Ikea’s Best Packaged And Frozen Foods

Ikea Canada's Best Food

Chicken Meatballs ($11.99/ package)

Obviously, if I can take the meatballs home, I will. And though I love the classic beef recipe, I’m committing to the chicken because having these in the freezer in a pinch provides a quick weeknight meal (or school lunch) that also ties into goals of eating less beef. Plus, tested side by side with the beef (on a 10-year old) the chicken balls were gobbled up just as quickly. 

Apple Pear Ginger Oat Smoothie ($2.49/250 ml)

I admit I was tentative trying an Ikea smoothie, but I’m sold. Using oat milk as a non-dairy base, the apple and pear flavours are yummy, but not overly sweet. The ginger notes are zingy and bright, making it a very refreshing sip.  It’s also not a thick smoothie, which I personally prefer. I’d totally grab this on my way out the door for a quick breakfast. Bonus: It’s lactose free and vegan.

Rösti ($3.99/6 per package)

I’m a lover of any form of potato pancake—the crispy exterior and tender, savoury in-between never fail to comfort. These rösti (similar to latkes or hash browns) come in pancake-size portions and are baked (or fried) from frozen. Hot tip: a foodie friend just pops them in the toaster.

Considering that making any version of these from scratch takes effort, I’m thrilled that  these were fast AND tasty.  I served them up for dinner with the Ikea cured salmon, but they’d also make a great snack or side for any roasted meat or veggie main. The Swiss have them for breakfast, but they’d be perfect pulled out for brunch and topped with a poached egg and greens. They’re also gluten-free.   

Cured Salmon ($8.99 /6 slices per package)

Ikea knows what they’re doing with this classic preservation technique. Traditional Scandinavian curing involves marinating the salmon in salt, sugar, dill and a little bit of pepper, resulting in thin, tender salmon slices you can enjoy with a salad, on eggs or a bagel, or added to a charcuterie board.

There’s a variety of styles on offer: cured (the softest of the bunch without the smoky flavour), cured and cold smoked (slightly firmer with a smoky flavour) or just cold smoked, which is firmer and has slightly more oily texture.

These are also products you can feel good about buying— here’s what Ikea says about their fishing practises. “As many wild fish stocks decline, we believe that fish farming is part of the solution. All Ikea salmon comes from Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certified farms. That way, the salmon feed is more sustainable, the fish are protected from disease with no or little need for chemicals and antibiotics, and the farms minimize their impact on the local environment.”

Fried onions ($2.29/100 g)

Move over rainbow sprinkles. Say hello to crunchy, savoury deliciousness—flavourful bits of yellow onion that you’ll want to shower on everything (Ikea recos burgers and hot dogs, which I am totally on board with) but also try salads, soups (I put them on a creamy veggie soup for my son, he loved it), chili and definitely into anything you are breading—hello, mac n cheese. Dare I say you might do an Ikea run if only for these?

Ketchup ($2.99/ 500g)

Okay, I’m going big and declare this my new fry ketchup. There’s something about the simpler, tangier flavours of this ketchup that cuts perfectly through delicious, fatty french fries. And if you’re a vinegar-on-your-french-fry kinda gal, you’re going to appreciate this slightly sharper tomato ketchup—less sweet than the usual go-to. 

Bottom line: I’m not giving up my Heinz but I’m 100 percent adding this to the condiment rack. (And the fun, minimalist bottle doesn’t hurt either)

Sweet Salty Licorice ($1.49/150g)

The Ikea website issued me a challenge, “Sweet licorice is common and enjoyed worldwide, but salty licorice is typical for Sweden. Do you dare to try?”

Nope, I was not feeling daring. Ammonium chloride is an edible compound used to flavour this Scandinavian treat, and it adds a distinctive and somewhat jarring flavour for the uninitiated (you could call it cough syrup-esque).

So I made my husband try it with me.  And hey Ikea, we liked it! Not just “we can stand it”—but we took it out on the road for car treats. Ikea’s salt-sugar balance is much milder than what I’d had before and after a couple candies this licorice became somewhat addictive—and best of all didn’t leave me with the sugary hangover I get from my gummi bear obsession.  

Påtår Roast Coffee ($7.99/500g ground)

Ikea carries a variety of coffee, all organic and UTZ certified (a program which is part of the Rainforest Alliance and designed to monitor sustainable farming).  Their medium-roast ground coffee was right up my alley—I loved the higher acidity and fruity notes of this fresh and welcoming brew. If you prefer a fuller, more-rounded cup there’s also a dark roast option. Or, try a single-origin medium roast from Uganda. They also sell press-ground and whole beans.  

Daim Candies ($6.99/pound)

Am I the last to know?  Ikea sells mini chocolate bars that are basically mini Skor bars. Crunchy almond brittle covered in milk chocolate—which somehow tastes like the milk chocolate from a Lindt Ball. Two amazing worlds colliding (may they never tear us apart).  Small enough to hide in a pocket, change purse or possibly slipped into the credit card slot on an iPhone case. This package comes in a 1 pound size. You’ve been warned.

Daim Swedish Almond Cake With Crunch Almonds ($6.99/400g cake)

Basically a cake version of the above chocolate bar. The cake layers are a nut pastry, which reminded me of the European birthday cakes my grandmother used to make. It slipped out of the top 10 is because my friends were all cagey about trying it (but I’m certain it was because I told them it was from Ikea.)  It’s gluten-free and quite divine with a cup of steaming, dark coffee. A total saviour in an entertaining pinch (which you can keep on hand in the freezer). 

Sparkling Apple and Lingonberry drink ($3.99/750 mL)

This sparkling juice exceeded my expectations (I thought it’d be a bit sweet and more kid oriented) but after trying it I’m going to keep a couple bottles on hand for entertaining.  The flavour was tasty—maintaining some tangy notes and not at all too sweet.  Sure, the kids loved it, but it’s balanced enough that I’d offer it up for adults (or grab a glass myself) when looking for a non-alcoholic option. Would make a quick and tasty mocktail base or a great add to a picnic basket.