Kielbasa is a Polish specialty sausage that comprises of various kinds of meat. It is a popular Polish delicacy and may be made from veal, chicken, pork, beef, turkey, or lamb. This dish is a staple for Polish communities worldwide and is enjoyed in many different forms. If you’re interested in purchasing it from your local Trader Joe’s, we have some unfortunate news for you.
Trader Joe’s is one of the most loved American neighborhood grocery chains. It lines the shelves with unique and interesting products, which employees source from all around the world. While you may stumble across many natural food and beverage items (including many seasonal offerings!), Kielbasa sausages are not one of them.
Widely known as the Polish sausage in the United States, the sausage is popular for being the main ingredient in sandwiches. The sandwiches are iconic in many local Polish restaurant chains, like Chicago’s Maxwell Street Polish and Cleveland’s Polish Boy. To know more about what you can do with Kielbasa, and where you can find it, keep reading below!
Trader Joe’s
Trader Joe’s is more than a grocery store chain. It is a curated labor of love, stocking a wide variety of products catering to many audiences.
Even the brick-and-mortar stores have a friendly atmosphere where customers prefer to stay after they’ve finished shopping. You can go shopping, sample food, and even chat with the employees!
Food, beverages, dairy products, many dipping sauces, scrumptious bakery products, fresh vegetables and fruits, and snacks are a few of the many products that line the shelves.
Trader Joe’s is highly sensitive to its customers’ needs – they include kosher, gluten-free, organic, vegan, and dairy-free products. This is one of the reasons that the chain is America’s favorite!
Trader Joe’s also delivers goods online, and if you explore their website you can see that they have a section dedicated to recipes you can make from their products. There’s also a podcast that dives more into their story.
Trader Joe’s Meat and Sausage Selection
There is a variety of meat available at Trader Joe’s that you can choose from. This includes beef, pork, lamb, chicken, turkey, seafood and fish. If you’re looking for vegan options, they have plant-based proteins as well!
While Trader Joe’s, unfortunately, does not stock up on Kielbasa, it has many other sausage varieties that are cult favorites. Their chicken sausages garner special attention, and the store prides itself on raising chickens using the pure vegetarian feed.
Trader Joe’s possesses a wide variety of Italian sausages, of which the Sweet Italian Style sausage is the most loved.
The sausages are filled with red and green chili peppers, and offer a gentle heat that combines sweetness with a savory kick.
The most popular, however, is the Apple Chardonnay. A whimsical combination of ginger, nutmeg buttery wine, and white pepper keeps the customers coming back for more.
Kielbasa and Its Culinary Significance
Not only is the sausage delicious, but it also has great culinary significance in Poland. The country has a rich history of sausage making and has 80 different sausage types.
As a cultural icon, Kielbasa is not only enjoyed in Poland but also in many different parts of the world where the Polish eventually settled.
Kielbasa became a popular choice amongst immigrant communities, and you’ll find delicious Kielbasa sandwiches enjoyed in local American neighborhoods.
Many different versions have now become staples in Polish-American households, and families love to share its history
There are a number of ways you can cook Kielbasa – you can boil, grill, or even pan-fry the delicious sausage. It is most widely used in soup, stew, casseroles, and sandwiches.
If you’re looking to sample the sausage, a Polish Casserole or a Polish Cabbage Stew are excellent recipes for beginners. If you’re looking for safer options, try the smoked Kielbasa with pasta. You wont regret it!
To check the current price and availability of Kielbasa, click here to view the selection on Amazon.
Trader Joe’s Kielbasa: Availability
Kielbasa is unfortunately not available at Trader Joe’s. It was, however, a popular product that used to line the shelves.
Trader Joe’s prides itself on occasionally rotating products on its shelves to make way for more unique items, which could be the reason for Kielbasa’s unavailability. So, while you can’t sample the Polish sausage from here, there’s always something new and interesting to try out!
Alternative Stores to Buy From
If you’re really craving that Polish casserole for dinner, do not fret! There are a bunch of stores that stock up on the sausage, and we’ve rounded up a few options that you can check out today.
These stores currently possess a range of Kielbasa sausage to sate your needs!
Target:
America’s beloved retail store has a wide variety of Kielbasa sausages from different brands. You can get the brand of your choice from the meat aisle.
Since this is an imported product, you might see it being sold at a higher price range, but that is normal for a meat of its kind.
Hillshire Farms:
This is perhaps the best choice to source your Kielbasa sausage from. Hillshire Farm is a renowned brand of meat products and is available at many outlets, even at Target!
Online delivery is available as well. You can order cut smoked sausage sections of the Polska Kielbasa, with the choice of pork, beef or turkey.
Amazon:
If all your local stores disappoint you, you can always order from the Amazon Grocery and Gourmet Food section!
Amazon has a range of Kielbasa, from packed to tinned sausages, available at different prices so you can procure the one that suits your need best. They also have a bestseller list so if you’re trying it for the first time, you should definitely check it out.
Final Thoughts
Kielbasa sausage is a Polish delicacy loved by many and is used to make a variety of dishes. However, it is not available at your local Trader Joe’s anymore.
This may come as a disappointment but there are a variety of other products you can choose from the store, and can even be on the lookout for if they ever restock!
