12 Pantry Staples You Should Pick Up At Costco

While there are a few things that aren't worth buying at Costco, overall being a member of this warehouse club really pays dividends. Not only can you stock up on your favorite brands and foods, but you can also enjoy great savings on many of the items you use the most. Stocking your pantry by buying staples in bulk from Costco can be a smart move. According to U.S. News & World Report, buying in bulk allows you to get a cheaper price per item. If you're buying a large number of things that you'll use, the cheaper warehouse prices offered by Costco can really add up. Plus, when you're stocked up, you'll have to worry less about not having enough of an item to finish a recipe.

According to Costco, there are several other benefits of having a membership. The company offers a wide assortment of products, allowing you to find your favorite brands, while also experimenting with a few new ones (don't forget to try some Kirkland brand items; most are really fabulous). Costco's 100% satisfaction guarantee is also nothing to sneeze at — if you try something and don't love it, you can almost always bring it back for a full refund. Keep reading to learn more about which pantry staples you won't want to pass up on your next Costco shopping trip.

Unless you have allergies, keeping your pantry stocked with nuts is a good idea. According to Everyday Health, nuts can make an excellent healthy snack. They are high in protein, fiber, healthy fats, and a variety of other vitamins and minerals. Because of their higher fiber content, snacking on a few nuts can also help keep you feeling satisfied for longer, reducing your overall caloric intake for the day. This can be an excellent benefit for those looking to lose weight. Nuts are also a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, which can contribute to overall heart health.

In addition to being a great snack, nuts are also used in many recipes, such as salads, cookies, brownies, and more. When you buy nuts from Costco, you'll be getting a larger container than you would at the grocery store, helping to prevent you from running out. And, even if you don't think you'll blow through the entire package quickly, Clean Plates shares that if nuts are stored in a cool and dry place they can last for a long time — helping you really get the most out of your purchase.

Costco's nut packages aren't just bigger than what you'll be able to find at many grocery stores. In many cases, they're also a much better deal. For example, a 3-pound bag of the Kirkland Signature Walnut Halves costs $9.99 online (likely even cheaper in-store). This works out to $0.21 per ounce. Compare this to the 1-pound Great Value Walnuts Halves & Pieces bag from Walmart which costs $7.34, or $0.46 per ounce. That means that you can save over 50% by shopping at Costco.

Costco offers great savings on popular oatmeal brands. You can find a box with 10 pounds of Old Fashioned Quaker Oats for just $15.99 ($0.10 per ounce). At Walmart, a 42-ounce canister of the same brand costs $5.68, which works out to 14 cents per ounce. If you're looking for single-serving cups that will be easier to bring to work or school, you can get 24 Bob's Red Mill oatmeal cups for $32.99 online ($1.37 each). On Amazon, you'll pay $22.99 for just 12 cups ($1.92 each). Saving $0.55 on each cup can really add up over time.

So, why should you stock up and buy oatmeal in bulk at Costco? Well, according to Mayo Clinic Health System, oatmeal can make a very nutritious breakfast. The soluble fiber found in oatmeal can lead to decreased cholesterol and blood glucose levels. Taking steps to lower these numbers can help reduce the risk of developing diabetes or suffering from heart disease. Beyond enjoying a hearty bowl of perfectly-cooked oatmeal for breakfast, you can also use oatmeal to make a variety of cookies and baked goods, such as oatmeal cookies, oatmeal raisin cookie granola, or apple crisp oatmeal cookies.

No pantry is fully stocked without baking soda. Without it, many baked goods will just fall flat — literally. As Bob's Red Mill shares, when baking soda combines with the other ingredients in a recipe, it creates carbon dioxide bubbles. The presence of these tiny bubbles in your baked goods ensures that they turn out nice and airy, rather than overly dense. By increasing the pH levels in food and decreasing the overall amount of gluten, baking soda also helps keep your baked goods from turning out too chewy. In short, you don't want to skip baking soda if a recipe calls for it.

Costco has a gigantic, 13.5-pound bag of Arm & Hammer Pure Baking Soda available for $9.49 online. This brings the unit price down to just $0.04 cents per ounce. At most grocery stores, you'll likely pay between $1.00 and $1.50 for a 1-pound box of Arm & Hammer, which comes out to between $0.06 and $0.09 per ounce. If you're wondering how in the world you'll ever use up 13.5 pounds of baking soda from Costco when most recipes only call for about 1 teaspoon, you need to think beyond the mixing bowl. One Good Thing by Jillee explains that baking soda can come in handy for many tasks around the home, such as deodorizing carpets, cleaning grout, cleaning burnt messes off pots and pans, removing stains from a variety of surfaces, and washing chemical residues off of your produce.

According to Money, rice is one of the items that will always be cheaper to purchase in bulk at Costco than off of the shelf at a standard grocery store. Take, for example, the 20-pound bag of Royal Basmati Rice available at Costco. The warehouse charges just $25.99 online (and probably even less in-store) for this huge bag, giving it a lower $1.30 per pound price. Walmart also sells Royal Basmati Rice. However, they charge $3.98 for a 2-pound bag, which works out to $1.99 per pound. That means that in order to get the same quantity of basmati rice from Walmart as you can get from Costco, you'll have to spend over $48.

Plus, with the larger quantities you can purchase at Costco, you won't need to worry about running out of rice for a long time. According to Healthline, uncooked brown rice can last for about six months and uncooked white rice can last as long as two years. Mahatma adds that basmati rice can also be kept for up to two years. This leaves you a good amount of time to work through that economically-priced bag of rice from Costco.

Apple cider vinegar is another pantry staple you'll want to grab at Costco during your next shopping trip. As Healthline shares, apple cider vinegar is a pretty powerful liquid. It may help lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels, assist with weight loss, and improve the skin's health. The Acetum Organic Apple Cider Vinegar with the Mother is just $21.99 for a 1-gallon jug at Costco.

Wondering how to use this much apple cider vinegar? It'll be easier than you think once you realize how many delicious recipes feature apple cider vinegar as one of their key ingredients. Barbecue sauce, warm bacon vinaigrette, slow cooker BBQ pulled pork tacos, and Instant Pot chicken adobo are all made using apple cider vinegar. It can also be used in other ways around the house. North Coast explains that apple cider vinegar's antibacterial properties allow it to be an effective cleaner for bathrooms, kitchens, hard water stains, and more. Simply mix it with water in a 1:1 ratio, then spray the cleaning solution on surfaces throughout the home that you want to clean.

If you're not cooking with olive oil, you may want to consider changing that. The Mediterranean Dish explains that not only can olive oil be used for a variety of cooking tasks, but it is a good oil to choose due to its oxidative stability. When the oil is heated, the majority of its nutrients are left behind in the foods you're cooking (which is what you want).

Costco offers several different olive oils, but the most popular pick is probably the Kirkland Signature Extra Virgin Italian Olive Oil. Costing just $14 for a 2-liter bottle, you can score a great deal on this staple for your pantry. Not only is the oil inexpensive, but it is a top choice for many consumers, including celebrity chefs. The Seattle Times shares that Samin Nosrat, a famous chef from Netflix's "Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat" prefers the Kirkland Signature Extra Virgin Olive Oil over other more expensive brands.

Costco offers an extensive selection of coffee – including whole beans, ground coffee, coffee pods, and even instant coffee. Whether you drink a pot of coffee every day (no judgment) or just brew some when you're entertaining, you may want to consider buying from Costco. According to ShedLight, buying coffee in bulk can be a good choice if you know what you already like. If you haven't tried a particular brand or blend yet, then you may be taking more of a risk purchasing such a large quantity.

If you're looking for the best flavor and a higher quality coffee, choose a whole-bean coffee. When coffee beans are ground, much of their flavor is lost before you'll get to brew and enjoy your cup. With whole beans, you're in charge of how the coffee is ground and can grind it right before you want to brew a cup or a pot, ensuring maximum freshness and flavor.

One excellent whole-bean coffee you can buy at Costco is the Mayorga Buenos Días Light Roast. While you'll pay $0.74 an ounce for the same coffee from Walmart (regularly $23.99 for a 32-ounce bag), you can save $0.14 cents an ounce by shopping at Costco. Two 2-pound bags (64 ounces) cost just $38.99.

If you're a person who prefers convenience, and you don't want to deal with grinding your own coffee, don't worry. Costco has you covered too. You can grab a box of the Kirkland Signature Pacific Bold Organic Dark Roast K-Cup Pods for $38.99. The box has 120 pods, which brings the unit price down to $0.32 — way cheaper than the Starbucks drive-thru.

If you're a serious baker, you probably go through a lot of vanilla extract. And, if you go through a lot of vanilla extract, you know that it isn't cheap to buy. According to Southern Living, the main reason vanilla extract costs so much is that the vanilla plant only grows in certain regions, particularly tropical locations. Any time there are storms or other factors that negatively impact the supply, it leads to price increases. There is simply a very limited supply coupled with high demand. If you've studied economics, you know that this equates to higher prices.

While you could get imitation vanilla extract for a lot less than you'll spend on a bottle of pure vanilla extract, it just isn't the same. The flavor pales in comparison, and you're certain to notice the difference, particularly in a no-bake recipe. Fortunately, if you shop at Costco, you don't have to sacrifice quality to save money. One 16-ounce bottle of Pure Vanilla Extra costs about $15 at Costco through Instacart (so it is likely a little less expensive if purchased in-store with a membership). This works out to a price of about $0.93 per ounce — significantly less than the $4.75 per ounce price to purchase McCormick Pure Vanilla Extract from Target.

Are you looking to stock your pantry with some nutritious snacks from Costco? If so, you should definitely look into purchasing some dried fruit. Investtohealth explains that dry fruit can be expensive to purchase for several different reasons. First, most fruits only grow in certain regions. This means that if there are any climate or rainfall issues that impact the supply, you're likely to see a price increase. Moreover, hiring workers to harvest the fruits and move them through the drying process properly to ensure optimal taste can be expensive. In addition to paying for these workers, manufacturers also have to pay to have the fruits transported to local stores — often from across the globe — which can get very expensive when you factor in taxes, fuel costs, and more.

Shopping at Costco for dried fruit can help you get more for your money. For example, 35.2 ounces of Paradise Green Premium Dried Mango costs just $14.49, 3.5 pounds of Sunsweet Dried Plums costs only $11.99, and 2.25 pounds of Sun-Maid Raisins is a great deal at $12.49. Stocking up on dried fruit can help you improve your health. According to Healthline, dried fruits offer several vitamins and minerals, along with fiber, that work to help individuals achieve their daily recommended intake of these substances. Eating some dried fruits can even help improve digestive health, reduce the risk of certain diseases, and more. However, it is important to note that while it has natural sugars, dried fruit can still be very high in sugar. It is best to check labels and recommended serving sizes to avoid adding too much sugar to your diet.

Look in your pantry right now. Is there a bottle of balsamic vinegar there? If you answered no to this question, you'll want to remedy that situation quickly by grabbing a bottle from Costco. Not sure how to use it? Don't worry. As Cutco explains, there are several ways to work balsamic vinegar into your recipes. From making salad dressings, creating scrumptious balsamic reductions to pair with meats or appetizers, crafting an amazing homemade barbecue sauce, or even topping ice cream, balsamic vinegar can really pull its weight in the kitchen.

Costco's Kirkland Signature Balsamic Vinegar is a great deal at just $14.29 for a 33.8-ounce bottle (based on Instacart pricing). However, that is only one reason you'll want to get your balsamic vinegar from Costco. The Orange County Register conducted a taste test of several inexpensive brands of balsamic vinegar. According to their taste test results, the Kirkland Signature Balsamic Vinegar earned first place. The judges were impressed with its delicious finish and liked the balance between sweet and sour flavors.

Almond flour is ideal for crafting delicious gluten-free recipes. A Saucy Kitchen adds that almond flour is also low in carbs and high in protein, making it an even better alternative for those who need to cut gluten due to celiac disease or an intolerance, along with those who are simply trying to cut back on their daily carb intake. Almond flour is featured in many keto and paleo recipes because it ranks low on the glycemic index. It can be used to make cakes, cookies, breads, and more. You can even use almond flour in place of breadcrumbs in some recipes.

A 3-pound bag of Kirkland Almond Flour is available through Instacart for about $15.00. You could spend over $11 for just 1 pound of Bob's Red Mill Almond Flour at Target, making the Kirkland brand an amazing deal. The Healthy Patron shares that Costco's almond flour has a very similar taste to Bob's Red Mill's. They also like that the Kirkland brand is blanched, helping it more closely resemble wheat flour when baking.

Honey is another pantry staple that you'll want to be sure to grab the next time you're at Costco. Costco offers a wide selection of honey, including Kirkland Signature Raw Unfiltered Honey, Kirkland Signature Wild Flower Honey, and Kirkland Signature Organic Raw Honey. As with so many other products, when you purchase any of these honey varieties at Costco, you can save a lot of money by buying in bulk — you get at least 3 pounds of each type of honey.

According to The University of Wyoming Extension, honey offers several different uses. It can be used to sweeten a dish, while also giving it a bit of a distinct flavor. Honey also works well to thicken sauces, dips, and marinades or to stabilize salad dressing recipes. Some delicious recipes featuring honey that you may want to try include soy-glazed Brussels sprouts with bacon, gluten-free cornbread, sweet and savory curried popcorn, pulled pork shoulder, and honey lavender ice cream. You can even use honey to replace refined sugar in coffee, tea, lemonade, and more. And, since it is a bit sweeter than sugar, you can typically get away with using less.