The Hands-Down Best Steak You Can Buy From Trader Joe's

Before you even walk into Trader Joe's, you can pretty much guarantee it'll be packed, and not just because the stores are abnormally small. It's actually because people genuinely love its low-priced items. You can't go wrong with its frozen meals and seasonal treats, but have you checked out the meat section? T.J.'s steak selection might be small compared to other chains' meat departments, but it still has plenty of options to choose from when you want to cook yourself a nice dinner. When we ranked six Trader Joe's steaks from best to worst, the ribeye turned out to be "a cut" above the rest thanks to its buttery texture and rich flavor.

This is arguably one of the best cuts of meat in general thanks to its juicy tenderness and flavor from the marbling (or fat distribution) throughout. But that's not the only reason this steak took home best-in-show. The Trader Joe's website lists its ribeye at $17.99 per pound and describes it as follows: "The cattle are pasture-raised on an all-vegetarian diet, enjoying open fields of grass and finished on corn for a minimum of 150 days."

So, what does this mean? Grass feeding gives the cattle natural vitamins and nutrients, and grain feeding helps them gain weight faster, leading to a higher fat content. This is what gives the meat its marbled pattern and beefy taste.

Not all ribeyes are created equal, so we took to Reddit to see what customers had to say about this Trader Joe's steak. One shopper shared, "They have great ribeye's, but they're too thin." In a separate Reddit thread, another customer seemed to have a similar experience, noting, "I've had their ribeye and it's real good, don't follow the directions on the package though for cooking unless you want steak that you cannot chew through."

Based on this feedback, this cut tastes great but may be on the thin side. Fortunately, you can still cook it to delicious perfection. Your best bet for any preparation method is to use a meat thermometer. Depending on how you like your steak cooked, remove your ribeye from the heat at 130 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit for medium-rare, 140 to 150 degrees Fahrenheit for medium, and 160 degrees Fahrenheit or higher for well-done. If you'd like some extra help, we have 54 steak recipes every carnivore will love.

Don't forget the sides when you're at Trader Joe's picking out your top-ranked steak. To name a few, ribeye pairs well with oven-roasted veggies, dinner rolls, and mac and cheese, and you can never go wrong with sous vide mashed potatoes. While you're at the store, you might as well grab some other Trader Joe's foods you need to try before you die.