The Luxury Ingredient That You Can Get For A Steal At Costco

There's no better place to get ingredients in bulk than Costco. The sixth-largest retailer in the world, Costco is the third-largest in the United States, trailing only Amazon and Walmart. Its popularity makes sense; where else can you get a metric ton of almonds and a new TV? That's not even getting into the shockingly delicious items at the food court, including a still-unbelievable $1.50 hot dog and drink deal that once caused the company's founder to threaten to kill the CEO if he tried to change it.

One of the key ways that Costco's bulk offerings benefit consumers is that you can find plenty of high-end products for shockingly affordable prices — as long as you're willing to pay for a bunch at once. There are plenty of examples of this, but one of them is particularly fascinating, because it's one of the most well-known luxury ingredients in cooking: saffron.

In addition to being visually stunning, saffron, a spice derived from the stigma of the Crocus sativus flower, is the single most expensive spice in the world. 

Saffron is one of the lowest-yield products you can grow; it's estimated that it takes around 75,000 flowers to produce one pound of the stuff, as each flower only contains three stigmas. The flowers only bloom for six weeks every fall, and they have to be harvested early in the morning to avoid damage from sunlight and humidity. The end result product typically costs around $30 for tiny, tiny amounts — but Costco sells it for $80 for a legitimately astounding 15 grams.

It has an earthy, sweet, floral quality that's unlike any other food product. It fares well when mixed into butter sauces and cream-based dishes, as the inherent richness counterbalances its other qualities. Fortunately, a little saffron goes a long way, as it's a relatively strong flavor. So that 15 grams of saffron from Costco will last you quite a while.

In part thanks to the prevalence of Costco's Kirkland Signature brand, you can find tons of other fancy ingredients — at remarkably good prices — at Costco as well. Lobster tails sell for $19.50 per pound at the chain, and Prosciutto di Parma is available at $15 for less than 12 ounces. That's not to mention other nice but often cost-prohibitive foods, such as Parmigiano-Reggiano and vanilla beans.

Perhaps most surprisingly, these sorts of prices even extend into the really fancy stuff. Dom Perignon typically costs around $300 per bottle, but Costco often sells it for $160. Japanese wagyu beef gets sold for around $100 per pound, where a specialty butcher shop will typically offer it for $250. And caviar, maybe the single most iconic high-end cooking ingredient in the world, is available for $70 an ounce compared to its typical price of $100. 

If you've ever wanted to splurge on fancy food but weren't sure how to afford it, Costco could be the answer.