Trader Joe’s Thin Sliced ORGANIC 21 GRAINS & SEEDS BREAD


Display of organic 21 grains and seeds bread packages in a store, with a price tag of $4.49 and a sign describing its texture as hearty and nutty.
Trader Joe's Organic 21 Grains & Seeds Bread, Thin Sliced, 20.4 oz package, featuring nutritional information including 70 calories per slice, good source of fiber, and 13g of whole grains per serving.
Top view of a slice of brown bread with seeds and a textured surface.
A slice of toasted whole grain bread with a golden-brown crust placed on a black skillet.

Certified Organic, 13g Whole Grains per serving, 70 cal slice

This is a NEW ITEM (AUG 2026)

21 Grains and Seeds Thin Sliced Organic Bread, with whole wheat and “organic seed and nut mix” containing organic sunflower, flax, pumpkin, sesame, black sesame, poppy, millet, rolled oats, quinoa, rye, spelt, yellow corn, amaranth, buckwheat, khorasan, purple corn, brown rice, sorghum, vital gluten, seeds and flours and other goodies like molasses.

A very nice slightly nutty tasting light brown whole wheat bread. Sliced thinly. One slice is 70 calories.

Made great toast with this as well as grilled cheese sandwiches. I would buy this again.

$4.49 for a 20 oz loaf

“Trader Joe’s Organic Thin Sliced 21 Grains & Seeds Bread is multi-faceted. Each Grain and Seed contributes its own characteristic taste and texture to produce a brown bread that is moist and slightly sweet, with a satisfyingly robust flavor. It’s excellent for sandwiching Organic Reduced Sugar Strawberry Preserves and Creamy Salted Peanut Butter. It’s also fantastic when two pieces are toasted in a pan with a generous number of Cheddar & Gruyere Mélange slices all melty in-between. And since our supplier has Sliced each loaf nice and Thin, it’s ideal for smaller-portioned sandwiches and toasts: each Slice comes in at about 70 calories.”

https://www.traderjoes.com/home/products/pdp/organic-21-grains-and-seeds-bread-thin-sliced-084820

PRODUCT OF CANADA

Nutrition facts label for a food product, detailing ingredients, serving size, calories, and nutrient information.

Ingredients

ORGANIC WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR, WATER, ORGANIC CANE SUGAR, ORGANIC WHOLE GRAIN AND SEED MIX (ORGANIC SUNFLOWER SEEDS, ORGANIC WHOLE FLAX SEEDS, ORGANIC PUMPKIN SEEDS, ORGANIC SESAME SEEDS, ORGANIC GROUND FLAX SEEDS, ORGANIC BLACK SESAME SEEDS, ORGANIC POPPY SEEDS, ORGANIC MILLET, ORGANIC ROLLED OATS, ORGANIC QUINOA, ORGANIC ROLLED BARLEY, ORGANIC ROLLED RYE, ORGANIC ROLLED WHOLE WHEAT, ORGANIC ROLLED SPELT, ORGANIC TRITICALE FLOUR, ORGANIC AMARANTH FLOUR, ORGANIC YELLOW CORN FLOUR, ORGANIC KHORASAN WHEAT FLOUR, ORGANIC BUCKWHEAT FLOUR, ORGANIC PURPLE CORN FLOUR, ORGANIC BROWN RICE FLOUR, ORGANIC SORGHUM FLOUR), ORGANIC VITAL WHEAT GLUTEN, ORGANIC OAT FIBER, ORGANIC CRACKED WHOLE WHEAT, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF YEAST, ORGANIC CULTURED WHEAT FLOUR (TO PRESERVE), SEA SALT, MICROBIAL ENZYMES, ORGANIC MOLASSES, WHEAT FIBER, ORGANIC VINEGAR, ORGANIC ACEROLA CHERRY POWDER, ORGANIC UNBLEACHED ENRICHED FLOUR (ORGANIC WHEAT FLOUR, ASCORBIC ACID [DOUGH CONDITIONER], NIACIN, IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID).

  • CONTAINS SESAME, WHEAT.

Trader Joe’s 100% POMEGRANATE JUICE


PRODUCT OF TURKEY

INGREDIENTS: Pomegranate Juice

No added sugar or other ingredients. Just 100% juice from real pomegranates. Not from concentrate.

Trader Joe’s came out with this pure 100% pomegranate juice in a small, single serving size bottle, about 8 ounces. Easy to carry. This tasted just like I was eating a pomegranate. Naturally sweet-sour.

Want my honest review? It’s yummy, people! If you love pomegranates you will love this. I found it delicious and very refreshing ice cold. A bit tart, but a bit sweet just like pomegranates taste. Deep ruby red color.

Trader Joe’s version of POM maybe? Pretty sure this a bit cheaper though.

Trader Joe’s has a bigger 1 qt. bottle of pomegranate juice however that one is from concentrate. This isn’t. Just real natural juice from pomegranates.

PRODUCT OF TURKEY

Small bottle (250 ml, 8.45 oz) bottle was $1.69.

https://www.traderjoes.com/home/products/pdp/100-pomegranate-juice-080326

I would buy it again.

Trader Joe’s MANDU KOREAN KIMCHI POTSTICKER DUMPLINGS review


NEW ITEM – AUGUST 2026

Trader Joe’s MANDU, Korean Kimchi Potsticker Dumplings (frozen)

Product of Korea

VEGAN

Mandu is Korean for “dumpling”.

Trader Joe’s just introduced these new Mandu Korean Kimchi Potsicker frozen dumplings. These have an interesting rectangle shape, and they’re made in Korea. They are plant based (vegan). Price-wise they are pretty good deal. A one pound bag which is about 18 dumplings goes for $3.49 (NOTE: the 2nd time I got them, they had raised the price on the sign at my TJ’s to $3.99!!?)

“Korean dumplings (mandu) come in an array of shapes and fillings. These particular pot-stickers are made with Kimchi, Glass Noodles and Vegetables with traditional spicy and tangy flavors from the kimchi which comes though in savory, piquant notes. They are best prepared “gun mandu” style, crisped in a pan on both sides to create a textural variety” -on the package

Eat these square dumpling with your favorite dipping sauce (Tip: no sauce is included) However even if you eat them without any sauce, the kimchi filling is nice and savory and a bit juicy.

These Kimchi Mandu could be served as a snack, appetizer, a lunch, or as part of a dinner.

We ate them for dinner, pairing the dumplings with rice, some kimchi, and a tofu dish I made. Braised Korean style tofu (dubu jorim) and all those combined to make a great dinner.

So how are Trader Joe’s latest frozen dumplings? TJ’s new Mandu are quite good as long as you like “spicy” food. In fact, I think these new frozen dumplings may now be up there among the best dumplings Trader Joe’s sells., along with the very popular pork and ginger Soup Dumplings of course. Theses are a little different.

I cooked the mandu up as they suggest which is to pan fry them. This gives the wrappers a nice chewy, yet crispy texture which contrasts nicely with the soft kimchi and glass noodle filling inside.

How To Cook Trader Joe’s Kimchi Mandu Dumplings: A good pan is important. Heat a good non-stick or cast iron pan, which is what I use for dumplings. Add about a scant tablespoon of oil (Added Korean points if you use a bit of toasted sesame oil. TJ sells that). On medium heat, add your frozen dumplings (carefully) to the pan. Let them cook, for 2 minutes. Flip after two minutes, and keep turning them every two minutes as well as moving them in the pan until they look all golden brown and delicious. This may take about 8 – 10 minutes total, though they say 6-8. Be sure to turn them over and move them around the pan to get an even cook all over. The edges of the pan have less heat than the center.

(Note: I took the picture about 1/2 way done.)

When done, the dumpling wrapper will have a nice slightly chewy, slightly crispy texture.

Tip: The instructions on the bag don’t mention air fryers, however some people online say they can be made in them If you do it that way, I would spray or brush them with some oil to get crispy texture. Please add a COMMENT if you make them in the air fryer with how they do that way.

Here’s my honest review of these new KOREAN KIMCHI MANDU.

These dumplings are good. Tasty and filling and yes they are a bit spicy. So if you hate “spicy” these may not be for you.

I think Trader Joe’s Korean supplier did a pretty good job with these, which come in a little unusual shape, rectangular, with a pretty good wrapper thickness in relation to the filling. The texture of the wrapper is good when pan-fried. Filling is tasty and you will know they do contain kimchi when you eat them. Even my (Korean-Japanese) wife approved of them as “tasting Korean” as regards the filling which is savory from kimchi and has a slightly chewy texture from “glass noodles”which are made from potato starch, plus other vegetables and flavorings.

NOTE: These dumpling are a bit spicy with a bit of kick from the kimchi – I would not call it crazy spicy, I would say the heat level is on the low-middle side? Unless you are extremely sensitive to spicy, these should be OK.

Each small dumpling is about 2 inches long and is about 2 or 3 bites. 3 dumplings = 100 calories.Nutrition label says 1 serving = 3 dumplings (Ha! More like 5 or 6 for me)

You don’t have to have sauce with these but I think are good with some dipping sauce, even if just soy and some rice vinegar.

I made a nice dipping sauce for them with soy sauce, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger, sesame oil and scallions. Make your own sauce with your favorite ingredients. The easiest could be just soy sauce and some rice vinegar. Or just use your favorite bottle of Trader Joe’s sauce you like for dumplings. Chopped scallions would be nice and/or cilantro if you like it.

Product of South Korea

KOREAN KIMCHI MANDU$3.49 (16 oz bag) *TJ website says $3.49, however my local TJ’s has a sign for $3.99 (NYC) Confusing!

I would buy these again.

https://www.traderjoes.com/home/products/pdp/mandu-korean-kimchi-potstickers-082762

Tip; Kimchi is of course spicy and gives these dumplings a bit of a kick. If you are very sensitive and can’t handle any level of “spicy” these may not be your jam.

Ingredients: water, flour, kimchi, soy, chives, glass potato noodles, scallion, radish, sugar, starch, salt, garlic, rice flour, red pepper, black pepper.

VEGAN – contains soy and wheat

Trader Joe’s JUST SALMON SKIN BAKED DOG TREATS (and cats?!)


“Trader Joe’s Just Salmon Skin Baked Dog Treat are made from salmon raised without antibiotics in the cold waters of Northern Scotland. The skin is simply baked with nothing else added” (from the package)

INGREDIENTS: Salmon skin

These are pieces of Salmon skin and nothing else, baked into little pieces, ending up as crispy crunchy bite size snacks. They are not stinky, just the tiniest bit fishy smelling.

I think your dog will love these.

Me, I have cats. Sure these are labeled “for dogs” but is there any law that says cat owners, like yours truly, can’t give them to our feline friends too? I mean there’s nothing that is bad for cats in these. Its just salmon skin. Fish. Period. No additives, no nothin’. So I tested these to see if my two cats would like them for treats.

Result: One of my cats loves these treats and crunches a piece into smithereens in seconds. The other, a pickier eater, will on occasion eat one but sometimes will ignore the treat, while kind of looking at me like I’m cheating him with just skin and not the FREEZE DRIED SALMON pet treats which are pieces of salmon with flesh. Which by the way is labeled “For Pets” not just “For Dogs” like this one.

Your call if for just dogs or for your cats too.

Trader Joe’s ORGANIC SWEET ITALIAN CHICKEN SAUSAGE


These Sausages are made with organic ground chicken, organic sweet Italian seasoning, organic basil, organic garlic, organic paprika and celery powder. The seasoning is good. These are a good thing to have on hand in the fridge to come up with an easy protein and meals.

I found these sausages quite tasty. Grilled up for example simply as I made them here with just some green peppers in olive oil with garlic. You could add lots of other things, like onions and tomatoes. Serve that with rice, or buttered pasta or what have you. Or just grill them and put them on a some toasted bread or a brioche bun.

TJ’s says “the mixture is stuffed by hand into natural casing and hung on racks, where it cooks at a low temperature for a long period of time. After cooking to perfection, the casing is removed and the sweet-smoky sausages are ready to enjoy”

Are these sweet? No, the word refers to “sweet or hot” Italian sausages. If you want spicy/hot using these, of course all you have to do is just add your favorite spicy thing. For me, these are great with TJs terrific Italian BOMBA.

FRIED / BOILED – I think they taste best using the STOVE TOP or GRILLED methods, even if just in a pan with a little oil or butter, either sliced on a diagonal or whole. Just simmering / boiling may be a little too plain, i think some browning up does add quite a bit of flavor but that’s your call.

If not using the whole package, just wrap tightly and freeze the rest for later use. They will defrost fast.

Trader Joe’s SWEET ORGANIC ITALIAN CHICKEN SAUSAGE is $5.99 (the package contains five sausages) They used to be 4 bucks (sigh)

They have no added nitrites or nitrates, One sausage is 110 calories

I would buy these again.

PS – I think these would match up great with the popular SWEET POTATO GNOCCHI dish…..

Trader Joe’s ORGANIC UNCURED GRASS FED BEEF HOT DOGS


RAVE

I actually really love a good hot dog, however as someone who tries to watch what they eat, hot dogs now are something I will basically only eat once a year – on July 4th! So when I do eat a hot dog, it’s got to be really good, of course, and would prefer it be one that is at least trying to be one of the “healthier” versions. But still really tasty.

For me, Trader Joe’s Organic Uncured Grass Fed All Beef Hot Dogs fits the bill exactly. Most important, these are good and tasty hot dogs, that are made better than many others that have questionable ingredients, something hot dogs are notorious for. These have good ingredients. Made with USDA certified organic beef from grass fed cows. They don’t contain added nitrates or nitrites as preservatives (ie, “uncured”). They use natural ingredients to “cure” them, specifically celery and sea salt. The ingredients are not mysterious. The rest of the ingredients are all organic seasonings, things like garlic puree, minced onion, paprika, and red pepper flakes. “No fillers. No kidding”.

We got these for a July 4th get together this year and these dogs were a big hit. Everyone commented on how good the hot dogs were. Nice and tasty, well seasoned the way I like my dogs with: “Organic black pepper, organic ginger, organic nutmeg, organic red pepper, organic paprika, organic garlic powder, organic onion powder, organic coriander, organic celery powder, organic garlic puree….”

SERVING: I pan grilled these hot dogs in butter., and served them on the excellent BRIOCHE HOT DOG buns toasted. Served them with TJ’s excellent sauerkraut and dill pickle mustard.

These were so yummy on those good buns with good sauerkraut. I can’t wait for July 4th to roll around year again! You and your kids however may eat them anytime you are in the mood for hot dogs and want them to be as good as possible.

110 calories per hot dog

$5.99 (10 oz package, which has 6 hot dogs)

I would buy these again.

“NO PRESERVATIVES; KEEP REFRIGERATED BELOW 40 F AT ALL TIMES”

PAIR THESE WITH: Trader Joe’s Brioche Hot Dog Buns, Sauerkraut, and your favorite mustard…..

(image: trader joes)

Trader Joe’s ORGANIC CAVATAPPI Pasta, Review & Recipe Ideas


“excellent for an elevated mac and cheese bake”

NEW ITEM

Trader Joe’s has added this pasta shape to their selection of organic premium “artisanal” pastas, cavatappi which means “corkscrews”. They say it’s one of their favorites. Having tried it, it’s now one of my favorite pastas as well that they sell.

ORGANIC CAVATAPPI look kind of like a long twisted macaroni with ridges. The shape and the ridges are designed to hold sauces.

Cavatappi is an excellent addition to Trader Joe’s line of premium pastas. They still sell some pastas for 99 cents. This one is $1.99. What makes “premium” pasta premium and worth more? TJ’s premium pastas are a level up from the regular ones. Think of high end pasta like you see in specialty stores, many of which are $4-8 a pound. The better, high end pastas mean things like being bronze die cut, made from organic semolina wheat, usually are slow dried, etc. All of which makes for better pasta.

“Made in Italy for Trader Joe’s by our skilled supplier in Italy using organic semolina wheat. “

Cavatappi is perfect for marinara, or alfredo sauces. It’s also great used for baked mac and cheese and is great for cold pasta salads. Its shape helps it hold onto sauce in different ways, offering lots of flavor and a nice chewy texture.

“Cavatappi makes a consummate complement to a marinara or alfredo, makes a marvelous base for a baked mac and cheese, and produces a primo pasta salad for picnics and potlucks.”

I made a delicious (tuna and pesto) pasta salad using the cavatappi

Tuna & Pesto Pasta Salad: Boil a cup of cavatappi pasta in in salted water for 9-10 minutes or until done to the way you like (me, al dente). Drain the pasta and rinse in a colander under cold water until cooled down to room temp. Place pasta in a bowl, and add 2 tablespoons of Trader Joe’s jarred PESTO (adjust more if you need it). Add a can of tuna in olive oil (I used the oil and juice too, your call). Add juice from 1/2 lemon or more. (option, add a handful of chopped parsley or arugula) Mix well and serve.

https://www.traderjoes.com/home/products/pdp/organic-cavatappi-pasta-082007

I would buy this again

Organic Cavatappi $1.99 (16 oz).

Trader Joe’s ORGANIC CARROTS with healthy recipes


Trader Joe’s ORGANIC CARROTS (multi-colored) $1.99 for 2 lbs. And also regular organic carrots .99 cents for 1 lb.

We are trying to reduce our carb intake a bit. One idea to help do that is to make up the plate with even more vegetables.

I happen to love carrots, so they are a good pick for us. Carrots are super healthy and fortunately pretty cheap at Trader Joe’s, where they sell for $1 a pound for ORGANIC CARROTS. Pictured here are the multi colored ones Trader Joe’s sells, which besides the standard orange carrots they have some with other colors, like red and yellow.

Here’s two EASY RECIPE ideas using carrots, one cooked and one raw, in a salad. The one printed on the bag is good too (“spicy rainbow carrot coins”) though more complicated than the ones I’m adding below.

Sautéed Moroccan style carrots

Slice up your peeled carrots. Put olive oil in a pan or pot and add 2 cloves chopped/grated garlic. Sautée 30 seconds. Add a 1/2 diced onion. Add carrot slices. Add 1 tsp ground cumin, a dash of cinnamon. Saute on med heat stirring often till they look a little seared, 5-10 minutes. Lower the heat and cook until done, 5-10 minutes.

Easy Moroccan Style Carrot Raisin Salad

Use a box grater or the like and grate up 2 or 3 large peeled carrots into a bowl. Add 1 tsp fresh lemon juice (added points if you grate in some zest). Add a handful of your favorite raisins. Add either a clove of fresh garlic (chopped or grated) or a 1/2 tsp of powdered garlic. Add a good amount of ground cumin (1/2 tsp). Add a good spill of extra virgin olive oil. Add a splash of vinegar. Stir to combine and let marinate for at least 10-15 minutes. (I had pomegranate seeds in the fridge so added them, optional but really nice addition)

Trader Joe’s OLIVE TAPENADE HUMMUS


“In the center of each tub lies a just-right amount of briny Olive Tapenade made with black olives, manzanilla olives, capers, and olive oil. Not to be out shined by its piquant partner, the Hummus base is special in its own right. With twice the tahini of traditional hummus, it’s especially smooth and nutty with complementary sweet and savory flavors.” – TRADER JOE https://www.traderjoes.com/home/products/pdp/olive-tapenade-hummus-079901

I wanted a big tub of hummus when I went to Trader Joes but unfortunately they didn’t have the large 16 oz MEDITERRANEAN STYLE HUMMUS when I went. This OLIVE TAPENADE HUMMUS was the next biggest tub at 10 oz.

It looked like it was worth trying and I happen to LOVE most any kind of olive, but normally I wouldn’t think of mixing tapenade with hummus. Here the tapenade is just a bit on top of the hummus added as an add on. My first bite reaction was “yeah like i thought, those olives overpower the hummus a bit” but as I kept tasting it, I admit the combined taste of hummus and a bit of olive grew on me more and more with each bite.

I kept the olives more or less as is, on top. Dipping in with pita, I could control just a little bit of tapenade with mostly hummus. Keep that bit of tapenade as-is just on top and grab a bit as you eat or scoop it. Then you mostly have hummus with just a little tapenade.

Certainly I might put out a dish of olives with a dish of hummus so the two are flavors I would combine anyway. The tapenade does kind of work. Don’t mix it all together. Olive are strong flavors and hummus more subtle but the combo was not at all bad eaten with some pita. This is something you would have to decide for yourself.

I did add some fresh lemon juice and some good EVOO and those certainly elevated everything. I might not buy this again but think this is worth trying if you are a big fan of olives like I am. Even has a bit of capers in it.

$3.49 (10 oz)

RELATED: GOOD PITA! https://traderjoesrants.com/2025/08/19/new-trader-joes-baladi-egyptian-sourdough-pocket-bread-pita/

Trader Joe’s Main Squeeze Oil Review: A Budget-Friendly EVOO


NEW ITEM!

Would you say this looks like Trader Joe’s wants to get in on the the popular “drizzling” trend of olive oil in a squeeze bottle? Are you thinking this looks like the popular “Graza Sizzle” oil?

Trader Joe’s is appropriately enough, calling their new oil that comes in a squeeze bottle, “Main Squeeze”. As usual for Trader Joe’s this is a more budget friendly item than say Graza’s line of oil. MAIN SQUEEZE is a blend of Mediterranean extra virgin olive oil from three counties: Tunisia, Spain, and Italy which is “packed in Italy”.

They are selling this 750 ml (25.4 oz) bottle for about eleven bucks – which is cheaper than some of the other oils they sell as many come in a smaller 500ml bottle, like the EVOO from California for example.

$10.99 is a fairly good deal for a 750 ml bottle. Graza brand oil sells now for about $17 at Target for this same 750 ml size bottle. I don’t have any of the Graza oil at home now one so can’t directly compare them. Graza oil is from one country, Spain.

They say this: “Imported from the Mediterranean, it’s a golden, grassy, and pleasantly peppery cold-pressed Olive Oil, ideal for everything from light sautés to dipping bread, and it’s contained within a consummately convenient Squeeze bottle topped with an adjustable spout. The squeezable design is perfect for drizzling over roasted veggies, burrata, or soups. It’s also versatile enough for dipping bread, making pesto, or general pan-frying and sautéing. “

https://www.traderjoes.com/home/products/pdp/main-squeeze-extra-virgin-olive-oil-083543

I tried this Main Squeeze Oil and pretty much liked the taste. Yes, it does have “a golden, grassy, and pleasantly peppery taste with a mild kick on it’s aftertaste”.

One thing I don’t like? The nozzle. It’s not great. Hard to grip for a start. I found it tricky to open and close. It is very narrow, so hard to grip, and turn to open and close. It should be wider. I found I needed to grab it with something (towel, etc) to get a firm grip.

The nozzle also had a tendency to get gunked easily. I had to wipe it often as it got gunky after about two uses.

Now do I think the oil is as good as their best EVOO oils (the Sicilian and California ones)? No I would say just a bit under those two excellent oils, however they are more expensive. Those both cost more than this.

So is TJ’s MAIN SQUEEZE is worth trying if you want to try the whole “drizzle” experience. Its of course cheaper than Graza Sizzle EVOO. This says it is “$13.85/quart”.

Like all extra virgin oils keep it in a cool dark cupboard if at all possible to stay as fresh as possible.

$10.99 (750 ml, 25.4 oz)

“Packed in Italy; Oil from Tunisia, Spain and Italy”

Needs a better user friendly nozzle

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