Where Are Water Chestnuts in Grocery Stores?

Wondering where water chestnuts are located in grocery stores? Here it is…

Water chestnuts are a healthy and delicious vegetable, of Asian origin. It is popularly used in a wide range of recipes, from stir-fry to salad, as it blends excellently with sweet, salty, and savory recipes alike. However, though popular, water chestnuts are not the easiest ingredients to find in grocery stores.

You will probably never require it until a particular recipe calls for it. If you are having trouble finding water chestnuts at grocery stores, we will show you the aisles to check. We would also share some great water chestnut recipes you can try, and some great substitutes you can use in its place.

What Aisle Are Water Chestnuts Located in Grocery Stores?

Water chestnuts are mostly found in most grocery stores’ international aisle section, alongside other Asian goods. You should also check the aisle where canned goods are kept, as the canned version of water chestnuts is the most common type seen in grocery stores.

Depending on the size of the store, some grocery stores that do not have an international aisle, often stock water chestnut in the produce aisle, where fresh vegetables and specialty goods are kept. If none of these work, you could ask one of the store’s employees for assistance.

Read Also: Where to Find Chives in the Grocery Store

Where to Buy Water Chestnuts Near You

If you happen not to find water chestnuts in any of the grocery stores near you, you could stop at any of the stores listed below. You will most certainly get them there.

1. Amazon

Using Amazon to shop for water chestnuts, provides you with a wider variety than what most single-store options offer. Different sellers are available on a single website, so you will likely find different water chestnut deals. You can choose between the whole, chopped, or sliced versions.

2. Walmart

Walmart is one of the most widely known grocery store brands, and they have a strong presence internationally. They offer several water chestnut brands to choose from. Walmart carries brands like Roland and Dynasty, in addition to several others.

3. Kroger

Kroger is another popular store brand, and they carry various brands of water chestnuts. In addition to other canned brands, Kroger has its indigenous water chestnut brand, and they offer it at a reduced price.

Read Also: Is Kroger More Expensive than Walmart?

4. Publix

At Publix, you can get several brands of water chestnuts, including Geisha. Geisha offers no added salt as one of their options. You will also find other brands like Hokan and Ke-Me in the international aisle.

5. Whole Foods Market

Whole Foods focuses on providing organic, locally-produced, fresh, and healthy packaged food options. At Whole Foods, you will find canned, organic water chestnut brands, hardly seen in other stores. They carry brands like Sun Luck, Reese, and Native in the international or canned foods aisle.

6. Safeway

In any Safeway store, you can head to the international or canned foods aisle for the store brand, Geisha or Dynasty water chestnuts.

7. Target

Target stocks different brands of whole and sliced chestnuts, in the international aisle.

Read Also: Walmart vs Target: Which is Better?

8. Asian Markets

The produce area of Asian markets is a great place to get freshwater chestnuts. They also have the canned version available.

9. Local Health Food Store

Whether large or small health food store chains, you will likely get water chestnuts in the canned foods aisle.

Great Ways to Use Water Chestnuts

Water chestnuts can be used to add a fresh, crunchy texture to a variety of recipes. Some of our best picks are:

1. Add Them to Salads

The crunch of water chestnuts makes a great addition to almost every dish, but salads turn out particularly nicely. Water chestnuts are light, crisp, and deliciously refreshing in different types of salads such as broccoli salads, kale salads, and green salads.

2. Use Them as Party Appetizers

Everyone loves a good crunch, and this makes water chestnuts a great addition to any appetizer/finger food. You could mix them with Indian peanuts, and be rest assured that your guests are in for a good treat.

3. Make Vegan Water Chestnut Cake

This Chinese cake would be perfect for a tea break on busy afternoons. It’s light and mildly sweet with a pudding-like texture. The addition of the water chestnut crunch factor makes it delightfully distinct.

Substitutes for Water Chestnuts

If you can’t find water chestnuts at any of the in-store or online grocery store options available to you, don’t give up on adding that much-needed crunch to your recipe just yet. There are a couple of alternatives you can use in its place.

1. Turnips

Turnips are root vegetables that you can peel, and cut into variable sizes. They make a great alternative to water chestnuts, and their flavor is applicable in all recipes that require water chestnuts. When cut into similar sizes and thicknesses, they have a similar coat and texture as water chestnuts.

2. Jicama

Jicama is a root that grows in Central America, and it can also be used as an alternative to water chestnuts. It can be peeled, cut, and added to salads. If cooked briefly, jicama remains crisp, and this makes it ideal for cooked recipes as well.

3. Bamboo Shoots

Bamboo shoots are edible sprouts gotten from bamboo. They mostly grow in tropical climates and can be used interchangeably with water chestnuts. They add a crisp and subtly sweet flavor to recipes. However, unlike jicama, bamboo shoots should not be cooked before being eaten.

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