Lizzy Briskin; Olivia Yi; Gemma Acheampong; Shutterstock; Marianne Ayala/Insider
- Business Insider had 31 Costco shoppers share the items they frequently buy from the popular chain.
- Certain staple ingredients — like vanilla extract, rice, and coffee — are worth buying in bulk.
- Shoppers can find especially good deals on name-brand classics, like Dave’s Killer Bread.
As the third-largest retailer in the US, Costco consistently aims to keep its millions of cardholders coming back for discounts and bulk buys.
Costco, a leading retailer in customer satisfaction, regularly stocks its shelves with produce, snacks, frozen meals, and more. The store attracts shoppers from all walks of life, from nutritionists to chefs to athletes, and everyone has a unique shopping list.
BI had 31 dedicated shoppers share what they snag on their Costco runs — here’s what they said.
This story was originally published in September 2021 and most recently updated on October 3, 2024. Product availability may vary by location.
Abigail Abesamis Demarest has shopped at Costco for over 10 years and likes to buy certain ingredients in bulk
She uses these frozen-berry blends in her smoothies
Abigail Abesamis Demarest
Costco sells huge slabs of Atlantic salmon.
Demarest often pairs baked filets with brown rice and veggies, like spinach or broccoli.
This large piece can be divided into several servings, and you can freeze leftover filets to make them last longer.
These prepackaged Starbucks frappuccinos are an easy, on-the-go coffee option
Alicia Diaz
Although one person can finish a normal tube of toothpaste in just a couple of months, the Crest 3D White bulk pack can last for six to eight months, even when shared.
Diaz said that since she shares a bathroom, it’s more cost-effective to buy this toiletry in bulk.
These Kirkland Signature leggings are one of Diaz’s favorite buys
Alicia Diaz for Insider
Frozen and portioned meals are great Costco buys for solo shoppers since they have a much longer shelf life.
Each box of Yakisoba contains six packets of noodles mixed with sauce and an array of stir-fry vegetables.
Diaz will often finish cooking the noodles in a pan with chicken.
Read Alicia Diaz’s full Costco shopping list: I’m a solo shopper at Costco. Here are the 15 things I always buy that make my membership worth it.
Lisa Tanner feeds her family of 12 by buying items in bulk at the wholesale chain
These packages of Orville Redenbacher’s popcorn kernels make for a cheap and delicious snack
Lisa Tanner
Tanner also grabs a 25-pound bag of Thai Hom Mali jasmine rice.
She often prepares it in the Instant Pot to serve alongside meals like hamburger bowls, fried rice, and casserole.
Kirkland Signature sliced ham is a great deal and can work in a number of meals
Tara Zeller
Zeller uses the FoodSaver to ensure her frozen food lasts longer and doesn’t get freezer burn, saving her up to hundreds of dollars since she can preserve her bulk buys.
Simply portion the food into your ideal serving, then seal and store it in the freezer for easy future meals.
These packs of souvlaki make for an easy dinner protein
Tara Zeller
Costco sells large bottles of pure, organic maple syrup.
The breakfast staple works great on top of pancakes, waffles, and French toast, plus it’ll last for a while.
Read Tara Zeller’s full Costco shopping list: I drive 4 hours and spend $500 for every Costco trip. Here are 16 things I always stock up on.
Majed Kassis runs the popular @CostcoBuys Instagram account, which has over 1 million followers
Costco sells premade street-taco kits that are easy to assemble
Majed Kassis
Found in Costco’s bakery section, these cinnamon treats are a delicious buy.
Each pack of 12 comes topped with tasty cream-cheese icing.
Kassis pops them in the microwave for 20 seconds to warm them and make them melty.
Just Bare’s breaded chicken-breast chunks are a hit among kids and adults alike
Candace Nelson
Nelson will place a handful of mandarins in the fruit bowl each morning to set out as a snack.
The easy-peel fruit is a great source of vitamin C and can last for several weeks in the fridge.
Kirkland Signature mixed-nut butter doesn’t contain any added sugar or salt
Candace Nelson
With both 5 grams of fiber and protein per serving, Dave’s Killer Bread is great for sandwiches and toast.
Nelson will often toast the bread and top it with nut butter and sliced bananas.
Read Candace Nelson’s full Costco shopping list: I’m a nutritionist who shops at Costco for 2. Here are 14 things I always buy in bulk.
Salma Hamze shops at Costco for just her and her mom
This shopper buys a bulk tub of Folgers’ classic roast to make drip coffee
Salma Hamze
Hamze is a big fan of the bulk-sized bag of Hippeas — organic chickpea puffs.
She buys two bags at a time and enjoys this snack as a replacement for potato chips.
Taylor Farms’ salad kits make lunch or dinner easy
Dana Engelbert
Engelbert buys these applesauce pouches as a wholesome snack for her kids.
Coming in a large box of 24 pouches, they are organic, gluten-free, and added-sugar-free.
Costco sells packs of hand-pulled rotisserie chicken breast
Dana Engelbert
You can snag bulk packs of allergy pills and nasal spray from name brands — like Zyrtec and Flonase — at Costco.
Just make sure to check the expiration date and use them in time.
Read Dana Engelbert’s full Costco shopping list: I drive 3 hours to shop at Costco. Here are 21 things that make the 140-mile trip worth it.
Gemma Acheampong’s a Ghanaian track-and-field Olympian and semi-professional athlete who shops at Costco
This athlete opts for Kirkland Signature frozen salmon
Gemma Acheampong
Costco sells 4-pound packages of green and black seedless grapes.
Acheampong will often freeze them to have as a crisp, refreshing snack during the summer months.
The grocery chain also sells green tea in bulk
Lizzy Briskin
Pure vanilla extract can be a pricey ingredient, but Costco shoppers can snag a 16-ounce bottle.
You can use vanilla in various baked goods and breakfasts, from cookies and cakes to French toast and pancakes.
Sauerkraut is a great source of probiotics
Lizzy Briskin
A wholesome staple to keep in your kitchen, quinoa is full of plant-based protein and fiber.
Although the trendy grain can be quite pricey at other stores, you can snag a bag that’s over 4 pounds at Costco.
Pair the ingredient with protein and veggies for dinner or use it to bulk up a salad.
Read Lizzy Briskin’s full Costco shopping list: I’m a chef who shops at Costco. Here are my 12 favorite things to buy.
Costco shopper Jordan Kuntz lives on the road full-time in a 27-foot RV
Rao’s marinara sauce is a delicious, high-quality option
Jordan Kuntz
Canned salmon is a convenient source of protein that doesn’t need to be refrigerated, so it’s perfect for camping or road trips.
Kuntz drains the ingredient and serves it with mayo, onion, jalapeño, salt, and lemon juice.
Seeds of Change’s microwavable quinoa-and-brown-rice packs make for an easy side
Olivia Yi
Yi wrote that Costco’s pesto — made with Genovese basil and pine nuts — is one of the best store-bought options.
You can sauté veggies and meat in it or add a few spoonfuls to a bowl of pasta.
The Kerrygold Pure Irish Butter is a quality staple
Olivia Yi
The Kirkland Signature Parmigiano-Reggiano is aged over 24 months and boasts nutty and salty undertones.
Yi recommends adding it to pasta dishes or cheese plates and then tossing the leftover rinds into soup.
To boost the ingredient’s shelf life, Yi cuts the cheese into chunks and freezes what she won’t use right away.
Read Olivia Yi’s full Costco shopping list: I create easy Costco recipes for over 33,000 followers. Here are 15 of my favorite things to buy.
Personal trainer Rachel MacPherson shops for her family of 6 at Costco
The Pom whole-grain tortillas are a versatile carb
Rachel MacPherson
Costco sells high-quality meat for fair prices, like this lean top sirloin.
MacPherson uses it to make steakhouse-style salads and sometimes enjoys leftovers as a side for scrambled eggs.
Salsa is great to have on hand to add to a variety of dishes
Chelsea Schnyer
Schnyer grabs this Ocean Spray cranberry juice from Costco to make cocktails and mocktails.
Shoppers can grab a pack of two 96-ounce bottles.
This shopper always picks up limes at Costco
Chelsea Schnyer
These Herb and Lou’s infused ice cubes are the perfect addition to an old fashioned that won’t water it down.
Each box comes with 12 ice cubes.
Read Chelsea Schnyer’s full Costco shopping list: I’m a bartender who shops at Costco. Here are 12 things I always buy for my bar on wheels.
Solo shopper Savannah J. Frierson budgets on each Costco run
These affordable croissants are massive
Savannah J. Frierson
Costco sells stuffed peppers with ground beef and rice.
Simply pop these in the oven and serve alongside dinner rolls for an easy weeknight meal.
The Kirkland Signature thick-sliced bacon can last a while
Gabriella Sorrento
Sorrento said that instead of cutting out snacks on her weight-loss journey, she found ones that work with her lifestyle, like Barnana’s organic plantain chips.
They’re both salty and crunchy.
For a versatile spread, snag Good Foods avocado mash
Gabriella Sorrento
This grain-free swap for normal tortilla chips is made with cassava flour, avocado oil, coconut flour, chia seeds, and salt.
You can pair it with salsa or guacamole for an easy snack.
Read Gabriella Sorrento’s full Costco shopping list: I lost 40 pounds. Here are 12 Costco products that helped me lose the weight and keep it off.
Elizabeth Blasi also said she lost 40 pounds by following the keto diet and buying some Costco staples
Kirkland Signature almond flour is a keto staple
Elizabeth Blasi
Coconut oil is a helpful staple to cook with since it has a smoke point of 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
She said she’d use the ingredient to make fat bombs, which can increase your macros and satisfy a sweet tooth.
Canned chicken is versatile and high in protein
Alana Al-Hatlani
Al-Hatlani said they often use the salty, cured pork as a replacement for bacon in several meals, like pasta or eggs Benedict.
Shoppers can snag the meat from the chain in two 6-ounce packs.
This shopper likes to snack on Theo’s organic double-chocolate cookie bites
Alana Al-Hatlani
These Hungarian “Goathorn” peppers are soaked in a sweet brine of vinegar, sugar, garlic, maple syrup, fennel seed, and salt.
They’re vinegary but not too salty, making them a great addition to foods like pizza or biscuits.
Read Alana Al-Hatlani’s full Costco shopping list: I’m a professional baker and my boyfriend is a chef. Here are 13 of our favorite things to buy at Costco.
Culinary judge Meredith Ochs prepares for the holidays by getting her essentials from the warehouse
Fresh Ocean Spray cranberries are perfect to bake with
Meredith Ochs
To Ochs, fresh pomegranates are beautiful both inside and out. Their blush skin is part of autumn’s palette, and their round shape makes them look like natural ornaments.
Inside, pomegranates are packed with juicy arils that add a ruby-red color and tart flavor to salads, dips, and desserts.
To eat, score the peel with a knife and gently break them up by hand in a big bowl of water. The ready-to-eat arils will sink to the bottom.
Kirkland Signature praline pecans are a good addition to breakfast, lunch, and dinner dishes
Veronica Thatcher
Crazy Cuizine Mandarin-orange chicken is a family favorite on Thatcher’s menu twice a month. Each pack contains lightly battered chicken breast and rib meat and a sweet and tangy orange sauce.
This meal is great for a quick, easy dinner in less than 20 minutes.
Each box contains 4 pounds of chicken with two packets of orange sauce.
She uses the Mission Carb Balance tortillas for wraps, mini pizzas, and more
Molly Allen
Most of Allen’s baked goods, especially cookies, start with several sticks of butter.
She always uses unsalted butter for baking, and she can grab a big package at Costco for less money than if she bought smaller ones at the grocery store.
A pack of Kirkland Signature unsalted butter comes with four 1-pound boxes.
Allen uses the Kirkland Signature semisweet chocolate chips in a variety of ways
Janice Costa
Costa said the Fresh Additions pre-grilled chicken is a great ingredient to keep around to throw on top of bagged salad greens, put on a sandwich, or just heat and eat on its own.
She thinks it makes portion control easy and keeps a few packages in the fridge and freezes the rest.
The Happy Village organic frozen dark cherries are a great dessert
Janice Costa
Costa isn’t a fan of fish but her doctor has recommended having it several times a week.
The Pure Alaska Omega salmon oil is a great compromise since it gives her the nutritional benefits of omega-3 fatty acids — like improved heart health and reduced inflammation — without making her house smell like fish.
Read Janice Costa’s full shopping list: I shop for just myself at Costco and hate cooking. Here are 15 things I love to buy there.
Solo shopper Karlin Krishnaswami looks for as many essentials as she can find
Red’s keto-friendly Egg’wiches with turkey sausage hit the spot
Karlin Krishnaswami
Whether they’re made in-house by Costco employees or one of the many brands in the refrigerated cases, you don’t need to be a family of four to benefit from buying the warehouse’s prepared meals.
Krishnaswami buys meals for herself and makes a list of the use- or freeze-by dates and hangs it on her fridge. Then, she removes a portion or two for the fridge and portions out the rest for the freezer.
This way, she doesn’t have to thaw more food than she wants while saving time.
Read Karlin Krishnaswami’s full shopping list: I shop for just myself at Costco and stick to a budget. Here are 15 things I love to buy and how I use them.
Lindy Vogel, a mom of 6, grabs necessities for low-effort meals
Tasty Bite organic madras lentils are her go-to meal for chaotic days
Lindy Vogel
With microwave and boil-in-bag preparation options, it’s fairly effortless for Vogel to prepare the EastWest Cuisine vegetable-and-chicken curry.
She also likes that the recipe contains cauliflower and peas — veggies her family doesn’t eat enough of otherwise.
Read Lindy Vogel’s full shopping list: I’m a mom of 6 who hates cooking. Here are 8 things I buy at Costco to make meal planning simple.
Executive member Dominic Bucca gets dinner items for his 2-person household
Bucca stocks up on Kirkland Signature frozen white shrimp
Dominic Bucca
As someone who’s worked in the food industry, Bucca has learned that Maldon sea-salt flakes are many chefs’ go-to seasoning.
He finds that it’s the best, flakiest salt available. Bucca plans on stocking up until he runs out of pantry space.
Read Dominic Bucca’s full shopping list: I pay for Costco’s $120 executive membership even though I only shop for 2. Here are some of my favorite things to get for dinner.
Shopper Myriam Estrella buys products that help her maintain her 73-pound weight loss
She has the Honey Smoked Fish Co. salmon stackers as a quick, yummy lunch
Lauren Manaker
Nothing screams springtime quite like asparagus, and the bulk packages at Costco provide way more than what Manaker’s household can eat in one sitting.
She uses leftover asparagus in frittatas or chilled soup.
Read Lauren Manaker‘s full shopping list: I’m a dietitian on the Mediterranean diet. Here are 12 things I’m buying at Costco this spring.
Single shopper Quierra Luck doesn’t have a large household, but she still likes buying products in bulk
For Luck, Welch’s fruit snacks make the perfect workday snack
Quierra Luck
Luck loves grabbing a Bobo’s PB&J before she heads out for work.
A box comes with 20 bars in both strawberry and grape flavors. As an added bonus, they’re gluten-free and packed with great taste.
Read Quierra Luck’s full shopping list: Even though I’m single, I love shopping in bulk at Costco. Here are 8 items I like to buy.
Since Jamie Killin got a nutritionist, she loves shopping for her favorite foods at Costco
Sabatino’s chicken meatballs are a lifesaver for her on busy nights
Mackenzie Rhyason
As the name suggests, Brazi Bites are bite-sized, Brazilian-inspired cheese bread made of tapioca flour.
Rhyason pops the chewy, gluten-free snack in his air fryer for about 15 minutes so the outside gets nice and toasty.
He prepares the MorningStar Farms chipotle black-bean burgers in several delicious ways
James Demmin-De Lise
Demmin-De Lise said this tasty wine is well-balanced, elegant, and complex. It has notes of peaches, apricots, and white blossoms. It’s also pleasantly dry with a long finish (a fruity aftertaste).
For Demmin-De Lise, this wine is a delightful addition to a summertime picnic or a get-together with friends on the porch. Plus, the bottles are a few dollars cheaper than those he’s seen at other stores near him.
If you’re looking for something different, he recommends getting a Kirkland Signature frenched rack of lamb
James Demmin-De Lise
When Demmin-De Lise has guests over, he often tries to cook a meal that feels a bit fancier. One way to hit that note is to serve lamb.
He cuts this frenched lamb into chops, pan-sears the meat, and serves three pieces with greens and potatoes as a flavorful, bold main course. He also likes to coat his lamb in a mustard crust when he’s feeling adventurous.
Read James Demmin-De Lise’s full shopping list: I’m a former chef who shops for 2 at Costco. Here are 11 foods I get there that feel gourmet.
https://www.businessinsider.com/costco-shoppers-share-the-best-things-to-buy-photos-list