Brand Snob

I am, admittedly, a brand snob. I am not talking Ralph Lauren or Prada, but rather Delmonte, Chiquita, and Dole. I do not believe that all brands are created equal when it comes to preparing food. I have personally found that certain brands just taste better - they are higher in quality, cut a certain way, or have better flavor. While the rise of private label manufacturers has made generic brands a thing of the past, the change is largely a shift in marketing and perception than product differences. Some brands cost less and access to them allows cooks on any budget to be able to easily use a variety of ingredients - this is a great thing. However, among various brands, there are differences in taste, texture, and even product size, so figure out which you like best and which fit with your lifestyle. If something you prepare doesn't seem as good as it did when you ate it at your friend's house, it might not have anything to do with cooking skill, but simply be a matter of ingredients. Quality is not necessarily the same as price, so experiment and find the one that is right for you.