It may look like a deal on the shelf, but it doesn’t cut it in real life.
I spend a lot of time at stores like Walmart, Aldi, Trader Joe’s, Costco, and Dollar Tree, scouring the shelves for interesting new products that offer the best possible value. While it’s part of my job as a shopping expert, bargain hunting is also my personal way of shopping.
Dollar Tree in particular never ceases to amaze me. There are a lot of products out there that I really believe in, but there are also some great ducks for more expensive products. But after years of trial and error, I also know which Dollar Tree items are not worth buying, even at such low prices. It may look like a deal on the shelf, but it doesn’t hold up in real life. That’s when the trade stops feeling like a win. Some break easily, while others simply don’t work well.
Here are five things to avoid from Dollar Tree’s kitchen collection.
1. Chef knife
The biggest problem with Dollar Tree knives is that they don’t last very long. Steel dulls quickly and, in my experience, cannot be properly sharpened once it becomes dull. Everyone knows that a dull knife is more dangerous than a sharp knife. You end up pushing too hard, which can cause you to slip and cause an accident.
A dull knife will also affect the quality of your food. Instead of cutting cleanly, herbs and produce are crushed or torn, which can shorten shelf life and affect texture. A good chef’s knife from a reputable brand, or a solid mid-range option, is one of the best investments you can make in your kitchen.
2. Black plastic tableware
I also watch out for black plastic utensils like spatulas, ladles, and even spoons, forks, and knives. A peer-reviewed study found that some black plastics contain toxic brominated flame retardants that can be harmful. That alone is enough to make me reconsider.
Moreover, the performance is not good enough to justify the risk. Dollar Tree’s black plastic utensils are thin and fragile. It bends under pressure and can even begin to melt when exposed to high heat. Silicone, wooden, or stainless steel utensils are much better options, and you can find decent versions of those at Dollar Tree, too.
3. Fruit-flavored juice
This is especially important if you have children. Consumer Reports tested 45 popular fruit juices and found that nearly half had high levels of arsenic, cadmium and lead, including juices marketed specifically to children.
Low-priced juices are often made from concentrate and have less transparency regarding sourcing and ingredients. If juice is non-negotiable in your home, it’s worth spending a little more to buy a trusted name brand with clear sourcing information. You can also dilute it with a little water and spread it further. (Don’t tell the kids!)
4. Can opener
I love a good can opener because it makes cooking so much easier. But Dollar Tree’s Cooking Concepts can opener has had a rough track record. The handle can slip off or break after a few uses, and the mechanism often fails and leaves the handle spinning without the blade rotating.
Doing so may cause the can to partially open or the lid to be jagged and lifted, posing a serious risk of cutting. If you factor in buying two or three replacements, you’ve already spent more money than buying a decent manual opener. Spend $8 to $10 on a well-reviewed model that will last you years.
5. Aluminum foil and plastic wrap
These feel like a very safe and boring buy, but the foil is noticeably thinner than the name brand stuff, so it always tears and is unreliable for anything other than lightly covering a plate instead of staying wrapped around the sheet pan. Dollar Tree’s plastic packaging is equally frustrating. It will stick to itself more than what you actually want to wrap. More importantly, it’s worth noting that some discount plastic wrap may contain phthalates and bisphenol S (BPS), chemicals linked to hormone disruption. These concerns become even more pronounced when plastic comes into contact with hot, acidic, or fatty foods.
It’s definitely worth the extra $1-2 for a chemical-free name brand roll.
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