Raise your hand if you’ve ever felt overwhelmed at the grocery store. Sometimes it seems that there are too many products to choose from. And with each brand claiming it’s the best, consumers can have a hard time deciding what to buy.
That’s where the Product of the Year Awards come in. For over 30 years, the survey has aimed to “Guide consumers to the best products in their market and reward manufacturers for quality and innovation.” This year’s awards span a variety of categories—including food, home and health—and are based on the votes of over 40,000 shoppers. Ready to meet the winners?
P.S. These are our Test Kitchen’s best loved food, gear and gadget brands.
Strongbow Hard Ciders, 100 Cal Slim Cans
In the alcoholic beverage category, Strongbow’s 100-calorie cans took home top prize. And with three tasty flavors (Rosé Apple, Original Dry and Dry Pear), we can see why. Check out these 10 cool tips for keeping a garage fridge or freezer to store those tasty beverages.
Available in select grocery and liquor stores.
Gold Emblem abound White Cheddar Flavored Bite-sized Quinoa & Rice Cakes
Snack lovers, rejoice! These white cheddar quinoa cakes were voted the best better-for-you snack. Find some more space for your snacks with these 10 brilliant kitchen cabinet ideas.
ALDI Specially Selected Sliced Sourdough Round
As if we need any more reasons to love Aldi. Its sliced sourdough round was named best of the bread category. America’s cheapest grocery store was just revealed, too. Do you shop there?
Available in Aldi stores and online at Instacart.
Del Monte Fruit & Oats
The winner in the breakfast category is perfect for eating on the go. Each cup features oats, chia seeds and sweet fruit. Find out the 10 foods you’re storing wrong and what to do about it.
Java House Cold Brew — Dual Use Liquid Pods
For a mid-afternoon pick-me-up, turn to these cold brew pods. Voted the best caffeinated product, each pod can be served over ice or brewed in a single-serve coffeemaker. You’ll be amazed at the 12 mistakes everyone makes when brewing coffee.
Butterfinger
Looks like Butterfinger’s new recipe is a hit with shoppers. It won top prize in the candy bar category.
BUSH’S Savory Beans
On a busy night, there’s nothing better than a can of beans to jumpstart a quick, healthy meal. These savory varieties—including Black Bean Fiesta, Southern Style White Beans, New Orleans Style Red Beans and Southwestern Style Pinto Bean—won the convenience meal category.
Fit your canned goods neatly in your pantry with these 13 brilliant ideas.
OREO THINS BITES
We didn’t think Oreos could get any better. But we were wrong. These winners in the cookie category are slimmed down then dipped in fudge.
Cooked Perfect Fresh Meatballs
We love grandma’s signature meatballs, but on a weeknight, her scratch-made recipe just isn’t feasible. These refrigerated meatballs are a good substitute (and the winner of the fresh entrée category). You’ll want to know these freezer organizer tips to fit everything.
Lean Cuisine Origins
Upgrade your sad desk lunch to a hot, healthy meal. Best in the frozen entrée category, this new meatless line from Lean Cuisine has us looking forward to lunchtime.
Available in select grocery stores and online at Target.
Tic Tac Gum
These little nuggets look like the classic mints we know and love, but they’re actually chewy! This new product took home the top honors in the gum category. If you ever get gum stuck on something you’ll need to know these 10 tips to get gum out of everything.
ZYN
Hydrate your way to better health with the winner of the healthy beverage category. These infusion drinks from ZYN® boast 200 mg of “anti-inflammatory and antioxidant healing power” in every bottle.
Kinder Joy
Keep your little ones happy with the winner of the kids novelty snack category. This sweet treat combines everything a child loves in one tiny package.
Idahoan Family Size Flavored Mashed Potatoes
Enjoy the ultimate comfort food at any time. This winner of the side dish category boasts enough potato-y goodness to satisfy your entire family. Keep your sanity by adopting some of these 41 kitchen organizing ideas.
Black Forest Gummy Bears
Step back in time with the best of the sugar confections category. These nostalgia-inducing gummy bears will transport you back to childhood. These 15 awesome retro toys will take you back to your younger years too.
ALDI Earth Grown Chickenless Patties or Tenders
Even meat eaters will appreciate the winner of the vegetarian entrée category. These chickenless patties and tenders will fool even the biggest carnivore.
Available in Aldi stores and online at Amazon.
ALDI Intermingle Red Blend
Relax after a long day with this wine category winner. An exclusive for Aldi, the medium-dry red wine is perfect for pairing with grilled meats or chicken. Some day you could store that bottle in one of these 10 incredibly stunning wine cellars.
Available in Aldi stores and online at Instacart
Air Wick Essential Mist
Give your home a signature scent with this essential oil mister (that won the air care category!). If store-bought air fresheners aren’t your thing, try these stovetop potpourris instead. If you’ve got a bad smell in the house, this is the place you’ll want to check.
FINISH Max-in-1 POWERBALL
What’s the point of having a dishwasher if it doesn’t actually clean your dishes? These powerful gels won top prize in the automatic dish care category and promise to leave your dishes sparkling. If you’ve got a smelly dishwasher, here’s the quick fix.
Rain-X Waterless Car Wash & Rain Repellent
A car wash without water? Yep, it’s possible. This top performer in the car care category promises to clean your vehicle AND make it water repellent. These 46 car detailing tips will save you a ton of cash and get your car really clean.
Fresh Step Clean Paws
The only thing your kitty should track around the house are her cute “meows!” This winning litter from the cat care category promises to stay in the litter box where it belongs. Here’s an even better product: a robot that eliminates the need for a litter box.
FINISH Jet-Dry
Skip the drying step when you go to unload the dishwasher. Winner of the dish booster category, this formula promises to dry “100 percent better than detergent alone on plastics and cutlery.” See what pro house cleaners always use to get homes clean.
Comfort Zone Calming Vest for Dogs
Does Fido freak out during thunderstorms or fireworks displays? This calming vest (which won the dog care category) can help. It’s designed to apply constant pressure to help your pet feel calm and safe. Here’s how you can make a move less stressful for your dog.
Scrubbing Bubbles Bubbly Bleach Gel Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Cleaning the toilet is definitely on the top of our “Most Dreaded Chores” list. This household cleaning category winner makes it a little more bearable. Check out the 18 most popular cleaning products from last year, including one steaming hot momma.
Reynolds KITCHENS Quick Cut Plastic Wrap
Plastic wrap is great—when you can actually remove it from the roll! Winner of the household essentials category this “quick cut” is frustration-free. Ever wonder what you can do with Bubble Wrap® beside just pop it? We’ve got some ideas.
Purex Crystals New & Improved Formula
Taking home the top prize in the laundry booster category, these fragrant crystals will help your laundry look (and smell!) its best. Check out this one trick that will keep your laundry wrinkle-free.
Tide PODS Ultra Oxi
We’re all about cutting down on the time it takes to do a load of laundry. The winner of the laundry pacs category, these smart pods combines Tide’s cleaning power with Ultra Oxi’s stain-fighting technology. Check out the things that should never go into your washing machine.
Dawn Platinum
Hello, cleaner dishes; goodbye, scrubbing—thanks to this winner of the liquid dish soap category. Finally, we learned what gives Dawn it’s magic powers.
Tide Fresh Coral Blast
An upgraded formula was the reason this detergent won the liquid laundry category. Plus, its fresh scent is hard to resist. Make sure you’re avoiding these laundry mistakes, otherwise you’ll be in trouble.
Brawny Tear-A-Square
Three different sheet sizes make it easy for this winner in the paper towels category to clean up any sized mess. Discover these house cleaning hacks from professional cleaners that are genius.
Playtex Simply Gentle Glide
Winner of the feminine care category, these tampons are simple, gentle and reliable.
CONTOUR NEXT ONE Smart Meter and App System
Managing diabetes has never been easier, thanks to this smart meter and app system that won the healthy systems category.
Crest Gum Detoxify
Keep your teeth (and gums) healthy with this top performer in the oral care category. Find out why it’s super helpful to have an old toothbrush around.
Honu Sunscreen
Inspired by the Hawaiian sea turtle, this smart sunscreen has a wand design that allows users to reach (and protect!) every inch of their shells…err, skin. It’s no wonder it took home top prize in the skin protection category. Make sure you know these 10 summer sun safety tips.
Note: Every product is independently selected by our editors. If you buy something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.