10 Canned Goods To Start Picking Up At Costco

If you're a Costco fan, you already know that this bulk store is the best place to go for stocking up on all your favorite pantry items, plus amazing bakery treats and maybe even a rotisserie chicken or two. However, if you're new to the world of Costco, it can all seem a little overwhelming. Where do you start? What should you stock up on and what items are better left out of your cart?

If you're specifically wanting to stock up on canned goods, you've come to the right place. Unless you have a mammoth pantry, then you likely need to be picky about what you stock up on, because you don't want to end up with stacks of canned beans in the corner of your bedroom once you run out of space in the pantry. To help you narrow down your choices, these are the 10 must-have, top-of-the-list canned goods to pick up at Costco before you stock up on anything else.

Costco sells Goya 15.5-ounce cans of black beans in bulk cases of eight. The case is a mere $9.99, putting the price per can at about $1.25. Comparatively, if you buy the same black beans in single cans from Walmart, you'll be paying $1.42 per can. That may not seem like a big deal, but once you start buying more cans, the cents start to add up.

Beyond this, though, black beans are just an amazing food to stock up on, period. In fact, canned beans are one of the best bomb shelter foods for the end of the world, because they're not only packed with nutrients and protein, but they'll also last for literally decades. Even if you're not faced with an end-of-the-world situation, you'll find plenty of ways to quickly use those eight cans, so maybe grab two cases while you're at Costco for to include in your cowboy caviar or Instant Pot tortilla soup.

It's no secret that San Marzano tomatoes are a step above regular canned tomatoes. They're considered by many celebrity chefs to be the crème de la crème of canned tomatoes for several reasons. When grown in a particular region of Italy, San Marzano tomatoes receive a Protected Designation of Origin stamp, which shows that an ingredient is authentic and produced to the highest culinary standards. When authentic (because, yes, there are fakes out there), San Marzano tomatoes are fleshier, sweeter, and richer than their counterparts.

However, just like you'd expect to pay more for an Audi than a Toyota, you can expect to pay more for authentic San Marzano tomatoes than you would regular ol' canned tomatoes. At Walmart, the authentic San Marzano tomatoes are just about twice the cost of "San Marzano-style" tomatoes from popular brands. Luckily, you can get a three-pack of authentic San Marzano canned tomatoes at Costco for about two-thirds of the price that you would pay if you bought individual cans elsewhere.

If you're just tossing some diced tomatoes in a casserole or a soup, you might not care to pay extra for authentic tomatoes from a certain region in Europe. Even in that case, though, you shouldn't leave Costco tomato-less.

When discussing the best canned tomatoes to buy at Costco, Redditors and frequent Costco shoppers mention Costco's store brand, Kirkland. One Reddit user said they not only drain and use the tomatoes on tacos and salads, but they also save the juice to use it in soups or pair it with Kirkland vodka in cocktails. To save the juice for later, simply pour it into an ice cube tray and pop it in the freezer. You can also put it in a glass jar to freeze, but remember that you need to leave at least an inch or two of extra room in your container, as the tomato juice will expand as it freezes.

Canned fish is popular right now, and if you enjoy the occasional tuna salad sandwich or an old-school tuna melt casserole, then you already know how amazing a can of tuna can be. Unfortunately, though, it isn't always great for the environment. According to The Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch program, most tuna around the world is harvested using purse seines and drifting longlines, which pose a severe risk for other animals in the ocean, including sharks and turtles.

The good news? If you want to minimize your tuna consumption's impact on the environment and marine ecosystems, you just need to look for canned tuna that's been "pole-and-line-caught" — like the Wild Planet Sustainably Pole & Line Caught Albacore Wild Tuna that's available at Costco. Wild Planet assures all of its tuna is caught sustainably, without nets. Not only is this better for the planet, but it is also better for your body, as the fish that are caught are smaller and migratory, meaning they're also lower in mercury.

Not only can you find this canned tuna at Costco, but you can also stock up on it for a deal, too. A six-count pack of 5-ounce cans is $19.99 at Costco, compared to a four-count pack of 5-ounce cans available at Walmart for $15.98 — this saves you about $0.70 per can.

Costco's Kirkland canned salmon gets rave reviews from both shoppers and dietitians alike. Registered dietitian Karen Ansel told Today that Kirkland's canned salmon makes for an incredibly easy and convenient way for folks to get in their recommended, two weekly servings of fish. This canned salmon is also a particularly good option because it's specifically labeled as "wild," meaning that it's especially high in Omega-3s, as compared to farmed fish.

Beyond just the health benefits, though, Costco fans love this salmon because it tastes great and is cheaper from the wholesale club, too. One reviewer raved, "The best canned salmon on the market!" While another noted on Amazon that it's, "Much cheaper if you have access to Costco."

Another major selling point? It doesn't require refrigeration. Not only does it make this seafood an excellent canned good to stock the pantry with, but it is also a convenient protein to take on camping trips. 

Costco fans love Kirkland Signature canned chicken breast for many of the same reasons that they love Costco's Kirkland Signature canned salmon. This canned chicken is more affordable than the fresh alternative, and more convenient, too, as there's no need for refrigeration or even cooking. Forget trying to remember to thaw a chicken breast, then cook, and shred or slice it before finally adding it to your dish. With this option, just pop the top off of the can, mix the chicken with some tasty ingredients, and you be enjoying Waldorf chicken salad or chicken chile and cheese enchiladas in no time.

Whatever way you use this chicken, you'll enjoy some savings, too. Kirkland's canned chicken breast comes in a six-count pack of 12.5-ounce cans, for $15.49, for a price of about $2.60 per can. Compare that to the same size can of Walmart's Great Value canned chunk chicken breast, which comes in at $3.18 each.

Buying canned soup in bulk is a smart plan for many reasons, with convenience standing at the top of the list. After all, making homemade soup from scratch can take hours, if not all day. When you're sick or coming home from work on a blustery day and you just want a bowl of warming soup, canned soup is there for you — and when you buy it in bulk, you don't have to worry about running out.

Costco offers several canned soup options in bulk, including Campbell's chicken noodle and cream of mushroom options. However, consider skipping the sodium-laden condensed soups from Campbell's and, instead, stock up on organic soups from Amy's. An eight-pack of Amy's Organic Lentil Soup comes packed with up to 8 grams of fiber and 12 grams of protein per serving, making it a favorite amongst dieticians. The soups are also gluten-free, vegan, and light on sodium.

Just like canned tomatoes and beans, canned chickpeas come up frequently when you ask Costco shoppers about their favorite canned items (or just items in general) to stock up on during their Costco runs. Like canned beans, canned chickpeas are already cooked and ready to use in your favorite recipes and meals. Plus, you can save the juice, known as aquafaba, for other uses like making a vegan meringue.

When you buy Goya Chick Peas at Costco, you'll pay $9.99 for eight 15.5-ounce cans, which works out to about $1.25 each. At Walmart, an eight-count of the same size will cost you more than double, coming in at $21.19, or about $2.65 a can.

Beyond just the great deal, there are many reasons why you might want to specifically buy Goya-branded chickpeas. They look and smell fresh and the texture of the chickpeas is firm and intact, making them great for salads or crisping up in the air fryer.

You may be accustomed to picking up a can of tuna here and there for a sandwich, or even a can of salmon for the occasional salmon cake or salad, but sardines? If you've yet to broaden your experience of tinned fish, now's the time, as this ingredient is definitely having a moment. Last year, Vogue called tinned fish "a chic and toothsome appetizer" and "hot girl food." The publication mentioned couples having whole date nights centered around tinned fish.

However, it's worth noting that for tinned fish to be considered truly "hot girl food," it usually must meet a few key requirements — like it needs to be a step above your farm-raised, suspicious fish that you'd get just anywhere. Luckily, the sardines that Costco sells in a six-count pack for $13.49 are certified wild-caught and sustainable. The Season brand further clarifies that its sardines that are sold at Costco are caught off the Moroccan coast and are packed with Omega-3s, vitamins, and minerals. But for all that, this trendy purchase won't break the bank — if you buy them at Costco. At Walmart, buying six tins will cost you $13.92, while on Amazon, the same is $14.99.

Another trending food that some of us probably didn't see coming? Spam. What was once an ingredient sneered at by discerning foodies can now be found on world-class menus, as well as in the kitchens of many a TikTok influencer. Spam consistently sets annual sales records and, in fact, as of last year, Hormel had to increase production to keep up with the demand.

If you need to get your hands on a large quantity of Spam, whether because you genuinely love the stuff or you want to make some amazing TikTok content, go to Costco. There, you'll find that an eight-count pack of 12-ounce Spam cans costs $26.99, or $3.37 per can. Comparatively, Spam is $3.58 per can at Walmart.

Never cooked with Spam before and not sure how to use it? There are near-endless ways to take advantage of Spam's versatility. Add it to a dessert for a savory-sweet flavor combo (kind of like caramel and bacon). Use it as a garnish. Mix it with beef for burgers. You can even cook it in an air fryer or waffle iron.