Don't Make This Mistake With Fresh Baked Goods At The Grocery Store

The baked goods section at your local grocery store can be a great place to find well-made fresh breads, bagels, and pastries without having to make them yourself or breaking the bank. However, some people let their excitement for a freshly baked muffin interfere with grocery shopping etiquette. When shopping, you may be on the lookout for the signs to avoid a product, but don't let that distract you from respecting the employees.

In a Reddit post asking Costco employees what customer habits annoy them, one user said that shoppers could get tenacious while they were restocking baked goods. "People would literally hover over me and wait until I turned my back to grab more [muffins] from my cart and would try to snatch them," the user said. Crowding around employees can make it difficult for them to do their job, and is an invasion of their personal space. While the Reddit post was specifically about Costco, giving employees room to maneuver is a rule that can be applied to all stores and supermarkets.

The Reddit user also pointed out that the goods they would be restocking were not coming straight from the oven, and were not any fresher than what was available on the shelves. They all had the same sell-by date and were likely all made at the same time. It's also worth noting that not every grocer's bakery is all it's cracked up to be, so think twice before grabbing certain products. 

This rule doesn't just apply to the bakery. When items like pre-made deli sandwiches and packages of guacamole, rotisserie chickens, and even produce are being restocked, it doesn't necessarily mean they're new. Usually when an employee is restocking an area, it's simply to make more items available to sell, and not because they have a new batch of fresh food. Depending on the size of the store, fresh options may only come in a couple of times a week. If you absolutely need to get the freshest items, your best bet is to visit the store when they first open. You can also politely ask the people working what their restocking schedule is and plan your shopping around that.

No matter where you shop, remember that the employees are people too, and are doing their best to provide you a service. Be respectful, give them space, and keep in mind that the products they're setting out are usually about as fresh as what was already there.