Cuisine Adventures Frozen Spanakopita (Costco) Review
Author’s note: I wasn’t paid or compensated in any way for this review, and I have no affiliation with Costco nor Cuisine Adventures.
Spinach with basic self-respect.
I’ve been buying this Cuisine Adventures frozen Spanakopita from Costco for the past two years, and it’s the best frozen version I’ve had so far. As a popular entertaining appetizer, I wait for it to go on sale around the holidays, and then hoard it in my freezer all year. Mu-aw-ha-ha-haaa.
I didn’t have the greatest experience with Cuisine Adventures Green Chile Chicken Firecrackers appetizers (you can read my review of it here), so I’m delighted to write a happier review this time. I mean, it would be hard not to.
Alright, what makes these Spanakopita worth hoarding? For me, it’s the winsome texture contrast. The phyllo wrappers are incredibly crisp and flakey, while the filling is flavorful and soft — without being mushy. The spinach is much perkier than I imagined for frozen product. Indeed, the spinach tastes freshly cooked (instead of frozen) and it maintains a pleasing structural integrity.
I hate slimy spinach. I like my spinach to have some dignity. Not necessarily “British butler” level dignity, but just basic self-respect. You know. I’m pleased to report that even spinach haters can probably enjoy this. I also appreciate that the filling isn’t watery or too oozy. And it’s definitely not bland.
Happily, this spinach filling is also generous — it’s nearly bursting from each triangle — and has just the right balance of tangy feta. In fact, spinach is the first ingredient in this product, which is fabulous.
There are also hints of savory spices and herbs — a little dill or mint, perhaps (the box doesn’t say exactly which spices are used). More about the ingredients later.
I am a sucker for anything crunchy. And these guys are wicked-crunchy. The phyllo tastes lightly buttery without being oily. It even puffs up a little during baking. I like how the crisp wrapper envelopes the entire triangle. This makes them easier to serve / eat, and keeps the filling even more flavorful inside.
Because they’re so petite and self-contained, these Spanakopita make excellent finger food. I served these at a Christmas party buffet, and they were a hit. They taste good even when they’ve cooled down to room temperature and sat out on a platter for longer than they ought. Which is what always happens at party buffets. Well. Maybe not the kind with British butlers.
The package contains 4 trays of 12 Spanakopita triangles each, for a total of 48 appetizers. Since the trays are individually sealed, it’s easy to keep the unused portions fresh throughout the hoarding period — errrm, I mean — throughout the year.
If I open a tray and don’t use it all at once, I put the unused triangles in a ziplock bag and tuck it back inside the box. I haven’t had any problems keeping the Spanakopita fresh this way.
According to Christina Xenos at My Sweet Greek, Spanakopita is a traditional Greek spinach pie, which can be an appetizer or an entire meal. Just saying. I don’t make the rules! These are facts. Facts, from the experts! Be like me, and enjoy these as your entire dinner. Nobody is watching.
Cooking Instructions for Cuisine Adventures Spanakopita
The instructions from the package include directions for cooking either in an Air Fryer or a Conventional Oven. I used my countertop toaster oven, which has a built-in air fryer function. Since my oven is a little “different,” I typically cook these Spanakopita at 400 degrees for 6 minutes or so on each side. I watch them carefully, since the phyllo can overcook and become too dark.
For me, these are nearly fool-proof to prepare. Honestly, the finished result looks better than the product picture on the box. Look at them. How often does that happen?
(It certainly was not the case for these Minh Mini Chicken Eggrolls — you can read my snarky review here.)
I typically bake the appetizers on a sheet of parchment. Although the instructions say NOT to separate the triangles, I usually do anyway — it helps them get crispier. And, I’m a rebel, I guess? A rebel hoarder. These Spanakopita don’t stick to my parchment at all, which is nice.
I have found it helps to flip the triangles over halfway through, to get them crispy on both sides. Otherwise, you end up with a raw, flabby underside.
Nobody likes raw, flabby undersides. Ahem.
Nutrition Facts for Spanakopita from Cuisine Adventures
A serving is 3 pieces. Three pieces?!? Whoops. I don’t think I’ve ever managed to restrict myself to only three at a time. Sorry-not-sorry.
Each serving has 200 Calories, 11 grams of Fat, and 7 grams of Protein. There’s also 1 gram of Fiber and 1 gram of Sugar per serving. You get a smidgen of Calcium and Iron, and 13% of your daily value of Sodium.
Ingredients in Cuisine Adventures Spanakopita
Here are the ingredients from the label:
- Spinach
- Enriched Flour (Wheat flour, Niacin, Iron, Thiamin mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic acid)
- Feta Cheese (Milk, Cream, Milk protein concentrate, Microbial enzyme, Salt, Calcium chloride, Lactic acid, Bacterial culture, Cellulose)
- Water
- Canola Oil
- Egg
- Onion
- Modified Corn Starch
- Contains 2% or less: Butter (Cream, Annatto [color]), Spice, Vital Wheat Gluten, Flavor, Yeast, Salt, Corn Starch, Dextrose
All things considered, these are pretty good ingredients for supermarket Spanakopita. I’m not a huge fan of Canola Oil, but I don’t hate it with the same deep, abiding hatred I have towards Soybean or Cottonseed Oil.
As previously mentioned, the ingredients do not reveal which “spice” was used to flavor the product. This might be bad if you have a particular sensitivity to certain herbs or spices. I like it best when manufacturers state exactly what is in the seasonings.
The Spanakopita are also:
- Vegetarian
- Kosher
- No Artificial Flavors
And they’re made in Canada.
Price and Shelf-Life
The regular price for a 3-pound box at Costco is $16.99. Since there are 16 servings per box, this works out to $1.06 per serving. The best-by date on my box allowed me more than a year to consume these.
Dramatic Conclusion
I’ve purchased these Spanakopita at least three times, and have not been disappointed. They are great for entertaining, but also fantastic for a guilty little late-night snack. They cook up quickly and easily, stay fresh in the freezer, are easy to serve, and have decent ingredients. What’s not to love? Let the hoarding commence!
The end.
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