I don’t normally mention foods that I either don’t like or have major problems with. I’m going to make a little bit of an exception in the case of Trader Joe’s Buttermilk Biscuits because I have heard that lots of people have had problems with these and I have some tips that definitely improve them. They’re worth saving because they have a good buttermilk flavor to them, and they’re fairly inexpensive. That said, there are plenty of refrigerated, pre-made biscuits that won’t give you these same problems.
The problem with the biscuits is that the baking directions are terrible. The biscuits – which are square for some reason (it’ an unattractive shape for a biscuit – come out very, very undercooked and doughy if you follow the directions on the package. They don’t puff up much and they certainly aren’t flaky. The funny thing about this is that TJs actually revised the instructions once already and they still don’t work! The solution is to let the biscuits defrost for 1-2 hours in the refrigerator before baking. This allows the dough to soften and the biscuits will actually cook all the way through in the oven.
Again, however, there are plenty of refrigerated biscuits that won’t give you these problems (or this strange, square shape) so it’s up to you as to whether you want to try your hand at these. You should definitely defrost them first if you already have a pack in the freezer and want to use it up. Otherwise, go ahead and make your own biscuits. It’s not that hard and the results are well worth it!
noble pig
March 22, 2009Those are a stange shape for a biscuit. I have heard of these too and am interested in your tips, thank you for the advice.
Patsy
March 22, 2009Strange looking biscuits! In fact, they look like toasted marshmallows. Not very appealing.
maris
March 22, 2009I love Trasder Joes but the one by me is so crowded I almost never go. I would just go with homemade biscuits – they aren’t that hard to make and so much tastier!
India
March 23, 2009wow – I think TJ’s could be done for trade description infringement. The finished biscuits look nothing like the ones on the packet. And as for the uncooked dough – looks like something you shouldn’t be eating.
Fat Fudge
March 23, 2009I would had never known those were biscuits if you hadn’t identified them as such!
Cookie
March 23, 2009Wow, TJ is usually really good with their premade/frozen stuff but I guess they missed on this one! Good call cuz I would’ve TOTALLY bought some if I saw them. I’m pretty lazy when it comes to making biscuits even though I love to bake just about anything else!
Rebecca
March 23, 2009I don’t know why the shape should bother me so much, but it does. Totally unappetizing.
Linda
March 23, 2009I’m a major advocate of TJs and love nearly everything I get there but there have been some “uh-no” failures. The biscuits were one. I thought they would be like the photo and the square would have puffed more into a scone or roll shape but they stayed too square and like you said were doughy. I wasn’t impressed. The thawing sounds like a great solution but as someone else said, I would rather go with my own recipe if I was going to lose that convenience that I would feel a frozen biscuit would give me. I would bet I could take my own biscuits and freeze them and come out better. But, maybe I will try them once more following your advice just to see. 🙂 I hate to put TJs down on anything.
Abutton
March 24, 2009Those look gross. Homemade biscuits are so delicious, that I never buy them. But those totally turn me off of store bought biscuits!