Are Trader Joe’s Bao’s the Bao-mb?

Bao chicka bao wow! Testing out Trader Joe’s Philly cheesesteak baos 🙂 These are a fusion of two things I love, cheesesteaks and bao’s. There also two very different things that both can be made amazing or go completely the other way. I think both strive on simplicity, simple ingredients done right to let the dish shine. Hoping these capture a blend of that and can be a magical addition to our freezer foods.

Nutrition and how tos

Nutrition is ok good on these! 210 calories for two of 430 for the entire package–Baos are pretty filling. Gets a little rough with 11gs of fat, 5 of saturated fat (high :() sodium and carbs–but these are combining a cheesesteak with a fluffy bao, expected. A treat that snot terrible calories wise, but rough on the macros. The box lists steaming and microwave for cooking options and decided to try them both! Microwave is fast and perfect for freezer foods, but baos tend to be better steamed–lets see how they do.

Getting steamy in here

Kicked off the steamer since it takes longer, if you have a pasta pot with strainer it works perfectly. Fill the bottom with a couple inch’s of water, put the strainer in, lightly oil, baos down, top on, and go! I did 9 minuets since I put them in right away with no pre-heat. SO FLUFFY! Just like a boa should be! Soft fluffy goodness. For the taste test they were amazing as well, light on the outside and filling had a great taste. I tend to make my cheesesteaks greasier lol but these had a good steak/cheese/veggie balance and was just the right amount compared to the bao bun.

Microwave nuked them

Next to the pretty fluffy steamed baos this….was not a pretty sight. Some oozed out the bottom like a pizza roll that gets nuked, and the fluff is gone 🙁 They look just the same as when frozen and have a hardness to the outside, not what you look for in a bao. The filling taste great still and still a great balance, and it somehow looks nicer? Kept a darker color which makes it pop, but the bao its self is hard and taste more bland, not bad but definitely not as good as a steamer.

Always steam your baos!

Left side is microwave, right is steamer. They even got bigger in the steamer! not to mention how soft and fluffy they look, like a real bao should. Like this as a freezer food both ways but please please PLEASE try at least one steamed to give it a real shot. You wont regret it 🙂 Microwaved I give them a 6/10 and steamer gets a 7.5/10. A good size, fun fusion, perfect snack–but steam these up!