Costco's Basil Pesto Packs So Much Flavor For The Price

Classic pesto Genovese consists of only five ingredients: basil, garlic, pine nuts, cheese, and olive oil. That's all it takes to make this deliciously simple sauce, but if you don't have time to make your own pesto, you'll have to go with the store-bought stuff. This is challenging territory because the jarred versions of the sauce are hit-or-miss at best. Even the highest quality store-bought pestos can end up tasting dull or looking murky and withered compared to the fresh stuff.

According to fans on the r/Costco subreddit, the bulk grocer's Kirkland Signature brand basil pesto is not only one of the better jarred pesto on the market, it comes at the kind of generously discounted price you would expect from the big box store.

Costco charges $9.49 for a 22-ounce jar of pesto, meaning you're only paying about $0.43 per ounce. Some grocery store jarred pesto will only cost a few cents more per ounce, but for large refrigerated tubs like this you're more often paying twice the price. 

A good basil pesto should balance the salts and fats of the Parmigiano Reggiano or pecorino cheese, the earthy notes of the pine nuts, and the herbal notes of the basil. The flavor should be deeply savory but also light and bright, thanks to the abundance of verdant basil used in crafting the sauce.

Costco Food Database says that Kirkland Signature's pesto does a good job of mixing all of these elements when it's used as a pasta sauce or as an ingredient in other recipes. On its own, the taste is powerfully flavorful and almost too salty, but that's not really how it's supposed to be enjoyed. That saltiness is balanced out once the sauce is mixed with other ingredients.

The folks in r/Costco say that it goes well with pasta (obviously), but is also a game changer when it comes to pizzas, sandwiches, and chicken recipes as well. Having this much pesto on hand means you can also whip up some pesto eggs any morning for breakfast.

One of the few complaints lodged against Kirkland's basil pesto is that it doesn't last as long as people would like it to. It's great that you're able to get 22 ounces of a high quality sauce for a decent price, but it doesn't matter if it spoils before you can enjoy it all.

Users in r/Costco say that the best way around this is to freeze the pesto in smaller portions. Most pesto will keep in a freezer for up to six months and can be stored in different ways to keep them conveniently on hand.

One of the easiest ways to freeze pesto is to use an ice cube tray. This will give easy access to single servings of pesto that can be quickly defrosted on the stove over a low heat. Just be sure to cover the pesto with a layer of olive oil and some plastic wrap to help preserve that bright green color. You can also store larger portions in glass jars that can be transferred to the refrigerator as needed.