Chefs Say These Costco Staples Are Their Favorites Worth Buying

Kirkland Signature Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil container of organic extra virgin olive oil Costco

“I’m sure I’m not alone in this pick–their olive oil is a great all-purpose purchase,” says Ashley Lonsdale, chef-in-residence at Butcher Box. “I use it to make green sauces like salsa verde or chermoula, fry eggs, slow-poach wild salmon—it’s versatile! It’s also nice to have a lot of olive oil on hand to confit chicken or garlic when the mood strikes.”

Kirkland Signature Seasoned Rotisserie Chicken packaged seasoned rotisserie chicken Costco

Okay, so this isn’t completely underrated—but it is notable that chefs still have to sing this classic item’s praises, especially chef Matt Cutolo of Gargiulo’s. “It’s juicy, flavorful, so versatile, and great for when you’re short on time,” says Cutolo. “You can dress it up and serve it right away, or it can give you a head start for so many other dishes.”

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Kirkland Signature Pure Vanilla Extract costco vanilla Costco

Cutolo also visits Costco to re-up his stash of pantry staples for making desserts at home, with vanilla extract topping the list. “Vanilla extract can definitely get pricey in some stores,” says Cutolo. “[Costco’s] is a bigger quantity, so it lasts you a good while, and the value is great.”

King Arthur Baking Company All-Purpose Flour flour King Arthur Baking Company

“Costco is one of my favorite places to shop, and the sheer size of it always amazes me. It’s my go-to for buying things in bulk, and I always go there before entertaining people at my grandparents’ summer house in Shelter Island,” says Cutolo. He especially loves the volume, value, and selection of flour—like King Arthur’s Unbleached All-Purpose Flour, which comes in 25-pound bags.

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Kirkland Signature Organic Sugar package of organic sugar Costco

To go with that flour and vanilla extract, it only makes sense to pick up a big bag of sugar, which is exactly what Cutolo does on a Costco run. He prizes Kirkland’s Organic Cane Sugar for both the quality and the quantity.

Kirkland Signature Butter CroissantsCostco

Michelle Palazzo, director of pastry operations at

Frenchette and Frenchette Bakery, is a major fan of Costco’s extra decadent, buttery croissants—and not just for snacking straight from the container. She also loves how versatile they are as a base for bread pudding and French toast.

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Royal Basmati Rice costco royal basmati rice Costco

“Bulk shopping is a great place to purchase supporting ingredients for protein-centric dinners,” says Lonsdale, who always picks up a bag of Royal Basmati Rice when she’s at Costco. “The basmati rice works well for my many iterations of chicken thighs and rice, fried rice, congee, and rice and peas.”

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