I’ve long been a conventional cold meat sandwich guy. Give me a sub sandwich, or just ham and cheese on bread with mayo, and I’m happy, especially if I can complement it with some chips, peanuts, apples, or some other side. I choose not to make them all the time, but when I do, I can say it’s a nice part of my day.
I don’t mind assembling my own sandwich. It’s typically cheaper, and it lets me customize the sandwich to my liking. Every once in a while, though, I’ll pick up a premade one from my big regional grocer. Aldi, I’m sad to say, does not currently sell premade sandwiches.
Aldi’s distant cousin, Trader Joe’s, does. That’s why, during a recent TJ’s visit, I decided to try the store’s most run-of-the-mill lunch meat sandwich.
The Trader Joe’s Turkey Apple Cheddar Sandwich can be found in the store’s refrigerated section, next to the wraps and salads. At the time of this post, the sandwich comes in a plastic clamshell package, is 8.5 ounces, and costs $4.99.
The sandwich is on a multigrain Rustico roll and includes …
- turkey breast
- sliced apples
- aged cheddar
- baby arugula
- Dijon mayonnaise
The sandwich is perishable and should be kept refrigerated. Be mindful of the best-by date, too: mine was just a couple of days after I first purchased it.
The ingredients list is a lot to take in, since it’s for an entire sandwich. So is the nutrition information. A full sandwich has 490 calories as well as large amounts of fat (24g), cholesterol (50mg), sodium (1,030mg), and carbs (45g). The sodium alone represents 45% of one’s recommended daily allowance. The package, incidentally, lists a serving as half a sandwich.
Nutrition information and ingredients. (Click to enlarge.)
In terms of allergens, the sandwich contains milk, egg, and wheat.
Our testers, myself included, universally liked this sandwich. The whole thing is full of flavor, from the soft and rich bread to the savory turkey. The apples add both some crunch and a bit of sweetness, while the cheese and greens accent each bite. I picked up definite artisanal vibes from the sandwich, but in a way that still is accessible to the average deli sandwich lover.
The turkey sandwich alongside Trader Joe’s Patio Potato Chips.
The Verdict:
The Trader Joe’s Turkey Apple Cheddar Sandwich hits a lot of good notes. The taste and texture are both great, from the soft bread to the crunchy apples. It didn’t last long with our testers, who unanimously liked it. It’s more expensive than making a similar sandwich yourself, but the more upscale ingredients make it maybe more worthwhile, and I didn’t think it was obtusely pricey. However, because of the high sodium, cholesterol, fat, and calorie counts, this might be better as a sometime indulgence.
