# What grocery store items will you absolutely not skimp on and get the generic equivalent? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 10, 2013, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-grocery-store-items-will-you-absolutely-not-skimp-on-and-get-the-generic-equivalent/652574 "2013-03-10T21:45:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-grocery-store-items-will-you-absolutely-not-skimp-on-and-get-the-generic-equivalent/652574/1 "2013-03-10T21:45:13Z")
What things in grocery stores do you absolutely REFUSE to buy a generic variant of? I shop at my local Kroger, and Kroger-branded items are often pretty good, but there are just some things I will not buy their brand of. Peanut butter Garbage bags Soda pop Toilet Paper Paper Towels Bacon Cereal What are yours and where do you shop? Conversely, what generic items do you buy that you find better than the name branded things? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-grocery-store-items-will-you-absolutely-not-skimp-on-and-get-the-generic-equivalent/652574/2 "2013-03-10T21:48:56Z")
Tea. Even the really good stuff is still cheap enough not to worry about. Some cereals. Nobody’s yet managed to make a good imitation of Life, for instance. Mustard, I not only don’t buy generic, I buy only one specific brand: Bertman’s Stadium Mustard, available only in the Cleveland area. That stuff is God’s gift to hot dogs. ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-grocery-store-items-will-you-absolutely-not-skimp-on-and-get-the-generic-equivalent/652574/3 "2013-03-10T21:53:41Z")
Anything Kirkland (Costco) goes well with me. But when it comes to ketchup it has got to be Heinz! ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-grocery-store-items-will-you-absolutely-not-skimp-on-and-get-the-generic-equivalent/652574/4 "2013-03-10T22:09:53Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Tea. Even the really good stuff is still cheap enough not to worry about. > Some cereals. Nobody’s yet managed to make a good imitation of Life, for instance. > Mustard, I not only don’t buy generic, I buy only one specific brand: Bertman’s Stadium Mustard, available only in the Cleveland area. That stuff is God’s gift to hot dogs. Hadn’t thought of tea. I agree on Life as well. I will sometimes buy Kroger’s horseradish mustard as it’s pretty good, but not always. > [@harmonicamoon](#): > > Anything Kirkland (Costco) goes well with me. But when it comes to ketchup it has got to be Heinz! Ketchup is a really good example. I will not buy generic of that either. ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-grocery-store-items-will-you-absolutely-not-skimp-on-and-get-the-generic-equivalent/652574/5 "2013-03-10T22:12:49Z")
Soft drinks, cake mix, toilet paper, Puff’s tissue, peanut butter, crackers, hmmm. I guess a lot of stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-grocery-store-items-will-you-absolutely-not-skimp-on-and-get-the-generic-equivalent/652574/6 "2013-03-10T22:13:16Z")
Cola, root beer, and nacho chips. Must be Pepsi (or, if I’m in a particular mood, Coke), Barq’s or A&W, and Doritos. OTHER soft drinks, cheap brands are perfectly fine. In fact, I prefer cheap ginger ale to any of the big brands. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-grocery-store-items-will-you-absolutely-not-skimp-on-and-get-the-generic-equivalent/652574/7 "2013-03-10T22:13:50Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Mustard, I not only don’t buy generic, I buy only one specific brand: Bertman’s Stadium Mustard, available only in the Cleveland area. That stuff is God’s gift to hot dogs. You can get it by mail order from the [National Mustard Museum](http://store.mustardmuseum.com/product/bertman-original-ballpark-mustard/american-deli-mustards) (also available in a [three-pack](http://store.mustardmuseum.com/product/186/american-deli-mustards)). I learned about it years ago from a book on mail-order foods, and it became my favorite mustard for just about everything (I still use Dijon mustard to make salad dressing). For canned goods, I usually buy name-brand tomatoes (Muir Glen) and beans (Progresso or S & W). I avoid generic dishwashing soap - the name-brand stuff really works better. ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-grocery-store-items-will-you-absolutely-not-skimp-on-and-get-the-generic-equivalent/652574/8 "2013-03-10T22:15:04Z")
Heinz ketchup as well Hellman’s mayo Skippy or Jif PB Philly cream cheese I’m not sure I can explain why. I have no problem with generic cereal, shredded/sliced cheese, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-grocery-store-items-will-you-absolutely-not-skimp-on-and-get-the-generic-equivalent/652574/9 "2013-03-10T22:23:27Z")
Heinz Ketchup Hellmans Mayonnaise Jif Peanut Butter Kraft Macaroni and Cheese Anything else and I’m willing to try or regularly buy the generic. ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-grocery-store-items-will-you-absolutely-not-skimp-on-and-get-the-generic-equivalent/652574/10 "2013-03-10T22:24:44Z")
Oh dear - I forgot non-food items. Tide laundry detergent Scrubbing Bubbles 409 ---
**Author:** ![Jennyrosity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@Jennyrosity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennyrosity)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-grocery-store-items-will-you-absolutely-not-skimp-on-and-get-the-generic-equivalent/652574/11 "2013-03-10T22:26:07Z")
Butter must be Lurpak. Tea must be Yorkshire. Mayonnaise must be Helmans. None of those brands mean anything to most of you, do they? ---
**Author:** ![Jennyrosity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@Jennyrosity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennyrosity)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-grocery-store-items-will-you-absolutely-not-skimp-on-and-get-the-generic-equivalent/652574/12 "2013-03-10T22:27:07Z")
Except apparently Helmans which has apparently been mentioned several times up thread. Oops. ---
**Author:** ![Jennyrosity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@Jennyrosity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennyrosity)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-grocery-store-items-will-you-absolutely-not-skimp-on-and-get-the-generic-equivalent/652574/13 "2013-03-10T22:31:48Z")
And apparently I apparently overuse the word apparently. Apparently. Goddamn it, I’m going to bed… ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-grocery-store-items-will-you-absolutely-not-skimp-on-and-get-the-generic-equivalent/652574/14 "2013-03-10T22:31:53Z")
> [@Jennyrosity](#): > > Butter must be Lurpak. > Tea must be Yorkshire. > Mayonnaise must be Helmans. > > None of those brands mean anything to most of you, do they? I’ve seen Lurpak butter but never tried it. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-grocery-store-items-will-you-absolutely-not-skimp-on-and-get-the-generic-equivalent/652574/15 "2013-03-10T22:34:28Z")
It depends a lot on what I’m planning on using the item for. I generally get name-brand laundry detergent and dishwasher detergent, but if I know I’m going to be doing a lot of washing of things that aren’t going to be worn or whatever, like say painting drop cloths, workbench rags and the like, I’ve found that the house brand detergent does a fine job. I don’t go with house brand motor oil, although that’s more a matter of liking particular brands and types in the brands, since they all meet the same API standards. I don’t have a problem with house brand canned vegetables, frozen veggies or things like shredded cheese or other commodity type items like flour, salt, veg. oil, hamburger buns, etc… I absolutely get name brand extra-virgin olive oil, and typically get it from the specialty food store, and the same goes for anything else where the finished product depends on the unprocessed qualities of the ingredient or a particular unique flavor of the ingredient(i.e. it’s not cooked or baked, or the taste of the ingredient is integral to the dish- like say… ham in Coca-Cola. (might taste weird if it was Ham in Big K Cola) ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-grocery-store-items-will-you-absolutely-not-skimp-on-and-get-the-generic-equivalent/652574/16 "2013-03-10T22:39:29Z")
High quality: Coffee, beer, salad dressing, peanut butter, mustard. Generic or store brand: Paper products. ---
**Author:** ![kaemicha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@kaemicha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaemicha)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-grocery-store-items-will-you-absolutely-not-skimp-on-and-get-the-generic-equivalent/652574/17 "2013-03-10T22:46:02Z")
I’m picky about my mayo, and always get Best Food. I like real Coke, but give the cats store brand cat food. They’re don’t seem to mind! ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-grocery-store-items-will-you-absolutely-not-skimp-on-and-get-the-generic-equivalent/652574/18 "2013-03-10T22:47:13Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Nobody’s yet managed to make a good imitation of Life That’s deep, my friend. ---
**Author:** ![UncaStuart](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uncastuart/32/404_2.png) [@UncaStuart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncaStuart)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-grocery-store-items-will-you-absolutely-not-skimp-on-and-get-the-generic-equivalent/652574/19 "2013-03-10T23:14:25Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Some cereals. Nobody’s yet managed to make a good imitation of Life, for instance. For me it’s Cheerios. Joe’s Os and similar items just seem to lack a certain something that I can’t define. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-grocery-store-items-will-you-absolutely-not-skimp-on-and-get-the-generic-equivalent/652574/20 "2013-03-11T01:39:14Z")
> [@UncaStuart](#): > > For me it’s Cheerios. Joe’s Os and similar items just seem to lack a certain something that I can’t define. I don’t think that sentiment is relegated to cereal. In my OP, I mentioned peanut butter. I happen to believe that there’s a wide range of quality difference between the smooth creaminess of Jif and “whatever grocery store brand”’ peanut butter. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-grocery-store-items-will-you-absolutely-not-skimp-on-and-get-the-generic-equivalent/652574.md?page=2)