8 Pantry Staples Where Nebraskans Can Switch to Store Brands and Save

If someone swapped the name-brand jar in your fridge for a store brand, would you notice?

In a blind taste test, tasters didn’t find much difference for many pantry staples.

Here’s where Nebraskans can confidently make the switch, and where you might want to taste first.

How the Taste Test Worked

This list comes from a Consumer Reports taste test published in December 2022.

Expert tasters blind-tested name-brand versions of 10 pantry staples against store-brand versions from 10 retailers.

Blind means they did not know which was which.

Eight of those staples get a number below. The other two, Greek yogurt and organic frozen vegetables, follow the list.

Any price in the results is from 2022, so check your shelf tag.

Here are the pantry staples where store brands held up.

1. Ranch Dressing

Consumer Reports’ tasters rated Kroger Creamy Ranch, a store-brand dressing, above Hidden Valley.

In the 2022 test, Kroger’s version cost less than half as much per serving as Hidden Valley.

If you shop at Baker’s, a Kroger Co. banner, it has stores in Omaha, Bellevue and Fremont.

Its website lists Kroger-brand ranch dressings, including a buttermilk version, so you’ll want to check the shelf for the Creamy Ranch.

2. Chicken Noodle Soup

Aldi’s store-brand Chef’s Cupboard condensed chicken noodle soup beat Campbell’s in the taste test.

Aldi’s thinner noodles were firmer.

In 2022 prices, Campbell’s cost nearly twice as much per serving.

A December 2023 report said a new Papillion store would mark Aldi’s 12th Nebraska location.

3. Ketchup

Would you notice a store-brand ketchup next to Heinz?

Tasters rated five store-brand ketchups very good in 2022.

Those five included store brands from Aldi, Target and Walmart.

In that test, a serving of any of the five cost 62 to 72 percent less.

So a $10 name-brand ketchup habit would cost you about $3 to $4 with the store brand.

Walmart’s Nebraska store directory lists stores in places like Bellevue, Grand Island and Fremont.

Target has a Lincoln store.

If you already shop at Aldi, Target or Walmart, you can make this switch.

4. Peanut Butter

Aldi and Walmart store-brand peanut butter tasted a lot like Skippy.

The roasted peanut flavor and saltiness were similar.

Both were a bit thicker.

Skippy cost you 41 cents a serving in 2022. Either store brand cost 21 cents, which is about half.

Walmart and Aldi both have Nebraska stores.

5. Mixed Nuts

Store-brand mixed nuts from Costco and Walmart gave tasters the tastiest assortment next to Planters.

Costco’s nuts had fewer broken pieces and a nicely roasted flavor.

In the 2022 test, Walmart’s cost 21 percent less than Planters. So if Planters would cost you $10, Walmart’s would cost about $7.90.

If you shop at Costco, you’ll find warehouses in Omaha and Lincoln.

6. Whole-Wheat Bread

Every store-brand whole-wheat bread in the test tasted on a par with Nature's Own.

Flavor and texture varied a little.

Aldi, Target and Walmart were among the 10 retailers in that test.

Toast one slice of each, and you'll know which loaf stays in your cart.

7. Maple Syrup

Testers said Target's store-brand maple syrup tasted better than the Butternut Mountain Farm name brand.

Like a thinner, more delicate syrup?

The testers called Costco's organic version the best deal. It cost 25 percent less than the name brand.

Both chains have Lincoln stores.

8. Honey Oat Cereal

Trader Joe's Honey O's, a store-brand cereal, came close to General Mills' Honey Nut Cheerios in the test.

The tasters noted slightly less intense toasted oat and honey flavors.

In 2022, Honey O's cost 25 cents a serving, against 48 cents for Honey Nut Cheerios.

That is about half.

Trader Joe's version is also slightly higher in added sugars, so read your label.

If you're in Omaha, Trader Joe's has a store on Pacific Street.

Greek Yogurt

Most store-brand Greek yogurts in the test were as good as Chobani.

Aldi, Target and Costco versions were in the test.

In 2022 prices, Aldi's Friendly Farms cost 89 cents a cup.

Target's cost 98 cents.

Costco's Kirkland Signature organic cost $1.09.

Aldi, Target and Costco all have Nebraska stores.

Organic Frozen Vegetables

Testers tried store-brand organic frozen mixed vegetables. Every one was at least as good as Cascadian Farm.

That sweep included versions from Aldi, Costco and Target.

If you stock your freezer at any of those three chains, you can skip the national brand.

Where the Test Missed

Store brands didn't win every round of the Consumer Reports taste test.

Of the 70 store-brand products in the test, 76 percent tasted just as good as the name brand.

That leaves roughly one in four that didn't.

Testers found some of the nuts in Aldi's mixed-nut packages bitter.

Target's peanut butter had a less roasted peanut flavor.

Consumer Reports told readers to skip Kroger's Greek yogurt unless they like a very sour yogurt.

Walmart's condensed chicken noodle soup had slightly mushy noodles.

If you're stocking up, try one package first because your tastes may differ from the panel's.

Unit Share vs. Dollar Sales

Now think about the whole shelf.

Store brands made up 23.8 percent of unit sales in the six months ending June 14, 2026, according to Circana data reported by The Shelby Report.

That is roughly 1 in 4 items sold.

Consumer Reports gave a similar figure in its May 2026 story, saying 24 percent of grocery purchases were store brands as of March 2026.

Dollar sales told a different story.

Store-brand dollar sales were flat year to date, while national brands' dollar sales rose 2.2 percent.