I Shop At Publix Every Week — 6 Popular Items I Skip Every Time

You could say I have a love-hate relationship with my local Publix here in the Tampa Bay area of Florida. Like any Sunshine State resident worth her salt, I adore those BOGO deals and PubSubs (which offer way better customization potential than Subway), but I loathe the crowds and the experience of jockeying for a spot in the extremely cramped parking lot. I live in a relatively small town, and it feels sometimes like 90% of the population is pushing a cart around Publix at any given time. I guess maybe I'm part of the problem, because, at least once a week, I'm shopping as well ... especially on Wednesdays and Thursdays, the best days to browse the new ads. On a related note, I'm going to take this moment to submit a blanket apology to all the hapless looky-loos I've body-checked in my frenzy to grab the last Key Lime pie on Christmas Eve (IYKYK). 

Logistical gripes aside, I would safely classify myself as a Publix superfan. That doesn't mean, however, that I've fully lost my wits when it comes to some of the cult-favorite items that my fellow shoppers swear by. Numerous Publix groceries enjoy a near-mythic reputation. When it comes to a handful of popular faves, however, I'm here to tell you that, in my humble opinion, the hype is unjustified. Taste is certainly subjective, of course, and my "yuck" may be a serious "yum" for you. Keep in mind that it's even good for individuals to reject certain beloved groceries, as that's part of the reason why it's in ample stock for you! 

Rotisserie chickens have a ton of uses, and Publix offers a princely array of flavors when it comes to pre-cooked birds. To be clear, it's not that I dislike the chickens themselves, as they're certainly moist and flavorful. My quibble is with the price tag: Publix currently sells its rotisserie chickens for almost $9, which seems like highway robbery. With five minutes of extra driving, I can pull into Sam's Club and grab a plump broiler for just $4.99 with zero appreciable difference in quality. A $3+ increase makes the Publix chicken a bit too rich for my blood. 

Birthday cakes usually score high on listicles of Publix bakery items that customers love. Growing up, a custom Publix birthday cake was a highlight of every family celebration. I'd choose my favorite colors of the moment — purple was usually involved — and be feted on my big day with a beautiful confection that tasted as good as it looked. Unfortunately, in recent years, the vaunted Publix buttercream frosting seems so sweet that it's actually unpleasant to eat, in my opinion. Maybe my tastebuds have just changed, but nostalgia doesn't carry this one for me. 

You don't have to know the difference between sashimi and sushi (the latter contains rice) to feel as if Publix's sushi selection is a rip-off. Unless there's an active pricing promotion on the store's grab-and-go sushi, I tend to steer clear because it contains way too little seafood for way too high a price. I'm lucky enough to frequent a couple of family-owned sushi spots in my community that offer better product for a similar price point, which inevitably leaves me wondering why on Earth I'd pick up supermarket rolls in the first place. 

I've heard Publix sweet tea described as liquid gold by its many devotees. Indeed, some of my family members guzzle this quaff to the point that I'm surprised it doesn't seep out when they sweat. Publix sweet tea has always been far too potently saccharine for me, however. If you're a sweet tea drinker who favors a 1:1 elixir of brewed tea and pure white sugar when making your own pitchers, maybe this drink will satisfy you. For me, however, it has always been like chugging straight simple syrup with the faintest flavor of tea. 

Most people enjoy turkey on Thanksgiving (the origin of which involved a popular novel), and that goes for my family as well. Every year, Publix offers a knock-down, drag-out per-pound deal on its store-brand turkeys (the news of which whips social media into a frenzy), but I've stopped giving in to the penny-pinching. I pride myself on my skill with a holiday bird, but I just can't manage to make these turkeys come out tender and enjoyable. I generally shell out extra coins for a fresh bird from my local meat market, but Butterball is also just fine. 

By now, you might guess my gripe with Publix's coleslaw based on my reactions to its cake and iced tea: the salad is simply too sweet. I feel like "an over-abundance of sugar" belongs on the list of major coleslaw-making mistakes, but that's not the only sin of which the Publix slaw is guilty. The ingredients are also minced incredibly fine, which turns all those crisp veggies into soupy-sweet mush within what seems like five minutes of opening the container. When it comes to Publix BBQ sides, I opt for the Southern-style potato salad every time.