I’m a chef who loves to shop at Costco — but there are 12 things I never buy there

Husked corn is more convenient, but taking a few minutes to remove your own silk is guaranteed to be worth the effort for flavor and crunch.

It’s impossible to know how long ago this plastic-wrapped corn was undressed. Plus, the longer corn hangs around in the buff, the more it dries out and loses its flavor and nutrients. 

Save yourself the disappointment of a stale bowl of cereal and pick up your favorite breakfast from the regular grocery store.

Extra-large boxes of cereal will likely lose crunch. You might also get tired of it before you finish off 3 pounds of the stuff.  

Not only does a two-pack of extra-large cans of seasoned panko breadcrumbs present an obvious storage issue, but these also aren’t going to stay fresh forever.

Breadcrumbs go stale just like regular bread, but you can’t freeze them to extend their shelf life. Plus, these bread crumbs are seasoned with cheese, which is likely to diminish their shelf life even faster.

Instead, you might want to choose a smaller container of breadcrumbs and add your own seasonings. 

I think you’re better off buying fresh salmon at Costco’s seafood counter and marinating the fish yourself than buying anything frozen and preseasoned.

Protein, especially delicate fish, shouldn’t be marinated indefinitely. Over time, the fish’s flaky texture will break down, and you’ll end up with something much mushier than the soft, buttery texture you’re looking for.

Extended periods of freezing can have the same effect, making this frozen and marinated salmon something to avoid. 

Whether you’re at Costco or the neighborhood market, just say no to peeled garlic.

No one likes the tedious task of prying papery skin off a tiny clove of garlic — but it’s a labor of love and the only way to get fresh garlic flavor into your food. Prepeeled cloves tend to be dried out, woody, and lacking flavor.

Plus, a 3-pound pouch of garlic is only going to degrade in flavor and attract bacteria after it’s been opened. And, for the sake of your family and friends, don’t put that kind of pressure on yourself to finish the bag before it goes bad. 

Depending on the season, you can keep fruit fresh in the crisper drawer for some time. But if you’re buying fruit that’s already past its prime, and in big quantities to boot, you’re not doing yourself any favors.

Delicate fruits like stone fruit and berries are best bought in smaller quantities and locally, if possible. The further fruit has to travel to reach your store, the more time there is for damage. 

This story was originally published on September 15, 2021, and most recently updated on September 12, 2024.