6 Groceries To Buy From Target And 7 To Skip

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Target is a fantastic place to pick up all kinds of household goods, including groceries. The chain boasts low prices on many food items and has an excellent selection, especially if you're lucky enough to live near a Super Target (for the most part, at least). Now, while some Target options are great, not all of its grocery offerings are outstanding. Whether an item's quality isn't great, the shelf life simply doesn't live up to competitors, or it's something else, some groceries from Target should be avoided. Don't worry, though, as I'm here to help you sort the good from the bad.

I've been a regular Target shopper for many years. During that time, I picked up quite a few tips for making the most of its grocery department, and can't wait to share what I've learned. After all, nobody has the time or money for bad groceries. So stick with me, and you'll be able to take advantage of some of Target's best deals and products, while ensuring your buyer's remorse is kept to a minimum.

Unfortunately, the first groceries I recommend skipping at Target constitutes an entire section of the store. I know it's a bummer, but the produce department is lackluster at best. For starters, the selection is poor. You can find all the typical things, like onions, peppers, broccoli, avocados, bananas, apples, and so on. But the overall variety leaves a lot to be desired.  You're not likely to find a fresh bunch of dinosaur kale.

Of course, whether specialized produce speaks to you or not, the selection and quantity of products aren't close to what you find at other major grocery chains — which goes for both a regular Target and a Super Target. The latter has a better selection by far, but either way, be prepared to be let down. I've also found that any produce I buy from Target tends to spoil much quicker than expected. Much to my chagrin, I often end up tossing stuff in the trash after only a couple of days, which is both wasteful and annoying.

To top it all off, much of Target's produce comes in pre-packaged bags, even entire heads of broccoli. These typically have enormous stalks still attached to them, which you of course have pay for by weight. I'm sure this packaging helps speed things up in the checkout aisle, but it takes away your agency as a shopper to choose the fruits and veggies you truly want. I'll pass, and you should, too.

In many Target stores, you'll find the bakery section right next to the produce department — and it's a whole different world in terms of quality and selection. In fact, picking up fresh baked goods from Target is something I strongly urge you to do. From standard Italian and French bread loaves to specialty dessert options, the store's bakery breads generally have it going on.

One of my favorite bakery goods to pick up from Target is croissants, both the regular butter ones and the chocolate petite croissants. Compared to other grocery stores' options, they are significantly flakier, more buttery, and simply more delicious. You can forget about them being dry or having a weird, low-quality aftertaste; I'd even say they could give a stand-alone bakery a run for its money.

I also have trouble not purchasing the glazed apple fritters when I spot them on the shelf. Soft in the center, bursting with fresh flavor, and with a slight crisp on the exterior thanks to the glaze, they're nothing if not drool-worthy. But the fun doesn't stop there. The donuts, cookies, brookie bites, and fresh breads of all kinds hit the spot. Actually, now that I think of it, I've never had a bad product from Target's bakery, so don't pass the department by.

When you're perusing the pasta aisle at Target, you'll see lots of reputable brands to choose from. You'll also find a wide assortment of proprietary options under the names Good & Gather and Market Pantry, and they are priced so low that they are sure to pique some interest in any savvy shopper. Still, I advise you to pay a touch more and go for another brand instead. Sadly, the house pasta is another grocery item where Target fails.

The problem with Good & Gather and Market Pantry pasta is that the quality is exceptionally low. I know this because despite my best efforts, it always winds up breaking down into smaller pieces, either while it is boiling or after I attempt to stir in sauce and other ingredients. Good & Gather Spaghetti, in particular, is the pits. A box may only cost $1.29, but it's not worth half of that if you have to suffer through a mess of broken noodles.

In short, don't be fooled by the low prices on Good & Gather or Market Pantry pastas because you'll regret it. Plus, since dry pasta is already so inexpensive, spending a few extra cents, or even as much as a dollar more, for a better brand will pay off in spades when it comes to the finished product's flavor and quality.

Another area of the grocery department where Target shines is the cheese aisle. As a self-proclaimed fanatic of the ingredient, you better believe I've explored it thoroughly, and let me tell you: The cheese section is incredibly well-stocked and has such great prices. I'd go so far as to say it's worth making a special trip to Target when you need to restock your fridge's cheese drawer (I know I sure do).

At Target, you can find all of the major cheese brands, like Sargento, Kraft, and Tillamook. However, Target's Good & Gather cheeses are what truly make the section stand out. These come in all kinds of formats, shredded, sliced, and blocks, and there's no lack of variety. They also boast minimal packaging, so all you eco-conscious warriors out there will be pleased. Plus — and perhaps best of all — they are priced extremely low. For example, an 8-ounce bag of Good & Gather Mild Cheddar costs $1.99 at Target, which is cheaper than similar items from other stores like Safeway. In other words, buying cheese from Target will make your bank account happy, as well.

Many households keep milk on hand at all times, making it a kitchen staple. However, you'd be wise not to buy Target's in-store brand of milk. In particular, Good & Gather Whole Milk makes a pretty bad pick. It just so happens that I did a taste test and ranking of store-brand milks, and it only managed to come in fifth place (out of seven). The nicest thing I can say about it was that it was decent at best. Considering all of the other better options, store-brand or not, I urge you to opt for something else every single time.

Regrettably, Target's chocolate milk isn't anything to write home about, either. As it turns out, I did a ranking of chocolate milks as well, and Favorite Day Chocolate Milk only got ninth place out of 16. It wasn't awful, but it certainly wasn't great; it was just passable. As you can see, Target's generic brands of milk simply don't cut it, so avoid them at the store.

Pizza lovers rejoice — Target crushes in that department, as well. The section features a wide range of options with lots of well-known brands, like DiGiorno and California Pizza Kitchen, and it also stocks a massive selection of proprietary brand recipes, as well. As a result, you get more options than any pizza fanatic could ask for. 

Target brand pizzas also come in a bunch of unique flavors you don't typically find at other stores, like the Good & Gather Signature Wood Fired Spinach & Goat Cheese Pizza or the Ann Kim Collab Wood Fired Spicy Sausage & Sweet Peppers Pizza. Plus, when it comes to the major pizza brands you see at most stores, I usually find that they're priced a bit lower at Target than other locations. A great example of this can be seen with the Screamin' Sicilian Holy Pepperoni Pizza. At Target, it costs $7.99 but is often on sale for less; the same pizza costs almost twice as much at Safeway as of this writing (yikes). Also, in a ranking of store-bought frozen pizzas conducted by a colleague of mine, it earned second place out of 16.

I love frozen french fries as much as the next person — maybe more — but you better believe I'm not going to Target to buy them. My first issue with purchasing fries at this store lies in the fact that the selection is abysmal. Even when I go to a Super Target, the offerings are severely limited compared to other chains, and many products are often sold out.

My second grievance with Target's french fries is that the Market Pantry options are some of the worst I've ever tried. I would know, too, because I did a ranking of frozen fries; the Market Pantry Crispy Shoestring French Fries came in 12th place out of 13 options. They were completely bland, and the bag was full of lots of tiny broken pieces. While they didn't make it into my ranking, Market Pantry Crispy Krinkle Cut French Fries are also awfully bland, and the texture is a complete failure. They are so dry that no amount of dipping sauce can save them. My advice? Buy a different brand from Target if you must shop there, but heading to another grocery store for fries is ultimately your best bet.

Rao's products are some of the best store-bought options out there when it comes to authentic-tasting Italian ingredients and cuisine. Everything from the brand's lineup, including sauces, soups, dried pasta, and pre-made frozen meals are nothing short of spectacular. They aren't the most affordable, though, so one way to save some dough on Rao's products is to purchase them from Target. That's right: Rao's is another thing Target does better than its competitors, and this time it's all about price.

At Target, a 24-ounce jar of Rao's Homemade Marinara Sauce costs $7.59. Comparatively, the same product will usually run for several dollars more at Safeway. Even if it's on sale there, Target sells it for less. Another example can be seen with Rao's Made for Home Frozen Meatballs & Sauce, which just so happen to be the best frozen meatballs around. These also cost less at Target on average than other stores, and the same goes for many of the brand's other products. So if you want to get a taste of the good stuff from Rao's without paying top dollar for it, head over to Target.

You may be able to pick up a box of Market Pantry Macaroni & Cheese for less than a dollar, but it would have to be free for me to ever eat it again. Heck, I probably wouldn't even take home a box if it was gratis — that's how absolutely awful it is. It may be incredibly cheap, but it unfortunately tastes like it.

Surprise surprise, I also did a ranking of boxed mac and cheeses a while back, and it came in second-to-last place (out of 15 products). The only one that was worse was Cheetos, and I doubt anyone has high hopes for that. Regardless, Market Pantry Macaroni & Cheese isn't creamy or cheesy. The texture is more akin to cardboard, so be sure steer clear of it at all costs. I struggle to see how a kid could even enjoy it. One thing is for sure, though: No one will ever ask for it by name.

If you're looking for a pre-made meal that is perfect for eating on the go or simply kept stocked in your fridge at home, look no further than Good & Gather Salad Bowls. They don't require you to heat anything up, they are already in a to-go container for easy portability, and they are also priced right. The size of the salads varies a bit, but for the most part, they weigh about 6 ounces, and they only cost just $3.29 each as of this writing.

In addition, Good & Gather Salad Bowls come in various yummy flavors, like Chicken Caesar, Cobb Salad, Chicken Ranch with Uncured Bacon, and more. You don't have to take my word for it, either. On Reddit, people sing the praises of Good & Gather Salad Bowls as well. They hold them in high regard for being fresh, very affordable, and tasty to boot. Sounds like a win-win to me, so make sure to pick one up the next time you visit Target so you can get in on all of the yummy, convenient fun.

Next up in the groceries to skip buying at Target is Good & Gather Alfredo sauce. Again, it's priced low for a 15-ounce jar, which I always love, yet the actual recipe is a complete failure. I promise this will be the last time I say this, but I also did a taste test and ranking of store-bought Alfredo sauces, and it came in second-to-last place (out of 11 entries, to be exact).

Now for the nitty gritty. The main reason I suggest skipping the Good & Gather Alfredo sauce is that it tastes low-quality. The flavor was overwhelmingly bland except for an off-putting tangy element, which I seriously disliked. The texture left a lot to be desired, as well, especially when I compared it to other, tastier options. I suggest you splurge a bit and go for something like Rao's Homemade Alfredo instead. It'll cost more, but we already know Target is a great place to buy Rao's products, and I gave it first place in my taste test. In this case, then, it's more than worth biting the bullet to get a better-quality Alfredo sauce.

Whether you're one of those people who only enjoys ice cream in the summer or all year long, Target makes a fantastic grocery store to pick some up. It carries all of the major brands, like Breyers, Tillamook, and Ben & Jerry's, and also stocks a huge collection of Market Pantry options. Luckily, unlike some of Target's other proprietary brand products, they taste really yummy, too.

In particular, the reduced-fat Favorite Day recipes are outstanding. They taste exactly like real ice cream, something Halo Top can not boast, and are generally less expensive than other brands, as well. My top pick is the Favorite Day Reduced Fat Chocolate with Peanut Butter Swirl Ice Cream, which only contains 350 calories in the entire pint. Impressive, right?

Aside from the store's own in-store options, other popular brands come at lower prices when you buy them from Target as well. For example, a 48-ounce tub of Tillamook Ice Cream costs several dollars more at Safeway when compared to the price at Target.

The last Target grocery item to skip is the collection of Good & Gather spices. I'll be the first to admit it: I've bought more than my fair share of them in the past. Honestly, they're priced so low that I couldn't resist. For some context, the majority of them only cost $1.19, minus a few exceptions like the Everything Seasoning Blend, which costs a bit more. Even so, I've regretted being stuck with every single one of them. Why? Well, sadly, the price is once again an accurate reflection of the quality. Translation: They're cheap, and they taste like it.

Compared to other brands of spices, Good & Gather ones are seriously lacking in flavor. In fact, they don't even put off much of an aroma. As a result, you have to use way more of these spices to get any semblance of flavor in the dishes you include them. Even when you go overboard, the potency still doesn't live up to expectations. I'll let you do the math, but they aren't even a very great deal when you consider how quickly you'll run through them. Good & Gather spices are nearly flavorless, and they are to be avoided at all costs. Sorry not sorry, Target.

To compile this list of Target groceries — what you should buy, and others to skip — I tapped into my personal wealth of experience on the matter. I previously lived a couple of blocks from a Super Target, and currently live near a regular location (and I use the store's drive-up pickup option quite often). I've also conducted many taste tests and rankings that included Target brand products during my time as a food writer. As a result, I have extensive experience with many of the store's products. For anything I didn't have first-hand knowledge of, I filled in the blanks with what people were saying on Reddit.

Beyond my knowledge of Target products, I relied on the quality and flavor to determine which groceries would be dubbed groceries to skip or buy. The ones that received positive recommendations in this article come at lower prices, boast higher quality, and contained lots of flavor. Everything else? Not so much.