Too sweet!
Please note that this review was not paid for or sponsored by any third party. However, I was given a free sample of this product to review. The opinions in this review are strictly my own. I am not affiliated with Costco or any of its suppliers. I am just a fan of the company. I write these reviews to help my fellow shoppers.
I’ve seen the Paisley Farm Four Bean Salad at Costco for years but have never tried it so I thought I’d finally pick it up to review.
Taste
Okay, this is way too sweet! I took a bite and decided I wasn’t going to be finishing the rest of the bean salad. The beans were fine, their texture wasn’t awful but what I didn’t like was how sweet the four bean salad is! It tastes like beans doused in sugar and vinegar. The sweetness takes away from the flavor of the beans.
Cost
I bought this on sale at Costco and I paid $7.99 Canadian for the two 1 liter jars of four bean salad. The regular price is $9.99 Canadian.
Convenience
This could be used as a side dish or you could make it your main dish by adding protein like chicken or fish or some quinoa. The website for the company that makes the bean salad has some recipes for how to use the bean salad. The best before date is about two years from the date we purchased it.
Nutrition
1/3 cup is 60 calories, zero grams of fat, 160 mg of sodium, 14 grams of carbohydrates, one gram of fibre, nine grams of sugar and one gram of protein. A little high in sugar! The fifth ingredient is cane sugar.
This is a no go for me, Costco used to sell a bean salad in the pre-made deli section that was actually pretty good but this is nothing like that.
Taste: 3/10
Cost: 8/10
Convenience: 10/10
Nutrition: 5/10
What did you think if you’ve tried this? Would you try this? Why or why not?
I’m curious, if you drain the liquid and rinse the beans with water, and then add a homemade simple vinaigrette, would that reduce the overall sweetness and sugar count?
That’s a good idea! I haven’t tried that but if you do, let me know!
Yes! Great idea. This is a great product. You can use it all ỷear as a fresh tasting sidedish. My family loves it.
Tasty. Appeals to the sweet tooth. A prepared food that lulls one into believing it also has health benefits. Too high in added sugar. Too high in sodium. Valuable and beneficial fiber processed out of the vegetables. Toxic to diabetics and folks with hypertension. Never again.
Love their bean salad. It’s definitely higher than a 3 of 10 for taste and 5 of 10 for nutrition in my book!
Yes I’m finding that a lot of people really love it! I guess some tastes just differ!
Is there any bean salad that you have found that is more healthy? I loved this salad until I read the sugar content and I am so happy I have found your site because I am very diet conscious. You explained the problem with this item beautifully.
Not really! I find there’s not a ton of jarred bean salads. The Costco deli used to sell a bean salad years ago that came with a red sauce, it was really good.
Out in our Costco where can I Buy more I live in Santa Maria California
I love this four bean salad hoping Costco will be getting it soon in the Lafayette,La area. Would love to stock up.
I saw it at my local Costco just last week!
My family loves it!
It tastes like beans with vinegar and sugar ? That’s what it’s supposed to taste like. I really enjoy sitting down and eating a small bowl of this bean salad. I hope Costco keeps this product on the shelves.
We have been buying this product regularly for years, and last month Costco stopped carrying it. It goes very well with the Costco chicken, particularly when it is cold, and makes a great summer meal.
Buying this online from different sources triples the price, so I hope to find it at a local store such as Von’s or Albertson’s.
We love this salad! I agree that it’s even better if you add it to sliced cucumbers or some chopped greens. The Costcos in The PNW always have it. Maybe the lack of availability is a regional thing?
We love it! I add a cup or so to a large garden salad! So sad Costco no longer seems to have it!
About 4 years ago, while me and my husband were in Paradise, CA visiting relatives, one of his cousins prepared the hi delicious 4 bean salad mixed with chopped celery, chopped English Cucumber and mixed spring salad. I asked her for the recipe. After that, I always bought and kept jars in my pantry to prepare all year round and especially during the summer. I always prepared as a side dish to take to family or friends gatherings and always got great comments of the salad. I can’t believe it was discontinued. It has happened before with other items that I liked. I’ll try Ralph’s supermarket.
I went to Costco today and asked again about the 4-bean salad, and once again they don’t have it. My husband ordered it awhile back directly from the company that makes it, but today he searched and found that our local Ralph’s carries it, for a dollar less than we paid Paisley Farms! I’ll be heading over to Ralph’s real soon!!!
I love this bean salad!I’ve been buying it at Costco each time I go I purchase 3 to 4 double jars.All of a sudden its gone from Costco!! I talked to folks at Costco all they said is Fill out the customer comment card,which I have several times.I eat it every day.I hope Costco doesn’t decide to drop the product!!.I was hoping they would carry it thru the summer but was off the shelves in May!!! Come on Costco!!!!
We love this four bean salad, and we are very disappointed that it is very hard to find. Sometimes Costco in either New Orleans or Baton Rouge will have it, but more often than not, neither store is supplied. Thus, I will try to find a source that is consistent.
Amazon! They only make it at certain times of year, so if looking during the cooler months, you won’t find it. I stock up in the summer to carry me over the winter
We love this salad, I put two ur three large spoons full in a green salad!! Maybe add sliced bell peppers, cherub tomatoes, carrots, mushrooms etc. may not even need dressing!! Tastes great!! Love the vinegar!
Great idea on how to use it!
I agree. You don’t want to be buying this if you have high blood sugar counts. If they used 1/4 of the sugar, it would be great.
I love this stuff and always have some at home. It’s an instant salad for me when no one else wants to make a real salad. In fact the reason I am on the internet now is that I am trying to find out why Costco did not have any last week. I’ve been buying it for years. I hope they haven’t dropped it as Costco will do with some products. All of a sudden they cut them off without warning.
Tom, I hadn’t seen your message of 23 February until today, 13 May 21, after returning from my local (Sacramento, CA) COSTCO. When I couldn’t find the beans, I asked, as they’re constantly, and arbitrarily, moving items about the store. I was told that they were no longer carrying them. As you note, COSTCO simply drops items, without warning or asking its customers what we think. This has happened multiple times with me. I’m a vegan, so, when I find a product that I like, I become a lifelong fan….until the store decides to stop carrying that product, and doesn’t give a damn about customers. I suspect that COSTCO has new management; they’ve opened self-checkout stands, instead of hiring more people. I used to be a COSTCO fan due to their treatment of employees; it seems to be going the way of Walmart. Add in the horrible way they treat the chickens they slaughter, and there’s not much keeping me a continuing customer.
I have always made bean salad.. And yes to make the proper bean salad it is supposed to be sweet.. it is for all intents and purposes a salad.. side dish.. I am hooked on this salad big time.. My kids bought me some for Christmas. I was so upset when I was told that it would no longer be sold in the store.. Wake up people this is not a jar of canned beans.. I think that is what you were looking for. It’s simply a nice salad to set out on a day when you are serving perhaps cold meats, potato salad, deviled eggs etc.. Not when you are having a hot meal.. I have always disliked chick peas but find I am now a fan.. I fill my little bowl at least twice a week at night and retire to my lounge chair watch my favorite show and munch on a bowl of the bean salad.. Please tell me that I can order this online if Costco when I have finished my four jars.. And I give you props on the salad.. my whole family loves it.
I couldn’t agree more! My husband and I are in love with this bean salad! And yes perhaps people are too young to know or have forgotten bean salad has always been sweet! It used to be that every holiday dinner always included a bean salad! I am so sad Costco isn’t selling this salad anymore😢I have found it at different sites and on Amazon. Of course at a much higher price! But we love this Paisley Bean Salad so much I will pay more. And I know someone said you would only serve it with a cold cuts meal, but we eat it often with hot meals in place of a green salad. Simply so delicious I don’t think I’d make it from scratch! I’m actually going to order it from another site right now! Lol
I bought this and after one taste dumped it in garbage. I thought it was bean salad not dessert. I did buy it again, washed it under cold water, then refilled the jar with the appropriate vinegar and spices. I could still taste the sugar but it was tolerable.