So technically all food items outside of some fresh products have a “brand”.
But what items do you feel you can get away with the “no brand” cheaper option without sacrificing quality?
“No Name” could also include store brands???
And what items are a brand name a “must”???
I was listening to a podcast this morning where they were talking about flour for instance. I’ll admit to often buying what is cheapest - often the store brand or no name brand. But the podcast convinced me that I should test using a higher quality brand (like King Arthur) to see if it improves my baking/cooking results.
If you choose a no-name brand because you need to be economical, that’s fine and understandable. But I’m talking the items that you are FIRM in your decision to choose the brand over the no-name or vice versa.
One that comes to mind for me is peanut butter. No off brand.
^^ I will not buy store brand yogurt. I would admit to being a little bit of a yogurt snob - but only to a couple brands - just because it’s “fancy” doesn’t mean I like it!
Ketchup is one thing I don’t fuss about - bring on the Kroger brand.
When I’ve done blind taste tests with my guys on various things, they’ve liked the Great Value brand items (Walmart’s) often better than any typical brand so I tend to buy those in many things from yogurt to cereal to cheese, etc, if they are cheaper. For cereal it’s the only “brand” I will buy. For a few items (like peanut butter) Weis’ store brand beats name brand items for our tastes.
Actual name brand? We stick with Annies when we want boxed mac and cheese (rare, but happens), Digiorno Stuffed Crust pizzas when we want frozen pizza, Mt Dew, Coke, Pepsi, or Dr Pepper (for H only) when we want sodas, Hunts for Ketchup, Dove for chocolate, and a couple of name brand soups are loved, but which brand for which flavor soup changes. Arnold’s is my favorite bread - esp Oatnut or Healthnut when I can find it. Herrs is our go to brand for potato chips, Utz for pretzels and tortilla chips. Pace for salsa.
Most other items I buy based upon price. We’re not partial to brands for mayo, mustard, flour, butter, cheese, yogurts, beans, rice and veggies (though I prefer not grown in CA for better flavor with most fresh fruits/veggies - likely due to the distance to get here and when they are picked, etc).
It has nothing to do with taste, but we always buy Full Circle for TP and napkins. I see no reason not to use recycled paper when possible - esp when the quality is fine. Tissues have to be a lotion version though - any brand.
I buy tons of my market’s brand, (they have both regular and an organic line,) but I only buy Hellman’s Mayo. I’m also very picky when it comes to EVOO and balsamic vinegar. I buy Beekman 1802.
It depends on the store, but for the most part, I find store brands acceptable. The brand names I must have:
*Dave’s Killer Bread, thin-sliced Good Seed
*Land o Lakes butter with canola oil
*Persil laundry detergent
*Velveeta cheese (use on breakfast sandwiches)
*Bob Evans sausage
These are the only ones I can think of right now, although I’m sure there are others.
I buy whatever kleenex is cheaper - guess we don’t have colds or allergies because this has always been fine for us! I don’t really like the lotion ones.
I’ve never tried any brand (food or clothing) that has convinced me it’s worth the additional cost over the no/store brand. I don’t even bother anymore.
Puffs tissues
QTips swabs
Our farm’s dairy products
PG Tips tea
And I second @doschicos . From a frequent baker’s perspective… There is no substitute for King Arthur.
I can tell, the difference between cheap non and ketchup and Heinz in one tiny taste. No comparison. I buy mostly name brands. Especially with products like paper towels, napkins and toilet paper I loathe the cheap brands in terms of how they feel. When I go to someone’s house who uses a cheap o brand I always notice. Also buy the most expensive garbage bags out there. The super strong hefty ones really do hold up better in the trip to the garage cans. And I adore my incredibly expensive simple human smaller trash bags. The only brand I’ve found with pull strings closure for small bathe sized cans. Also Reynolds Wrap cling wrap with the slider cutter is my absolute favorite and there is no equivalent.
Not frugal because to me it’s these little things that make life more pleasurable in my home and as a homebody that important to me.
