Shopping at Ikea always seems like a gamble. Either you come home with something cheap, stylish, and functional, or you’re stuck with an impossible-to-assemble dud. One solution? Trust the experts — and by experts we mean Ikea superfans on Reddit. Some of the Swedish store’s most fanatical fans recently shared their must-have items, including food court treats, durable kitchenware, and a practical shelf insert.
Related: 25 Ikea Products To Buy – and 25 To Skip
1. Ikea 365+ Food Containers
$7 and up
Ikea’s food containers might not be as good as similar models from Pyrex, but hey, they’re a lot cheaper and have plenty of five-star reviews. Because the Swedish retailer sells a variety of lids and containers made from different materials, you can easily mix and match the products until you’ve got the perfect combo.
Related: The Best Ikea Products to Help You Organize Your Life
2. HUVUDROLL Swedish Meatballs
$13
While Ikea is first and foremost a furniture store, the Nordic retailer has garnered a cult following for its Swedish meatballs. “There’s nothing like these meatballs when you get home late from work and want to get dinner on the table quickly,” one reviewer writes on Ikea’s website.
Related: Delicious Foods Worth Buying at Ikea — and Some to Skip
3. SEKTION Kitchen
Prices vary
Ikea’s exhaustive SEKTION kitchen system is “easily adjustable to your needs,” one Redditor writes. Items from the kitchen set — appliances, cabinets, countertops, and more are available — come backed by a 25-year limited warranty, which is worth having if you have any experience with Ikea’s hit-or-miss quality.
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4. Hot Dog
$1
True story: Ikea houses one of the cheapest fast-food joints out there. The retailer is giving a Costco a run for its money with its $1 hot dogs, in part because it also offers a killer plant-based option. Eater even named the furniture store’s veggie dog as one of the best on the market, ahead of Beyond Meat, Impossible Foods, and Tofurkey.
5. ÖVERMÄTT Food Cover
$7 and up
These neon-hued silicon doilies might look useless, but they actually make sustainable food covers (hence the name). Redditors says that they use the ÖVERMÄTT for everything from cut vegetables and fruits to cat food cans and oven-to-table dishes. Instead of reaching for foil or saran wrap, grab an ÖVERMÄTT.
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6. LADDA Rechargeable Batteries
$10
Multiple Redditors praised Ikea’s LADDA line, with one commenter describing them as some of the best reusable batteries on the market. On the retailer’s website, some shoppers even say that they rival Panasonic’s respected eneloop brand. Just don’t forget to grab the STENKOL battery charger if you decide to go with Ikea’s model.
7. VARIERA Shelf Insert
$12
Overcrowded kitchen cupboards? Consider this cheap and practical shelf insert. Instead of dealing with “super high stacks of dishes,” shoppers “can make them easily accessible with these handy things,” one superfan writes.
8. Frozen Yogurt
$1
This airy, cheap, and non-fat sweet treat is the perfect way to end a hectic shopping trip at Ikea. It’s also the perfect bribe for those accompanied by less-than-enthused, whiney shoppers.
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9. SKUBB Storage Series
Prices vary
SKUBB’s entire storage series receives high marks online, with one Redditor writing that they’ve used the organizers in “every dresser” they’ve ever owned.
10. KAFFEREP Ginger Thins
$8
These fan-favorite ginger snaps are proof that the Swedes excel at more than just meatballs when it comes to comfort food. Reviewers write that they’re crisp, flavorful, and perfect for tea drinkers.
