MINNEAPOLIS -- The appeal of Kwik Trip depends on why you’re stopping.

It can be a convenient place to refuel both your vehicle and cravings, or provide cheap meals on the go. It can also be an oasis in a food desert, stocking everything from bananas to meatloaf, and a manageable shopping experience for those weary of super-sized supermarkets; there are even carts.

The Wisconsin-based chain evolves its food offerings as times and consumer preferences change. Kwik Trip was ahead of the curve when it introduced hot racks, now a primary driver of grab-and-go sales, and it recently announced that its roller grills will be phased out by late September. (Don’t worry, hot dog and tornadoes will migrate to the Hot Spot racks.)

From store brands to shopping hacks, here are 10 reasons to fuel up at Kwik Trip.

The app is your friend.

No one wants to download another app, but doing so allows you to save money and order lunch. We’re fans of controlling our destiny, so ordering via the Kwik Trip Rewards app assures that our sandwich (or pizza or breakfast) will be ready how and when we want it. It can be invaluable when on a Midwestern road trip, saving time and avoiding decision fatigue, all while earning rewards for discounts.

Don’t get too attached.

Not all Kwik Trips carry the same foods. What might be available in the Kwik Trip closest to you might not be in the grab-and-go case the next town over — another reason the app is helpful. And some favorite foods (we’re talking to you, soft pretzel) are discontinued without warning.

Don’t sleep on the store brand.

Kwik Trip produces more than 80% of its branded food, dairy, bakery and meat — much of it under the Urge! and Nature’s Touch labels. We give high marks for items like licorice and potato chips, but follow the same rule of thumb anytime we’re shopping store brands. If you are wedded to an exact flavor, like Doritos, it’s best to stick with the name brand. The store brand isn’t bad, it’s just ... different.

Fresh snacks for the win.

While many convenience stores peddle bagged chips and the occasional meat sticks and Lunchables, Kwik Trip’s coolers have selections that range from lunch meat, fresh cheese curds and yogurt parfaits to a better-than-expected array of fresh fruit and vegetables, meaning pit stops don’t have to be a caloric abyss. There’s even sushi, which is all we’ll say about that.

There’s a sweet bakery.

There’s a full slate of doughnuts, but the Glazers are immensely popular — more than 40 million are sold every year. Their soft, pillowy texture, with sticky-sweet glaze, is the store’s answer to Krispy Kreme. We’re partial to the Dunkers, old-fashioned doughnuts that come in several flavors (we swoon over blueberry). Kwik Trip isn’t afraid to experiment, which is why we were treated to the divisive Mountain Dew Dunkers (pass) and the new Maple Glazers (solid). Most bakery — sorry, Kwikery — treats punch above their weight. Better than homemade? Depends on the baker. Does it satisfy a sweet tooth? Absolutely.

It’s what’s for dinner (or lunch).

Yes, the Hot Spot is convenient. But there’s much more. Prepared meals range from beef Stroganoff and meatloaf to rotisserie chicken and mac and cheese. There’s also an impressive selection of ingredients to fashion your own dinner: fruit, potatoes, salads, corn on the cob, brats, ground beef and even individual bacon-wrapped pork loins — and they’re good. You’ll find sandwiches made with pretzel buns and a cranberry-wild rice bread that’s so popular there are online recipe hacks. (This just in: It’s now available by the loaf for $4.99.) Eggs are cheap, too. It won’t be our primary grocery store, but the around-the-clock hours — at most stores, anyway — make it a solid option for late-night workers or midnight cravings. And prices often are comparable to non-sale supermarket prices.

Breakfast is its sweet spot.

We once overheard two prominent local chefs wax poetic about Kwik Trip’s breakfast sandwiches for a solid 10 minutes. And morning customers will see fellow early risers armed with bags full of breakfast. Get all manners of handheld breakfast fare: eggs and your choice of meat and cheese sandwiched between croissants, waffles, English muffins, tortillas. We highly recommend ordering ahead and creating your own combo to ensure availability and freshness. All are roughly $3.

You can get fancy coffee.

Kwik Trip’s coffee bar takes up an entire store wall, with multiple dispensers of fresh-brewed drip coffee, made-to-order espresso drinks and nitro cold-brew taps. Customizations are endless, between all the temperature and texture options (including frappés!), various roasts, sweeteners and creamers. The drinks are generally as good as Caribou or Starbucks and often a couple bucks cheaper.

Got milk? They do.

Milk is Minnesota’s official state beverage, but Kwik Trip makes a case for drinking Wisconsibly. Its Nature’s Touch milk has a neutral, mildly buttery flavor and because it’s processed at the company’s dairy in La Crosse, it goes from cow to store in 24 hours. Gallons sell for roughly half the price of Kemp’s, Minnesota’s dominant dairy producer. Nature’s Touch ice cream is a tasty option at $4.99 for 1½ quarts.

You can be creative.

A store with a cult following is bound to have hacks worth trying. Here are a few we’ve seen: The store’s F’real milkshake machine is like a convenient Dairy Queen Blizzard; try crumbling a Dunker, cookie or other bakery treat for a Kwik mix-in. Mini tacos or chicken tenders from the Hot Spot can add a little fiesta to a salad. Belly up to the condiment bar and nacho cheese pump to customize any sando. Order a burger sans bun and let a Glazer do the heavy carb lifting. Make your own dirty soda by getting a fountain drink and heading to the coffee bar, where syrups and a splash of creamer await.

Go ahead and choose your own adventure, and we’ll see ya next time.

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