I Asked 4 Food Pros What They'll Only Buy From Costco—They All Said the Same Thing
It's an incredible deal that's worth stocking up on.
Simply Recipes / Getty Images
I’ll never forget the first time I stepped into a Costco. The sensory overload of the ever-changing sights, seasonal sounds, and tantalizing smells was totally unique to this superstore. I still feel that same sense of awe and overwhelm every time I walk into a Costco.
However, making purchasing decisions in that wonderstruck state can be tricky. The sheer number of food options may have you wondering what’s really worth the (irresistibly affordable) investment.
Well, who better to ask than those who have made food their life’s work? I initially questioned whether chefs would even set foot into a bulk superstore, but boy was I wrong.
Many culinary professionals love Costco because the beloved shopping chain delivers high-quality, restaurant-worthy ingredients. Buying in bulk is also a great way to feed a crowd for less, enticing chefs and culinary professionals alike to invest in a membership card.
Interestingly enough, when I asked four chefs what their favorite Costco product is, they all said the same thing.
The Chefs I Asked
Erin Clarke: Creator of the easy, healthy recipe blog Well Plated and author of the best-selling Well Plated Cookbook and Well Plated Every Day, out on October 15
Melanie Gunnell: Owner of food blog Mel's Kitchen Cafe, and author of Mel’s Kitchen Cafe Cookbook
Kat Marris: Senior Recipe Developer at Green Chef
Joanne Gallagher: Owner and operator, alongside husband Adam, of Inspired Taste, a recipe blog
Simply Recipes / Costco
The Best Costco Product, According to Food Pros
According to these esteemed food pros, the best purchase from Costco is Kerrygold Pure Irish Butter.
“I always stock up on butter and especially love the European-style option, Kerrygold,” says Gallagher. This high-quality butter is made from the milk of grass-fed Irish cows. A grass-based diet is the key to this butter’s iconic golden hue and creamy flavor with subtle hints of sweetness.
“Kerrygold butter is the best of the best,” Clarke emphasizes.
How Food Pros Use Kerrygold Butter
This acclaimed butter's quality and flavor are perfectly suited to a wide range of recipes. “It makes such a huge difference in flavor and creates a silky quality for pan sauces,” Marris explains.
Clarke loves to spread this butter on freshly baked bread (it melts like a dream) and uses it in dishes that highlight the delicious taste and creaminess of the butter. Pastas, polenta, savory tarts, egg dishes, popovers, biscuits, and compound butters for meats and vegetables all fit this bill.
And while Costco currently only sells this sought-after brand's salted butter, it can still be used for dessert recipes and baking. “I buy butter from Costco all the time and Kerrygold butter is amazing for those baking with European butter,” says Gunnell.
Cookies, cakes, breads, sweet rolls, pies, crumbles, muffins, and toffee are all upgraded with this butter—just be sure to reduce the added salt in your recipe. “I refuse to bake with any other butter!” Marris emphasizes.
The real kicker is that Costco sells this top-quality butter in boxes of four eight-ounce bars at around $10 (location-dependent). This is a fraction of the cost of nearly any other retailer, where eight ounces usually costs between $4 and $5. As if I needed another reason to love Costco.
