Generic Foods

I have been relying on soup this week. Bronchitis is back, antibiotics and breathing treatments.........

But most generic foods are fine, soup has to be Campbell's.

Are there any foods where you need name brand, and just can't stand the generic? 

It's just so variable---some generics are (IMO) better than the brand name, some are just (IMO) awful. And sometimes it's not about whether it's generic or not, but differences between brands. The only chicken noodle soup I like is Progresso. I mean, I can eat Campbell's, I don't actively dislike it, but it just doesn't have the same flavor and texture as Progresso.

I usually buy generic store-brand canned beans. Can't taste/feel any difference between those and the brand name. Same with pasta, although only Prego pasta sauce will do . I buy a lot of Kirkland brand things at Costco but I don't know if that counts as generic.

LOL, I couldn't remember everything I buy so I decided to go look in my fridge and cupboards for what's generic/store brand. I have store brand/generic: half & half, peanut butter, beef jerky, canned chicken, canned beans, canned evaporated milk, boxed pasta, quick rice, tea bags, canned fruit, oatmeal, sugar, canned tomatoes, and frozen veggies.

Hellmann's mayo and Heintz Ketchup!  Also kraft's tartar sauce.  It's strange that I can't stand Kraft's mayo or Hellmans Tartar sauce. 

I also notice too much of a difference in bottled lemon juice.  

Heinz ketchup and certain brands of crackers are a must, but otherwise I don't discern much of a difference

Hellman's mayo and every once in a while I crave Kraft mac and cheese.  I want the regular mac and cheese, the kind you add milk and margarine to and has the powdered cheese.  I know it's really lousy mac and cheese but every once in while it's what I want.

A lot of my shopping choices depend on what's on sale at any given time. With sale items and using coupons, I can often get a national brand for the same price, and sometimes, cheaper than the generic brand.

I've started using Giant (store brand) canned beans for things like my crock pot beans and for when I need cannellini beans or black beans, things like that. Most of the time, I use dried beans that I've soaked, but even some of my dried beans are store brand. I always keep a good supply of dried beans in the pantry because they come in so handy.

Right now our store has a Buy Theirs, Get Ours Free sale going on. I bought a can of Dole's Crushed Pineapple (had a coupon) and got a free can of generic pineapple. I figured I'd give it a try. I want to make some mini orange-pineapple muffins to bring into work this week.

We must use Heinz ketchup. Crest toothpaste. Listerine mouthwash.

I only want King Arthur or (in a pinch) Gold Medal flour; never the store brand for flour, although I do use generic sugars. I don't care for Pillsbury flour either. I do want Ghirardelli chocolate and buy it whenever it's on sale, whether I actually need it or not, esp if I have a coupon. It always gets used. Skippy Super Crunch peanut butter.

I agree with Mooch about bottled lemon juice. We do use Kraft mayo, though. And I like Miracle Whip dressing for some things....I also use half Miracle Whip, half mayo for potato salad and pasta salads. But it has to be Miracle Whip, not generic dressing. And I only use MW if my BIL isn't coming for dinner as he hates the stuff.

I tried generic tomato sauce and tomato paste one time. Terrible stuff. It had a definite off-taste to us. Back to Contadina for paste; I make my own sauce from our garden tomatoes. When that's gone, then I go with Contadina, although I have used Muir Glen, too, when it's on sale and really like that. Muir Glen tomatoes are very good.

Rick will not eat any generic cold cereal. Believe it or not, Tabby does NOT like generic mini Shredded Wheat! She'll walk away and jump right off the table. But if it's the good stuff, she'll gobble it down. Rick will eat generic instant oatmeal....if he has to.

That's about it as far as must-have national brands. I've gotten to the point where trying to save a buck matters.

Only Tide or WIsk for laundry. I know that Tide is expensive, but it also gets the job done. Willowy, I think Kirkland brand laundry detergent rated #1 in a Consumer Reports review. Or it was really, really close to #1. If we had a Costco close, I'd go there. Many of the Kirkland items rate around the top, unlike the Sam's Club store brand (Members Mark? Is that what it's called?).

Oh yes, Mac & Cheese has to be Kraft!! And Velveeta has to be velveeta.

I like Amy's mac and cheese better :tongue2:. Only frozen Minute Maid lemon juice, anything bottled tastes old, ick. Yes to Heinz ketchup---how come no other brand can get it right? Hellmann's mayo. I don't notice much difference in mustard though.

I don't like Kirkland laundry detergent unfortunately. Well, I don't dislike it, and it works great, but I prefer the scent of Tide. They sell Tide pods at Costco too, so it doesn't cost a lot more. I think the Kirkland laundry pods are 18 cents each and the Tide pods are 22 cents each? Pretty sure that's what it came to but it's been a while since I compared. Of course the liquid detergent is cheaper, and powdered detergent even cheaper than that, but I like the pods. I'm single and laundry detergent isn't going to break me :lol3:. If I had a dozen kids I suppose it would be another story.

I agree about the tomato products!  I know years ago a co-worker and I both had bad experiences with the generics.  I like the Muir Glen Fire Roasted tomatoes.  Otherwise I usually use Contadina or Hunts.  I like getting the no-salt added ones.  

Mustard I don't mind an off-name brand.  Yellow mustard anyway.  I do have brand preference if I get honey-mustard though.  Also for hot chocolate.  I do coupon shop and I will get things ahead of time if I can get a better deal with the coupon.  I can almost always find coupons for all our oral care things.  Hair care too.  I got super excited to find a coupon for the almond butter I like.  It's expensive so coupons help!!

I use All Free & Clear laundry soap because my kids both have sensitive skin.  I miss using Tide!  I don't miss the prices; but it did work very well!  

Love Muir Glen Fire Roasted Tomatoes!  A few years ago, Rick and I went into a Big Lots and they had cans for 88 cents a can. Needless to say, we stocked up as that was a great price. Red Pack tomatoes are pretty good. As our Furmano's, but that might be a regional thing, I'm not sure. We have a Furman's plant in the area, so our stores carry that brand. Anybody try Centos tomato products? They're not bad. But I try to stick with Contadina when I can. 

Ballpark mustard.....has to be French's, Dijon mustard....has to be Grey Poupon. Other than that, I'm good and have tried all kinds of mustard. I've been a mustard-head from way, way back. Mom said she caught me sitting behind the couch with a yellow face, a huge jar of French's and a spoon when I was a little girl. Love my mustard. There's usually about six different kinds of mustard in our fridge, from really hot horseradish stuff to cheddar ale mustard to blue cheese mustard (from Stonewall Kitchens) to just about anything.