Saving & Spending Budgeting & Expenses

11 Grocery Items You Should (Almost) Never Buy Online

Save yourself from buyer's remorse by keeping these grocery items out of your virtual shopping cart.

man doing his grocery shopping by internet with a laptop
Updated Sept. 24, 2024
Fact checked

We receive compensation from the products and services mentioned in this story, but the opinions are the author's own. Compensation may impact where offers appear. We have not included all available products or offers. Learn more about how we make money and our editorial policies.

Online grocery shopping is here to stay. Roughly half the U.S. population (150 million people) are now using such services, according to Statista.

Whether ordering through an app like Instacart, a service such as Amazon Fresh, or an online option tied to their local grocery store, shoppers are using online shopping to cut the cost of groceries and increase convenience.

Despite widespread availability, there are still some items you shouldn't buy online. Following are 11 grocery items you should still head to the store to inspect yourself.

Earn 2% cash rewards at grocery stores and Costco

The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card(Rates and fees) is a powerful rewards card that allows you to earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases — including on groceries, even at warehouse stores like Costco.

New cardholders can also earn a one-time cash rewards bonus — $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months!

If you’re looking for a powerful rewards card that offers an extended intro APR period, look no further, the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card checks that box too!

This card also offers an intro APR of 0% for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers (then 19.74%, 24.74%, or 29.74% Variable). Which is great for someone who wants a break from high interest rates, while still earning rewards.

The best part? There's no annual fee.

Click here to apply for the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card now.

Avocados

sola_sola/Adobe fresh sliced avocado on wooden table

Produce can be tricky when ordering online. Due to time constraints, your shopper might not be as careful as you would hope when choosing the best avocados.

Plus, the shopper won’t know your plans for the avocados. If you want to make a big bowl of guacamole tomorrow, you’ll want ripe avocados. If you plan to eat them throughout the week, you may want harder fruits that will ripen over the next few days.

Want to learn how to build wealth like the 1%? Sign up for Worthy to get ideas and advice delivered to your inbox.

Eggs

Brent Hofacker/Adobe raw organic brown eggs

Eggs are easily damaged, and your shopper might not take the time to inspect your carton before putting it in the cart.

To avoid wasting money on cracked or damaged eggs, head to the store yourself when it’s time to replenish your supply. That way, you can ensure you’re buying a carton with no damaged goods.

Fresh flowers

ProstoSvet/Adobe a vase of tulips on a wooden table

Many grocery stores now have excellent florists in-house. However, flowers are delicate and susceptible to damage in transit.

Florists who do deliveries themselves take extra care and devote ample space in their vehicles to ensure arrangements arrive in perfect shape. Your typical Instacart or Amazon Fresh driver likely doesn't have the space or time to devote that level of care to your flowers.

Stop overpaying when you shop online at Costco

Shopping online has its perks. It's super convenient, but it can be time consuming to find the best deals. Instead of hunting for coupon codes (that don't always work!) and opening tons of browser tabs comparing prices, you can try Capital One Shopping.

Capital One Shopping makes saving money effortless. Just add the browser extension and when you check out, it'll scour the internet for coupon codes to help you save cash. And before you check out at 25+ major retailers, Capital One Shopping will notify you with a friendly pop-up if the item you're buying is available cheaper somewhere else.

Capital One Shopping is free to use and won't show you ads. Add it today and stop overpaying!1

Get Capital One Shopping now

Rotisserie chicken

FomaA/Adobe rotisserie chicken served with lemon

A rotisserie chicken can be the perfect dinner for those weeknights when you don’t have time to cook. But that doesn't mean you should order rotisserie chickens online.

This is another situation where some thorough inspection is required. You want to ensure you get a large enough chicken to feed your family and that it's not burned or dried out.

Fresh fish

Nitr/Adobe fresh fish fillet with ingredients for cooking

Unless you know you will be home to take in your fresh fish and get it properly refrigerated the instant it's delivered, leaving this food off your list of online orders is a good idea.

Feel free to order as many cans of tuna as you want, but raw fish is a different story. It can be compromised if it spends too long out in the elements. It’s much safer to pick up fish yourself and bring it home immediately.

Berries

pilipphoto/Adobe blueberries in the basket

Berries — including strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and more — are sweet and tasty. Unfortunately, they also tend to smoosh and bruise easily and are prone to growing mold quickly.

If your online shopper doesn’t thoroughly investigate the carton they grab for you, you may have to toss out many of your berries.

Tomatoes

Mara Zemgaliete/Adobe fresh red tomatoes

Tomatoes are another tricky produce item that you’ll want to inspect yourself at the grocery store. Getting a bag of tomatoes that are squishy and past their prime or covered in bruises can put a damper on dinner plans.

Even if your shopper inspects the tomatoes at the store and picks out a few good ones, they can be easily damaged in transit. So, it’s best to do the tomato shopping yourself.

Lettuce

Melica/Adobe single lettuce head

Lettuce is particularly susceptible to damage during transit. If it’s sitting in a car or exposed to heat for too long, it’s easy for a nice head or bucket of lettuce to transform into a gooey, wilted mess. That doesn’t exactly make for an appetizing dinner side.

For salad ingredients in general — like lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumbers — it's typically best to gather the goods on your own.

Popsicles

Vasiliy/Adobe light popsicle made of oranges

You’re taking a gamble ordering anything known to melt quickly through an online grocery service — and popsicles can leave you with a particularly sticky and challenging mess.

While ice cream often comes in a tub and may take longer to melt fully, popsicles typically only come in plastic wrappers and may be inedible if they melt too much.

If you don’t know that you’ll be home to get your delivery or can't guarantee it’s being shipped with ice packs, it’s better to go out and get these frozen treats yourself.

Get a protection plan on all your appliances

Did you know if your air conditioner stops working, your homeowner’s insurance won’t cover it? Same with plumbing, electrical issues, appliances, and more.

Whether or not you’re a new homeowner, a home warranty from Choice Home Warranty could pick up the slack where insurance falls short and protect you against surprise expenses. If a covered system in your home breaks, you can call their hotline 24/7 to get it repaired.

For a limited time, you can get your first month free with a Single Payment home warranty plan.

Get a free quote

Fresh bread

Ivan Kmit/Adobe sourdough bread

There’s nothing quite like a fresh baguette. However, you might want to pop into your local bakery to grab a loaf rather than relying on an online shopping service.

The bread your online shopper grabs from the grocery store may be labeled “fresh,” but there’s no guarantee that it hasn’t been sitting out all day. When buying in person, you can give it a nice squeeze to ensure it’s fresh.

Sandwiches

koss13/Adobe sandwich with chicken salad tomato

Your local grocery store may advertise ready-made items such as sandwiches or salads, but these are also products that you’ll want to see in person before buying.

You’ll be better able to assess if the sandwich looks appetizing in person. Plus, you can check out the “sell by” date to make sure you’re not getting something that’s been sitting out all day.

Bottom line

highwaystarz/Adobe driver delivering online grocery shopping order

There are plenty of items you should feel comfortable buying online — from canned and jarred foods such as peanut butter and tuna to household items such as toilet paper and paper plates.

Online shopping can save you time and, in some situations, even help you keep more money in your wallet. However, be wary of buying fresh items — such as produce, bread, and ready-made meals — online so you don’t waste money on unusable products.

Lucrative, Flat-Rate Cash Rewards

5.0
info

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Current Offer

$200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months

Annual Fee

$0

Rewards Rate

Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases

Benefits and Drawbacks
Card Details