Professional baker compares grocery store pumpkin pies

We compared pumpkin pies from Walmart, Kroger, Safeway and Costco.

As a professional baker, I know how to make a solid pumpkin pie at home – but sometimes picking one up at a local grocery store is the best option.

To find which grocery store has the best version of this dessert, we put four of them to the test – Costco, Safeway, Kroger, and Walmart.

There are tons of pies on display at most grocery stores in the fall, so I didn’t call ahead to any of the places I went to and just walked in and grabbed the seasonal treat.

Because pumpkin pies are usually made with custard filling, which contains milk and eggs, the USDA recommends storing them in the refrigerator. At the Costco and Safeway I went to, the pumpkin pies were kept in a refrigerated area.

At Walmart and Kroger, they’ve been exposed to room temperature, which means they likely contain preservatives or artificial ingredients to make them shelf-stable.

With all these factors in mind, we judged each one on flavor and texture.