8 Pantry Items To Buy at Costco
Like all warehouse clubs, Costco is known for offering deep discounts for buying in bulk, and since pantry items have a long shelf life, that’s one of the best ways to use your membership card.
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As with everything, some pantry staples are better to buy at Costco than others. Here’s a look at the big savings you can score on big quantities at the country’s largest warehouse club.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
In 2016, Forbes reported that 80% of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) on American store shelves is fake — or at least blended with cheap vegetable oils. In 2023, the National Institute of Oilseed Products revisited the report and several news outlets confirmed that little has changed since. The Italian mafia, which controls much of Italy’s olive oil production, bottles low-grade oil from countries like Greece and Spain and passes it off as authentic EVOO.
An NBC affiliate wrote, “Be cautious when you see that the oil has multiple places of origin because that is a telltale sign.”
Target’s Good & Gather EVOO costs 29 cents for its largest 58-ounce bottle, but its country of origin is listed as “varies, please see label.” Walmart’s colossal 101-ounce Great Value EVOO is 25 cents per ounce, but its country of origin is Argentina, Greece, Italy, Morocco, Portugal, Tunisia and Spain, packaged in Spain.
Costco’s Kirkland Signature EVOO costs 28 cents per ounce for two liters, which is negligible in terms of price. But it has a “Traceable chain of Italian origin,” is “produced from Italian-grown olives” and is first cold pressed in Italy.
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Maple Syrup
Most breakfast syrups are fairly inexpensive because they’re made from cheap and unhealthy high-fructose corn syrup and flavored to resemble genuine maple syrup, which costs much more because it’s expensive to produce.
At ShopRite, many boutique maple syrups cost well over $1 an ounce, but the store’s Wholesome Pantry brand is a reasonable 53 cents per ounce, or $16.99 for a 32-ounce bottle of Grade A organic maple syrup.
But Costco’s Kirkland Signature Grade A organic maple syrup gives you more for less — $14.99 for 33.8 ounces or 44 cents an ounce.
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Canned Tuna
Canned tuna is a pantry staple because it has a long shelf life, it fits in countless recipes, it’s packed with protein and it’s cheap — especially if you buy it at Costco.
At Walmart, a pack of 12 seven-ounce cans of Chicken of the Sea chunk light in water will run you $33.29. At Costco, the same thing costs $19.99.
Quinoa
Quinoa gained mainstream acceptance as a versatile, healthy, easy-to-cook and protein-rich grain that can take the place of rice, pasta and other grains in many dishes.
At Costco, a 4.5-pound (72-ounce) bag of Kirkland Signature organic quinoa is $10.99, or 15 cents per ounce. The biggest package at rival BJ’s is a three-pound (48-ounce) organic bag from Wellsley Farms for $8.99 or 19 cents per ounce.
Mac and Cheese
Quick, easy, filling and loved by kids and adults alike, macaroni and cheese has provided fast fixes for lunches in American households for generations.
Kraft is the biggest name in the game, and Costco sells 18 7.25-ounce boxes for $18.99. The cheapest you can find the same thing on Amazon is $26.97. At Walmart, the same pack is $31.19.
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Chicken Broth
From casseroles and pasta dishes to adding flavor to rice and other sides, chicken broth is one of the pantry’s great multitaskers. A 12-pack of 14.5-ounce cans will set you back $10.69 at Costco, but the same thing costs more than twice as much at Walmart — $22.84. On Amazon, the lowest available price is even higher — $25.
Salt and Spices
At Amazon, a 30-ounce bag of coarse grain Baja sea salt — which earned the “Amazon’s Choice” designation — is on sale for $7.99, down from $9.99. That’s about 27 cents per ounce at the lower price. At Walmart, 17.6 ounces of Morton sea salt costs $5.76, or about 33 cents per ounce. At Costco, 30 ounces of Kirkland Signature sea salt is $3.99, or about 13 cents per ounce. The warehouse club also has a range of other spices, from the common to the exotic, at lower prices than what you’ll find on most grocery store shelves.
Salad Dressing
Costco beats most of the competition on many top salad dressings, too, like a two-pack of Hidden Valley Ranch for $14.99 or 19 cents an ounce. The best you’ll do at Amazon is 20.99, or 26 cents per ounce — and that’s marked down from the regular price of $22.74. You’ll pay $22.12, or 28 cents per ounce for the same thing at Walmart — and that’s on sale from the regular price of $25.84.
Prices are accurate as of Jan. 26, 2023, and are subject to change.
Photos are for representational purposes only.
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