2 min read- Ina Garten says items like marinara sauce and sourdough bread are totally fine to buy, as long as they’re high quality.
- She draws a hard line at bottled lime juice, insisting fresh is the only way to go.
- She also shared a surprising hack using boxed stuffing to make a savory bread pudding.
Aside from her fabulous Hamptons home and signature blue button-downs, Ina Garten is known for one of her iconic catchphrases: “store-bought is fine.” And during a recent appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, she doubled down on that idea with a rapid-fire round of what’s actually okay to buy pre-made, and what absolutely is not.
The segment played out like a lightning round, with Stephen Colbert throwing out pantry staples and Garten giving quick, decisive answers. Some were predictable, others…less so.
Take marinara sauce. Garten gave it a pass, with one caveat: it can’t be low quality. “Store-bought is just fine, as long as it’s good,” she said, which feels like the most Ina answer possible. And if she shares the same opinion as professional chefs and Delish editors, her idea of good marinara sauce is definitely Rao’s.
Sourdough bread? Also fine. No need to suddenly become a fermentation expert just to serve a decent loaf.
Chicken stock is where she draws a line, but not entirely. While she prefers making her own, she admits there’s a workaround if you need it. Store-bought bonebroth with lots of collagen can work in a pinch, even if her ideal is still homemade.
Lime juice, however, is non-negotiable. According to Garten, the bottled stuff just doesn’t cut it. “Fresh lime juice only,” she said, making it clear this is one shortcut you shouldn’t take.
Then there’s stuffing, which ended up being the most surprising moment of the entire segment. Instead of using it traditionally, Garten revealed she actually uses boxed stuffing as a shortcut for a savory bread pudding. Because it’s already cubed, seasoned, and toasted, it basically does half the work for you. Add a custard, mushrooms, and Gruyère, and suddenly no one knows it started from a bag.
And when it comes to dessert, Garten stays practical, but with standards. A store-bought birthday cake isn’t off the table, but she’s not grabbing one from just anywhere. “I wouldn’t get one at 7-Eleven,” she joked, recommending a good bakery instead. From there, she suggests elevating it yourself, like adding a fresh raspberry sauce to a pre-made cheesecake to make it look homemade.
The truth is that Garten isn’t anti–store-bought—she’s anti–bad store-bought. If something saves time and still tastes great, she’s all for it. But if it compromises flavor, she’s out.
So yes, “store-bought is fine,” just maybe not for your lime juice.