While most people come for the bulk paper towels and rotisserie chickens, regulars know the real treasures are the products you’d never expect to find. Once you do, you’ll keep coming back for more.
In a recent online thread, one shopper asked the community for their favorite hidden gems worth adding to the cart.
The story
A Costco shopper went to Reddit looking for advice before their next trip. Instead of just stocking up on paper towels and toilet paper, they asked the community which hidden gems were actually worth buying.
Hundreds of people listed the products they never leave Costco without, frozen dinners, pantry staples, snacks, and even drinks, mentioning they are worth adding to the cart.
The reactions
One of the most recommended products was a breakfast staple, although not the kind typically found in the discount aisle of a regular grocery store. “Maple syrup! Could never justify the price pre-Costco, now I'll never buy fake syrup ever again.”
Costco’s Kirkland Signature organic maple syrup comes in a 33.8-ounce flip cap plastic jug and costs around $15. This maple syrup is 100% organic and is enough to last a couple of months. Beyond pancakes, the rich flavor can be added to a variety of baked goods, such as mini pumpkin bundt cakes with maple glaze.
Not every freezer item at Costco is worth the hype, but the next one seems to have a cult following: “Motor City Pizzas in the freezer section. Delicious!”
The Motor City Pizza Co. Detroit-Style Deep Dish comes in a double pack and is loaded with mozzarella cheese and sliced and diced pepperoni. It’s heavier and crunchier than standard frozen pizzas, which explains why so many shoppers feel it’s a notch above the rest.
Another shopper recommended, “Kirkland cauliflower crust pizza is surprisingly good.”
Most gluten-free pizzas don’t get much love, but Costco’s Kirkland Signature cauliflower crust pizza has a surprising fan base. It comes in a pack of two and features delicious toppings, including pepperoni, sausage, roasted vegetables, and a cheese blend, all on a cauliflower crust. It’s a perfect dinner for busy people, just take the frozen pizza out and place it on the center oven rack. It’ll be crisp and ready in about twenty minutes.
Many shoppers admitted they tried this cauliflower pizza just once out of curiosity, then ended up adding it to their list of regularly purchased frozen items.
Supplements can be hit or miss at warehouse stores, but one shopper mentioned Costco has really good deals. “The new Kirkland brand Protein powder is the best-tasting powder I’ve ever tried, and the price is great.”
If you’ve ever bought protein powder elsewhere, you know how expensive tubs can get, and plenty of them end up sitting half-full in the back of the pantry. Costco’s version is priced competitively and tastes good. It also contains only one gram of sugar per serving, and a five-pound bag will give you about seventy servings.
One shopper vouched for Costco’s juices, “The organic Kirkland lemonade. It’s so good. We buy it almost weekly.”
The lemonade comes in a two-pack of bottles, and the flavor almost tastes like it’s homemade. It’s delicious if drunk on its own, or people can even use it as a mixer for cocktails. It’s an easy item to overlook in the cold case, but fans insist it’s one of the best-value drinks at Costco.
Costco is not only famous for its frozen items, but it also offers a variety of delicious desserts. One person wrote, “The vanilla ice cream. The 2-pack.” One responded, “Better than Häagen-Dazs.”
The Kirkland Signature super premium vanilla ice cream comes in a two-half-gallon carton, perfect for large families. It’s gluten-free, ideal for those with dietary restrictions.
Many shoppers added that Costco’s Kirkland olive oil is a must-buy.
Costco’s olive oil is organic and cold-pressed. For cooks who go through bottles quickly, the two-liter size is both economical and reliable. It can be used in cooking, sauteeing, or you can even make a salad dressing with it.
Some Costco fans couldn’t help but share their favorite snacks “The praline pecans are CRAZY good.”
These sweet, crunchy pecans are coated in a delicious praline, perfect for snacking on. They’re sold in a two-and-a-half-pound jar, for a reasonable price, ideal for topping salads, adding to pecan dessert recipes, or enjoying by the handful.
Other must-buy items from Costco
Here are a few more Costco favorites that shoppers say are worth grabbing on your next trip:
- Kirkland Signature imported basil pesto
- Kirkland Signature grass-fed beef patties
- Kirkland Signature organic applesauce
- Bequet Celtic sea salt caramels
- Kirkland Signature grass-fed butter
- Kirkland Signature tempura shrimp
- Wildbrine raw organic sauerkraut
The takeaway
Costco might be best known for its bulk basics, but many shoppers visit the store for the food finds that offer a good value for money.
People end up with their own favorites, such as frozen dinners, drinks, desserts, or pantry items, that they buy regularly. Each Costco trip offers deals that keep cooking and dining affordable and easier for busy home cooks.
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