Reviewed by Dietitian Katey Davidson, M.Sc.FN, RD, CPT
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Key Points
Costco bulk buys can save you money without sacrificing quality.
Chefs prefer items that store well and elevate everyday cooking.
Staples like olive oil, nuts, peppercorns and vanilla bean paste boost flavor and convenience.
If you’ve ever wandered the wide aisles of Costco wondering what’s really worth buying in bulk, you’re not alone. The warehouse retailer is famous for low prices and large sizes, but some items offer a bigger payoff than others.
While buying in bulk can be a smart way to save money, it’s only helpful if you use items before they expire. That’s why stocking up pantry staples with longer shelf lives is a wise move.
To find out which items are truly worth loading into that oversize cart, we asked professional chefs to share their go-to Costco picks. Their answers might surprise you.
1. Kirkland Whole Black Peppercorns
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Pre-ground pepper is one of those pantry shortcuts that isn’t actually saving you much. Instead, it’s better to buy Kirkland Whole Black Peppercorns and grind them fresh. “You never really know how long pre-ground pepper has been sitting in a container, and once it’s ground it quickly loses much of its aroma and spice,” says Chef Suzzette Metcalfe, chef and owner of the Pasta Tree Restaurant & Wine Bar in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. “Freshly cracked pepper has a much brighter flavor and spice.”
Buying whole peppercorns in bulk at Costco means you’ll always have a fresh supply on hand, often at a fraction of what you’d pay for a small jar at a specialty grocery store.
2. Kirkland Signature Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
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A great olive oil is one of the most useful things you can have in your kitchen—and one of the easiest places to overspend at the grocery store.
Brandon Dorsky, co-owner of Yeastie Boys Bagels in Los Angeles, says Costco’s 3-liter Kirkland Signature 100% Spanish Extra-Virgin Olive Oil is the solution. “It’s cold-pressed, with a quality texture and flavor, and can be used straight in dressings and marinades, as well as for cooking,” he says. “The cost savings relative to other cold-pressed olive oils is substantial.”
3. Kirkland Signature Organic Pine Nuts
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Pricey pine nuts can drain your grocery budget. At a conventional supermarket, a small bag can cost $10 or more. Fortunately, Kirkland Signature Organic Pine Nuts can save you some serious cash.
“Pine nuts are a staple in my kitchen and can be very expensive through traditional suppliers, so Costco is a great place to buy them in bulk,” says Metcalfe. Having an ample supply means you can use them more generously—folding them into grain bowls, sprinkling them over roasted vegetables or making a classic pesto without wincing at the price.
Store any extras in an airtight container in the freezer to keep them from going rancid, since nuts with a high fat content are prone to spoiling at room temperature.
4. Nielsen-Massey Vanilla Bean Paste
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If you bake, this is the Costco find worth getting excited about. Karishma Pradhan, owner and recipe developer at Home Cooking Collective, says the bulk jar of Nielsen-Massey Vanilla Bean Paste is a game-changer. “Vanilla bean paste is a syrupy concentrate of vanilla extract with specks of real vanilla bean,” she explains. “Once I started using it in my baked goods, I couldn’t go back.”
Pradhan particularly likes it for its high quality and noticeable burst of vanilla flavor. It’s also easy to use, since you can substitute it one-to-one in any recipe that calls for vanilla extract. She recommends it in everything from iced coffee to brownies.
Store it in an airtight container at room temperature in a cool, dark place to keep it fresh.
5. Idaho Spuds Golden Grill Hashbrown Potatoes
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Shelley Santrach, chef and owner of Fixx Coffee in Minnesota, calls Idaho Spuds Golden Grill Hashbrown Potatoes her favorite Costco pantry item. The dehydrated hashbrowns are a workhorse ingredient in her kitchen—and the foundation of one of her most popular menu items.
“I make a potato torte out of these for our coffee shop with a simple recipe,” she says. The beauty of the dish is its flexibility: “There are endless options for add-ins—feta, spinach, broccoli, cheese, to name a few.” The torte is always a hit. Plus, it’s gluten-free and freezes well, making it an ideal make-ahead option for busy mornings or catering events.
At home, Idaho Spuds are a useful pantry staple to keep on hand. They cook quickly, store for a long time and can stand in anywhere you’d use fresh shredded potatoes—from breakfast casseroles to crispy skillet cakes.
6. Asaro Castelvetrano Pitted Olives
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If you haven’t cooked with Castelvetrano olives, Metcalfe’s enthusiasm might convince you to start. “These bright green Sicilian olives have a mild, buttery flavor that we love for antipasti and other dishes,” she says.
What makes the Costco version especially valuable in a professional kitchen is a practical detail: they come already pitted. “Costco is one of the few places where we can consistently find them already pitted, which saves a lot of prep time in a busy restaurant kitchen.”
That convenience translates just as well at home. They’re less briny and assertive than many other olives, which makes them approachable for people who don’t typically love olives—and endlessly versatile on a cheese board, chopped into pasta or served alongside roasted chicken.
Our Expert Take
Whether you’re a professional chef or a home cook trying to stretch your grocery budget, Costco has plenty to offer beyond bulk paper towels and giant bags of frozen chicken. The items these three chefs swear by have a few things in common: they’re high-quality, they store well and they’re significantly more affordable in bulk. Stock your pantry with even a few of these staples and you may find your cooking confidence growing while your grocery bill shrinks.
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