5 Costco Items You Should Skip, According to Our Experts
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We’re big fans of Costco here at Dinogo. It’s tough to beat the deals on many of our go-to products—especially during the monthly sales. Plus, Costco’s Kirkland Signature brand offers fantastic food and clothing options! It’s rare for us to recommend against buying something at Costco (except, maybe, those rotisserie chickens lately).
However, we asked our Costco-obsessed editors for their input, scoured Reddit threads for additional opinions, and came up with a list of five products we suggest avoiding. From subpar produce to spices that won’t last, here are the top five items we wouldn’t recommend buying at Costco.
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Image courtesy of Adobe Stock/Dinogo
Soda
A large pack of soda at Costco might seem like a great deal, but our editors found that soft drinks are often cheaper at local supermarkets and grocery stores. The reason is that soda is one of the most commonly discounted items at these stores.
Our doubts were confirmed by a Reddit thread where one user commented, 'I can always find better deals on soda at the grocery store,' and another added, 'Yep, it’s a loss leader at almost every grocery chain.' Loss leaders are products sold at a loss to draw customers in, with the expectation that they’ll buy other items while shopping.
This is a reminder to always check the unit price, but generally, you’ll get a better deal on soda by buying it when it’s on sale at your local store.
Spices & Seasonings
If you're checking the unit price, Costco might offer the best deal on spices and seasonings. However, unless you're operating a restaurant or large kitchen, chances are high that they’ll expire before you can use them up.
One of our editors, who bakes regularly, bought a Costco-sized container of cinnamon thinking it would only last a few months. 'It lasted me over four years and traveled with me to five different apartments,' she admits.
Spices don't spoil, but they do lose flavor over time. Ground spices lose their potency faster than whole spices. So, if you're shopping for seasonings at Costco, it’s better to opt for whole spices rather than ground.
Condiments & Dressings
The same logic applies to condiments, salad dressings, and other jarred products. Unless you have a busy social calendar or a lot of barbecues lined up, you probably don’t need that massive 2-pack of condiments.
Yes, unopened condiments are shelf-stable, but once opened, they take up valuable space in your fridge door. This applies to ketchup, mustard, mayo, as well as salad dressings, olives, and even pickles. One of our editors admitted, 'I love olives, so I thought we'd use them all quickly, but it turned out to be an overwhelming amount of olives.'
Sure, some items can be frozen, but most will just sit partially used in your fridge until they spoil.
Produce (Especially Pre-Cut)
This one is a bit controversial. Many people swear by Costco's produce, and our editors agree that it's generally excellent, though the quality can vary by state. However, there are some items we would recommend skipping for various reasons.
First on the list is pre-cut produce, particularly fruit. Our editors generally avoid pre-cut produce because it tends to be pricier and has a higher risk of cross-contamination. Many editors—and several Reddit users—reported that Costco’s pre-cut fruit often falls short, with one Reddit user saying, 'Most of it was under-ripe and flavorless. Huge disappointment.' Costco offers a fantastic selection of frozen fruit, so if convenience is key, we recommend opting for those instead.
When it comes to other produce, it can be hit or miss, so we follow a simple rule: 'Only buy it if you can use at least 3/4 of it within the next 3-4 days.' We tend to steer clear of more perishable items like berries, avocados, and bananas, which either spoil quickly or ripen too fast. Also, unless we're planning a party with guacamole, it's hard to eat 8 avocados in a few days, and they’re too expensive to waste.
Bagged produce is another item our editors recommend skipping, especially if you can't see the contents. With so many items in one bag, the chances are high that at least one piece will be moldy, ruining the whole batch. Need more convincing? Consider this horrifying Reddit comment: 'Costco potatoes always have at least one rotten one. Last time, I didn’t check, and within 5 days, my kitchen stank, and there was a puddle outside the potato bag. When I looked inside, there were maggots…'
Assorted Snack Packs
Are assorted snack packs a good deal, especially compared to grocery stores? Absolutely. Costco’s flavor variety packs—whether it’s yogurt, chips, granola bars, or other snacks—go on sale almost every month. But our editors warn: don’t get too excited.
Unless you’re sure your family loves every flavor in the pack, it's probably not worth it. There's always one flavor that’s either disliked or, worse, completely unappealing to someone, especially if you have picky eaters or kids. As one Reddit user puts it, 'There’s always one flavor everyone likes, one that’s tolerable, and the third goes to waste or ends up at the office.'
It might not seem like much will go to waste (Hey, we still enjoy the other flavors!), but you could end up discarding 1/3 to 1/5 of the pack, which isn’t efficient or cost-effective. It's better to just buy what you truly enjoy, and nothing more.
Evaluation :
5/5