Lo-Fi Gourmet’s Guide to Costco: The Best (In My Opinion) 15 Things to Buy

Lo-Fi Gourmet’s Guide to Costco: The Best (In My Opinion) 15 Things to Buy

I’m not gonna lie—I love a deal. I regularly shop at multiple neighborhood grocery stores just to get the best prices on things we regularly purchase: Mr. Lime has great deals on produce, but for organic bacon, Union Market is the place. The Bad Wife sells fresh udon noodles for $2 less than any other store around, while the best deals on coconut butter are undoubtably found at A Matter of Health, near my work. And for the cheapest local, free-range eggs? Why, Marketplace by Key Foods, of course!

For the best deals of all, though, we head to Costco. A 1.5 mile walk plus about $12 for a car to take us back home, and it’s still a bargain. Provided, HOWEVER, that I stay laser focused on my shopping list, buying only the bulk items that we WILL actually use up, and therefore avoiding wasted money and wasted food. Luckily, after almost 4 years of monthly stocking-up visits, I’ve gotten pretty good at it. Here’s my list of top, Lo-Fi Gourmet-approved, delicious, useful, and excellent-deal Costco grocery purchases. Enjoy!

 

Mayorga Organic Coffee: For my café au lait, the necessary beginning to every morning.

Genova Tuna in Olive Oil: In salads, especially this one.

Chosen Foods Avocado Oil: My go-to oil for high-heat cooking.

Medjool Dates: For bacon-wrapped dates.

GT’s Gingerade Kombucha: I’m a bit addicted to this stuff.

Kerrygold Butter: It comes in a pack of three; I open one and freeze the other two until I’m ready to use them.

Chocolate Chips: I like to keep rolls of chocolate-chip cookie dough in the freezer at all times, so in case we’d like a freshly-baked cookie, we can have one. Obvi. Martha Stewart’s recipe is my fave.

Dubliner Cheddar Cheese: in scrambled eggs, or just to munch, ideally with cornichons.

Babybel Cheese: Only very occasionally (we eat it up pretty quickly!), and only when it’s on sale!

Stone IPA Variety Pack: Because why spend $16 for a six pack when you can get a 24 pack for around $30? That’s half-price beer!

Udi’s Gluten Free Bread: I don’t have celiac or anything, and I don’t even follow a gluten-free diet, but there’s something about the chewy texture of this bread that just makes the best toast. Try it!

Frank’s Red Hot: For Buffalo Brussels Sprouts, which we eat VERY often.

Better than Bouillon Organic Chicken Base: For when I’m too lazy to make my own chicken broth, which is often. Shhh!

California Olive Ranch Olive Oil: for cooking, or really great for bread dipping.

Hellman’s Mayonnaise: The best mayonnaise! For tuna melts, mostly, and sriracha-mayo for dipping sweet potato fries, but I’m also dying to try this recipe for charred broccoli from Food & Wine Magazine, which calls for a cup of mayo.