, corn starch, powdered cellulose, and Natamycin. This is just something to keep in mind when journeying through the grocery store aisles.

Also, on their list are salad dressing, peeled garlic, and others. Take a look at the complete list of grocery items to avoid here.