After working in the food industry for years, here are 7 things I wouldn't buy at Trader Joe's — and what I'd get instead

• After years in the food industry, I don't think some things are worth buying at Trader Joe's.

• Skip Trader Joe's Beef-less ground beef, and get its amazing soy chorizo instead.

• The chain's naan is far better than its focaccia, which can be a bit too oily.

Trader Joe's has serious status with fans —it's one of America's favorite supermarkets and it has an endless stream of new products and releases each month.

I, too, was a loyal fan for years until I began working as a line cook. As I began to understand more about the food and restaurant industry, I realized there are definitely some things that aren't worth getting at Trader Joe's.

Here are seven items I don't pick up at the chain anymore, plus the excellent ones I suggest you try instead.

I won't buy foccacia at Trader Joe's, but I will pick up some naan.

If you've seen how focaccia is made (just watch Samin Nosrat's "Salt Fat Acid Heat"), then you know how much oil this delicious bread requires.

Although it's great when it is fresh, place high-moisture bread in sealed plastic, and it's probably not going to be great. In my experience, the sealed bread goes bad quicker than I'd like and tends to have a soggy density.

Unless you're planning to heavily toast the focaccia or eat it right away, stick to buying naan instead. This pillowy-soft enriched bread can be used in many of the same ways as focaccia.

To upgrade the naan focaccia style, warm it, rub it with butter, and sprinkle on toppings. You can adhere toppings to the bread with a quick broil.

Trader Joe's Beef-less ground beef is not nearly as good as its soy chorizo.

I've been a vegetarian for roughly half of my life, so I've had a range of meat alternatives. In my opinion, Trader Joe's Beefless ground beef is not among the best. I find it lacks flavor and needs some major doctoring to shine in a dish.

On the other hand, I fully recommend Trader Joe's soy chorizo, which I buy every time I visit the chain. It's loaded with flavor so I can add it to my favorite vegetable mixture for tacos, a burrito bowl, or even baked dishes like enchiladas.

Best of all, this plant-based meat freezes well, so I can keep it on hand for quick meals. Not only is this the better option of the two, but also I think it's the best brand of soy chorizo available.

Skip Trader Joe's nonfat Greek yogurt — the whole-milk variety is wildly good.

I love plain Greek yogurt for its versatility. It's a more nutritious swap for sugary yogurts and a lighter alternative to sour cream in baked goods.

Although Trader Joe's nonfat Greek yogurt is just fine, I think you're doing yourself a disservice if you're choosing it over the whole-milk variety. That's because Trader Joe's plain whole-milk Greek yogurt is truly something special.

Unlike other brands of full-fat Greek yogurt, Trader Joe's is extra creamy in both taste and texture. It's a decadent find I reach for every time I shop there.

Skip the "Two-Buck Chuck" wines — fork out a few more dollars for a bottle from the Trader Joe's Reserve.

Sippable "Two-Buck Chuck" wines might have put Trader Joe's on the map, but the budget bottles are no longer just $2 in many places in the US.

If you're going to pay a few dollars more for the same bottles of red and white, just reach for another Trader Joe's wine that's only a few bucks more.

Trader Joe's Reserve wines are often about $10 a bottle and are some of the best value wines you'll find on the shelves.

Trader Joe's other wines are fine over ice or doctored up for sangria, but none of the extra work is needed for the Trader Joe's Reserve bottles.

Trader Joe's white-truffle potato chips aren't nearly as special as the dark-russet ones.

If you, like me, love all things truffle, then you might be tempted by Trader Joe's organic white-truffle potato chips. But I find them to be lackluster and taste similar to most other truffle and sea-salt chips out there.

When I shop at Trader Joe's, I want items I'm not going to find just anywhere else, so I snag the dark-russet potato chips instead.

The dark-russet chips feel like super-crunchy kettle chips with the flavor of well-done french fries. It's a unique chip that you'll likely only find if you order housemade potato chips in a restaurant.

Skip the Everything but the Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend.

I worked at a bagel shop and deli, and I think everything-bagel seasoning has gone entirely too far. I like it on bagels but I don't need it on everything — and I don't need to buy it at Trader Joe's.

It's more cost-effective to make everything-bagel seasoning at home, and you can easily customize your blend to include more of what you like and less of what you don't. Extra garlic and fewer poppy seeds? Easy.

Instead of bending to a trend I can't seem to avoid, I grab a bottle of Trader Joe's Nori Komi Furikake Japanese Multi-Purpose Seasoning.

Made with seaweed, two kinds of sesame seeds, and salt, this seasoning packs a distinct umami flavor. It's perfect on poké bowls, ramen, and even popcorn.

Trader Joe's CheeseSticks aren't as good as the Super Seedy Cheese Snack Bites.

I love Trader Joe's snack selection, where I can pick up items to keep on hand to serve with drinks.

Growing up in the South, cheese straws are a classic choice. But I find Trader Joe's CheeseSticks to be too brittle, dry, and lacking cheesy flavor.

Instead, I reach for the Super Seedy Cheese Snack Bites. The whole black peppercorns give them a pleasant kick that complements the cheese well. They're snappy and crisp but I'm not left feeling like I might break a tooth.

I'm always happy to sprinkle these on top of salads or serve them at happy hour.

Read the original article on Business Insider