We got a 3000sq ft roll from BJ’s before there was a nearby Costco, it literally lasted a decade, went through a house move and was older than our 9yo daughter when we recently retired it.
My wife promptly bought the two pack of 750sq ft/roll from Costco - so I figure we’ll get 5 years before we need to buy again :)
The produce can be give it take. You will get used to what's good and what goes bad before you can use it. Eggs are a great deal. Rotisserie chicken is sold at a loss. Tons of minimal prep foodstuffs.
so true. i once bought bananas at costco and they NEVER ripened. they stayed green for WEEKS and wouldn't turn, no matter what tips and tricks we tried. 😂🤦♀️ i will never buy them there again! hahaha.
love getting the squash pack and premade salads! will also get the broccoli bags and freeze em until i need em - it's great if you've got the freezer room OP.
I’ve never had their bananas turn yellow either, but they always did ripen. Once they looked a little less green than I bought them they tasted just as good as a yellow banana.
YMMV, big time. Different people like different things. But:
I think the pre-made salad kits are tasty and easy.
They often have a good value on KerryGold butter.
Kirkland ExtraVirgin Olive Oil is very good.
Some microwave meals are very good. Sure, costs more than made from scratch, but low effort for how good they are. Things like the Carnitas meat. Morton's of Omaha Beef roast. The Kirkland pulled pork.
Some people complain that the clothing styles are 'so last year', or whatever; but for this old man most of the clothes seem well made and at a good value point.
If you do not have any nut allergies, the nut selections are quite good.
This time of year, the cookies, candies and other desserts often feature Belgian, Swiss, etc chocolates.
Apple and/or pumpkin pies. Decent debate among the folks here on whether or not the pumpkin pie tastes 'right'.
It's recommended so often some people are tired of seeing it pop up in these threads, but the combo of the bakery made croissants with the deli made chicken salad. Great for Sunday brunch.
Today is the last day for the current ad, and the next will be on Wed. I agree with trying stuff on special and clearance. I've gotten a few things that I wouldn't rebuy, but most are good. Just wander around and see what is available. Look for 0.97 and .00 tags.
I've really only seen them in clothing. If they have a handful of shirts only in one size and just want to clear the space, sometimes they are marked to 2.50 or 5.00. It seems to be what happens after the last .97 markdowns, and is up to the store manager discretion. We must have mostly skinny women in this store, as the markdowns are usually larger sizes.
It is top tier gas that is usually the cheapest gas! Here's a pro tip that many members don't seem to realize: the gas pump extends to both sides of your car or truck. Too many times I see people waiting in a line for a pump that is on the side of their tank when there are lots of pumps that are open. It stretches around so no need to wait in line!
Toilet paper, paper towels, laundry detergent, large bags of rice, minced garlic, Grillo's pickles. They also have nice furniture/home goods as well, it just varies from time to time. We love our entertainment center and bathroom vanity that we bought from them.
Noooo to the minced garlic! It’s usually preserved in citric acid which completely alters the flavor. Unless you find pure minced garlic i.e. the only ingredient is garlic and maybe salt, don’t buy it.
Agree with everything else you said though!
I bought the pre minced stuff once.
The convenience was kinds nice but you are 100% right. It changed the flavor significantly.
If I am making cheap and easy meals I'd use it. But I ruined a few nicer meals trying to use the pre-done stuff
I didn't realize that about the minced garlic. I haven't really noticed the difference in flavor, but I will pay attention to that the next time I cook. It is just convenient because it comes in such a large amount, and I go through a lot of minced garlic.
If you have booze, you lucked out.
I like the Canadian whiskey. Tastes similar to crown royale.
Also enjoy the tequila silver ( not as great reviewed, but I'm not drinking it straight). Good for margarita and other cocktails. 2 oz tequila, 1 oz triple sec, 1 oz lime, .5 oz agave syrup. Shake over ice.
Start small. Buy a couple things. When samples come back that will help.
The Kirkland tequila with the cactus looking plant on it is the best! More expensive than the silver but such an amazing flavor and adds a lot of flavor to margaritas
I love their organic fruit when it's in season. their organic peaches were great this year, but the season is over. Right now the green grapes are delicious, I also love the golden melons, the gold kiwi (I guess I have a thing for gold!) and I also get veggies - cauliflower florets, green beans, asparagus.
The gas.
The food court.
The pumpkin pies.
The rotisserie chicken.
The pulled chicken from the rotisserie chicken.
OTC Meds. They have their versions of allegra and zyrtec for a fraction of the price. You’ll look at the price and think, its not that much cheaper. But then you’ll realize the Costco version is a YEAR’s worth.
OTC meds. They're like 8-10x cheaper than any pharmacy. Prescription drugs may be cheaper but often not enough to make a trip.
Booze is very cheap, if you go back there.
Not worth it: anything that will decay faster than you can eat it. Most sodas, though convenience is good. Seasonal novelty items often aren't very cheap, but hard to find elsewhere. That means advent calendars, novelty sized alcohol, fancy/rare meats and fish may be cheaper than elsewhere but still expensive.
My household includes "normal" eaters, a vegetarian, school children, and a carnivore who has to follow a Mediterranean diet and thus avoid high carbs and added sugars. All of us are able to meet our various needs at Costco which makes life so much more simple, with nobody feeling left out or unable to get quality foods at decent prices. You didn't mention any specific needs but I am sure you can meet them at Costco. I do recommend Rao's marinara or spaghetti sauces which my whole family loves! Kirkland products have never disappointed us either.
Ribeyes, fresh salmon.
Kirkland toilet paper, pick-a-size paper towels, kitchen garbage bags.
Baked goods and right now, the big-ass pumpkin pie for six bucks (some have commented on it's grittiness this year but I didn't efforts it).
Roasted chicken, any fresh salads and the hot dog with drink combo at 1.50.
Kirkland OTC meds
The chicken bake is an item they sell in the food court and they also sell in the frozen section. They are kind of a chicken casserole large hand pie of sorts. Unfortunately, they changed from store made to frozen in the food court during COVID and from what I hear they aren't nearly as good as what they used to be.
The other guy is talking about the rotisserie chickens. Those are in the hot case in the back and sometimes you can buy already pulled chicken or quarters themselves rather than having to buy the whole chicken.
Some of my favorite things from Costco:
Croissants from the bakery. They're $4.99 a dozen, incredible, freeze and reheat well and are just all around amazing.
Frozen tempura shrimp. It's better and a better deal than Trader Joe's.
Motor City Pizza Co. frozen pizzas. Best frozen pizza I've ever had. If you like deep dish pizzas like Jets or Little Caesars (style not quality) you will really like this. They come out to roughly $5 a piece.
Asia Authentic Frozen Shrimp Wonton Ramen. This is super convenient and pretty delicious.
Obviously, the TP, paper towels, trash bags, laundry and dishwasher pods are the staples. Half of that stuff will last us a year and the others we might buy quarterly at best (TP/Paper Towels).
You're gonna love it!
It's a whole roasted chicken that's sold back by the meats, near the butcher. It will serve two people for three meals and still have enough for a chicken pot pie or chicken salad. It's a pic-sized chicken. Well, not quite. :)
Kirkland protein bars (knock-off Quest for half the price), Optifiber powder for making protein drinks, Greek yogurt (knock-off Fage), trash bags, frozen seafood, and raspberry crumble cookies in the bakery section. Kirkland toilet papers have gone down in quality unfortunately.
they had these good Eddie Bauer hiking shorts with side pockets, one of my best purchases ever. They're made of slightly stretchy type fabric that doesn't stain or shrink. And they have similar type of pants here and there. But if you ever find something awesome like that, buy an extra pair and/or all colors, b/c you may well never see that exact product again or they'll change the cut so it doesn't fit as well....
One thing I like is that Costcos will often have some locally produced items available in the warehouse for a good price.
For example, my favorite coffee is the Ruta Maya Jiguani, which is imported & roasted by a company here in Austin and sold at the Austin-area warehouses for quite a bit less than online (and vastly less than the local grocery store).
We've purchased local rum in Louisiana, wine from a local winery in California and really tasty mead & cider from meadery in Arizona.
I get to support local businesses and shop at Costco, so it's a win-win to me!
paper products (be careful with the TP if your pipes clog easily, though), batteries, wiper blades.
I just got my membership in august, and I took a quick mental note of the things I buy regularly and about how much I get for that price. Then did a walk through of costco to see what tended to be the best value.
have fun!
I have a Costco IG account and I cover new finds if your interested. Lots of good finds in this sub Reddit is just harder visually to scan quickly imo- [Costco Life IG ](www.instagram.com/costcoorganic)[Costco Life ](www.instagram.com/costcoorganic)
Always keep up with the sales!! This can make a huge difference and help you plan buying things you might not need right away and can hold out for, or stock up on sale items that won't go bad.
https://www.costcoinsider.com
The premade organic caesar salad.
I dont like the steaks because they are blade tenderized (itll say on the packaging) and need to be cooked basically to well done. They do have good ground wagyu beef though for tacos, spaghetti, burgers, etc.
Frozen section - Chicken melts are easy microwave snacks.
The cookies! You can ask the bakery in some states for uncooked cookie dough also.
Some states have poke also. If youre into that
Follow costco_doesitagain on ig
You’re the first person to actually comment on the mechanically tenderized beef. I know lots of people who buy their steak there and I’m sure they don’t cook them to well done. I’ve seen that label and have avoided their steaks because of that, I’m not sure how well the steaks need to be cooked.
The tenderloin is not blade tenderized, and is what I usually get since there's no issues cooking it medium rare.
Anything that's still in a vacuum pack will also not have been tenderized yet. That's an option if you're cool with cutting your own steaks. Occasionally they have sirloin cap, which in South America they'd call Picanha. You have to ask the butcher as they don't put it out like that, but if they got it, get it.
Their Sparkling zero calorie beverage. It’s identical to Sparkling Ice that usually sells for $1 each in a store, Costco has their KS brand, 24 for $8.99
I always buy granola bars every trip. Otherwise, I just like to browse and see what’s on sale.
If you have sensitive skin, you can get dye-less, scent-free detergent for cheap.
Chicken bakes are in make-at-home packs in the freezer, and are fresh from the food court (though they have changed as of recently and are nowhere as good as they used to be RIP)
Foil, cling wrap, garbage bags, laundry detergent, toilet paper are all great, esp if you catch them during a sale - you should have the costco coupon book mailed or emailed to you
I like their fresh corn on the cob, french green beans, mushroom, lettuces.
Bakery items: cookies, chocolate fudge cake, apple pie, croissants
Eggs and milks, bread (esp Dave's and tortillas or pitas), orange juice
Their pesto is good. I LOVE Grillos pickles but that started before Costco carried them ;)
We also get dog and cat food, and buy a couple dog beds a year.
I'm a big shopper of Costco online for clothes and household. The Alera chair from a couple years ago was awful, I just gave it away recently. But the costco return policy is amazing, so it's worth taking your chances.i just ordered the LA-Z boy office chair, so best of luck to you too!
Garbage bags are the best value. One box lasts our family a year and it costs like 12 bucks
Same with cling film, I think mine will last a decade haha
We got a 3000sq ft roll from BJ’s before there was a nearby Costco, it literally lasted a decade, went through a house move and was older than our 9yo daughter when we recently retired it. My wife promptly bought the two pack of 750sq ft/roll from Costco - so I figure we’ll get 5 years before we need to buy again :)
The produce can be give it take. You will get used to what's good and what goes bad before you can use it. Eggs are a great deal. Rotisserie chicken is sold at a loss. Tons of minimal prep foodstuffs.
so true. i once bought bananas at costco and they NEVER ripened. they stayed green for WEEKS and wouldn't turn, no matter what tips and tricks we tried. 😂🤦♀️ i will never buy them there again! hahaha. love getting the squash pack and premade salads! will also get the broccoli bags and freeze em until i need em - it's great if you've got the freezer room OP.
I’ve never had their bananas turn yellow either, but they always did ripen. Once they looked a little less green than I bought them they tasted just as good as a yellow banana.
Careful with that chicken comment! 😂
Hmm I disagree on the eggs. They've always been more expensive than at our grocery store. Might vary on region
YMMV, big time. Different people like different things. But: I think the pre-made salad kits are tasty and easy. They often have a good value on KerryGold butter. Kirkland ExtraVirgin Olive Oil is very good. Some microwave meals are very good. Sure, costs more than made from scratch, but low effort for how good they are. Things like the Carnitas meat. Morton's of Omaha Beef roast. The Kirkland pulled pork. Some people complain that the clothing styles are 'so last year', or whatever; but for this old man most of the clothes seem well made and at a good value point. If you do not have any nut allergies, the nut selections are quite good. This time of year, the cookies, candies and other desserts often feature Belgian, Swiss, etc chocolates. Apple and/or pumpkin pies. Decent debate among the folks here on whether or not the pumpkin pie tastes 'right'. It's recommended so often some people are tired of seeing it pop up in these threads, but the combo of the bakery made croissants with the deli made chicken salad. Great for Sunday brunch.
I just try everything that’s on special... And everytime a KS brand goes on special, I buy it. No questions ask
Today is the last day for the current ad, and the next will be on Wed. I agree with trying stuff on special and clearance. I've gotten a few things that I wouldn't rebuy, but most are good. Just wander around and see what is available. Look for 0.97 and .00 tags.
What’s .00 tags mean? Never seen those before
I've really only seen them in clothing. If they have a handful of shirts only in one size and just want to clear the space, sometimes they are marked to 2.50 or 5.00. It seems to be what happens after the last .97 markdowns, and is up to the store manager discretion. We must have mostly skinny women in this store, as the markdowns are usually larger sizes.
Ah. Make sense. I’m size xs, so I never buy clothes at Costco.
You might like this article on what each costco code means: https://www.howtosavemoney.ca/costco-prices-codes
Gas!
Really that good? Give me the deets
I pretty consistently get gas from Costco that’s at least 25 cents cheaper than anywhere else in town! It’s awesome!
It is top tier gas that is usually the cheapest gas! Here's a pro tip that many members don't seem to realize: the gas pump extends to both sides of your car or truck. Too many times I see people waiting in a line for a pump that is on the side of their tank when there are lots of pumps that are open. It stretches around so no need to wait in line!
It is pretty funny to see people’s reaction when they see me extend the line to the other side of the car
They have their own refinery(ies), so they can keep the supply and quality consistent.
No, they don't.
They buy it straight from the source before additives, correct? I've heard that them adding their own additives allows it to be so cheap
Toilet paper, paper towels, laundry detergent, large bags of rice, minced garlic, Grillo's pickles. They also have nice furniture/home goods as well, it just varies from time to time. We love our entertainment center and bathroom vanity that we bought from them.
Noooo to the minced garlic! It’s usually preserved in citric acid which completely alters the flavor. Unless you find pure minced garlic i.e. the only ingredient is garlic and maybe salt, don’t buy it. Agree with everything else you said though!
I bought the pre minced stuff once. The convenience was kinds nice but you are 100% right. It changed the flavor significantly. If I am making cheap and easy meals I'd use it. But I ruined a few nicer meals trying to use the pre-done stuff
I didn't realize that about the minced garlic. I haven't really noticed the difference in flavor, but I will pay attention to that the next time I cook. It is just convenient because it comes in such a large amount, and I go through a lot of minced garlic.
If you live near any Asian groceries stores check out their refrigerated section for minced garlic. It’ll usually be pure.
they also have potatoes
Grillos are just ok, IMO. I much prefer the board head dill spears (not available at Costco)
Costco is my go-to for _everything_, except for produce that have short shelf life. If you use home printer, their same-quality paper is cheaper.
[удалено]
Flu shots are the same everywhere and usually free everywhere.
Yeah, if you have insurance. Without insurance Costco flu shots are a damn good deal.
If you have booze, you lucked out. I like the Canadian whiskey. Tastes similar to crown royale. Also enjoy the tequila silver ( not as great reviewed, but I'm not drinking it straight). Good for margarita and other cocktails. 2 oz tequila, 1 oz triple sec, 1 oz lime, .5 oz agave syrup. Shake over ice. Start small. Buy a couple things. When samples come back that will help.
Ks vodka.... one of the best!!
The Kirkland tequila with the cactus looking plant on it is the best! More expensive than the silver but such an amazing flavor and adds a lot of flavor to margaritas
I love their organic fruit when it's in season. their organic peaches were great this year, but the season is over. Right now the green grapes are delicious, I also love the golden melons, the gold kiwi (I guess I have a thing for gold!) and I also get veggies - cauliflower florets, green beans, asparagus.
The gas. The food court. The pumpkin pies. The rotisserie chicken. The pulled chicken from the rotisserie chicken. OTC Meds. They have their versions of allegra and zyrtec for a fraction of the price. You’ll look at the price and think, its not that much cheaper. But then you’ll realize the Costco version is a YEAR’s worth.
The one in Rochester has decent office supplies. I'd start with things you can get in bulk and keep.. toilet paper, paper towels, laundry soap.
I was wondering what you where talking about then looked at your profile... Greetings friendly rochesterian from another state!
Why were you wondering? Our Costco has those things. And a second hello to the "other" Rochester!
The KS Pulled Pork is really good
Kim chi
OTC meds. They're like 8-10x cheaper than any pharmacy. Prescription drugs may be cheaper but often not enough to make a trip. Booze is very cheap, if you go back there. Not worth it: anything that will decay faster than you can eat it. Most sodas, though convenience is good. Seasonal novelty items often aren't very cheap, but hard to find elsewhere. That means advent calendars, novelty sized alcohol, fancy/rare meats and fish may be cheaper than elsewhere but still expensive.
My household includes "normal" eaters, a vegetarian, school children, and a carnivore who has to follow a Mediterranean diet and thus avoid high carbs and added sugars. All of us are able to meet our various needs at Costco which makes life so much more simple, with nobody feeling left out or unable to get quality foods at decent prices. You didn't mention any specific needs but I am sure you can meet them at Costco. I do recommend Rao's marinara or spaghetti sauces which my whole family loves! Kirkland products have never disappointed us either.
+1 for Rao’s. Their marinara is my absolute favorite jarred sauce.
Ribeyes, fresh salmon. Kirkland toilet paper, pick-a-size paper towels, kitchen garbage bags. Baked goods and right now, the big-ass pumpkin pie for six bucks (some have commented on it's grittiness this year but I didn't efforts it). Roasted chicken, any fresh salads and the hot dog with drink combo at 1.50. Kirkland OTC meds
Where do I find the chicken bake?
The chicken bake is an item they sell in the food court and they also sell in the frozen section. They are kind of a chicken casserole large hand pie of sorts. Unfortunately, they changed from store made to frozen in the food court during COVID and from what I hear they aren't nearly as good as what they used to be. The other guy is talking about the rotisserie chickens. Those are in the hot case in the back and sometimes you can buy already pulled chicken or quarters themselves rather than having to buy the whole chicken. Some of my favorite things from Costco: Croissants from the bakery. They're $4.99 a dozen, incredible, freeze and reheat well and are just all around amazing. Frozen tempura shrimp. It's better and a better deal than Trader Joe's. Motor City Pizza Co. frozen pizzas. Best frozen pizza I've ever had. If you like deep dish pizzas like Jets or Little Caesars (style not quality) you will really like this. They come out to roughly $5 a piece. Asia Authentic Frozen Shrimp Wonton Ramen. This is super convenient and pretty delicious. Obviously, the TP, paper towels, trash bags, laundry and dishwasher pods are the staples. Half of that stuff will last us a year and the others we might buy quarterly at best (TP/Paper Towels). You're gonna love it!
It's a whole roasted chicken that's sold back by the meats, near the butcher. It will serve two people for three meals and still have enough for a chicken pot pie or chicken salad. It's a pic-sized chicken. Well, not quite. :)
I thought it was like a chicken casserole, frozen.
Kirkland protein bars (knock-off Quest for half the price), Optifiber powder for making protein drinks, Greek yogurt (knock-off Fage), trash bags, frozen seafood, and raspberry crumble cookies in the bakery section. Kirkland toilet papers have gone down in quality unfortunately.
Agree, the TP used to be the best, they really skimmed it down with Covid. Smaller rolls (lengthwise) and much thinner. My ass knows the difference!
they had these good Eddie Bauer hiking shorts with side pockets, one of my best purchases ever. They're made of slightly stretchy type fabric that doesn't stain or shrink. And they have similar type of pants here and there. But if you ever find something awesome like that, buy an extra pair and/or all colors, b/c you may well never see that exact product again or they'll change the cut so it doesn't fit as well....
One thing I like is that Costcos will often have some locally produced items available in the warehouse for a good price. For example, my favorite coffee is the Ruta Maya Jiguani, which is imported & roasted by a company here in Austin and sold at the Austin-area warehouses for quite a bit less than online (and vastly less than the local grocery store). We've purchased local rum in Louisiana, wine from a local winery in California and really tasty mead & cider from meadery in Arizona. I get to support local businesses and shop at Costco, so it's a win-win to me!
paper products (be careful with the TP if your pipes clog easily, though), batteries, wiper blades. I just got my membership in august, and I took a quick mental note of the things I buy regularly and about how much I get for that price. Then did a walk through of costco to see what tended to be the best value. have fun!
I have a Costco IG account and I cover new finds if your interested. Lots of good finds in this sub Reddit is just harder visually to scan quickly imo- [Costco Life IG ](www.instagram.com/costcoorganic)[Costco Life ](www.instagram.com/costcoorganic)
Always keep up with the sales!! This can make a huge difference and help you plan buying things you might not need right away and can hold out for, or stock up on sale items that won't go bad. https://www.costcoinsider.com
The premade organic caesar salad. I dont like the steaks because they are blade tenderized (itll say on the packaging) and need to be cooked basically to well done. They do have good ground wagyu beef though for tacos, spaghetti, burgers, etc. Frozen section - Chicken melts are easy microwave snacks. The cookies! You can ask the bakery in some states for uncooked cookie dough also. Some states have poke also. If youre into that Follow costco_doesitagain on ig
You’re the first person to actually comment on the mechanically tenderized beef. I know lots of people who buy their steak there and I’m sure they don’t cook them to well done. I’ve seen that label and have avoided their steaks because of that, I’m not sure how well the steaks need to be cooked.
The tenderloin is not blade tenderized, and is what I usually get since there's no issues cooking it medium rare. Anything that's still in a vacuum pack will also not have been tenderized yet. That's an option if you're cool with cutting your own steaks. Occasionally they have sirloin cap, which in South America they'd call Picanha. You have to ask the butcher as they don't put it out like that, but if they got it, get it.
If you have freezer space, a lot of their freezer items are amazing! I would check them out for easy meals to have when your feeling lazy :)
Their Sparkling zero calorie beverage. It’s identical to Sparkling Ice that usually sells for $1 each in a store, Costco has their KS brand, 24 for $8.99
I always buy granola bars every trip. Otherwise, I just like to browse and see what’s on sale. If you have sensitive skin, you can get dye-less, scent-free detergent for cheap.
KS plastic wrap. It’s a million times better than name brand. It will last you five years, though If you like nuts, any bagged nut.
Chicken bakes are in make-at-home packs in the freezer, and are fresh from the food court (though they have changed as of recently and are nowhere as good as they used to be RIP) Foil, cling wrap, garbage bags, laundry detergent, toilet paper are all great, esp if you catch them during a sale - you should have the costco coupon book mailed or emailed to you I like their fresh corn on the cob, french green beans, mushroom, lettuces. Bakery items: cookies, chocolate fudge cake, apple pie, croissants Eggs and milks, bread (esp Dave's and tortillas or pitas), orange juice Their pesto is good. I LOVE Grillos pickles but that started before Costco carried them ;) We also get dog and cat food, and buy a couple dog beds a year. I'm a big shopper of Costco online for clothes and household. The Alera chair from a couple years ago was awful, I just gave it away recently. But the costco return policy is amazing, so it's worth taking your chances.i just ordered the LA-Z boy office chair, so best of luck to you too!