Let's Shop Smart at Costco
Costco runs can feel like prepping for a feast. But unless you're feeding a football team, not everything is worth grabbing in bulk. Sure, some food items are total wins. Others? Just impulse buys in disguise. If you're a regular, here's a breakdown of what to stock up on—and what to skip at Costco.
Quick & Easy: Morey's Alaska Wild Salmon with Wasabi Sauce by Costco
1. Olive Oil
Buying olive oil in bulk, such as the Cirio Extra Virgin, makes sense because a single 3-liter container lasts months in a typical kitchen. Its shelf life extends up to two years unopened, and it's perfect for everything from dressings to sautéing. The oil offers excellent versatility at a fraction of the price of specialty brands.
2. Organic Maple Syrup
Options like the Kirkland Signature organic maple syrup have a shelf life of approximately one year when unopened and remain stable when refrigerated after opening. It's pure and filtered, which means it contains antioxidants. The large jug saves money, especially compared to smaller organic bottles at grocery stores.
Kirkland Limited Edition 100% Pure Organic Maple Syrup - Costco Product Review by The Tiny Reviewer
3. Rotisserie Chicken
Costco's rotisserie chickens are delicious and super practical. Each roasted bird is large enough for multiple meals and is fully cooked, saving prep time. Compared to buying raw chicken, these come at a competitive price per pound as a go-to for busy families needing fast, protein-packed dinners.
3 Easy Meals Using Costco Rotisserie Chicken by ThatDudeCanCook4. Frozen Organic Berries
Frozen organic berries are nutritional, often containing more antioxidants than fresh ones due to flash freezing at peak ripeness. For example, the Nature's Touch Organic Four Berry Blend bags keep well in the freezer for up to 12 months, so you can add them to smoothies, desserts, or oatmeal without worrying about rotting fruits.
Costco Product Recall - Nature's Touch Organic Berry Cherry Blend by Life Made Easy With Lulu
5. Canned Tomatoes
Storage-wise, canned tomatoes have a two-year shelf life unopened, and Aylmer Diced Tomatoes are an example of bulk packs ideal for stocking a pantry. Their consistently rich flavor and acidity are just as good as many supermarket brands for your soups and stews without the premium price tag.
Which Do I Buy at COSTCO?? ~ $9.99 vs $5.99 ~ These are the BEST canned tomatoes!!! by Kathy Cooks
6. Nut Mixes
At Costco, you'll find large packs, like the Savanna Orchards Country Club Nut Mix. They offer top-tier quality with a fresh, crunchy texture rarely found in bulk nuts. The resealable containers can fit nicely on your shelves and maintain freshness for an extended period. The snack is loaded with healthy fats and protein, best for families or office use.
Honey Roasted Nut Mix by Savanna Orchards review by JDMAN reviews
7. Bacon Packs
Thick-cut bacon packs at Costco provide great value by the pound compared to grocery store brands. The flavor balance between smoky and salty is consistently praised in customer reviews, making it a favorite for recipes or breakfast staples. The large packs are freezer-friendly and can last up to six months frozen.
Costco's Fully Cooked Bacon Makes BLT's A BREEZE! by Everyday Cooking Dad
8. Frozen Wild Salmon Portions
Flash-frozen right after catch, options such as Morey's Marinated Wild Alaskan Salmon portions lock in flavor and omega-3s. Each piece is individually wrapped, allowing you to grab exactly what you need without defrosting the entire pack. Great protein, zero waste. They can stay good in the freezer for months.
Morey’s Marinated Wild Alaskan Salmon 6 Fillets - Costco Product Review by The Tiny Reviewer
9. Frozen Mixed Vegetables
Frozen Mixed Vegetables retain nearly all their vitamins thanks to quick freezing after harvest, which is found across various brands at Costco. They're often priced lower when purchased in bulk than fresh organic produce, which has a shorter shelf life in the fridge. Costco's large bags allow for batch cooking without food waste or frequent trips to the store.
10. Sparkling Water
Kirkland Signature Sparkling Water is available in bulk packs of 35 cans, one of the many options at Costco that reduce costs compared to purchasing individually. It contains no sugars or artificial flavors, offering hydration with zero calories. The compact cans are easy to store in the fridge or a small cooler.
Three Sparkling Water Review by FoodzFolkzSo, now you know about the bulk buys that make sense to buy at Costco. It’s time to spot the deals that don't.
1. Whole Lettuce
Though buying fresh lettuce in bulk sounds like a smart move, its fridge life is only around 5 to 7 days. The sheer volume often leads to wilting and spoilage before you finish it. So, when it comes to lettuce, smaller, fresher batches are more practical and less wasteful.
2. Fresh Bakery Croissants
Croissants fresh from Costco Bakery deliver that buttery, flaky texture we all love them for. Unfortunately, their delicate quality fades within two days, and they need to be separated to be individually wrapped for freezing, which makes large packs a hassle.
3. Nut Butter Jars
Costco's Kirkland Signature Mixed Nut Butter with Seeds comes in a 27-oz jar—a tempting example of choices for nut butter lovers. However, natural varieties tend to separate over time, requiring constant stirring. If you don't use it frequently, the texture can become difficult to work with.
4K | Mixed Nut Butter | Unboxing @CostcoTV by How? How? How??
4. Avocados
Creamy and nutrient-rich fresh avocados are tricky to bulk buy because once ripe, they last only 2 to 3 days in the fridge. The short shelf life means many avocados might go bad before you use them. This reduces the value of buying them from Costco.
5. Ground Cinnamon
Ground cinnamon's flavor peaks within six months of opening, as it is an aromatic spice. The large jars at Costco may save money per ounce, but they risk losing potency and fragrance over time. Better choice? Smaller spice containers. They keep your seasonings fresh and flavorful for the time you'll be using them.
Our Point of View on Kirkland Signature Cinnamon by WTI
6. Bagged Salad Mixes
Salad mixes offer convenience, but the big bags can spoil typically within a week. Also, they consume valuable fridge space and lose nutritional value quickly once cut and packaged. Clearly, it is less practical than buying freshly picked greens from your local vendor.
Earthbound Farms Caesar Salad Kit from Costco by Dog Minded
7. Cereal Bags
Buying cereal in bulk at Costco? You might just be left with a half-finished box that's gone stale. Humidity and time all work against maintaining a crisp texture, making oversized packs risky unless you have a lot of people to feed daily.
Costco Best Cereals To Get! Healthy Shopping! by Real Food Guy
8.Tubs Of Sour Cream
That 3-pound tub of Daisy Sour Cream will likely expire before it's even halfway done. Why? Because once opened, the quality of sour cream starts to dip quickly as it separates and spoils. All that dairy gets wasted in a big tub, regardless of the brand you choose.
9. Jars Of Pasta Sauce
Pasta sauce jars, like the ones available in the Classico brand, contain rich flavors, but yet again, the product can spoil usually within 5 to 7 days after opening. Local brands often use fresher ingredients, so there's no point in turning to Costco for big pasta sauce jars.
10. Multipack Hummus Cups
Stacking up those mini Fontaine Santé Hummus cups? Think twice. The cost per ounce is higher than a standard tub in all the multipack cup types at Costco. Additionally, packaging waste accumulates quickly. Just buy one large container and portion it into reusable, smaller containers.
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