5 Publix Store-Brand Swaps for Floridians That Beat the Name Brand in Taste Tests
Reaching for the store brand can feel like a gamble when your grocery money is tight.
So, Floridians who shop at Publix may be surprised by how well a few store-label picks held up against the big names in taste tests.
Here’s what the testers found. Get ready to change your next shopping list.
1. Publix Original Saltines
Publix Original Saltines won a Southern Living taste test of seven saltine brands in 2024.
Editors said it had a more toasted flavor and look than any other cracker in the test.
They loved the overall flavor and salt level.
One editor did warn that it may be too flavorful for a crust or candy.
It beat name brands like Premium and Zesta.
Salt is the whole point of a saltine.
Toasty wins.
You can keep a sleeve in your cart for soup night.
2. Publix Original Eggnog
Publix Original Eggnog won a Southern Living taste test of eight store-bought eggnogs in 2023.
That put it ahead of name brands like Shamrock Farms and Chobani.
One editor called it the most well-rounded of the bunch.
It also looked different, since it was much more yellow than the others.
You could see the spices in it, too.
One taster also said it came closest to homemade.
Publix Lowfat Eggnog was in the lineup too.
You can find out how it pours at your next holiday gathering.
Holiday sorted.
3. Publix Premium Crab Cakes
Publix Premium crab cakes ranked first in a blind taste test run by the Tampa Bay Times in 2017.
SeaPak’s crab cakes came in second.
Publix’s came in a 6-ounce package, while SeaPak’s came in an 8-ounce package.
SeafoodSource reported the results.
That test dates to 2017, and the line may have been renamed or reformulated since.
If you spot Publix crab cakes in your freezer case, you can see how they stack up against SeaPak.
Who Judged These Publix Swaps
Southern Living’s votes on Publix store-brand items come from its editors.
Sporked’s Publix bread ranking comes from one writer’s taste test.
So treat each result as a good lead, not a verdict.
4. Publix Sweet Cream Salted Butter
Publix Sweet Cream Salted Butter was one of two runners-up in a 2025 Southern Living taste test of 12 butters.
It finished ahead of name brands like Land O’Lakes and Kerrygold.
Trader Joe’s Salted Butter, another chain’s store brand, took first place.
Editors liked that the Publix butter was firm with a mild flavor.
That made it a fit for spreading on toast or mixing into a recipe.
Out of all the butters, it had the most balanced salt levels.
You can swap it one for one in any recipe that calls for salted butter.
Balanced salt.
Your turn! Tick what’s true for you and see how store-brand smart your cart is.
5. Publix Sourdough Bread
A Sporked writer gave Publix Sourdough Bread 9 out of 10 Sporks in a 2025 ranking of Publix breads.
The loaf is comparable to San Luis, the writer’s usual brand.
It’s incredibly sour.
Its bold sour tang even rates above San Luis.
But your loaf won’t stay fresh as long as San Luis or other shelf-stable brands.
You can slice it thin for toast or eat it fresh.
Sour fans, take note.
Where the Name Brand Won
Publix Deli Brewed Sweet Tea scored 9 out of 10 Sporks in a 2024 Sporked iced tea ranking, but Gold Peak Sweet Tea edged it out with a 9.5.
Close isn’t a win.
The writer still treated the Publix tea as the benchmark for grocery store sweet tea in the South.
If you like your tea on the sweeter side, you can still grab a gallon.
Milo’s won a 2024 Southern Living test of seven sweet teas, where editors split on the Publix tea and some found it too sweet.
Strong Finishes Without a Clear Win
Publix Deli Southern-Style Potato Salad took second place in a 2026 taste test of six store-bought potato salads.
Every salad in that lineup came from a store or deli brand, so it had no name brand to beat.
A few editors called it the most similar to classic Southern potato salad.
Reactions were mixed.
One editor tasted an artificial flavor, and another didn’t like the large pieces of egg.
Publix Cream Cheese drew praise for its smoothness and creaminess in a test of 10 cream cheeses.
Philadelphia was in that lineup too.
The write-up ranks only its winner, so you can’t tell from it whether Publix beat Philadelphia.
If you keep a tub of each in your fridge, you can settle that one yourself.
Psst! How well do you know the taste-test results behind these swaps? Take our quiz and see if you can ace it.
Quiz
Store-Brand Test Results Quiz
Answer these on the taste tests behind Publix and its rivals. We bet you can’t get them all right. Prove us wrong?
Which ketchup won Southern Living’s taste test of nine brands?
How to Test a Swap Yourself
You don't need a panel of editors to test a swap.
Buy the Publix version and the name brand on the same trip.
Set them next to each other, with the names covered.
Ask someone else in your house to pick a favorite without peeking.
Take a sip of water between bites so each one gets a fair shot.
Start with something plain, like crackers or butter.
Keep it simple.
Retest later.
Jot down the winner.
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