Store-Bought Shortcuts: What's Worth It, What's Not

Shredded Carrots

Not worth it (for cooking). The julienned carrots you'll find in a bag in the produce aisle may be perfect for baking a carrot cake. But if you're planning to use the vegetables in a cooked dish—whether mixed into meatballs or sautéed with ground beef or pork for tacos or a stir-fry—the pieces will be too long. Most savory dishes require smaller pieces, so you're better off shredding your own with a box grater. Weiss promises it takes her less than a minute to shred one carrot.