Additional Coverage:
- I tried chicken salad from Costco, Trader Joe’s, Wegmans, and Whole Foods. There’s only one I’d buy again. (businessinsider.com)
The Great Chicken Salad Showdown: A Local Deli Enthusiast’s Quest for Supermarket Supremacy
For those of us who appreciate a good chicken salad, the quest for the perfect scoop can be a lifelong journey. While homemade often reigns supreme, sometimes you just need a quick fix from the grocery store.
Our intrepid local food explorer, Ted Berg, embarked on such a mission, sampling pre-made chicken salads from four major supermarket chains: Costco, Trader Joe’s, Wegmans, and Whole Foods. The goal?
To find a worthy contender for his lunch rotation.
Berg, a self-proclaimed chicken salad convert thanks to his early 20s deli days, usually whips up his own with leftover rotisserie chicken. But the siren song of convenience led him to put these store-bought options to the test, ranking them from “meh” to “must-have.”
Wegmans’ Grilled Chicken Salad: A Pricey Disappointment
Kicking off the rankings at the bottom, Wegmans’ grilled chicken salad left much to be desired. At a staggering $15 for a 16-ounce tub, Berg hoped for culinary magic.
Instead, he found a bland, mayonnaise-heavy concoction with an “oddly grainy texture” reminiscent of tuna salad. While it boasted a decent amount of chicken, the meat itself lacked flavor and moisture.
Ultimately, the exorbitant price tag, more than the flavor profile, cemented its last-place finish.
Trader Joe’s Wine Country Chicken Salad: A Sweet Surprise (Not in a Good Way)
Next up, Trader Joe’s Wine Country chicken salad, a slightly different beast with its inclusion of sweetened dried cranberries and pecans. While Berg often enjoys cranberries in his chicken salad, this $5, 12-ounce container proved to be overwhelmingly sweet.
He noted a “goopy liquid” consistency with more dressing than chicken, and the cranberries tasted distinctly “like candy.” His verdict?
It resembled a salad dressing more than a true deli salad.
Costco’s Kirkland Signature Chicken Salad: Just “OK”
Landing in the middle of the pack was Costco’s Kirkland Signature chicken salad. Priced at a budget-friendly $6 per pound, Berg’s container weighed in at a hefty two pounds.
He observed the largest chicken chunks of all the contenders, but also a noticeable greasiness. The flavor was described as bland, though the familiar briny notes of Kirkland Signature rotisserie chicken were present.
While celery was in the mix, it contributed more to flavor than texture – a reversal of what he’d prefer. Ultimately, it was “fine but not especially good,” and the sheer quantity made it a questionable purchase for a single diner.
Whole Foods’ Classic Chicken Salad: The Clear Winner
The undisputed champion of this chicken salad showdown was the classic chicken salad from Whole Foods. This was the only option scooped fresh from a deli counter, a detail Berg clearly appreciated.
At $14 per pound, it was pricier than Costco and Trader Joe’s but a smidge more economical than Wegmans. The ability to buy only what he needed – a half-pound in this case – was another plus.
Upon tasting, Berg declared it “easily the best-tasting of the four.” The chicken, perfectly chopped and moist, tasted fresh.
While not overtly bold, the salad offered nuanced flavors of “earthy sweetness of red onions, notes of rosemary, and a touch of mustardy bite.” Crucially, Berg concluded that this chicken salad tasted “better than anything I could easily make at home,” a high compliment indeed for a store-bought option.
So, for those in search of a quality pre-made chicken salad, it seems Whole Foods is the place to go. While the price might be a bit higher, the fresh taste and balanced flavors make it a worthwhile indulgence for your next lunch.