Water chestnuts are a delicious and healthy Asian-grown vegetable. They’re a popular ingredient for a wide range of meals, from a salad to a stir-fry, but they’re not always the easiest thing to locate at the store. They blend with sweet, salty, and savory recipes equally well.
Water chestnuts are food you may not buy until a specific recipe calls for it.
So, where are water chestnuts in grocery store? Water chestnuts can be found at the International aisle section of the grocery stores like Walmart and Whole foods, most often with other Asian products.
They’re not always the easiest item to find, since some international food sections are organized differently than others. If you’re unable to find water chestnuts, you can ask an employee.
There is also a possibility you may find water chestnuts in the vegetable section of your local grocery store. This is especially true for smaller stores that don’t stock many international ingredients and foods.
On the flip side, larger, more plentiful stores may carry freshwater chestnuts in addition to their canned offerings. Make sure to look at the fresh vegetable section of the store for the non-packaged version of water chestnuts.
Where To Buy Water Chestnut Near Me
It’s great to be able to drive a few miles down the road and find everything you need on your grocery list. Even with a wide variety of national grocery chains, some stores carry a more plentiful stock of international ingredients to choose from.
Luckily, this list will tell you where to buy water chestnuts, so you don’t have to wonder if your trip will be a waste of time.
Water Chestnuts Walmart
Walmart is one of the most widely known store brands, so they tend to have a strong national and even international supply chain. There’s a good chance they’ll not only have water chestnuts in stock, but they may have a few different brands to choose from.
They carry the Dynasty brand of water chestnuts in addition to other popular brands.
Kroger
Kroger is another well-known grocery store that carries water chestnuts. In addition to several canned brands, they have their own Kroger brand at a reduced price.
Publix
Publix carries several brands of water chestnuts, including Geisha, which offers them with no salt added as one of their options.
Whole Foods Market
Whole Foods Market is known for providing a wide variety of fresh and packaged healthy food options. Their focus is on organic, locally farmed, and locally raised foods. They also place an emphasis on purchasing from small business providers in addition to national brands. They carry organic canned water chestnuts not found at other chains.
How To Buy Water Chestnuts Online
Numerous stores allow you to buy groceries directly on the internet. Some online outlets are extensions of brick-and-mortar locations, and others only exist through online ordering. The following list summarizes 3 of the most common places you can order water chestnuts online.
If you cannot find a product that suits you, there are numerous other online stores you’re able to purchase from.
Amazon
Using Amazon.com for your water chestnut search provides a wider variety than most single-store online options. Since different sellers are available through a single website, you will likely find several different deals and brands. Additionally, Amazon Prime members are able to get free two day delivery.
Amazon sellers have several different brands available to choose from. You can also choose between whole, sliced, and chopped water chestnuts.
Stop and Shop
Stop and Shop’s online store has every section you would hope to find in the modern well-stocked grocery store. While they won’t have as extensive a variety of brands to choose from compared to Amazon, they do provide the familiarity of a local physical location where you can shop online.
They have their own Stop and Shop brand water chestnuts, sliced and whole, and their delivery services will bring your groceries to your doorstep if you’re near any of their hundreds of store locations. Additional charges may apply for grocery delivery.
Grocery.com
It’s hard to imagine a more fitting name for a place to purchase food online than Grocery.com. Their website carries LaChoy fancy sliced water chestnuts, Geisha, Dynasty, and several of the other most sought-after brands. They have both wholesale quantities and smaller packages available.
Since ordering groceries online has become more common in the last few years, you may have to check more than one site before finding exactly what you’re looking for. Between these three options, you’re likely to find what you need.
What Can I Get Instead of Water Chestnut?
If your local grocer is out of stock, don’t give up on adding that fresh, crunchy texture to your recipe. If you can’t find water chestnuts in-store or online, there are several alternatives you can use as a substitute.
Turnips
Similar to radishes, turnips make a great substitute for water chestnuts. Turnips are a root vegetable that you can peel and slice. When they’re cut to a similar size and thickness as water chestnuts, they have a similar coat and texture. The flavor of turnips is complementary to recipes that call for water chestnuts.
Jicama
Jicama is a root that grows in Central America and makes for a great substitute for water chestnuts. It can be peeled and cut to a similar size and used on salads just like water chestnuts, and if cooked quickly, jicama remains crisp for use in the same kinds of cooked recipes as well.
Bamboo shoots
Bamboo shoots come from what it sounds like; bamboo. They are edible sprouts growing from bamboo that is found in tropical climates. Just like water chestnuts and other roots, sprouts, and vegetables that can be used interchangeably, they add a crisp and almost sweet element to a meal. Unlike other options, bamboo shoots must be cooked before they’re eaten.
