Grocery Items To Avoid, According To Professional Chefs

Apparently, if you want to cook like a pro, you should avoid certain grocery items. Real Simple, a home and lifestyle magazine collaborated with professional chefs to compile a list of grocery items to avoid.

"We checked in with professional chefs who shared the items they never buy at the grocery store, at specialty shops, farmers markets, and even online," said the magazine. "Without these products, the pros say you’re in for more of that wow factor, cooking inspiration, and excellent, pro-level food coming out of your home kitchen."

After combing through their list of items I noticed that I also find myself avoiding some of them at the grocery store. Unless I'm in some sort of a pinch and need an item immediately. You know, before a get-together or a party. But what are some of the grocery items they’re saying to avoid?

You may have heard someone say that they don’t like store-bought pesto. Believe me, you’re not alone. I make it quite often for flatbreads, sandwiches, and pasta. It’s pretty easy to make if you’re up for it. You just need some fresh basil, pine nuts (but not if you have a nut allergy), parmesan cheese, garlic cloves, extra virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper, then blend in a food processor.

So, why are these professional chefs saying to avoid this item at the grocery store? One of the chefs points out that pesto is easy to make. They also mention that you can customize it and avoid preservatives.

Don't get me wrong, a jar of Rao’s tomato or alfredo sauce is my jam. And it’s great to have on hand when you’re whipping together a last-minute dish. But one of the things on their list is tomato sauce. “The sauces in the store are full of sugar and preservatives, and honestly do not taste very good. Instead, buy canned whole organic plum tomatoes, blend them up, and cook them down with your favorite aromatics,” said one chef. This is spot on to what I do. And when I’m lucky, I can snag fresh tomatoes from my friend’s garden and some herbs from my garden and really get creative with the flavors.

Interestingly, broth is on their list. After I learned how easy it is to make my own, I refused to buy a box of it. I get it, most of the time convenience wins. But with the prices on simple items like broth skyrocketing, I’m more than okay with cutting down on an expense. I take some water and boil it down with veggie scraps, herbs, peels, and whatever else I have on hand and strain it, to make a good portion of broth to separate and freeze for meals. Some of these meals include rice, soup, gravy, or adding to a specialty dish. With this grocery item, one chef highlights the low cost of just making it on your own.

You may have to add a bit more effort into pasta night with this next item on their list. They said that pre-grated parmesan should be avoided at all costs. If I could churn out my own cheese, I would. However, it's not that simple. But buying a block of fresh cheese is a better option. "True Parmigiano [Reggiano] is a culinary masterpiece, and one of the greatest gifts Italy has bestowed on humanity. Please seek out the real thing, preferably aged 36 months, and take the extra minute to grate it fresh when you need it. [It's] life-changing," said one chef.

Pizza Today reported that block cheese remains a whole food without additives or preservatives. They said when you purchase pre-shredded cheese, the only way to prevent it from clumping and molding is to add potato starch, corn starch, powdered cellulose, and Natamycin. This is just something to keep in mind when journeying through the grocery store aisles.

Also, on their list are salad dressing, peeled garlic, and others. Take a look at the complete list of grocery items to avoid here.

Some people can’t live without their air fryers, while others consider them to be glorified convection ovens. First things first, air fryers aren't deep fryers. Many people use them as an alternative that can have similar results, but they’re just not the same. Air fryers circulate very hot air around your food, and that heat penetrates the food, achieving crispiness without a lot of or any oi at all.

Some experts have identified cancer risks related to high levels of certain chemicals found in some air fryers. Consumer Notice reported that Several models of air fryers contain polyfluorinated molecules, also known as "forever chemicals," in the nonstick coating of the basket. They also mention that scientific studies have established the health risks of exposure to high levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), showing links to health problems including infertility, hormone disruption, and some types of cancer.

They do suggest purchasing an air fryer with stainless steel or glass coatings to reduce PFAS exposure.

WebMD reported that in one study air frying fish raised the amount of a substance called "cholesterol oxidation products" (COPs). COPs form when the cholesterol in meat or fish breaks down during cooking. Studies connect these substances to coronary heart disease, hardening of the arteries, cancer, and other diseases. But there is a workaround. You can lower the amount of COPs when air frying fish by adding fresh parsley, chives, or a mixture of the two. They said that these herbs act as antioxidants to reduce the COPs in air-fried foods.

Then some people may avoid air fryers altogether due to mess and buildup that’s hard to clean or get to, uneven cooking, limited food space, or the fact that there are better or more efficient ways to cook.

On the other hand, many people love air fryers because they are quick, easy to use, and use less oil than deep frying.

If an air fryer is the latest addition to your kitchen appliance lineup, you may want to skip using it with certain foods.

We're not talking about chicken wings here, we're talking about large whole chickens. You're better off sticking to an oven when it comes to cooking them. If you're wondering why, chicken must be cooked to a specific temperature internally before being consumed. According to the USDA, all poultry should reach a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.  Unfortunately, air frying this food item doesn't guarantee an even cook. But hey, at least chicken wings are small enough to get an even crisp. Just make sure you line the air fryer basket first if it's raw meat.

An air fryer is not a deep fryer. So, if you're looking to toss battered fries, meat cutlets, or battered veggies, think again. There's a big chance the batter will drip down the base of the machine, causing a big mess and major cleanup after. Bad enough, some people didn't know you even had to clean an air fryer regularly. No really, someone on Reddit shared that they didn't wash their air fryer basket after each use. "I don’t think I’ve ever washed it lol. I’ve had it for 8 months and decided to finally wash it today," they wrote. They continued to say how there was a bunch of "solidified juices" and "fat/ grease" from steak and chicken.

It's possible to make your favorite cheesy snacks in an air fryer. But it can get messy. AllRecipes cautions against air frying cheese. This isn't because of health reasons but for cleanup purposes. They point out that cheese melts fast. The outlet suggests sticking to foods that effectively hold the cheese in place. Maybe, just stick to frozen cheeses like mozzarella sticks.

Sure you can go ahead and put those Brussels sprouts or broccoli in the air fryer. But skip putting spinach, collard, or chard leaves in. If you haven't tried it already, light leaves might move and shift around during the cooking process. You may also come across a fairly dry vegetable if you don't put a little oil with it. And, of course, you don't want to forget the seasonings.

Some people have tried it but you probably shouldn't. Most air fryer models won't reach the required temperature to pop the kernels. According to Jolly Time Pop Corn, the best popping temperature is between 400 and 460 degrees Fahrenheit. Plus, popcorn kernels can become lodged within the air fryer's heating element, which can potentially cause it to short.

Some grains like bread can be cooked in an air fryer. However, it can get a little tricky with lighter breads like toast and English muffins due to the air making them fly around. But anything like pasta, quinoa, and rice doesn't do too well. Raw grains need to absorb water to cook. But there is some good news. If you have rice that's already cooked, just add a little oil to reat in the air fryer.