From oils and nuts to choice frozen items that make weeknight meals a breeze, these are the groceries you’ll always find in my Costco shopping cart.
Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD
I have been a dedicated Costco shopper for decades. I shop there so often that an employee finally pulled me aside several years ago and told me I needed to upgrade to an executive membership. If they sold kale, I could probably do all of my shopping there, but alas, my husband needs his dark, leafy greens.
But there are certain ingredients that I almost always buy at Costco. Not only are they high quality, but they also have a reasonable price tag. Some things may be slightly more expensive or the same price as other grocers, but sometimes that extra cost is worth it, so I know I won’t run out for a while. From pantry staples like oils and nuts to frozen items that help me avoid expensive takeout on busy weeknights, my fridge, freezers and cupboards are bursting with Costco products. Here are my favorites.
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1. Oils
from Costco. I decant them into smaller, prettier bottles and keep them on my counter so we’re not left staring at giant plastic bottles (those I tuck in my pantry so they stay fresh). I tend to buy the 2-liter bottles, and last time I shopped, they clocked in at $21.99 for avocado and $26.39 for extra-virgin olive oils—both of which were about half the price that I would’ve spent on the same amount at another grocery store.
2. Nuts
, almonds and pecans to his oatmeal and chia pudding, plus we snack on pistachios, cashews and mixed nuts. I always get them at Costco because we go through so many, plus they’re a crazy good deal. A 3-pound bag of walnuts is about $12, and 2 1/2 pounds of mixed nuts is about $15. You really can’t beat those prices. I portion them into large canning jars and freeze what we won’t eat in a week or so to ensure that they stay fresh.
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3. Frozen Pot Stickers
and stir-fries made with pot stickers are also delicious. My daughter has even been known to make them for breakfast, and I’ve cooked some and popped them in a Thermos for her lunch as well.
4. Rao’s Marinara Sauce
!) Nor can its price at Costco be beat! If it’s a Costco trip kind of weekend, I typically go there first and then to the regular grocery store, just in case they’re out of anything I can’t wait to get on my next trip. The last time I went, I forgot to get my jars of Rao’s and had a bit of sticker shock at the grocery store. At Costco, a 2-pack of 28-ounce jars is about $12—a single 24-ounce jar is more than $8 at my local grocery store.
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5. Cheese
is super nutritious and boasts some impressive health benefits. I always get Cheddar cheese (Cabot Seriously Sharp is our favorite), tubs of Kirkland Feta and Parmigiano-Reggiano. If we’re having pizza night, I’ll grab fresh mozzarella as well. And if we’re entertaining, I’ll grab some more specialty cheeses. They have great artisan cheese options, including Humboldt Fog and cheese from Vermont Creamery and Jasper Hill Farm.
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6. Organic Berries
No matter what the season, the prices of organic berries at Costco are almost always a better deal than at the grocery store. They almost always have organic blueberries and raspberries, but sometimes strawberries and blackberries too.
7. Frozen Fruit & Veggies
than fresh since they are frozen at peak ripeness. We’ve even taken to snacking on frozen cherries and mango chunks (the latter was a favorite dessert of mine when I was pregnant). I also buy frozen mixed vegetables and broccoli. Almost all of Costco’s frozen produce is organic, too, if that matters to you.
8. Frozen Fish
.
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9. Kalamata Olives
served with a big Greek salad. And one of my daughter’s go-to breakfasts is kale, feta and olive tacos. I also frequently pack her what I call “Lebanese girl snack,” which includes olives, feta and hummus with cucumbers, carrots and crackers or naan dippers in her bento box. All that to say, we go through a lot of Kalamata olives, so buying this big jar makes sense for us. The brine they’re packed in is a delicious swap for vinegar in your salad dressing, too.
10. Chia Seeds
. I make a couple for each of them on Sunday, and they can jazz it up however they like in the morning when they dig in. I usually add a splash of milk, berries and maple syrup, sometimes a pinch of cocoa powder, too, for Lila. And Dan likes to add more milk, granola or muesli and fruit. Chia seeds have myriad health benefits; namely, they are packed with fiber, protein and omega-3s.
11. Oats
, too.
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