No summertime barbecue or picnic is complete without a few good side dishes, and a scoop of potato salad makes a great addition to a juicy cheeseburger, a plate of smoky ribs, or a hearty deli sandwich.
To me, a good potato salad has a satisfying mix of textures, and enough flavor to liven up the potatoes without overpowering them.
With barbecue season upon us, I decided to try the house-brand potato salads from Wegmans, Trader Joe’s, and Whole Foods to see how they compare. Here’s how I ranked them, from worst to first.
Prices may vary by location.
Wegmans potato salad was the most expensive
A pound of Wegmans potato salad cost me $5.50, which was the most I paid at any of the stores.
This potato salad looked a bit soupier than the others I tried, with chunks of potato, celery, and pepper flakes floating in the mayo-heavy base.
The potatoes themselves turned out to be the mealiest of any I tried, but there was a nice bit of crunch to the celery and a bit of peppery spice that I liked. There was also an unexpected earthiness from the onions, and they tasted as if they’d been sautéed.
This potato salad wasn’t bad, but it was my least favorite of the three I tried. In my opinion, it was a little heavy for a poolside barbecue side dish. Since it was also the most expensive, it was an easy choice for third place.
I would buy Trader Joe’s potato salad again
Trader Joe’s potato salad cost a little less than Wegmans, at $5 a pound. Of the three salads I tried, it was the most consistent in appearance.
It honestly looked and tasted more like egg salad to me, but the yolk-heavy creaminess was enjoyable, and I liked the nice hint of vinegary tang.
This was the sweetest of the three potato salads I tried, which isn’t necessarily a selling point for me. I also thought it had the least texture. The potatoes were mushy, and the small bits of celery offered little to no crunch.
I didn’t love it, but it was good enough that I’d buy it again if I were at Trader Joe’s and needed potato salad.
The Whole Foods Red Bliss potato salad was the clear winner
Of the three stores I visited, Whole Foods was the only one that packed my potato salad fresh to order at the deli counter.
I can’t say for sure if that makes a difference, but the Red Bliss potato salad was undoubtedly the most visually appealing of the three I tried. Red potato skins and green chives added plenty of color to the visibly creamy salad.
Although it typically costs $6, it was marked down to $4.50 per pound the day that I went. So, Whole Foods’ potato salad was the least expensive of the three, and from the first bite, the clear winner in quality.
The potatoes had a nice, hearty texture, the celery was crunchy, and the salad packed a strong, delicious mustard flavor.
Since Whole Foods’ entry was the least expensive, the best-looking, and the tastiest, its top ranking was a no-brainer. From now on, when the shopping list calls for potato salad, I’ll steer toward Whole Foods.
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