Pierogies are one of Poland’s most delicious and popular culinary exports, but it’s not easy to find high-quality options on American shelves. If you’re looking for a good place to shop for these tasty treats, then you might be wondering: does Trader Joe’s have pierogies?
Although Trader Joe’s has sold pierogies in the past (and pelmenis), they no longer stock any today. You can, however, find some relatively similar options, including gyoza/potstickers, wontons, shu mai, pork buns, and steamed soup dumplings.
Read ahead to get the complete low-down on the kinds of dumplings that Trader Joe’s currently has to offer, as well as the pierogies and pelmenis that they used to sell.
What Are Pierogies?
Before we explore the options that are currently available at Trader Joe’s, we should first talk about what pierogies are, and what sets them apart from the other dumplings you might see in your local grocery store.
Pierogies (or pierogi) are filled dumplings that are associated with the cuisines of Central and Eastern Europe – and Poland in particular. They are also known by the name “varenyky” across the continent. They use an unleavened dough and can have either a savory or sweet filling, and they’re usually cooked in boiling water rather than fried.
The dough is wheat-based and quite chewy, unlike the thin and fragile dough that is typically used for Asian dumplings. They’re also often filled with Slavic classics like potato, cheese, cabbage, ground meat, or fried onions.
What Dumpling Options Does Trader Joe’s Have?
So, if you’re looking for a dumpling of some kind to boil or fry up at home, what can you find at Trader Joe’s? Well, they do have quite a few options on the table.
In the freezers at Trader Joe’s, they currently sell:
- Pork Gyoza Potstickers
- Chicken Gyoza Potstickers
- Shrimp Gyoza
- Vegetable Gyoza
- Chicken Cilantro Mini Wontons
- Chicken Shu Mai
- Chinese Pork Buns
- Steamed Chicken Soup Dumplings
- Steamed Pork ; Ginger Soup Dumplings
Although they are similar in many ways, all of these different delicacies are distinct, even if they might not be completely authentic to the traditional versions you would find outside the US.
Gyoza/Potstickers
The potstickers and gyoza at Trader Joe’s are based on traditional Chinese gyoza dumplings. They are wrapped in a very thin dough with flavored fillings and are made to be pan-fried with a little water (which is where they get the “pot sticker” name – they really do stick if you’re not careful!).
When it comes to customer reviews and general quality, the potstickers are possibly the best dumplings that Trader Joe’s sells. They are full of flavor, have a nice texture, and fry up beautifully.
Wontons and Shu Mai
The Trader Joe’s wontons are smaller than the gyoza and shaped differently, but they’re otherwise quite similar in style, whereas the shu mai have a very unique structure with a delicate, pleated border. The shu mai are also intended to be steamed or microwaved, rather than cooked in a pan.
Dumplings and Pork Buns
The steamed soup dumplings that Trader Joe’s sells are very soft and filled with a nice rich broth, and the pork buns have a lovely pillowy texture.
Both of these are supposed to be steamed or microwaved rather than fried in oil, which does give them more of a “pierogi” texture.
The steamed soup dumplings are a particular favorite for Trader Joe’s customers, although you don’t get very many in a packet!
What Other Frozen Sides and Entrées Does Trader Joe’s Sell?
The frozen section of any Trader Joe’s always gets a lot of traffic, particularly when it comes to the entrées and sides that they offer. They have around 100 different things available from all over the world that you can quickly whip up to complement your meal.
Some of the most popular options you will find in the freezer include:
- Seasoned Corn Ribs
- Stir Fried Garlicky Cabbage
- Mandarin Orange Chicken
- Beef Birria
- Mini Chicken Tacos
- Hashbrowns
- Italian Tomato ; Red Onion Focaccia
- Artichoke Timbales
- Jamaican Style Beef Patties
They might not have any pierogies but, if you’re looking for an easy way to bring pre-prepared international cuisine to the table that’s made to last, then Trader Joe’s is certainly a great place to shop.
Has Trader Joe’s Ever Sold Pierogies?
You might be surprised to find out that Trader Joe’s has actually sold pierogies in the past, and they were quite popular for a while too.
A few years ago, you could find Potato Cheddar Pierogi in the freezer section at Trader Joe’s, which was very well received. They also used to offer Chicken and Mushroom Pelmeni, which are a similar style of dumplings from Russia.
Sadly, both of these products have since been discontinued. This is likely due to demand not being high enough, and the introduction of other dumplings which are potentially selling better.
Trader Joe’s changes the products that they stock quite often, and they only ever have a relatively limited number of options, so it’s inevitable that some things will disappear from the shelves and freezers.
When they’re deciding whether or not to continue stocking certain products they often take customer feedback into account, but it will also depend on how well the item actually sells as well as other quality and cost factors.
It is also worth noting that individual Trader Joe’s locations often have slightly different brands available, so it’s not impossible that your local store will bring in some pierogies that aren’t on sale nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are the Best Store-Bought Perogies?
The best pierogies that you can buy will always come down to personal preference, but Mrs. T’s brand is probably America’s favorite.
The potato, jalapeno, and cheddar variety are particularly well-reviewed by consumers and they’re available at a variety of stores, including Dollar General, Marc’s, and more.
Does Costco Carry Frozen Pierogies?
Costco does usually stock frozen pierogies in their stores, namely from the brand Kasia’s.
Final Thoughts
So, can you get pierogies at Trader Joe’s? Unfortunately not. They used to sell pierogies and pelmenis in their stores but both of these products have since been discontinued.
Fortunately, they do offer a whole variety of other dumplings that are very tasty instead. They sell gyoza and potstickers, wontons, shu mai, pork buns, and steamed soup dumplings too.
