I’m a Food Editor, and These Are My 10 Costco Must-Buys

When it's suddenly noon, and I realize that I've only consumed black coffee all day, these shelled pistachios bring me back to life. They're tasty, filling, just salty enough, and I love that I don't have to slow down on my snacking to remove any pesky shells (though if you don't mind a little meditative hard work, the in-shell option is about a buck cheaper).

I don't know about yours, but chocolate chips are essential to our household. I love baking (this not-too-sweet chocolate chip ricotta cake was a recent fave), and the size, texture, and flavor of these Kirkland chips are actually better than more-expensive alternatives I've tried. Plus, my husband snacks on small handfuls of these nightly. He says this simple sweet treat consistently keeps him sane after a tough day at work, which I think is an excellent endorsement for any chocolate.

These beef sticks are so satisfying — they're soft on the inside, a little tangy, and really substantial considering that they take up so little space in a lunch box, backpack, purse, or pantry. Plus, this doesn't veer spicy like a lot of meat sticks do, so they're a great find if you're not in the mood for a mouth-scorching snack. 

A few years ago, I read an  America's Test Kitchen article that positively reviewed Kirkland extra virgin olive oils. They specifically described this Italian variety as sweet, floral, smooth, and buttery, which are all words I appreciate. Plus, I was fed up with running out of EVOO all the time: My favorite grocery-store bottles were just too tiny. I gave this Costco oil a try and never looked back — I love that the plastic jug lasts about three months at my house, and I do taste all those lovely, fragrant notes.

An editor at the Kitchn did the math so that I don't have to: A typical bottle of vanilla extract retails for about $4. But this Costco bottle is about 16 times larger and costs nearly 10 bucks. Plus, the flavor of this extract is robust and adds instant depth to any baked good. (If you need some inspiration, try using this extract in these white chocolate pistachio cookies for the perfect holiday-sweet experience.)

Hangry people of all ages can benefit from stocking up on fruit and vegetable pouches. When my daughter was first learning to eat, we'd hand her one whenever her mood soured; a few gulps of puree prevented total meltdowns. We adults eventually sampled the flavors ourselves, and found them to be a quick solve when you've forgotten to eat and suddenly feel despondent. Our daughter deems these boring now, but I get misty-eyed when I recall how much they came in handy when she was very small. 

I make quick pasta-based meals all the time, and this hefty variety pack ensures that I never run out mid-week. The short shapes here work well with so many sauces (this seasonal cherry tomato sauce is one of my recent obsessions), and the noodles have a delightful bounce and chew. 

I'm a lifelong tuna lover; if you're like me, you understand the need for a sizable stack of cans, for whenever a tuna melt craving comes on. I love that this Wild Planet variety is mild, flaky, and has a clean flavor profile — never too "fishy." Kirkland Signature tuna is technically a better deal, but I happily pay a little more for Wild Planet, which I do think tastes better.

You can fight me on this one, but I believe Cholula sauce is the perfect hot sauce. It's tangy, super flavorful, and pleasantly warm — but not so spicy that my taste buds lose sensation. I never seem to find these massive, 12-ounce bottles anywhere but Costco, and I'm guaranteed to use every last drop on tacos, shrimp and crab cocktail, and fried rice. 

OK, this isn't a food pick, but I must mention this detergent. Does it smell like an Italian garden bursting with fresh flowers? Absolutely not. Instead, it's a quiet, unobtrusive, utterly scent-free workhorse that supports you through the messiest times in your life. It's gentle on my husband's eczema-prone skin — we truly use nothing else. It also comes in gargantuan bottles, so I only have to buy it a couple of times a year. If they ever discontinued this soap, I would cry, probably while listening to Charlie Puth sing the hook from Wiz Khalifa's mournful song "See You Again."

Earlier this year, I interviewed pro chef, restaurateur, author, and Good Taste contributor, Judy Joo. When I asked about her ride-or-die kitchen tool, she told me how much she loves her Vitamix blender: "Silky smooth soups, nut butters, sauces, smoothies, batters — all done in under a minute with zero chunks and zero apologies…If you're still fighting with a cheap blender that leaves bits floating around, I need you to make better choices." 

As someone who was battling a cheap blender at least once a day (my daughter loves smoothies for breakfast), I remember blushing when I heard Joo's no-nonsense perspective. But she was right: I was wasting time using an old, inadequate appliance, and my cooking was suffering for it. While the Vitamix was an investment, my husband and I eventually took the plunge, and the difference in quality is shocking: This thing annihilates everything in its path. Plus, it's ridiculously easy to clean. (Seriously, it takes me under a minute.) Now, if someone could just bully me into finally getting a Ninja Creami, I might achieve total kitchen-appliance bliss.