I'm a private chef. After trying croissants at Key Food, Whole Foods, and Trader Joe's, there was an obvious winner.

Tech Insider : Business
composite image of croissants from key foods, whole foods, and trader joe's
I taste-tested the croissants in the bakery sections at Key Food, Whole Foods, and Trader Joe's.

Fatima Khawaja

My husband and I had dinner at Gordon Ramsay's Hell's Kitchen. For $216, we thought the meal was an incredible value.

Tech Insider : Business
A giant, golden Hell's Kitchen restaurant logo that features the letters
My husband and I ate at Gordon Ramsay's Hell's Kitchen in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Stephanie Pitera Statile

I taste-tested 5 coffee chains' hot chocolate, and the best was rich and creamy without being too sweet

Tech Insider : Business, Style
A Starbucks cup being held by a woman wearing nail polish on a sunny day.
Starbucks' hot chocolate had the most depth of flavor of any I tasted.

Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert

I ate every frozen appetizer I could find at Trader Joe's. Here's what is and isn't worth buying for a crowd.

Tech Insider : Business, Style
The writer sits at a table filled with Trader Joe's appetizers
I compared 19 different frozen appetizers from Trader Joe's.

Lucien Formichella

I ordered the same turkey sandwich from Subway and Potbelly Sandwich Shop, and I preferred the cheaper option

Tech Insider : Business
subway and potbelly sandwich shop turkey sandwiches with logos
I tried turkey sandwiches from Subway and Potbelly Sandwich Shop.

Erin McDowell; Birch Photographer/Shutterstock; Alexander Oganezov/Shutterstock

I tried 3 different store-bought pie crusts. One had the best flavor but another looked nicest and was easiest to use.

Tech Insider : Business
Pie made with Pillsbury crust, Giant Eagle crust, and Marie Callender's crust on counter
I made pies using dough from Pillsbury, Giant Eagle, and Marie Callender's to find the best store-bought pie crust.

Paige Bennett

I tried recipes from Alton Brown, Ree Drummond, and Alex Guarnaschelli to find the best green-bean casserole. One fits better at a barbecue than Thanksgiving dinner.

Tech Insider : Business
three green bean casseroles labeled alton brown, ree Drummond, and alex guarnachelli
I always make green-bean casserole for Thanksgiving.

Terri Peters

I'm a baker who tried to find the best store-bought pumpkin pie. Out of 4 desserts, there are only 2 I'd buy again.

Tech Insider
Four slices of pie on clear-glass plates, in rows of two. The plates sit on a light-brown table with a serving utensil to the left of them.
I compared desserts from Safeway, Costco, Kroger, and Walmart to find the best store-bought pumpkin pie.

Molly Allen

I'm a professional baker. I compared apple pies from 3 grocery stores, and I'd only consider buying 1 again

Tech Insider
Several apple pies and slices on plate on table
I tried apple pies from Kroger, Whole Foods, and Safeway.

Molly Allen

I tried Ina Garten's mashed potatoes, and I'll never make them without her secret ingredient again

Tech Insider
ina gartens face in a circle above a pile of mashed potatoes on a plate
Ina Garten's creamy mashed potatoes use lemon zest.

Paige Bennett; Evan Agostini/AP

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