August 7, 2026

Yes, IKEA has surprisingly excellent freezer finds. Plus:

Michael Murtaugh/NYT Wirecutter

Kitchen writer Lesley Stockton doesn’t live close to any supermarkets, but she does live a five-minute walk from IKEA. “The store has come to mean something altogether new to me,” she says, “a convenient place to grab groceries in a pinch.”

This inspired Lesley and the rest of our kitchen team to determine the best of IKEA’s food offerings. They taste-tested their way through 34 of the store’s packaged foods, from sauces, to desserts, and, of course, all kinds of Swedish meatballs.

Eighteen items stood out, including instant mashed potatoes that were a “revelation,” sweet and tender frozen shrimp, and classic Swedish gummies.

All the food we love from IKEA→

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NYT Wirecutter

Between planning the meal, shopping for groceries, prepping the ingredients, and then — after all of that — cleaning up, cooking can be a hassle. But we’ve found that the right gear, like a razor-sharp box grater or a scale, can make mealtime easier.

Make pancakes in the blender→

Frozen pizzas worth the freezer space Including a pie with an impressively crispy crust and deliciously bright, tangy sauce→

The best butter It has a cheery yellow hue, an addictively salty taste, and a creamy texture→

Boxed cake that tastes homemade The light and fluffy cake has just enough sweetness and salt and a rich, eggy flavor that we loved→

Our favorite pickles We taste-tested 47 jars to find pickles with just the right amount of acidity, spice, and crunch→

Connie Park/NYT Wirecutter

This spooky little vampire is a longtime Wirecutter favorite, and not just because it’s a joy to behold. It’s actually pretty good in the kitchen, grinding garlic, seeds, and spices with a twist of the wrist. Just pop the head off, put in whatever needs milling, and the sturdy plastic teeth will get to work.

It’s on sale for $10→

Ruthie Darling/NYT Wirecutter

On the topic of big chains with surprising hidden gems: Trader Joe’s has some decent (and affordably priced!) skin care. After testing its core line, we’re big fans of the facial sunscreen with an invisible, velvety finish and the gentle, beginner-friendly retinol.

All of the best skin-care products from Trader Joe’s→

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