Costco is synonymous with steals and deals, but the catch is you have to buy in bulk to score the savings. While the membership is certainly worth it for dry goods, paper products, frozen foods, and household essentials, what items should you skip? Before you fill up that oversized cart, check out this list of…
1. Bananas
Buying in bulk is one thing, but a bunch of bananas might be too much for the average shopper. Costco sells bananas in 3-pound bundles, which typically contain eight or nine pieces of fruit. Depending on their age when purchased, bananas ripen quickly — anywhere from one to seven days. Unless your household can eat 3 pounds of bananas in a week, or you plan to freeze them for smoothies or banana bread, we recommend skipping this bulk buy.
2. Mangoes
Are you noticing a pattern already? Generally speaking, produce isn’t the best way to take advantage of your Costco membership. The portions are typically too large for the average shopper to consume before they spoil, and you can usually find deals on more manageable sizes of fruits and vegetables at local markets. Mangoes, for instance, are sold in 6-pound quantities at Costco. If you’re looking for a sweet treat, consider stocking up on Kirkland Signature’s dried mangoes instead.
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3. Milk
Another item that can spoil before you get the chance to finish it is dairy. Once opened, milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, and soft cheeses such as brie and mozzarella can go bad in as little as five days. This is especially true for items made with whole milk, which spoils more quickly than skim or 2% milk. We think it’s best to leave the lactose on the shelves and pick up only what you can use from a local grocery store.
4. Baked Goods
Sure, you can freeze these items, but with Costco’s portion sizes, you might need a second freezer just to store them all. Baked goods — such as muffins, bread loaves, croissants, cookies, and Danishes — are perfectly fine, but the quantity is simply too much for most shoppers to eat before the items begin to mold. Unless you have a classroom or a team to feed, it’s probably best not to add these to your cart (no matter how delicious they look).
5. Canned Beans
This one surprised us, but several Reddit users swear that canned beans at Costco, despite their bulk size, aren’t much, if at all, cheaper than what you’d find at a standard supermarket. An eight-pack of S&W organic black beans at Costco typically costs about $11, or $1.38 per can. ALDI, on the other hand, sells comparable organic black beans for just $1.05 per can.
6. Spices
Every kitchen has them, and every dish needs them, but when you buy spices in large amounts, they’re likely to lose their freshness before you get to the bottom of the container. Over time, spices lose their potency, meaning their flavor and scent are greatly reduced, which will absolutely impact the outcome of your dish. Unless it’s a spice you use frequently, such as sea salt or black pepper, it’s always better to purchase spices in smaller sizes. This makes them easier to gather during meal prep and ensures every sprinkle is full of flavor.
7. Cooking Oils
These are another kitchen staple with a shelf life to consider: After opening, many types of cooking oils should be used within a matter of months. Extra virgin olive oil, for example, only stays fresh for three to six months after opening, while most vegetable oils have a slightly longer use time of six to 12 months. This is a much longer period than many other items on this list, but if you’re an infrequent oil user, it could end up being money down the drain (just don’t actually pour oil down the drain as it risks solidifying). Even if you get a great deal, it’s worthless if you can’t use it, so stick to the smaller sizes.
8. Name-Brand Soft Drinks
Coke and Pepsi products are almost always on sale somewhere. If not at the grocery store, it’s the gas station; if not there, a drugstore, dollar store, or big-box store likely has it listed for less. For that reason, it’s rarely worth it to stock up on sugary sodas at Costco. We’d rather save room in our giant cart for the real Costco steals, such as toilet paper, cleaning supplies, and long-lasting pantry staples.
9. Pet Food
Kirkland Signature pet food includes a range of products with mixed reviews, but it made this list not for what Costco lacks, but for what pet care companies offer. Many pet supply retailers, such as Chewy and PetSmart, provide major incentives — including coupon codes and auto-ship discounts — when you keep buying from them. Since your pet should eat the same food consistently, it’s wiser to stick to a brand you love, set up that auto-ship schedule, and make life easy by having it delivered straight to your door.
10. Personal Care Items
Toothpaste, mouthwash, deodorant, shampoo — it may seem like you’re getting a great deal when you purchase these multipacks, but more often than not, you’re not actually saving money. Personal care items are almost always on sale or discounted with coupons at grocery stores, big-box stores, and drugstores. If you’re not brand loyal to a particular toothpaste or hand soap, you’ll save money by watching for limited-time deals rather than by buying in bulk. However, if you value the convenience of stockpiling these items — meaning fewer trips to the store or packages from Amazon — then you may decide it’s worth it for your household.
