5 Costco Products I Cook With Every Day

I live mere blocks from a Costco, but up until recently, I’ve resisted the big box store’s tantalizing bargains. Why do I need a million rolls of paper towels or a comically large box of cereal? Considering it’s just me and my husband at home, it all seems like too much.

After a trip with my neighbor (a Costco aficionado), I was sold. The trick is to figure out how to make Costco work for you. In addition to the occasional bottle of bourbon and pack of socks, everyday staples are what I go back to Costco for time and time again.

Here are five food items from Costco that are a good deal, high quality, and that I cook with on a daily basis.

1. Kirkland Signature 100% Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Costco sells much of its olive oil selection in big fat 2-liter plastic bottles. They are completely impractical for everyday use—unless you decant your oil like I do! I fill up a squeeze bottle and refill it as needed. I like their Italian EVOO and use it for everyday cooking and salads. During my last trip to Costco, the 2-liter bottle was $14.99—a steal!

2. Kirkland Signature Whole Black Pepper

I only buy whole peppercorns, which I use to refill my peppermill. If it’s not freshly ground, what is even the point? Costco supports my pepper elitism by selling a 14-ounce container of peppercorns for a bargain price ($5.39 last time I visited). You’re not going to find a better deal on pepper, and whole spices keep far longer than ground spices.

3. Kirkland Signature Organic Raw Honey

You don’t need me to tell you how expensive organic, raw honey can be. Costco sells three large 24-ounce bears (so cute) in a pack for the price of one measly bottle in a health food store (usually $15.99 at my location). I use honey all the time for tea, yogurt, baked goods, dressings, and more.

4. Kirkland Signature Unsalted Butter

I’m from the south, so I worship at the altar of butter. My butter habit has been tough lately with fluctuating prices, but you can still find a good deal at Costco. Last time I checked, four 1-pound packages (each with 4 sticks) was $13.99. Butter freezes incredibly well, too.

5. Kikkoman Low Sodium Soy Sauce

Costco sells soy sauce in a 64-ounce jug. Another cartoonishly big container that’s impractical for use in the kitchen, but hear me out! I treat it much like I do my olive oil—I decant the soy sauce into a reasonably-sized bottle topped with a spout and refill as needed. We run through soy sauce pretty quickly in my house and it keeps extremely well, so the big jug saves us money ($7.99 at time of writing) and reduces our waste.