7 HomeGoods Foods You Should Resist Putting in Your Cart (And 6 You Should Snag)

HomeGoods is the go-to place for picking up affordable towels, stylish yet inexpensive bedding, and dishware you didn’t realize you needed.

It’s also where you’ll find several aisles full of discounted food that looks more like something you’d find at a gourmet grocery store to help you save on groceries .

But not every deal is worth snagging, particularly in the grocery aisle. Here are six HomeGoods foods you should skip — and six you should definitely pick up.

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1. Spices (Skip)

Spices have a surprisingly short shelf life. They’ll often start losing their flavor around six months, which means you’re not getting much more than dried flecks to add to your meals.

It’s unclear how long spices have been sitting on HomeGoods’ shelves — or wherever they sat before they arrived at HomeGoods. So, it might be best to skip the spices.

2. Products labeled keto (Skip)

There’s little regulation around products being labeled “keto” or other trendy diet words. Yet HomeGoods often has an entire section dedicated to these types of health products.

Since you won’t know whether they’re healthy without looking at the ingredient list, it’s probably best to skip them.

3. Products labeled organic (Skip)

An item with a pretty label and an organic claim may sound like a healthy food, but that’s not necessarily true.

Organic cookies and chips often aren’t any better for you than your standard grocery store fare, so save a few dollars and skip these impulse purchases at HomeGoods.

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4. Coffee (Skip)

There’s almost always seasonal coffee available at HomeGoods, especially if you’re interested in K-cups, but save your money. You can buy these cheaper — and often better — at your local grocery store.

5. Items about to expire (Skip)

Are you really going to use up that ginger chili crunch by the use-by date in two weeks? Probably not.

Put down the impulse buy that you didn’t already have on your grocery list, or you might find that you’re wasting money on products that you won’t use before they go bad.

6. Standard olive oil (Skip)

HomeGoods sells some fabulous extra virgin and cold-pressed olive oils, so skip the olive oil that is more run-of-the-mill.

Instead, pick up the ones that resemble something you’d get at a specialty store.

7. Flavored coffee syrup (Buy)

If you love making fancy lattes in the morning, HomeGoods is the place to get a deal on Torani syrups. You can pick up basic flavors like vanilla or opt for seasonal flavors.

8. Condiments (Buy)

You can pick up everything from a gourmet hot mustard to delicious seasonal jams at HomeGoods.

These are perfect for putting in gift baskets or using when you’re putting together a charcuterie board. Just make sure to check the expiration date first.

9. Baking mixes (Buy)

You’ll always have something on hand to whip up if you grab a few baking mixes from HomeGoods.

From a scone mix to a brownie mix, your baking skills will look like they’re straight from a recipe book.

10. Sweet imports (Buy)

If you have a sweet tooth, you’re probably not going to make it through the HomeGoods checkout line without picking up at least one bag of goodies.

From biscotti to imported British cookies, there’s always something there to tempt you.

11. Honey (Buy)

Having a few varieties of honey at home adds some interest to your tea routine.

Pick up orange blossom honey, wildflower honey, or any other unique nectar your local HomeGoods has. These are also great on a cheese plate.

12. Fun shaped pasta (Buy)

Add some seasonal fun to dinnertime with pasta shaped to every holiday from Halloween to Valentine’s Day.

There’s always something quirky available in the HomeGoods food aisle. While you’re at it, pick up a pasta sauce or two from HomeGoods.

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13. Snack food (Buy)

It may not be the healthiest option, but if you have a road trip or a picnic on the horizon, then it’s time to hit the snack section of HomeGoods.

You’ll find everything from flavored popcorn to every flavor of chips under the sun.

Bottom line

While you might think HomeGoods is selling discount food items that were over-ordered for other stores, some are specifically manufactured for the T.J. Maxx and HomeGoods family.

That means they’re high-quality food products that are actually worth the deal you’re getting. So grab your best cash back credit cards and start savoring.

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