Even on its busiest day, these great deals make navigating the crowds at Costco worthwhile.
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Over the last decade Ive become something of a professional shopper.
As a food writer and recipe developer, Im constantly looking for perfect ingredients.
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Yet as a dad who literally manages our family budget with spreadsheets, I also look for great deals.
That is why I love shopping at Costco.
To be fair, I actually have a love-hate relationship with the mega warehouse.
Here are 10 of my favorites.
Nuts
We go through a lot of nuts in my household.
But they are notoriously expensive, so buying them in bulk is the only way I go.
Its hard to beat these prices.
I like to store them in separate freezer-safe zip-top bags in the freezer.
I love to use them in a Pepita & Cilantro Pesto or on aWarm Butternut Squash & Kale Salad.
you could often find a 22-ounce bag ofsprouted pumpkin seedsfor $9.99.
I like to stir the separated oil back into the peanut butter then store it in the refrigerator.
This helps it stay emulsified so no extra stirring is required.
Frozen Berries
Fresh fruit is great in season, but you cant go wrong with frozen berries year round.
Seriously, Costcos 3-pound bag ofKirkland Organic Blueberriesfor $7.99 is a great deal.
We use them forbreakfast, especially inprotein-packed lemon blueberry muffins(perfect for meal-prepping those busy weekday mornings).
But I love adding them to adinner salador using them in asweet and tangy saucefor salmon.
They store in the freezer for six months or more.
I recommend keeping opened packages in a freezer-safe zip-top bag to limit freezer burn.
But its quite expensive.
Weput it on everything, including oatmeal, pancakes, marinades andsalad dressings.
I store it in our refrigerator for several months.
Wild-Caught Sardines
While tuna is often my familys first choice for tinned fish, I happen to love sardines.
Of coursecanned sardines are healthy, but they are also highly underappreciated.
Vanilla Extract
One of the most expensive ingredients (per volume) in baking is vanilla extract.
Just a couple of ounces can sell for $7 or more.
I keep it in my pantry forcakesandcookiesand a bottle lasts six months or longer.
String Cheese
You are never too old to enjoy a cheese stick.
My daughters love them in their lunch boxes, and my wife and I snack on them between meals.
They are convenient and have a good amount of protein.
I dont only enjoy them as snacks, however.
I chop them up and add to salads or even peel them and use as a pizza topping.
(Hey, sometimes you have to throw together dinner with what you have!)
Olives
A staple of theMediterranean diet, olives arehealthy, delicious and one of my all-time favorite foods.
Olives in brine can last for a year or more stored in the refrigerator.
That is why I go big when it comes to buying olives.
There are so many ways to use fresh tomatoes, but I happen to love them grilled and roasted.
The Bottom Line
Its hard to pass these high-quality great deals from Costco.
The hardest part, aside from the crowds, is finding storage for all those bulk products at home.
