Starbucks 'Trenta': How The New Size Compares To Your Stomach
Famous Death Row Last Meals
Store brand products can be more affordable and, in many cases, better tasting than their name-brand counterparts. With some products, the larger national brands actually produce the store-brands, which simply receive different packaging before being shipped out to stores. Personally, I'm an open minded shopper and don't usually discriminate between name brand and non name brand food items. I buy store-brand sodas along with Diet Coke and do price and ingredient comparisons with products I haven't previously tried, often to discover that the store brand is almost identical to the more expensive corresponding brand.
That said, there are still some products that I won't buy if they're an off-brand. I prefer Heinz ketchup, for example, and approximations of Honey Nut Cheerios just don't quite measure up. It's probably because they're familiar flavors that I grew up with, and for that same reason, you probably have some, too. What store brand products will you not buy?
PHOTOS: How You Can Get The 'Miracle' Dress
Broke Stars: 11 Celebrities Who Went Bankrupt
LOOK: Amazing Underwater Photos Of Dogs
Adele Five-Year Break? Singer Plans to Focus on Relationship, Write 'Happy Record'
Social Security Is Failing Even Faster Than We Thought
Jane Seymour's Modest And Modern Style
Man Says Starbucks Discriminated Against Him Because He Has Half An Arm
Chris Brown, Grammys 2012: Embattled Singer Slams Critics
Janice Dickinson's Outrageous Style
Ford's clever Sports Illustrated Swimsuit ad features phantom model
Trace Adkins Reunites With College Crush, 30 Years Later
Lauren Scruggs Goes On Ski Vacation
Van Gogh's Starry Night modded into beautiful interactive light and sound show (video)
'Hooker Teacher' Forced To Resign, Now Can't Find Work
WATCH AND LAUGH: Cops In 2-Hour Standoff With Empty Car
3 Economic Misconceptions That Need to Die
PHOTOS: Model Falls At Dennis Basso Show
Best In Show Winner Declared
WATCH: Saint VaLINtine Hits Game-Winning Shot
PHOTOS: Michelle Obama Wears Jason Wu For Target!
WATCH: Amazon Withholds Money From Blooming Florist
PHOTOS: Cute Overload?
LOOK: The Last Of The Cave People
We Meant There WERE Nukes In The Fire
Honduras Prison Fire Kills At Least 300 Inmates
Scuba Diver Had Motive To Drown Wife On Honeymoon, Prosecutor Says
Reports: Iran Stops Oil Exports To 6 European Countries
Denise Richards' Casual Style
Style Icon Dies After Collapsing At Fashion Show
Huguely Lied On The Night His Ex-Girlfriend Died, Lacrosse Teammate Says
'Game Of Thrones' Season 2 Teaser: War Is Coming
Hidden In The Open: A Photographic Essay Of African-American Male Couples
10-06-2006 @9:36AM Catherine S. said... I have told my husband that I will work three jobs as long as I can have these items in my house: Bounty paper towels, Hefty Cinch trash bags, Tide detergent, and Clorox toilet wands. No store brand can match the quality of these name brands.
Reply
10-06-2006 @9:56AM Megan said... I defenitely won't comprimise on ketchup either. It has to be Heinz.
Reply
10-06-2006 @9:55AM dlz said... basically, it comes down to quality. no high fructose corn syrup. no unecessary sugars or salt (canned fruit and vegetables). no mile-long list of chemicals (it's generally easier and quicker to make from scratch anyway). that said, when the hankerings hit, nothing beats real oreos and refried beans with lard, neither of which gets purchased with any kind of regualrity.
Reply
10-06-2006 @10:04AM SwampYankee said... Hmmm, food items I'll try and sometimes buy. You can't take away my Tide. Also, name brand steel wool pads, aluminium foil and clear plastic wrap. It really doesn't matter which main brand, all of them are better than the store brand.
Reply
10-06-2006 @10:15AM jumper3006 said... I am a mustard freak and I wouldn't use any other dijon mustard but grey poupon. But Walmart's brand of dijon mustard is identical to grey poupon for a quarter of the price. I belive they are made by the same company.
But I will not, I repeat will not buy store brand Oreo cookies, no one comes close to those babies.
Reply
10-06-2006 @10:18AM Stormey said... I will never buy any ketchup other then Heinz and Tide is the only detergent I will allow in my washer. I have also found a difference in some canned and frozen vegetables. The offbrand canned peas, for example, are never as nice a fresh green color, as say Leseur peas. And the cuts of offbrand frozen broccoli just aren't as nice as they are in a bag of birds eye.
Reply
10-06-2006 @10:23AM Linda said... Peanut Butter - it has to be Jif. And Kraft American cheese singles.
Reply
10-06-2006 @10:32AM Mad William Flint said... Above ALL things, soda. Aside from that I very strongly bias away from store brands. Occasionally I'll be tempted to give something as close to an honest test as I can manage. But it's rare I don't end up kicking myself for having known better.
Reply
10-06-2006 @10:54AM Julie said... Wow, I can not believe how you are all addicted to the additives they have put into these products. If it ain't organic, you should not consume.
Reply
10-06-2006 @10:52AM Ed said... I used to never buy store-brand cereals, but I really like Central Market's organic line of cereals.
I'll try any store brand item at least once, but haven't found any ice creams that I like.
Reply
10-06-2006 @10:58AM lionelhutz said... I don't know about store brand Oreos, but Newmanos are excellent and have no trans fat. I agree about avoiding store brand plastic wrap, but foil? I don't see the difference. Give me the Heinz too!
Reply
10-06-2006 @5:29PM RobynT said... Hellman's/Best Foods!
I mostly buy generic for frozen and canned veggies that are just going into stew/soup/casseroles/etc anyway.
I generally buy brand name ice cream because if you're going to indulge, i say don't waste your time with generic.
Oh, spaghetti sauce. I know, I should make from scratch, but whatev. Frozen pizza--only DiGiorno.
Reply
10-06-2006 @11:42AM Starr said... When I get the craving and can't make it from scratch, it has to be Kraft macaroni and powdered cheese. With all the preservatives and additives I am glad the craving only comes once in a great while.
Reply
10-06-2006 @11:38AM Johnnypro said... I've tried several types of Granola cereal (from food stores and health food stores) and the store brand from Hanaford (Upstate NY) is the best. Hanaford's frozen pizza is great, too. Walmart's Great Value ice creams are excellent. I've noticed that some of Walmart's frozen potato products (Taters) have trans fats while Hanaford's don't. Generally it has to be Guilden's Mustard and Heinz ketchup, along with Helmans Mayo for me.
Reply
10-06-2006 @11:40AM susan billings said... I have tried to use store brand canned vegetables and spaghetti sauce several times. They absolutley do not measure up to name brand.
Reply
10-06-2006 @12:14PM Miss Tenacity said... Now, some store/generic brands are even better for some unknown reason. Case in point: any store-brand's version of vanilla sandwich cookies, especially after they've gotten a little stale and squishy if you live in a high-humidity area. Yum.
Reply
10-06-2006 @11:48AM MJ said... Use to be only tide with me. Now, I am forced to buy cheaper, and have some some very good ones. I do keep a small box for really soiled items. Most clean and smell great too. But.I have to have heinz, jif Dukes mayo and Kraft cheeseslices mertia bread, and any good garbage bags. Hate, when they leak and burst!!!!Somethings can be generic. I like any veggies in the can, yes it may not be as bright in color as long as it taste good.When you have to save pennies you dont give a damn about bright colored veggies..........
Reply
10-06-2006 @11:52AM MJ said... This one is going to be a very long list. glad I got in early.Have to have good paper towels too Bounty and sparkle are my household favorites!
Reply
10-06-2006 @12:38PM Jim said... "Wow, I can not believe how you are all addicted to the additives they have put into these products. If it ain't organic, you should not consume."
Wow - how pretentious!
It's funny, just yesterday the missus and I were walking down the snack aisle and she mentioned that store brand Cheetos suck. And she's right. I'm not a huge Cheeto fan, but I remember going to parties as a kid where the cheapskate parents bought generic chips or when you're just starving and the convenience store only has some off-brand and yep... "Cheese Curls" suck.
Reply
10-06-2006 @12:38PM Betty Wink said... Frozen waffles, Eggo's only.
Will buy store brand mouthwash, toothpaste, dish soap, stuff like that. MUST have Bounty, Charmin, and oh yes, OREOS!!!!
Reply