Tried, Tasted, and Rated: 10 Costco Finds This Week

Every week I taste-test 5-7 of Costco’s newest food finds and give you my honest review — no hype, no fluff. Expect real feedback on taste, texture, best pairings, and the simple hacks that turn the good stuff into the great stuff. Here’s what I’ve been eating my way through this week (September 7 – September 15).

1. Bibigo Korean BBQ-Style Pizza

Costco’s freezer aisle is getting a serious Korean-fusion upgrade with Bibigo’s new Korean BBQ-Style Pizza. This one is legitimately fresh: warehouse tracking first picked it up on August 18, 2026, and it has since spread to hundreds of Costco locations. Each pizza combines Korean-style BBQ beef, mozzarella and white cheddar, vegetables and a sweet-savory barbecue sauce.

Price: $11.99 for two 21.95-ounce pizzas at warehouses reporting the standard in-store price. Same-day pricing can run higher.

Community Taste Test: This is one of the new products where we actually have meaningful early feedback. A recent r/frozendinners reviewer who bought it at Costco rated it 8/10, praising the crust, toppings and especially the seasoned beef. The recurring caution is sweetness: that reviewer felt the BBQ sauce starts pleasantly sweet but becomes a little overpowering after several bites.

So don’t expect something that tastes like a traditional pepperoni pizza with bulgogi sprinkled on top. The Korean BBQ sauce is a major part of the flavor profile, pushing the pizza toward smoky, beefy and distinctly sweet-savory territory.

Texture Summary: The early Costco review specifically praised the crust, and Costco’s product instructions call for baking directly from frozen until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbling. The vegetables and pieces of beef give it more textural variety than a standard cheese pizza.

Make It Better

1. Add acidity: A little kimchi or quick-pickled cucumber should help balance the sweeter BBQ sauce.
2. Bring some heat: Chili crisp, gochugaru or sliced jalapeños can pull the pizza away from overly sweet territory.
3. Bake directly on the rack: Costco’s directions allow direct-rack baking, which is the route I’d choose when you want the bottom as crisp as possible.

Perfect Pairings

• Sides: Kimchi, cucumber salad or a simple scallion salad.
• Toppings: Chili crisp, fresh scallions or toasted sesame seeds.
• Drinks: A crisp lager, sparkling water or light citrus soda.

Final Verdict: BUY: The first independent Costco review is encouraging, and an 8/10 for a frozen fusion pizza is enough to put this high on the fall freezer list. Just know that sweet Korean BBQ sauce is the dominant personality here.

2. Sunshine Buns Cinnamon Rolls With Cream Cheese Frosting

These may be the most fall-morning-friendly freezer find of the bunch. Sunshine Buns rolled into Costco in late August with individually wrapped, fully baked cinnamon rolls that go from freezer to warm breakfast in less than a minute. Costco’s 46-ounce bag contains 10 cinnamon rolls plus frosting packets.

Price: $14.99 for 10 rolls, or roughly $1.50 each. Prices may vary by warehouse.

Community Taste Test: Unlike many brand-new Costco products, Sunshine Buns already had independent tasting feedback before hitting warehouses. One detailed review scored the flavor 9/10, calling them among the best in their heat-and-eat category and specifically praising the generous icing. The downside? They don’t deliver quite the same ultra-gooey center as a fresh-from-scratch cinnamon roll.

That sounds about right for what this product is trying to be: not a proof-and-bake cinnamon roll, but a premium frozen pastry that trades some bakery-level gooeyness for enormous convenience.

Texture Summary: Feedback describes the bun itself as soft and surprisingly fresh-tasting, though it can lean a little dry compared with a homemade roll. The cream cheese frosting helps considerably.

Microwave preparation takes about 30–45 seconds, while an air fryer can be used at 350°F for roughly 10–12 minutes if you want more exterior texture.

Make It Better

1. Skip the microwave when you have time: The air fryer should give the outside more contrast.
2. Warm the frosting separately: Slightly softened frosting spreads instead of sitting in one cold blob.
3. Add crunch: Chopped pecans or walnuts would help compensate for the otherwise very soft texture.

Perfect Pairings

• Hot coffee or a latte.
• Sliced apples or pears.
• Bacon or breakfast sausage if you want a salty contrast.

Final Verdict: BUY: The convenience is excellent, early flavor reviews are genuinely strong, and being able to heat one roll instead of baking an entire tray makes these unusually freezer-friendly.

3. Crazy Cuizine Sweet Fire Chicken

Crazy Cuizine’s newest Costco entrée combines battered chicken with onions, bell peppers, carrots and pineapple in a Korean-inspired sweet-and-spicy sauce. Warehouse tracking first spotted the 48-ounce bag on August 5, 2026, making this one of the genuine late-summer arrivals moving into fall.

Price: About $13.99 at most recently reporting warehouses, although prices have ranged from clearance levels around $9.97 up to $14.49.

Community Taste Test: Recent Costco Reddit feedback is much more useful than the promotional descriptions. Shoppers describe the spice as noticeable but not brutally hot. One household where one person strongly dislikes spicy food still found it manageable in small amounts. The sauce gets compared to familiar sweet-and-sour restaurant chicken: definitely sweet, but the chile heat provides some balance.

The main warning is chicken consistency. Some users loved the product enough to immediately buy more, while another shopper said chicken quality could vary within the same bag, with occasional pieces coming across tougher or more rubbery.

Texture Summary: This is absolutely an air-fryer-first product. Crazy Cuizine instructs shoppers to air-fry the chicken separately at 400°F for roughly 10–15 minutes, then stir-fry the vegetables before combining everything with sauce. That prevents the breading from sitting in sauce throughout the cooking process.

Make It Better

1. Air-fry the chicken separately. This is also the method current Costco Reddit users recommend.
2. Don’t drown it immediately: Add the sauce gradually if you’re sensitive to sweetness.
3. Stretch the bag: Reddit shoppers report adding broccoli successfully, and it gives the meal more vegetables without overwhelming the sauce.

Perfect Pairings

• Jasmine rice or fried rice.
• Steamed broccoli or snap peas.
• Scallions and sesame seeds.

Final Verdict: BUY WITH A SMALL CAVEAT: The sweet-heat balance is earning positive feedback and the air-fryer preparation works well. The only hesitation is some reported inconsistency in the chicken pieces.

4. Mason Dixie Chicken Biscuit Sandwiches

If your idea of a fall freezer stock-up includes a drive-thru-style breakfast without actually going through a drive-thru, Mason Dixie’s new Chicken Biscuit Sandwich deserves a look. The Costco-exclusive eight-pack launched in July in the Northeast, Bay Area and San Diego, pairing seasoned chicken breast with the company’s all-butter buttermilk biscuit. Each sandwich delivers 11 grams of protein and heats in under three minutes.

Price: Around $14.99–$15.99 for eight sandwiches. Current warehouse tracking shows stores around $14.99 to $15.79, while the launch MSRP was $15.99.

Community Taste Test: Independent feedback on this exact Costco eight-pack is still developing because the product is genuinely new. However, a 2026 consumer who tried Mason Dixie’s chicken sandwich outside Costco called it very good and worth buying again, while broader feedback on Mason Dixie’s frozen breakfast line is considerably more mixed when it comes to microwave texture.

The important distinction here is that I would not claim the Costco chicken biscuit has already achieved unanimous viral-hit status. There simply isn’t enough independent review volume yet.

Texture Summary: Mason Dixie uses seasoned chicken breast inside its buttermilk biscuit, and the product can be heated by microwave or air fryer. Based on long-running feedback around the brand’s other biscuit sandwiches, the microwave is convenient but can soften biscuits significantly.

Make It Better

1. Use the air fryer whenever time allows.
2. Add hot honey for a sweet-spicy breakfast sandwich.
3. Add pickles to bring acidity against the buttery biscuit and fried chicken.

Perfect Pairings

• Scrambled eggs.
• Hash browns.
• Fruit and coffee for an easy breakfast plate.

Final Verdict: TRY/BORDERLINE BUY: The price—under roughly $2 per sandwich—is compelling, and the basic chicken-and-biscuit combination is promising. But because Costco-specific tasting evidence is still young, I’m stopping short of pretending this has a huge review consensus already.

5. Chef Hak’s Hearty Veggie Hash With Chicken Sausage

This is one of Costco’s more practical new freezer finds. Chef Hak’s combines roasted potatoes, sweet potatoes, chicken sausage, bell peppers and onions with avocado oil plus garlic, paprika, onion powder, black pepper and chile pepper. The 46-ounce bag contains about seven servings.

Price: $11.99 at the warehouse cited during its July launch.

Community Taste Test: I couldn’t find enough independent, product-specific taste reviews to manufacture a convincing consensus. Most current coverage is people spotting the bag rather than sitting down and reviewing it.

So instead of claiming shoppers are calling it “amazing,” the useful takeaway is its ingredient profile and versatility. There’s plenty of built-in seasoning—garlic, paprika, chile and black pepper—but whether that translates to a bold enough finished dish still needs more real-world shopper feedback.

Texture Summary: This is another product where preparation method should matter a lot. The package offers microwave, skillet and air-fryer options. The air fryer takes roughly eight minutes, while a skillet takes about nine. Those two dry-heat methods make more sense if you want roasted potatoes to maintain some exterior texture rather than steaming soft.

Make It Better

1. Use a skillet or air fryer instead of the microwave.
2. Top with a fried egg: Chef Hak specifically suggests eggs as a serving option.
3. Turn it into breakfast burritos: Add scrambled egg, cheese and salsa inside tortillas.

Perfect Pairings

• Fried or poached eggs.
• Avocado and salsa.
• Toast and fresh fruit.

Final Verdict: TRY: The ingredients, price and convenience make sense, but review volume is still too small for me to label this a confirmed fan favorite. That’s a much more defensible recommendation than inventing a glowing “taste test.”

6. Synear Savory Pork Wontons With Chili Oil

Synear’s newest Costco launch might be one of the most interesting Asian freezer finds of 2026. The company introduced its Savory Pork Wontons with Chili Oil in July across 82 Southeast Costco warehouses, then expanded into select Bay Area locations.

Price: $13.99 suggested retail for a 31.47-ounce bag containing approximately 52 wontons and four chili-oil packets. Some Costco coverage has reported warehouse prices around $14.99.

Community Taste Test: Independent review volume on this exact new flavor is still growing, but current Costco coverage describes a very different experience from thick, dough-heavy frozen dumplings. The wontons use a thin wrapper surrounding a pork-heavy filling, with water chestnut, scallion, ginger, soy sauce and sesame oil contributing to the flavor and texture.

The chili oil comes separately, which is actually a major plus: you can control the heat instead of committing the whole bowl to maximum spice.

Texture Summary: Synear says the filling can contain up to 68% pork, so these should eat more like filling-forward wontons than wrappers surrounding a tiny spoonful of meat. Current coverage also specifically notes the thin wrapper and the contrasting crunch contributed by water chestnut.

They cook in roughly six minutes.

Make It Better

1. Start with half the chili oil, taste, then increase.
2. Add Chinese black vinegar for acidity.
3. Finish with scallions, sesame seeds and cucumber for freshness.

Perfect Pairings

• Bok choy or garlicky green beans.
• Jasmine rice.
• Smashed cucumber salad.

Final Verdict: BUY FOR DUMPLING FANS: The exact product is still gathering independent reviews, but the filling-to-wrapper ratio, included chili oil and roughly 52-count Costco package make the value proposition unusually strong.

7. Scott & Jon’s Honey Sesame Salmon Superfood Bowls

Costco’s new four-pack takes Scott & Jon’s Honey Sesame Salmon concept and builds it around salmon, vegetables and a brown rice-and-quinoa blend. Each 10-ounce Costco bowl has 17 grams of protein and is designed to microwave in minutes. The Costco rollout began in the Southeast and Texas in June 2026.

Price: $15.99 MSRP for four 10-ounce bowls. Costco same-day pricing can run higher; a recent listing showed $18.15.

Community Taste Test: The Honey Sesame Salmon line has far more real consumer feedback than most products on this list. Recent 2026 shoppers consistently praise the sweet-savory sauce and surprisingly tender salmon. Walmart’s current listing sits around 4.5 stars across thousands of ratings.

The recurring complaint isn’t really flavor—it’s portion size. Multiple recent reviewers say the meal tastes good but wish it included more pieces of salmon. A minority also report occasionally getting a fishier-tasting piece.

Texture Summary: Positive reviews specifically mention tender salmon, fluffy grains and vegetables that maintain some texture rather than turning completely mushy.

Make It Better

This one has unusually concrete community hacks. Shoppers recommend adding soy sauce or tamari, toasted sesame seeds and crispy fried onions. Others add extra vegetables or extra salmon when they want a more substantial dinner.

Perfect Pairings

• Edamame.
• Cucumber salad.
• Extra broccoli or snap peas.

Final Verdict: BUY: This has one of the strongest actual review records in the whole group. The flavor appears to be the clear strength; just don’t expect a giant restaurant-size portion of salmon.

8. Red’s September Breakfast Burritos and Bagel Sandwiches

Red’s is doing something unusual this September: Costco is getting different frozen breakfast products depending on the region. Los Angeles warehouses are receiving Carne Asada Breakfast Burritos; Midwest stores are getting Sausage, Egg & Cheese Bagel Sandwiches; and the Northeast is getting Chicken Sausage Scramble Breakfast Burritos plus Steak Cilantro Lime Burritos.

Price: Current reported Costco prices are $17.99/10 for Carne Asada, $16.99/8 for Sausage, Egg & Cheese Bagel Sandwiches, $15.99/10 for Chicken Sausage Scramble, and $17.99/10 for Steak Cilantro Lime.

Community Taste Test: The exact September flavors are too new for a dependable flavor-by-flavor consensus. However, Red’s already has substantial Costco breakfast-burrito history, and it is very divided.

Some shoppers love the filling and keep Red’s burritos stocked regularly. Others specifically complain about strange or grainy textures. The biggest repeated gripe, though, isn’t flavor at all—it’s cooking. Reddit threads with hundreds of votes document burritos bursting or leaking in the microwave.

Texture Summary: This is a classic case where preparation determines the experience. Several shoppers report better results with lower microwave power or finishing the burrito in a pan, toaster oven or air fryer rather than blasting it at full power until the tortilla splits.

Make It Better

1. Microwave gently to warm the center.
2. Finish in a dry skillet for a crisp tortilla.
3. Add salsa, hot sauce or avocado rather than relying completely on the internal seasoning.

Perfect Pairings

• Salsa verde.
• Avocado.
• Hash browns or fresh fruit.

Final Verdict: TRY, BUT COOK IT YOUR WAY: Red’s has genuine fans, but the cooking complaints are too consistent to ignore. I would not blindly follow the fastest microwave method.

9. Doughlicious Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough & Gelato Bites

These might be the sleeper hit of Costco’s fall freezer desserts. The British brand launched its Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough & Gelato Bites into Costco in late August, with vanilla gelato wrapped in chocolate chip cookie dough and finished with cookie crumbs. The Costco-exclusive bag contains 25 pieces.

Price: $9.89–$9.99 for the 25-count, 17.6-ounce bag. Warehouse tracking first spotted the Costco pack on August 25.

Taste Test: Finally, an actual professional tasting of the exact flavor. Sporked tried Chocolate Chip and gave it an impressive 9.5/10. The review praised its vanilla-forward flavor, enough chocolate to keep each bite interesting and the way the different components work together rather than competing.

Texture Summary: This is where Doughlicious really separates itself from ice cream bites or mochi. You get creamy gelato, chewy cookie dough and crunchy cookie crumbs in the same bite. Sporked specifically highlighted that mix of creamy and crunchy textures.

Warehouse product information recommends allowing the bites to thaw for about four minutes for the intended texture.

Make It Better

1. Do not eat them rock-solid from the freezer.
2. Give them 4–7 minutes on the counter.
3. Serve two or three alongside fresh berries if you’re building a dessert plate.

Perfect Pairings

• Strawberries or raspberries.
• Espresso.
• Hot chocolate once the weather cools down.

Final Verdict: STRONG BUY: A 9.5/10 independent tasting, a 25-count Costco pack around $10 and an actually interesting chewy-creamy-crunchy texture make this one of the safest recommendations on the list.

10. Fru+Tein Protein Dark Chocolate Frozen Bananas

Costco’s protein craze has officially reached frozen fruit. Smart Harvest’s Fru+Tein combines real frozen banana pieces with dark chocolate fortified with whey protein. The Costco 20-ounce bag began showing up in August, with launches announced for Texas and parts of the Northeast.

Price: Generally $12.99 for the 20-ounce Costco bag, although warehouse tracking has seen limited clearance prices as low as $5.97.

Taste Test: Delish actually tried this one, which gives us much stronger ground than social-media hype. Their assessment was surprisingly positive: the dark chocolate comes across rich and intense enough to cover the whey-protein flavor, while pairing naturally with the sweetness of the banana. Even testers skeptical of protein-fortified snacks liked it.

Each serving provides roughly four grams of protein and about 85 calories according to Delish’s tasting coverage.

Texture Summary: This is all about temperature. Smart Harvest recommends taking pieces from the freezer and letting them sit for roughly three minutes before eating. That should soften the banana slightly while allowing the chocolate shell to retain its snap.

Make It Better

1. Give them the full three-minute thaw.
2. Chop a few into Greek yogurt.
3. Use them as the topping on a smoothie bowl rather than adding chocolate chips separately.

Perfect Pairings

• Peanut or almond butter.
• Greek yogurt.
• Coffee or cold brew.

Final Verdict: BUY: Protein snacks frequently sacrifice flavor for macros. Current professional tasting suggests this one manages the compromise much better than expected.

11. FØRTE Chocolate Fudge Frozen Protein Bars

FØRTE is essentially trying to merge a nostalgic frozen fudge pop with the booming high-protein snack category. The Chocolate Fudge bars launched at Texas Costco warehouses in June 2026 and expanded into additional regions, including the Midwest, later in the summer. Each frozen bar provides 10 grams of protein.

Price: Around $14.99 at participating Costco warehouses.

Community Taste Test: Early reaction is encouraging. Costco-focused Instagram coverage describes these as intensely chocolatey, and Parade’s September roundup cites fans specifically praising the fudgy, chocolate-heavy character rather than describing them as chalky protein bars.

That distinction matters. The protein comes from whey and milk protein isolates, but FØRTE sweetens the bars with cane sugar rather than artificial sweeteners, which may help explain why early comments are focusing more on “fudge pop” than “protein aftertaste.”

Texture Summary: Current product coverage repeatedly describes them as creamy and fudgy, meaning this behaves more like a frozen dessert novelty than a chewy refrigerated protein bar.

Make It Better

1. Let the bar sit for a minute or two before eating if you prefer softer fudge.
2. Pair it with strawberries for a chocolate-covered-strawberry vibe.
3. A small spoonful of peanut butter turns it into a much more substantial dessert.

Perfect Pairings

• Espresso.
• Strawberries.
• Peanut butter.

Final Verdict: BUY FOR PROTEIN-SNACK FANS: Independent review volume is still growing, but what feedback exists is surprisingly consistent around the rich chocolate flavor. The 10 grams of protein feel like a bonus rather than the whole reason to eat it.

12. Kirkland Signature Crispy Wings With Classic Buffalo Sauce

These need one accuracy correction before we crown them a “new fall item.” Warehouse inventory tracking has traces going back to December 17, 2025, with wider “new product” coverage appearing in January 2026. So they’re better described as a current 2026 Costco freezer staple than a brand-new September release.

The four-pound bag contains fully cooked wings plus separate packets of classic Buffalo sauce. Costco lists them as air-fryer ready, gluten-free and delivering 17 grams of protein per serving.

Price: $14.99–$16.99 depending on warehouse, with $14.99 currently the most common tracked price.

Community Taste Test: This one is divisive. Plenty of shoppers love the convenience and flavor; a June Reddit discussion includes people calling the Kirkland crispy wings a favorite Costco item. Others criticize the wings for being unusually large, with more skin, fat and cartilage than they prefer.

Costco97’s tasting found the wings crisped effectively in the air fryer and liked the moderate Buffalo sauce, but comments beneath that review were notably less enthusiastic about the meat-to-skin ratio.

Texture Summary: The consensus is almost entirely preparation-dependent: cook them longer and hotter than you might instinctively stop. Reddit wing fans repeatedly recommend letting more fat render so the skin goes from chewy to genuinely crisp.

Warehouse instructions call for about 16 minutes at 390°F in an air fryer or 20–22 minutes at 425°F in a conventional oven.

Make It Better

1. Air fry rather than microwave.
2. Don’t overcrowd the basket.
3. Sauce only after the wings are fully crisp.
4. If the included Buffalo isn’t your favorite, several shoppers simply use their own sauce.

Perfect Pairings

• Celery and carrots.
• Ranch or blue cheese.
• Fries or potato wedges.

Final Verdict: BUY IF YOU LIKE BIG, MEATY-STYLE FROZEN WINGS: The value and convenience are excellent, but texture opinions are genuinely polarized. Air-fryer owners will get considerably more out of this bag than anyone looking for a quick microwave snack.

1. Costco Mini Pain au Chocolat Is a Dangerous Little Bakery Find

These miniature chocolate pastries looked almost too simple to get excited about, but after warming one up, I understood the appeal. They’re buttery, chocolatey, portionable and dangerously easy to keep reaching for—especially with coffee nearby.

Price: $9.99 for 20, or about 50 cents each.

Taste Test: The buttery croissant flavor comes first, followed by enough chocolate to make each bite feel indulgent without turning it into a sugar bomb. Early Costco creator feedback has been positive, including a 4/5 rating.

Texture Summary: Straight from the package, they’re softer than a bakery croissant. A quick warm-up makes a big difference, bringing back some flaky exterior texture while softening the chocolate inside.

Make It Better: I’d give these a few minutes in the air fryer or toaster oven rather than microwaving them. That crisp exterior is what takes them from packaged pastry to something that feels much fresher.

Perfect Pairings: Hot coffee, cappuccino, strawberries, raspberries or a simple brunch spread.

Final Verdict: BUY — At roughly 50 cents each, these are one of the easiest new Costco bakery items to recommend. Warm them before eating and they punch well above their price.

2. Sunshine Buns Cinnamon Rolls Make Breakfast Almost Too Easy

I’m usually skeptical of fully baked frozen cinnamon rolls because they can taste like reheated bread covered in icing. These get surprisingly close to the fresh-bakery experience, especially considering one bun goes from freezer to breakfast in under a minute.

Price: Around $14.99 for the Costco pack; pricing can vary by warehouse.

Taste Test: The cinnamon-sugar flavor is rich and the cream cheese frosting is generous enough to keep every bite sweet and creamy. One independent reviewer gave the flavor a 9/10 and called it best-in-category.

Texture Summary: Soft and tender rather than flaky. The one weakness is that the center isn’t as gooey as a freshly baked homemade cinnamon roll and can lean slightly dry.

Make It Better: Heat it until just warm and spread the frosting around while the bun is hot. For maximum indulgence, add a tiny pat of butter before reheating.

Perfect Pairings: Coffee, cold brew, berries, scrambled eggs or breakfast sausage if you want something savory alongside it.

Final Verdict: BUY — Convenience is the star here. It isn’t a six-hour homemade cinnamon roll, but for a freezer-to-plate option, the flavor is surprisingly convincing.

3. Jones Fallout Nuka-Cola Variety Pack Is Half Drink, Half Collectible

I went into this expecting the Fallout packaging to be more exciting than the actual soda, but the flavors make the pack interesting enough to stand on its own. Just know that you’re paying a definite premium for the experience.

Price: About $19.69 for 12 glass bottles.

Taste Test: Nuka-Cola Quantum brings berry-lemonade sweetness, Cranberry adds a sharper fruit profile, and Quartz goes in a smooth vanilla-cream direction. Previous Fallout releases have generated strong fan enthusiasm, although individual flavors can be polarizing.

Texture Summary: Classic Jones Soda—highly carbonated, sweet and crisp rather than syrupy-flat.

Make It Better: These absolutely need to be ice cold. I’d refrigerate them thoroughly rather than pouring them over lots of ice and diluting the flavor.

Perfect Pairings: Burgers, pizza, salty popcorn or a Fallout gaming night.

Final Verdict: BUY — Not the best soda value at Costco, but as a limited-edition food-and-collectible crossover, this is fun enough to justify the splurge for Fallout fans.

4. Costco Honey Sesame Chicken Stir Fry Is Convenient—but Watch the Portions

This new deli dinner immediately caught my attention because everything is already handled: chicken, noodles, vegetables and sauce. After looking at the tray, though, my biggest question wasn’t flavor—it was whether Costco’s suggested serving count is realistic.

Price: Around $22 per prepared tray, depending on weight.

Taste Test: This is built around familiar sweet-savory takeout flavors: breaded chicken coated in honey sesame sauce with noodles and vegetables underneath. It’s approachable rather than adventurous, which makes it especially family-friendly.

Texture Summary: The biggest risk is letting the breaded chicken become soft once it sits in sauce. The noodles and vegetables make it feel more substantial, but shoppers are already debating whether the tray truly feeds five.

Make It Better: I’d heat the chicken separately if possible, crisping it in an air fryer before tossing it with the sauce at the last minute.

Perfect Pairings: Costco vegetable spring rolls, steamed broccoli, fried rice or extra edamame.

Final Verdict: BUY — I like this as an easy weeknight dinner, but I’d realistically plan on three to four hearty servings rather than counting on five.

5. Columbus Flame Seared Chicken Breast Is the Meal-Prep Find I’d Keep Around

Sometimes Costco’s least flashy new foods end up being the most useful. This sliced flame-seared chicken isn’t going viral because of frosting or pumpkin spice, but it checks nearly every box for fast lunches and high-protein weeknight meals.

Price: About $8.99 per pound.

Taste Test: The seasoning stays relatively simple, allowing the roasted chicken flavor and light smoky char from the flame-seared exterior to come through rather than burying everything under sauce.

Texture Summary: It’s fully cooked sliced breast meat, so expect a firm, lean texture rather than juicy dark meat. Each 112-gram serving provides about 24 grams of protein.

Make It Better: Warm it briefly rather than reheating it aggressively. A little pesto, chimichurri or spicy mayo prevents lean breast meat from feeling dry.

Perfect Pairings: Caesar salad, wraps, avocado, rice bowls, pasta salad or toasted sourdough sandwiches.

Final Verdict: BUY — This is exactly the kind of Costco product I’d buy for convenience rather than novelty. It can turn into five completely different lunches without any real cooking.

6. Good Foods Chimichurri Might Become the Sauce I Put on Everything

A good chimichurri should taste fresh, sharp and herbaceous—not like oily green salad dressing. This one gets the important ingredients right, with parsley, cilantro, garlic, vinegar and chile creating a bright sauce that wakes up otherwise simple meals.

Price: About $9.49 for two 11-ounce containers.

Taste Test: I get bright herbs first, followed by garlic, acidity and a mild chile kick. It’s assertive enough for steak without overpowering chicken, fish or vegetables.

Texture Summary: Loose and spoonable with finely chopped herbs suspended in oil rather than completely pureed into a creamy sauce.

Make It Better: Let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes before serving and stir it thoroughly. Cold oil can mute both its aroma and flavor.

Perfect Pairings: Grilled flank steak is the obvious winner, but chicken thighs, shrimp, roasted potatoes, eggs and crusty bread all work. Even community recommendations immediately gravitate toward steak.

Final Verdict: BUY — Versatility wins here. I can think of enough uses for both containers that the Costco-size pack doesn’t feel excessive.

7. Joolies Watermelon Date Sours Taste Shockingly Close to Candy

I wasn’t sure dates and sour watermelon belonged together until I tried the combination. Somehow the naturally caramel-like chewiness of a date works with that bright sour-candy coating, creating something much more addictive than the ingredient list suggests.

Price: $14.89 for 16 ounces.

Taste Test: Watermelon candy flavor hits first, followed by a noticeable sour punch and then the deep natural sweetness of the date. Recent verified reviewers repeatedly compare them with actual sour candy.

Texture Summary: Very soft and chewy—nothing like the springy texture of a gummy. One minor complaint is that the sour coating can absorb moisture and clump together inside the bag.

Make It Better: I’d refrigerate the bag. The firmer, cooler texture makes them feel more candy-like and keeps the coating from becoming as sticky.

Perfect Pairings: Movie-night snack boards, nuts, sharp cheddar or simply something salty to balance the sweetness.

Final Verdict: BUY — These surprised me. If you like dates and sour candy, Costco may have found your newest dangerous snack.

8. Costco Pumpkin Cheesecake Is Rich, Creamy and Surprisingly Divisive

This isn’t just pumpkin pie filling poured over cheesecake. Costco has leaned into a lighter pumpkin mousse-style layer, which makes the enormous dessert easier to eat—but it’s also exactly why longtime cheesecake fans are divided.

Price: $21.99.

Taste Test: I get pumpkin and warm spice immediately, while the cheesecake tang sits farther in the background. Some shoppers love the lighter balance; others miss the dense, rich cheesecake flavor of previous versions.

Texture Summary: Much lighter and fluffier than a traditional New York cheesecake, with creamy pumpkin topping and a softer graham crust.

Make It Better: Serve it very cold. I’d also add toasted pecans or a little cinnamon on top to introduce some crunch.

Perfect Pairings: Coffee, espresso, bourbon-spiked whipped cream or plain vanilla ice cream.

Final Verdict: BUY — The sheer size and richness still make this a tremendous holiday dessert value, but traditional cheesecake purists should expect something lighter and more pumpkin-forward. Party-size feedback remains overwhelmingly positive.

9. Costco Pumpkin Streusel Muffins Are Back—and Worth Freezer Space

Costco’s giant muffins already blur the line between breakfast and dessert, and the pumpkin streusel version fully embraces it. What keeps these from becoming unbearably sweet is the warm pumpkin crumb hiding beneath that crunchy cinnamon topping.

Price: $6.99 for eight.

Taste Test: Pumpkin is present but not overpowering, while cinnamon, ginger and clove bring the fall flavor. Some shoppers actually wish the spice level were stronger, but most praise the balanced sweetness.

Texture Summary: Soft, moist interior with a crumbly, crunchy streusel cap—the contrast is really what sells these.

Make It Better: Freeze them individually and warm one when needed. Reddit shoppers specifically recommend freezing instead of refrigerating because the refrigerator can dry bakery muffins out.

Perfect Pairings: Hot coffee, chai, salted butter or cream cheese.

Final Verdict: BUY — At under a dollar per oversized muffin, this is one of Costco bakery’s easiest seasonal recommendations.

10. Costco’s $5.99 Pumpkin Pie Is Still the Ultimate Value Debate

Few Costco foods generate as much disagreement as this giant pumpkin pie. I love the price and classic spice profile, but anyone expecting a crisp pastry crust should understand why this inexpensive holiday icon also attracts plenty of criticism.

Price: $5.99.

Taste Test: Sweet pumpkin custard, cinnamon and familiar Thanksgiving spices make it instantly recognizable. At this price, the flavor-to-dollar ratio is almost impossible to argue with.

Texture Summary: This is where opinions split. The filling is very soft and custardy, and multiple blind tasters have criticized the pie for being wetter than competitors, with a comparatively soft crust.

Make It Better: Crisp individual slices in the oven and top them with lightly sweetened whipped cream. That little bit of heat helps the crust dramatically.

Perfect Pairings: Whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, coffee or pecans.

Final Verdict: BUY — I wouldn’t call it the best pumpkin pie in America, but at $5.99 for this much dessert, Costco still wins the value argument.

11. Costco Lattice Apple Pie Is Huge, Sweet and Best Served Warm

Costco’s apple pie looks like something meant for a dozen people, and the flavor is similarly oversized. I enjoyed the spiced apple filling, but this is one dessert where a little reheating makes the difference between good and excellent.

Price: About $12.99 for the giant bakery pie.

Taste Test: Apples, cinnamon and plenty of sugar create a classic American apple-pie profile. Some shoppers rave about firm juicy apples and buttery pastry, while others find the overall sweetness excessive.

Texture Summary: A good batch has firm apple pieces and flaky pastry, but the sealed packaging can allow the crust to soften considerably as it sits.

Make It Better: Warm slices in the air fryer or oven. Community feedback repeatedly says heating it up improves both the crust and overall experience.

Perfect Pairings: Vanilla bean ice cream, whipped cream, sharp cheddar or coffee.

Final Verdict: BUY — Too big for a small household, but for a gathering, the price and crowd-pleasing flavor are hard to beat.

12. Kinder’s Organic Teriyaki Sauce Is the Costco Sauce Fans Stockpile

I understand why people get nervous whenever Costco stops carrying this one. Kinder’s teriyaki is thicker and more intense than many supermarket versions, which means a small amount actually clings to chicken instead of disappearing into the pan.

Price: Around $5.99 for the larger bottle, with multipacks and promotional pricing varying by warehouse.

Taste Test: Sweet soy comes first, followed by ginger, sesame and savory depth. Costco shoppers describe it as thicker and more flavorful than several competing bottled teriyaki sauces.

Texture Summary: Noticeably thick and glaze-like rather than watery.

Make It Better: Brush it on toward the end of grilling or air frying. The sugars can burn if the sauce sits over intense heat for too long.

Perfect Pairings: Chicken thighs, wings, salmon, steak, broccoli, fried rice and stir-fried vegetables.

Final Verdict: BUY — When Reddit threads include people panicking about a sauce disappearing, that usually tells me enough. This is a pantry backup-worthy Costco item.

13. Costco’s Giant Old Bay Is for People Who Season Everything

Old Bay isn’t new, but seeing the big container back at Costco instantly makes sense if you actually use the stuff. The celery-salt-forward seafood seasoning can move surprisingly far beyond crab boils once you start experimenting with it.

Price: Roughly $9–$11 for the large container, depending on location.

Taste Test: Salty, savory and aromatic with celery seed, paprika and warming spice. It’s unmistakably Old Bay, so anyone sensitive to salty seasoning should use a lighter hand.

Texture Summary: Fine dry seasoning that coats fried food and vegetables especially well.

Make It Better: Don’t limit this to seafood. Costco and cooking communities recommend fries, roasted potatoes, popcorn, corn, cauliflower and even chicken.

Perfect Pairings: Shrimp boils, crab cakes, French fries, corn on the cob and Bloody Mary rims.

Final Verdict: BUY — If Old Bay is already in your regular rotation, Costco’s oversized container is exactly the kind of bulk purchase that makes sense.

14. Red’s Carne Asada Breakfast Burritos Sound Better Than They Taste

These looked like an easy freezer win: steak, eggs, potatoes, poblanos and pepper jack wrapped into one portable breakfast. Unfortunately, this is one case where the ingredient list sounds substantially better than the community experience.

Price: $17.99 for 10.

Taste Test: I wanted a distinct steak-and-pepper flavor, but the biggest recurring complaint is blandness. Shoppers describe the filling as underseasoned and too heavily dominated by egg, potato and tortilla.

Texture Summary: This is the real trouble spot. Reports of mushy filling, rubbery egg and inconsistent heating are common, and some cooking methods can either leave the center frozen or overcook the exterior.

Make It Better: Microwave briefly to thaw the center, then finish in the air fryer. Add salsa, hot sauce and avocado.

Perfect Pairings: Salsa verde, guacamole, pico de gallo or fresh fruit.

Final Verdict: SKIP — There are too many better Costco breakfast options for me to recommend buying ten of these at once.

15. Red’s Sausage, Egg & Cheese Bagel Sandwich Is a Better Breakfast Bet

Of Red’s latest Costco breakfast launches, this is the one I find easiest to understand: sausage, eggs, cheese and a proper bagel. There are fewer moving parts, and that simplicity works in its favor on rushed mornings.

Price: About $16.99 for eight.

Taste Test: Expect a savory breakfast-sandwich profile with pork sausage, egg, peppers, onion and melted cheese rather than anything particularly spicy or adventurous. The Bagelista bagel gives it more character than a generic English muffin.

Texture Summary: The success of this sandwich comes down to reheating. Microwave-only preparation risks a chewy bagel, while a crisping finish should give the exterior much better bite.

Make It Better: Microwave just enough to heat the center and then finish in an air fryer or toaster oven.

Perfect Pairings: Hot sauce, avocado, coffee or fresh berries.

Final Verdict: BUY — Early community volume is still limited, but this format makes more sense to me than Red’s mushier breakfast burritos.

16. Red’s Chicken Sausage & Egg Scramble Burrito Deserves a Second Look

I approached this cautiously after seeing complaints about some Red’s breakfast burritos, but the chicken sausage version has a better balance. Egg, potatoes, peppers, beans and cheese make this feel much closer to a complete breakfast.

Price: Around $15.99 for 10.

Taste Test: Chicken sausage brings savory seasoning without overwhelming the eggs, and the mixture of pepper jack, cheddar and American cheese adds enough richness to keep the filling interesting.

Texture Summary: Air frying makes the tortilla very crisp—almost chimichanga-like. One hands-on review found the filling balanced and satisfying despite minor bursting during cooking.

Make It Better: I’d microwave first and finish briefly in the air fryer instead of doing the entire long air-fryer cycle.

Perfect Pairings: Salsa verde, avocado, Cholula and fresh fruit.

Final Verdict: BUY — Of the Red’s breakfast burritos, this is the one I’d be happiest keeping in my freezer.

17. Red’s Steak Cilantro Lime Burrito Is Convenient but Inconsistent

Steak, black beans, rice, corn, cheddar and tomatillo sauce should be an easy win. When this burrito is good, it delivers exactly that satisfying Southwestern combination—but shopper reports suggest the quality of the steak can vary.

Price: $17.99 for 10.

Taste Test: The tomatillo, cilantro and lime brighten a filling that could otherwise be heavy. Positive reviewers praise the steak-forward flavor, while others have complained about gristly pieces of beef.

Texture Summary: Rice and beans give the filling more structure than the breakfast burritos, which helps avoid the completely mushy consistency.

Make It Better: Microwave for about a minute and then air fry until the tortilla is browned and crisp.

Perfect Pairings: Salsa verde, sour cream, guacamole or a crunchy cabbage slaw.

Final Verdict: BUY — I’d take the chance because the flavor combination is solid, but inconsistent steak quality keeps this from becoming a slam-dunk recommendation.

18. Once Upon a Farm Tractor Wheels Are a Smart Costco Lunchbox Buy

These aren’t meant to taste like dessert bars, and that’s exactly the point. The soft little oat wheels use fruits and vegetables for mild sweetness, making them much easier to justify as an everyday toddler snack.

Price: Normally around $13.59–$13.89 for 20, with current promotional pricing reaching about $9.59 at participating warehouses.

Taste Test: Apple, sweet potato and spinach is mild and naturally sweet, while strawberry, pumpkin and beet brings a slightly fruitier profile. Neither flavor is aggressively sugary.

Texture Summary: Soft-baked and tender rather than crunchy, specifically designed for younger eaters.

Make It Better: There really isn’t much hacking required. Pairing one with yogurt or nut/seed butter makes it more substantial.

Perfect Pairings: Yogurt, berries, cheese cubes or applesauce.

Final Verdict: BUY — Especially at the sale price, the individual packaging and simple ingredient approach make this an easy lunchbox stock-up.

19. Magic Spoon Protein Treats Almost Taste Like Childhood Cereal Bars

Protein snacks often make you choose between great macros and actually enjoying what you’re eating. These come remarkably close to familiar marshmallow cereal treats, although the distinctive high-protein formulation still won’t fool everyone.

Price: $19.99 for the 14-count Costco variety pack.

Taste Test: Marshmallow is the standout for me because it delivers the closest approximation to a classic crispy cereal bar. Chocolate Peanut Butter is richer and more dessert-like. Community opinion is mixed, but several protein-snack fans specifically favor Marshmallow.

Texture Summary: Crisp and chewy rather than dense like a traditional protein bar.

Make It Better: I like these better slightly chilled, especially the chocolate version.

Perfect Pairings: Greek yogurt, coffee or a piece of fruit.

Final Verdict: BUY — Expensive compared with ordinary cereal bars, but if protein is the point, the taste is far better than most products chasing the same macros. Large retail review samples are also strongly positive.

20. Crepini Vanilla Cottage Cheese Protein Pancakes Are Not Normal Pancakes

The biggest mistake I could make with these is expecting a fluffy diner pancake. Once I treated them more like a soft, protein-rich crepe, the entire product made more sense—and the nutrition-to-convenience tradeoff became much easier to appreciate.

Price: $12.99–$13.99 for 20, depending on warehouse.

Taste Test: Mild vanilla sits over a noticeable dairy tang from the cottage cheese and Greek-yogurt-style ingredients. Some shoppers love them; others immediately notice that tanginess.

Texture Summary: Polarizing. Some describe them as custardy or almost slippery, while a recent side-by-side comparison found Costco’s Crepini pancakes fluffier than Trader Joe’s comparable version.

Make It Better: Pan-sear them rather than microwaving. A little browning dramatically improves the exterior.

Perfect Pairings: Maple syrup, berries, Greek yogurt, jam or breakfast sausage.

Final Verdict: BUY — Buy them for convenient protein, not because you expect IHOP. With the right expectations and preparation, these work.

21. Crepini Chocolate Chip Protein Pancakes Make the High-Protein Version More Fun

The chocolate chip version takes the same cottage-cheese pancake concept and gives it just enough sweetness to feel like an actual treat. For me, that makes the unusual texture easier to overlook than with the plain version.

Price: Around $12.99 for 20.

Taste Test: Chocolate chips soften the dairy tang and give each pancake small pockets of sweetness without turning breakfast into dessert.

Texture Summary: These still have the soft, creamy, almost crepe-like consistency that divides Crepini shoppers. Don’t expect a dry, cakey boxed-mix pancake.

Make It Better: Pan-fry until lightly browned, then add a thin layer of peanut or almond butter.

Perfect Pairings: Banana slices, strawberries, Greek yogurt, peanut butter or coffee.

Final Verdict: BUY — If I were choosing between the two flavors, I’d start here. Chocolate helps bridge the gap between “protein food” and something I actually want for breakfast.

22. Mighty Spark Chicken Snack Sticks Are an Easy Desk-Drawer Protein Win

Costco sells plenty of beef sticks, so chicken immediately makes these more interesting. The lighter flavor works especially well with the teriyaki version, and individually wrapped one-ounce portions make this one of the easiest snacks on the list to actually use.

Price: About $12.79–$14.99 for 12, depending on region and promotion.

Taste Test: Original is straightforward sea salt and pepper, while Teriyaki brings brown-sugar sweetness, garlic and subtle tropical notes from pineapple and coconut ingredients.

Texture Summary: Softer and less aggressively chewy than many dried beef sticks.

Make It Better: Keep them at room temperature rather than eating them refrigerator-cold, which lets the seasoning come through more clearly.

Perfect Pairings: Cheese sticks, almonds, crackers, apples or lunchbox vegetables.

Final Verdict: BUY — Straightforward, portable and useful. Sometimes that’s all a Costco snack needs to be.

23. Honey Smoked Salmon Stackers Are Basically Adult Lunchables—in the Best Way

This was one of the easiest products on the list to understand after seeing how enthusiastically people talk about it. Smoked salmon, lemon-chive spread and crispy rice crackers turn a five-minute snack into something that feels surprisingly upscale.

Price: About $14.29 for four individual packs.

Taste Test: The salmon is smoky and salty, while the mild lemon-chive spread brings creaminess and just enough acidity. The combination has generated unusually enthusiastic Reddit feedback.

Texture Summary: Tender flaky salmon, smooth spread and crunchy crackers give every bite real contrast.

Make It Better: Lay out all the crackers first and divide the salmon and spread evenly. Multiple shoppers mention that the included cracker-to-topping ratio can feel slightly off.

Perfect Pairings: Cucumber, capers, everything-bagel seasoning and—according to one wildly popular Reddit thread—white wine.

Final Verdict: BUY — One of my strongest buys on the entire list. It feels like an actual little meal rather than another packaged snack.

24. FØRTE Chocolate Fudge Protein Bars Turn a Fudgesicle Into a Protein Snack

A frozen protein bar is a clever idea because cold chocolate already carries some of the texture people expect from a protein product. FØRTE keeps the ingredient list short while still delivering a legitimately dessert-like format.

Price: Around $14.99 at participating Costco warehouses.

Taste Test: Chocolate Fudge is designed around that nostalgic fudgesicle flavor: cocoa-forward, milky and sweet without relying on stevia, erythritol or allulose.

Texture Summary: Creamy frozen-dessert texture rather than the thick, chewy bite of a conventional protein bar.

Make It Better: Let it sit outside the freezer for two or three minutes. That slight softening should make the chocolate flavor and creamy texture much more pronounced.

Perfect Pairings: Espresso, strawberries or peanut butter.

Final Verdict: BUY — Community review volume is still developing because the product is new, but 10 grams of protein, eight ingredients and an actual frozen-dessert format make this worth trying.

25. Doughlicious Gelato Bites Might Be Costco’s Most Dangerous New Dessert

Cookie dough and gelato already sound like two desserts competing for my attention, so wrapping one around the other feels almost unfair. These bite-sized treats hit that sweet spot between rich enough to satisfy and small enough to justify grabbing another.

Price: $9.99 for 25 bites.

Taste Test: Vanilla gelato provides the cold creamy center while chocolate-chip cookie dough brings buttery sweetness and little bursts of chocolate. Early online reaction has been overwhelmingly enthusiastic.

Texture Summary: Soft, slightly chewy cookie dough outside with smooth frozen gelato inside—the temperature contrast is part of what makes them interesting.

Make It Better: Let them temper for a minute or two before eating. Straight-from-the-freezer cookie dough can be too firm.

Perfect Pairings: Coffee, strawberries or absolutely nothing—these are built to be eaten straight from the freezer.

Final Verdict: BUY — Easy call. The price, portion size and two-desserts-in-one format make this one of the most review-worthy Costco foods right now.

26. Costco Pumpkin Bar Cake Absolutely Screams Fall

If you want subtle pumpkin flavor, this probably isn’t your dessert. Costco went all-in with pumpkin-spice cake, pumpkin mousse and frosting, creating a 2.5-pound seasonal centerpiece that tastes exactly like something designed for sweater-weather excess.

Price: $16.99 for approximately 2.5 pounds.

Taste Test: Pumpkin, cinnamon and nutmeg run through the cake while the mousse adds sweetness and a softer pumpkin flavor. Early creator reaction has been extremely positive, including a widely shared 10/10 assessment.

Texture Summary: Moist sponge cake is the standout. The fluffy pumpkin mousse keeps the layers from becoming heavy despite the generous frosting.

Make It Better: Serve it properly chilled and add toasted pecans for crunch. The cake already has plenty of sweetness, so I wouldn’t add more sauce or whipped cream.

Perfect Pairings: Black coffee, espresso, chai or a glass of cold milk.

Final Verdict: BUY — This is exactly the kind of limited Costco bakery item I’d grab while I see it. Great texture, unmistakable fall flavor and enough cake for a crowd.

Sizzle or Fizzle? I Tried Costco’s Pre-Smashed Brisket Burgers

I fired up the grill and threw down Costco’s viral pre-smashed brisket burgers to see if they deliver on the hype. Here is my official taste-test review combined with insights straight from the food community!

Price: $27.23 for a multi-pack at Costco (though keep an eye out for the “asterisk of death” on price tags, as some members report seasonal clearance pricing).

Taste Test: Taking my first bite, the flavor profile lands somewhere between a fast-food classic and a rich backyard BBQ patty. The blend of brisket gives it a deeper, beefier base note than standard ground chuck, though it lacks heavy artificial smoke flavors. While lovers of traditional thick-and-juicy burgers find them a bit “blah” or akin to a elevated McDonald’s patty, those who enjoy a nostalgic, savory diner burger will love the rich, fatty taste.

Texture Summary: Because these patties are pre-flattened and thin, timing is everything. On my grill, they developed a decent crispy outer sear, but you have to be careful: cook them a minute too long and they quickly turn bone-dry and tough. When cooked fast on high heat, the edges give a nice light crunch, though they lack the lacy, paper-thin crispiness of a fresh Smashburger pressed live on a ripping-hot cast iron.

Make It Better

• The Onion Bed Method: Cook these directly on top of a heavy layer of sliced onions on a flat top or griddle to lock in moisture and steam flavor into the thin beef.

• Double-Stack with American Cheese: Since single patties are thin, stack two together with melted American cheese in between to mimic a proper double smash.

• Watch the Flare-Ups: The high fat content in the brisket blend means extra drippings—keep an eye on your grill grates to avoid burning your eyebrows!

Perfect Pairings

• Sauces: A tangy secret sauce (mayo, ketchup, relish, smoked paprika) to cut through the fatty beef profile.

• Sides: Classic crispy crinkle-cut fries, grilled corn on the cob, or a sharp, vinegar-based coleslaw.

• Toppings: Dill pickle chips, melted cheddar or American cheese, and toasted potato buns.

Final Verdict: Buy (With Conditions): BUY if you are looking for a quick, convenient weeknight meal, need gluten-free beef patties ready to throw straight onto a hot griddle, or love classic diner-style double cheeseburgers without the mess of smashing raw meat yourself.

SKIP if you prefer thick, medium-rare juicy pub burgers or want to hand-craft ultra-crispy smashed edges from scratch on a cast-iron skillet.

Taste Test: Is Costco’s Giant Jongga Kimchi Worth the Fridge Space?

I cracked open Costco’s iconic tub of Jongga Sliced Napa Cabbage Kimchi to see if this warehouse favorite lives up to the massive community hype—and whether it really gets better as it ages in your fridge!

Price:  $7.93 for a massive 52.9 oz (1.5 kg) tub at Costco. Compared to standard grocery stores charging $6 to $8 for a tiny 14 oz jar, this huge container is an unbeatable staple value.

Taste Test

• Fresh Stage: Out of the tub during its first few weeks, it hits you with a clean, vibrant garlic-chili kick, a light ginger bite, and a subtle savory umami base from fish sauce and salted shrimp. It’s mild-to-medium spicy with a pleasant, fresh acidity.

• Aged Stage: As active lactic acid fermentation continues past the “Best By” date, the taste deepens into a sharp, funky sourness with a distinctive effervescent “fizz” on the tongue. Community feedback confirms this isn’t spoiled—it’s live-fermented flavor gold that traditional Korean cooks actively crave for cooked dishes.

Texture Summary

• Young Cabbage: Sturdy, juicy, and refreshingly crunchy. The napa cabbage ribs hold a satisfying snap that makes it ideal for direct snacking or serving as a fresh banchan (side dish).

• Aged Cabbage: As months pass in the fridge, the cabbage slowly softens and turns slightly translucent. While less crunchy for raw eating, this tender texture melts beautifully into hot broths and frying pans.

Make It Better

• Keep It Submerged: Always use a clean fork or tongs to press the cabbage back under its brine after scooping. Keeping air out prevents surface discoloration or mold.

• Tame the Sourness: If older kimchi gets too tangy for raw eating, stir-fry it in a pan with a splash of sesame oil and a pinch of sugar to mellow out the sharp acid.

• Upgrade to Glass: If you plan on slow-aging a tub over several months, transfer it to glass Mason jars to maintain maximum freshness and prevent fridge odor transfer.

Perfect Pairings

• Classic Staples: Hot steamed jasmine rice, a fried egg with a runny yolk, crispy bacon or Spam, and grilled pork belly (samgyeopsal).

• Warm & Comforting: Maangchi-style Kimchi Jjigae (kimchi stew), Korean Army Stew (Budae Jjigae), or tossed directly into hot instant ramen or Costco frozen mandu (dumplings).

• Creative Hacks: Golden Kimchi Pajeon (savory pancakes), Kimchi Fried Rice, or layered inside a gooey grilled cheese sandwich.

Final Verdict: BUY! Jongga is South Korea’s #1 kimchi brand for a reason. At under $9 for nearly three pounds, it’s one of the best bargains in the entire grocery section. Even if you can’t finish it right away, kimchi never truly goes to waste—it simply transforms from a fresh, crunchy side dish into the ultimate secret ingredient for cozy stews, fried rice, and quick weeknight meals.

Taste Test: Costco’s Pre-Marinated Al Pastor Pork

I grabbed the pre-marinated Al Pastor pork from the meat case at Costco, tossed it on the skillet, and tested it out to see if it lives up to the hype or falls flat. Here is my honest taste test breakdown based on personal prep and community feedback.

Price: Approximately $7.99/lb (typically sold in twin-packs totaling around $15.00).

Taste Test: Taking my first bite, the flavor profile hits with a savory, pre-seasoned marinade that leans mild. If you are worried about heat, rest easy—this is not spicy at all, making it extremely family-friendly. However, keep in mind that the seasoning brings a heavy hit of salt (655mg or ~28.5% DV per 4oz serving). If you are sensitive to sodium, you will definitely notice it.

Texture Summary: The cut is marketed as diced, but in the pan, it behaves much more like a coarsely ground or heavily shredded pork. While the meat stays moist due to a high fat content, the texture is polarizing. Some bites offer juicy, fatty bits, but occasionally you might run into chewy or gristly pieces that throw off the mouthfeel.

Make It Better

• Crisp It Up: Don’t just warm it through. Cook it high and hot in a cast-iron skillet or air fryer to render out the excess fat and get nice, crispy, caramelized edges.

• Add Heat & Acid: Since the marinade lacks kick, toss in fresh red pepper flakes, diced jalapeños, or a splash of bright hot sauce while cooking.

• Sheet Pan “Oven Tacos”: Pre-cook the pork, toss in sautéed onions and black beans, stuff into oil-brushed corn tortillas with cheese, and bake at 425°F for 20 minutes (flipping halfway) for ultimate crunchy taco shells.

Perfect Pairings

• Sauces: Top with fresh guacamole, salsa verde, or a creamy avocado-sour cream drizzle to balance the high sodium.

• Sides: Serves brilliantly over cilantro-lime rice, wrapped in Don Pancho street taco tortillas, or loaded onto tortilla chips for baked nachos.

• Drink: Pair with a crisp Mexican lager, a chilled Paloma, or sparkling lime water to cut through the fatty richness.

Final Verdict: Skip (unless you want quick weeknight prep and don’t mind a higher fat/gristle ratio). While the convenience and flavor profile are decent for effortless street tacos, the inconsistent gristly texture and high sodium make it a mixed bag compared to fresh meat from your local Mexican market.

We Tried the Viral Organic Sweet Potato Sticks — Buy or Skip?

Few snacks in the grocery aisles divide shoppers quite like these single-ingredient organic sweet potato sticks. Are they an ultra-clean, nutrient-dense super-snack or glorified chew toys? I put my taste buds on the line to find out.

Price: $8.99 per bag (contains individually wrapped portion packs).

Taste Test: Opening the pouch, you get a very mild, earthy yam aroma. Tasting them directly, the natural sweetness is surprisingly muted compared to a fresh-baked sweet potato. While ultra-clean with zero added sugars or preservatives, many community members—and my own palate—found the flavor profile unexpectedly bland right out of the package.

Texture Summary: Dense, gummy, and aggressively sticky. The consistency feels remarkably similar to a heavy-duty vegetable licorice or thick fruit leather. It takes serious jaw work to chew, and it will stick to your molars.

Make It Better: Don’t eat them straight out of the bag! Pop them into the air fryer for 3–5 minutes to crisp up the sticky exterior into a pleasant crunch. Alternatively, roast them low and slow in the oven to dehydrate them further, or dusting them with brown sugar, cinnamon, and sea salt instantly elevates the flavor.

Perfect Pairings: Slice them up and mix into overnight oats, fold them into a crisp autumn salad with dates and walnuts, or serve alongside a dip of plain Greek yogurt drizzled with honey and cinnamon.

Final Verdict: Skip if you are looking for a quick, mouthwatering snack right out of the bag. However, it is a conditional Buy if you have air-fryer patience, need single-ingredient travel snacks for toddlers, or want an organic, clean reward for your dog!

We Tried Costco’s Summ! Bites Chicken Lumpia — Here’s the Verdict

I air-fried a batch of Costco’s Sumo Bites Chicken Lumpia to see if these viral bites live up to the hype or if you should leave them in the refrigerated aisle.

Price: $10.99 per pack (varies by warehouse location)

Taste Test: Straight out of the air fryer, the flavor profile hits closer to a standard Chinese vegetable spring roll than a traditional Filipino lumpia Shanghai. While the included sweet chili sauce gets high marks for saving the dish, the filling itself gets heavily criticized for being overly cabbage-forward and mild. Authentic lumpia fans generally find it too bland compared to homemade or traditional brands like Baguio.

Texture Summary: The outer shell crisps up nicely if baked or air-fried, but the interior filling leans mushy and soft rather than dense and savory.

Make It Better: Skip the oven and air-fry or deep-fry these to ensure maximum crunch. If the flavor feels lacking, toss them with extra garlic powder or swap the included packet for Mae Ploy Sweet Chili Sauce or a spicy vinegar dip (Suka).

Perfect Pairings: Pairs best with extra Mae Ploy dipping sauce, sriracha, a side of pancit, or steamed white rice to balance out the sweetness.

Final Verdict: Skip (unless you just want a quick, mild spring roll snack). If you are expecting authentic Filipino lumpia, your mom might disown you for buying these!

We Tried Costco’s Viral Egg Bites — Buy or Skip?

I popped these viral freezer-aisle egg bites into my kitchen to see if they live up to the hype—or if you should just make your own from scratch.

Price: Around $8.00 to $12.00 per bulk box at Costco (varies by sales and warehouse locations, though some shoppers refuse to pay over $8).

Taste Test: The flavor profile divides the room! While convenient, many find them surprisingly bland, one-note, or tasting a bit too heavily like “old broccoli” and zucchini. However, fans appreciate them as a mild, savory, and quick morning protein option that toddlers and busy adults love alike.

Texture Summary: Texture completely depends on how you cook them. Microwaving leaves them soft, slightly spongy, or even unpleasantly moist (“wet cardboard” according to harsh critics), whereas air-frying gives them a crisp exterior while keeping the center tender.

Make It Better: Skip the standard oven instructions. Use the hybrid cooking hack: microwave for 60 seconds to thaw the center quickly, then air-fry for 3–4 minutes to crisp up the edges. Top with extra shredded cheese, hot sauce, or fresh salsa to kick up the muted flavor.

Perfect Pairings: Pairs wonderfully alongside Amylu chicken sausages, a hot cup of coffee, a bowl of oatmeal, or chopped up and scrambled directly into fresh eggs for a quick breakfast burrito.

Final Verdict: Buy for convenience when you need a 2-minute weekday breakfast rush, but Skip if you are sensitive to seed oils (canola oil is a major ingredient debate) or prefer cooking your own fresh egg muffins at home for a fraction of the cost.

Is Costco’s Seafood Boil Worth the Hype?

I finally picked up Costco’s pre-packaged seafood boil to see if it’s a genuine shortcut to a backyard feast or just an overpriced tray of potatoes. After testing it in my own kitchen, here is the honest truth.

Price: Approximately $11.99/lb, which typically lands you between $50 and $60 per tray. It’s an investment, especially considering you’re paying seafood prices for corn and potatoes.

Taste Test: It effectively satisfies that specific “Cajun boil” craving, but don’t expect “fresh-off-the-boat” quality. The seasoning is potent and hits the right notes, though some users report it can lean salty or have a distinct “fishy” aroma if not handled correctly. It’s a fun, indulgent experience for a quick family night, but seasoned seafood lovers might find the depth of flavor lacking compared to a from-scratch boil.

Texture Summary: This is where the product is most polarizing. Because the seafood is pre-cooked, it’s a texture minefield. If you dump everything into boiling water like the box suggests, you’re likely to end up with rubbery, overcooked shellfish. The vegetables usually hold up better, but the protein needs to be handled with extreme care.

Make It Better:

• Ditch the Boil: Forget the instructions to boil everything. Use a steamer basket to reheat the components gently.

• Stagger the Heat: If you aren’t steaming, add your seafood in the final 2–3 minutes. It’s already cooked; you’re just warming it through.

• The Butter Hack: The tray is often “sauceless.” Melt your own high-quality butter with minced garlic, extra Old Bay, and a squeeze of fresh lemon to toss everything in right before serving.

Perfect Pairings: Keep it simple and classic: cold lemonade or sweet tea, crisp light beer, and extra wedges of lemon for acidity to cut through the saltiness. A side of crusty bread to soak up that garlic butter is non-negotiable.

Final Verdict: Buy if you value your time over your budget. If you’re a busy parent or hosting a last-minute get-together, the convenience of having everything prepped and seasoned in one tray is a lifesaver. Skip if you are a purist. If you have the time to hit the seafood counter and prep your own, you will save money, get better quality, and avoid the rubbery seafood trap.

Kirkland Signature Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: The Great Costco Comeback Review

The warehouse favorite is finally back on shelves, but the internet is buzzing over ingredient tweaks and new labeling. I grabbed a bag to test if these bulk baking chips still deliver rich chocolate magic in your kitchen.

Price: $13.99 for a 4.5 lb (72 oz) bag (approx. $0.19/oz) — an unbeatable value for bulk bakers when compared to standard supermarket options like Nestlé Toll House or Ghirardelli.

Taste Test: Tasted straight from the bag, these chips hit you with a rich, comforting cocoa aroma followed by a well-balanced semi-sweet flavor—deep enough to feel indulgent without being overly bitter or sugary. While recent community debates highlight the addition of soy lecithin and refined sugar beet derivatives (triggering new bioengineered labeling requirements), the actual taste test proves the core chocolate flavor remains robust, satisfying, and noticeably richer than basic store-brand morsels.

Texture Summary: Firm with a crisp snap at room temperature. When baked into cookies or muffins, they hold their structural shape exceptionally well without turning into a messy run. However, during double-boiler melting tests, the texture is slightly thicker and denser than pure cocoa-butter chocolate due to emulsifiers. It melts fully, but requires a bit more effort to achieve a fluid liquid state for dipping.

Make It Better

• The Smooth Melt Hack: When melting chips for drizzling or candy coating, stir in 1/2 teaspoon of coconut oil or butter per cup of chocolate chips to loosen the viscosity and create a glossy, silky sheen.

• The Bakery Puddle Technique: For those Instagram-worthy melty pools of chocolate in your cookies, combine these structured chips 50/50 with hand-chopped dark chocolate bars (like Trader Joe’s Pound Plus).

Perfect Pairings

• Baking Staples: Thick chocolate chip cookies, banana nut bread, and rich fudgy brownies.

• Breakfast & Snacks: Folded into warm pancake or waffle batter, mixed into morning oats, or tossed with almonds and dried cranberries for a quick trail mix.

• Sips: A hot cup of dark roast coffee, an espresso, or melted directly into warm milk for an easy hot cocoa.

Final Verdict: BUY. If you want a dependable, budget-friendly workhorse chocolate chip for everyday baking, pancakes, and snacking, this giant bag is a staple for your pantry. However, if you strictly avoid soy emulsifiers, require allergen/dairy-free chips (like the retired “blue bag” formula), or need untamed silky-smooth dipping chocolate without adding extra oil, you may want to stick to specialized premium bars.

We Tried Costco’s Viral Sprouted Oats — Here’s Our Verdict

I pulled a steaming bowl of One Degree Organic Sprouted Rolled Oats fresh off my stovetop to see if Costco’s viral, glyphosate-free cult favorite lives up to the massive community hype or if it’s just over-processed hype.

Price: $12.47 for a massive 5 lb (80 oz) bag at Costco (prices vary by location).

Taste Test: Tasting these side-by-side with standard supermarket brands, the difference is immediate. These oats deliver an authentically fresh, deeply nutty, and slightly toasted flavor profile without any stale or cardboard-like aftertaste. Clean-eating shoppers and health-conscious home cooks celebrate them because they are 100% certified glyphosate-free, non-GMO, and organic. You get robust, real grain flavor rather than just a bland vehicle for brown sugar.

Texture Summary: Expect a substantial, hearty chew rather than a bowl of slimy mush. Because these whole oats are sprouted and minimally processed, they retain their structural integrity through cooking. If you are accustomed to instant, micro-milled quick oats, the dense bite might surprise you at first; however, for texture lovers, it eats almost like tender farro or brown rice.

Make It Better:

• The Low-and-Slow Stove Cook: Skip the 2-minute microwave rush. Simmer with a splash of extra liquid for 12 to 15 minutes on low heat, then cover and let steam off the burner for 5 minutes to soften the grain while preserving its hearty bite.

• The Blender Quick-Oat Hack: Pulse a few cups in your food processor for 10 seconds to break down the dense whole hulls into instant-style oats, or blend completely to make clean oat flour for waffles, protein pancakes, and muffins.

• Hands-Off Pressure Cooking: Run them through an Instant Pot on high pressure for 2 minutes with a natural release, or pop them into a basic rice cooker for a creamy, effortless morning bowl.

• Overnight Oats Prep: When soaking cold in almond or soy milk, add a tablespoon of chia seeds and allow a full 8 to 10 hours in the fridge so the sprouted grains fully hydrate.

Perfect Pairings:

• Sweet & Creamy: Drizzle with raw honey or pure maple syrup, then top with fresh blueberries, sliced peaches, toasted pecans, and a dollop of vanilla Greek yogurt.

• Savory “Hen’s Nest”: Spoon warm oats into a shallow bowl and top with two soft-boiled eggs, sea salt, cracked black pepper, and a light drizzle of chili oil.

• Baking & Snack Prep: Dry-roast them on a sheet pan for sourdough discard granola, fold into oatmeal raisin cookies, or roll with peanut butter, flaxseed, and mini chocolate chips for no-bake energy bites.

Final Verdict: BUY! If you prioritize clean, glyphosate-free ingredients, gut-friendly sprouted grains, and a rich, toothsome texture, this jumbo Costco bag is an absolute pantry essential. Just adjust your cooking timer, and you will never go back to industrial mush again.

Urban Pie Pinzza (Roman Style)

I finally grabbed a box of the Urban Pie Pinzza Roman-Style pizza from Costco to see if the hype around the Roman-style crust is real. After testing this at home, here is my honest breakdown on whether this frozen staple deserves a permanent spot in your freezer.

Price: $12.99 for a 2-pack (approx. $6.50 per pizza). This is a strong value proposition compared to takeout or high-end artisan frozen brands.

Taste Test: The standout feature is undoubtedly the San Marzano tomato sauce—it has a bright, authentic acidity that prevents the pizza from tasting like generic cafeteria food. The mozzarella is decent, though the standard cheese-to-sauce ratio leans toward the lighter side, which some shoppers find refreshing and others find underwhelming.

Texture Summary: This is where the product shines. Unlike standard frozen thin-crusts that turn into crackers, the “Pinzza” crust is airy and focaccia-like. It gets a satisfying crunch on the bottom while remaining soft and bubbly in the center. It is not dry, but it does lack the chew of fresh sourdough.

Make It Better: The consensus from the community is to “doctor it up.” Since the base is light, it acts as a perfect canvas. Add fresh mozzarella pearls or torn basil post-bake for a fresh lift. For a savory kick, drizzle hot honey or extra virgin olive oil over the crust edges right out of the oven. If you prefer more protein, layer on pre-cooked prosciutto or extra pepperoni before the final two minutes of baking.

Perfect Pairings: Because of the airy crust and acidic sauce, this pairs perfectly with a crisp arugula and shaved parmesan salad topped with lemon vinaigrette. If you are drinking, a medium-bodied red wine like a Chianti or a chilled Sangiovese cuts through the dough perfectly.

Final Verdict: Buy. If you value a high-quality, airy crust over a heavy, loaded topping situation, this is one of the best frozen options currently at Costco.

Is Kirkland Signature Salted Sweet Cream Butter Worth the Hype?

If you’re tired of overpaying for fancy imported butter but refuse to compromise on kitchen quality, this Kirkland staple is your new fridge essential. I put this bulk-buy block to the test to see if it truly stacks up.

Price: ~$10.89 for a 1.81 kg (4 lb) box. At roughly $2.72 per pound, this is widely considered one of the best value-per-dollar grocery items in the Costco dairy aisle.

Taste Test: Let’s clear the air: “Sweet Cream” is industry jargon for fresh cream—it contains zero added sugar. In my testing, it provides a clean, reliable, and classic buttery flavor. It lacks the complex, grassy “funk” of the Kirkland New Zealand Grass-Fed butter, but it’s a perfectly balanced, standard salted butter that doesn’t taste artificial or waxy.

Texture Summary: Out of the fridge, it’s firm and easy to slice. At room temperature, it spreads smoothly on toast. However, observant home bakers on Reddit have noted that this version can have a slightly higher water content than premium European brands (like Kerrygold), which can occasionally affect delicate pastry crusts or cookie spreads.

Make It Better: Don’t use this for your most temperamental French pastries where water-to-fat ratios are critical. The Hack: Use this for high-volume cooking, searing steaks, or sautéing vegetables. If you need a deeper flavor for finishing a dish, melt it down and whisk in a splash of heavy cream or a dash of high-quality finishing salt to “upgrade” it instantly.

Perfect Pairings: This is your everyday workhorse. It shines best on warm sourdough toast, stirred into a big pot of mashed potatoes, or melted over steamed corn. It’s the ideal companion for savory, garlic-heavy dishes where the butter acts as the fat carrier rather than the star of the show.

Final Verdict: Buy If you are looking for an affordable, high-quality butter for daily family cooking, buy it without hesitation. While it may not dethrone the Kirkland Grass-Fed gold-standard for a cheese board or delicate holiday baking, it is an unbeatable pantry staple for the price.

Kirkland Signature Tonkotsu Ramen Broth Review

I recently picked up the Kirkland Signature Tonkotsu Pork Ramen Broth to see if it lives up to the warehouse hype. We all know that authentic tonkotsu requires a twelve-hour simmer, so I approached this shelf-stable carton as a base for a quick weeknight meal rather than a replacement for a dedicated ramen shop. Here is my breakdown of whether this belongs in your pantry.

Price Typically retails for $18.99 for a four-pack of 32oz cartons (pricing varies by region). This breaks down to roughly $2.00 per carton, making it a highly economical base for multiple meals.

Taste Test Out of the carton, the flavor profile is savory, pork-forward, and moderately salty. It captures the essence of a creamy pork broth, though it lacks the complex depth and umami punch you get from a long-simmered bone broth. It serves as a neutral, reliable canvas—it is pleasant but undeniably requires additional seasoning to reach restaurant quality.

Texture Summary The mouthfeel is surprisingly rich and opaque, providing that signature “milky” appearance associated with tonkotsu. It is thicker than standard chicken or vegetable stocks, coating the noodles well, though it remains slightly thinner than a true collagen-heavy ramen shop broth.

Make It Better The consensus among online communities is clear: do not eat this straight from the carton. Use these adjustments to elevate the bowl:

• Aromatics: Sauté minced garlic, ginger, and white parts of scallions in sesame oil before adding the broth to the pot.

• Umami Boost: Stir in a tablespoon of white miso paste or a splash of soy sauce/mirin for added depth.

• Heat: Add a generous spoonful of chili crisp or rayu (Japanese chili oil) right before serving.

• Fat: A small knob of butter stirred into the hot broth adds a silky richness that mimics higher-end restaurant broths.

Perfect Pairings

• Noodles: Works best with fresh refrigerated ramen noodles, but also serves as a massive upgrade for standard instant ramen blocks.

• Proteins: Thinly sliced pork belly (chashu), soft-boiled marinated eggs (ajitsuke tamago), or frozen gyoza/dumplings.

• Vegetables: Baby bok choy, blanched spinach, bean sprouts, or bamboo shoots (menma).

• Toppings: Nori sheets, toasted sesame seeds, and plenty of sliced green onions.

Final Verdict: Buy this as a high-convenience pantry staple. It is not a substitute for a bowl from a specialty ramen shop, but for a quick, under-15-minute meal at home, it is one of the best shelf-stable bases on the market. It offers immense value for the price and serves as the perfect foundation for customizing your own ramen bowls.

Costco’s Grass-Fed Beef Sticks: The Chomps Killer?

I finally picked up a pack of the Kirkland Signature Grass-Fed Beef Sticks to see if they live up to the hype on the r/Costco subreddit. These are currently trending as a must-have pantry staple, offering a high-protein, zero-sugar alternative to premium brands like Chomps at a fraction of the cost.

Price: $14.99. Depending on your local warehouse, a 12-count pack averages out to roughly $1.10 per stick. When compared to name-brand competitors that often retail for $2.00 or more per unit, the value here is undeniable.

Taste Test The flavor profile is surprisingly robust. It leans heavily into a smoky, savory profile that tastes like actual beef rather than a processed meat product. While most reviewers agree the seasoning is spot on, a vocal minority noted an initial “waxy” or chemical taste from the casing. Once you get past the first bite, the flavor profile balances out into a clean, salty, and satisfying meat snack.

Texture Summary This is the most polarizing aspect of the product. If you are expecting the soft, uniform texture of a standard Slim Jim or the tender bite of Chomps, you might be surprised. These sticks are noticeably firmer and dryer, offering a chew closer to traditional beef jerky. Some users love the rugged texture, while others argue it feels tough or “shoe leather” chewy.

Make It Better

• The Quick Char: If the texture is too firm, a quick 10-second pass in an air fryer or a warm skillet softens the casing and releases the fats for a better mouthfeel.

• Slice and Dice: Don’t eat it whole. Slice these into coins and toss them into a salad or use them as a protein-packed topping for homemade pizza.

• Pairing Balance: Because they are salty and dry, eat them alongside something with moisture, like a crisp apple slice or a mild string cheese.

Perfect Pairings

• Snack Boards: Pair with aged sharp cheddar or gouda to cut through the smokiness.

• Beverages: They serve as an excellent savory companion to a crisp pale ale or a bold red wine.

• Travel: Keep these in your glove box or carry-on; they are shelf-stable and hold up well in various temperatures.

Final Verdict: Buy. If you prioritize a clean ingredient list and value over a soft texture, these are a clear win. They are arguably the best value-per-ounce for keto-friendly snacks at Costco right now. However, if you have sensitive teeth or prefer a softer, “snap” style stick, you should stick to your usual brand.

Is Costco Pesto Pasta Salad Worth the Hype?

I grabbed a large tub of the Kirkland Signature Italian Pesto Pasta Salad from the deli section to test if it lives up to the social media craze. Is this the ultimate potluck shortcut or just another oily pasta bowl? Here is my take on this warehouse staple.

Price $3.28 per pound. Pricing varies by region and container size, but it remains one of the most cost-effective deli sides available.

Taste Test The flavor profile is heavy on basil and garlic, which is exactly what you expect from a mass-market pesto. Online feedback from Reddit users is largely positive, though many note that it can be salt-forward. If you are a fan of traditional Genova-style pesto, you will find this familiar and satisfying, though it lacks the nuance of a fresh, homemade blend.

Texture Summary The rotini noodles are excellent at holding the thick sauce, preventing that “bottom-of-the-bowl” puddle effect. The mozzarella pearls are a highlight, offering a fresh, creamy contrast to the dense pasta. One warning: if the salad has been refrigerated for several days, the olive oil base may thicken or solidify. Let it sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before serving to restore the intended texture.

Make It Better The community consensus on platforms like AllRecipes and Tasting Table is clear: this salad is a “base” rather than a finished dish. To elevate it:

• Add fresh cherry tomatoes or sun-dried tomatoes to cut through the richness with acidity.

• Toss in grilled chicken or chickpeas to turn a side dish into a complete high-protein meal.

• Squeeze half a fresh lemon over the top immediately before serving to brighten the herbaceous notes of the pesto.

• Add toasted pine nuts or sunflower seeds for a necessary crunch.

Perfect Pairings This salad is designed for outdoor dining. It pairs beautifully with grilled Italian sausages, balsamic-glazed flank steak, or simple lemon-herb grilled chicken. If serving with wine, choose a crisp Sauvignon Blanc or a dry Pinot Grigio to balance the oily pesto.

Final Verdict Buy. It is a reliable, high-value crowd-pleaser that saves hours of prep time. While it may not replace a scratch-made Italian recipe, it is arguably the best “quick fix” pasta salad you can buy at a warehouse store today.

Costco’s “Secret” Shortcut: Sukhi’s Chicken Tikka Masala

Skip the takeout delivery fees and long wait times—this refrigerated staple from the deli aisle brings authentic, creamy comfort to your table in under 15 minutes flat.

I grabbed a 36 oz pack of Sukhi’s Chicken Tikka Masala from my local US Costco for a quick weeknight test. This fully cooked, refrigerated Indian favorite promised restaurant-style creamy tomato curry with tender chicken — all ready in under 15 minutes. Here’s my hands-on review as your go-to Costco taste tester.

Price: $18.15. A solid deal for 36 oz (two pouches) that easily serves 4–5 people — roughly $3–4 per generous serving. Way cheaper than takeout delivery for the family.

Taste Test: The sauce delivers a rich, creamy tomato base with warm spices (cumin, garam masala vibes) and a subtle sweetness. It’s mild on heat — perfect for kids or spice-sensitive eaters — but still has that comforting Indian curry depth. Chicken is flavorful and soaks up the sauce well. Many on Reddit and YouTube call it “takeout-quality for a fraction of the price,” though some note it leans sweeter than traditional versions. I found it satisfying and aromatic right out of the pouch.

Texture Summary: Chicken pieces are mostly tender and juicy (80–90% win), though a few can feel slightly firmer or uneven — typical for pre-cooked deli meals. The sauce is luxuriously creamy and coats everything beautifully without being watery or overly thick. No mushiness, just comforting curry texture.

Make It Better (Crowdsourced Hacks):

• Sauté fresh onions, garlic, and a pinch of extra garam masala or chili flakes before adding the pouches for deeper flavor.
• Stir in a splash of heavy cream or coconut milk for extra richness.
• Add frozen peas, spinach, or bell peppers in the last few minutes for veggies and balance (a Reddit favorite).
• Finish with fresh cilantro and a squeeze of lemon to brighten it up.

Perfect Pairings:

• Sides: Steamed basmati rice, warm naan or Costco garlic naan, cucumber raita, or a simple green salad.
• Drinks: Light lager beer, mango lassi, or a crisp white wine (Pinot Grigio works great).
• Great for meal prep — leftovers taste even better the next day.

Final Verdict: BUY Sukhi’s Chicken Tikka Masala is a winner for busy nights when you crave Indian food without the effort. It’s convenient, tasty, and a great value — I’ll definitely restock it. Not 100% restaurant-authentic, but close enough to hit the spot and save money. Perfect for families or quick lunches. Grab it on your next Costco run!

The Kirkland Signature Parmesan & Cracked Black Pepper Chicken Sausage: Expert Review

I picked up these new Kirkland Signature Parmesan & Cracked Black Pepper Chicken Sausages at Costco to see if they truly live up to the hype. Are they a new weeknight staple or just another freezer filler? Let’s dive in.

Price: $14.74: You get 18 sausages in a pack, bringing the cost to roughly $0.72 per link. This is a massive value compared to name-brand organic sausages found at traditional grocery stores, which often retail for $6.00 to $8.00 for a pack of four.

Taste Test: The flavor profile is savory and approachable. You definitely get the promised “cracked black pepper” kick, which adds a nice warmth, but the Parmesan is quite subtle—don’t expect a cheesy explosion in every bite. It has a clean, classic sausage taste without that overwhelming “processed” aftertaste found in cheaper alternatives.

Texture Summary: This is the main point of contention. While the filling is juicy and well-seasoned, the casing is notoriously thick and “snappy.” If you throw them directly on a high-heat grill, the skin can turn rubbery and tough, making it difficult to cut through.

Make It Better: The online consensus is unanimous: do not grill them dry. To fix the casing issue, follow this simple preparation method to ensure a tender bite every time:

Perfect Pairings: Because these are mild and versatile, they work across several meal types:

• Dinner: Sliced into a creamy Alfredo or tossed with roasted bell peppers and onions.

• Breakfast: Chopped into a scramble with kale, feta, and cherry tomatoes.

• Sides: Serve alongside a tangy German-style potato salad or a sharp arugula salad with a lemon vinaigrette to cut through the saltiness.

• Condiments: A high-quality Dijon or spicy brown mustard is essential here.

Final Verdict: Buy: These are a solid, protein-packed (14g per link) convenience food. While they aren’t perfect right out of the package due to the tough casing, the “steam-then-sear” method turns them into a restaurant-quality protein for under a dollar per serving. They are a great staple for busy households looking for a quick, gluten-free, and no-sugar-added dinner option.

Costco Just Dropped Fishwife Tinned Tuna at Half the DTC Price — Is It Actually Worth It?

Price: $16.45 / 3-pack of Fishwife Albacore in Spanish Olive Oil with Lemon (Prices vary by warehouse; this is roughly half what the same 3-pack costs on Fishwife.com.)

Taste Test: The hype on this cult tinned-fish brand is real. The albacore is silky, mild, and slightly buttery from the Spanish olive oil — nothing like the mealy, fishy water-packed stuff most of us grew up on. The lemon is restrained, more aroma than acid, which lets the fish actually taste like itself.

Texture Summary: Big, intact flakes that hold their shape when you fork them out. The oil is rich but doesn’t feel greasy. This is the texture you want for a quick salad or a girl-dinner cracker plate.

Make It Better: The pro-move is to drain off about a third of the oil, then fold the rest of the tuna into a soft-boiled egg with capers and crusty bread. Or pile it on a Triscuit with a few drops of Mike’s Hot Honey and you’ve got a 30-second appetizer.

Perfect Pairings: A chilled glass of Albariño or a dry Provence rosé is the natural call. For a snack pairing, lay it next to Castelvetrano olives, pickled red onion, and a wedge of aged Manchego.

Final Verdict: BUY — A genuine 9.5/10. Costco saves you about $15 over buying it direct from Fishwife — same product, same quality. Alton Brown publicly called this brand one of his favorite things, and after this week I get it.

Lindt Lindor Ice Cream Truffles Finally Hit the Costco Freezer — Are They Worth the Trip?

Price: $16.99 / 21.2 oz bag of Lindt Lindor Ice Cream Truffles (Assorted flavors — usually a mix of milk chocolate, dark, and a fudge swirl.)

Taste Test: These are exactly what they sound like — the classic Lindor melt-in-your-mouth chocolate shell, but with a creamy ice-cream center instead of the soft ganache. The milk-chocolate one tastes most like the original; the fudge swirl is the standout, with ribbons of softer chocolate running through.

Texture Summary: The shell stays cleanly cracky straight from the freezer. The ice cream inside is dense and slow-melting — closer to gelato than soft-serve. No icy crystals, no chalky aftertaste.

Make It Better: Let them sit on the counter for exactly 90 seconds before eating — that’s the sweet spot where the shell is still snappy but the inside is starting to soften. For entertaining, toss a handful into a chilled coupe glass and pour an espresso shot over them. Instant affogato.

Perfect Pairings: A small glass of Tawny Port, Pedro Ximénez sherry, or even a Stout beer if you want to go that direction. For coffee, a French press or a slow pour-over.

Final Verdict: BUY — A solid 9/10. The first U.S. ice-cream drop from Lindor, and Costco got it exclusively. If you have grandkids visiting or guests this weekend, grab two bags.

Kinder Bueno Hazelnut Cones Are Finally Here — And They Taste Exactly Like the Candy Bar

Price: $11.34 / 10-pack (30.4 fl oz total) of Kinder Bueno Hazelnut Cones

Taste Test: If you’ve eaten a Kinder Bueno bar, you already know what to expect — that signature roasted-hazelnut and milk-chocolate combo, wrapped around a vanilla soft-serve. The hazelnut filling in the middle of the cone is genuinely creamy, not sandy or grainy like some imitators.

Texture Summary: The wafer cone stays crisp from end to end, which is the hardest part to nail in a frozen treat. The chocolate coating on top has just enough thickness to crack with a spoon but not so much it dominates the bite.

Make It Better: Hit the top with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt before serving. It cuts the sweetness and makes the hazelnut taste more roasted. For a dessert plate, pair with a tiny espresso shot or a single strawberry.

Perfect Pairings: Espresso, cappuccino, or a dessert coffee. If you want alcohol, a small pour of Frangelico or hazelnut liqueur on the side is the move.

Final Verdict: BUY — 9.5/10. This is Kinder Bueno’s first U.S. frozen launch and Costco landed it before anyone else. Members are clearing the freezer case on these — don’t walk past.

Kirkland Signature Broccoli Beef Is the New $6.99/lb Takeout-Killer — Here’s the Verdict

Price: $4.05 per pound from the refrigerated prepared-foods case (a typical container runs about 4 lbs / $28, enough to feed 4-6 people.)

Taste Test: The beef is the surprise here — wonderfully tender, sliced thin, and seared with real wok-flavor. Not a chewy piece in the batch I tested. The sauce is balanced rather than candy-sweet, with a clean soy-and-ginger backbone. Broccoli is crisp-tender, not the limp, over-steamed version some Costco prepared items have suffered from.

Texture Summary: This is the texture story Costco needed. Beef slices are uniform, broccoli florets are intact, and the sauce coats without pooling at the bottom. The whole tray reheats in 10 minutes without turning gluey.

Make It Better: Serve over jasmine rice with a soft-boiled egg cut in half on top, and add a quick drizzle of toasted sesame oil and a sprinkle of scallions. That single move turns it from prepared-foods dinner into something that feels homemade.

Perfect Pairings: A cold lager, an off-dry Riesling, or unsweetened iced jasmine tea. If you’re going Eastern, sake works.

Final Verdict: BUY — 9/10 with a sodium asterisk. One serving runs about 2,740 mg of sodium, so don’t make this a daily dinner. But as a once-a-week weeknight rescue at $6.99/lb, it beats every Panda Express container.

Olipop’s New Spring Variety Pack Lands at Costco — But Only One of Three Flavors Actually Earns the Hype

Price: $23.99 / 15-can Olipop Spring Variety Pack (Shirley Temple, Raspberry Sherbet, and Strawberry Vanilla — 5 cans each.)

Taste Test: Raspberry Sherbet is the only one that lands cleanly. Tart, creamy, a little bit nostalgic — this is the one to drink chilled on the patio. Shirley Temple is fine but tastes more like cherry-syrup-on-soda-water than the cocktail it’s named for. Strawberry Vanilla is the safest of the three but the least interesting — muted strawberry, no real vanilla bite.

Texture Summary: Standard Olipop carbonation — gentle fizz, not aggressive. The prebiotic fiber gives every flavor a slightly thicker mouthfeel than a normal soda, which most members will read as “creamy” and a few will read as “weird.” It grows on you.

Make It Better: For grown-up entertaining, pour Raspberry Sherbet over crushed ice with a splash of prosecco and a fresh raspberry on top. Skip the Strawberry Vanilla unless you have kids in the house.

Perfect Pairings: These are designed to drink solo, but Raspberry Sherbet works as the alcohol-free option at a brunch table next to mimosas. Goes with grilled chicken or a green salad.

Final Verdict: MAYBE — 7/10 as a pack, 9/10 if all three cans were Raspberry Sherbet. Worth the $19.99 if you can convince a coworker to take 10 of the other cans off your hands.

JonnyPops Organic Rainbow Fruit Stacks Are Back at Costco — And $3.50 Off This Month

Price: $8.99 / 18-count box of JonnyPops Organic Rainbow Fruit Stacks (regular $12.49; $3.50 instant savings runs May 11–June 7, in the current Costco coupon book.)

Taste Test: Six layers of real fruit puree per pop — strawberry, orange, pineapple, lime, blueberry, grape. No artificial dyes, no high-fructose corn syrup, no dairy. Each layer tastes like the fruit it came from, which is the bar most multi-flavor pops fail to clear.

Texture Summary: Smooth, dense, and creamier than typical fruit pops because they’re made with coconut cream as the base. No icy chips, no syrupy melt.

Make It Better: These don’t need help — but if you’re feeding adults, dip the bottom inch in melted dark chocolate, then back in the freezer for 5 minutes. Sets up like a chocolate-shell magic-shell.

Perfect Pairings: These are stand-alone summer treats. The only pairing that matters is a warm afternoon and at least one grandkid.

Final Verdict: BUY — 9.5/10. Organic, clean ingredients, $3.50 off in the active coupon book, and they make you look like a hero with the under-10 crowd. Grab two boxes.

Vita Coco Frosted Lemonade Tastes Like a Spoon of Lemon Sorbet in a Box

Price: $18.15 / 12-pack of Vita Coco Treats Frosted Lemonade (11.1 oz boxes)

Taste Test: This is a half-frozen lemonade in a juice-box format — tart, bright, and noticeably less sugary than a soda. About half the sugar of a typical lemonade. The lemon flavor is real, not artificial-candy.

Texture Summary: Best part of this product: you give the box a 30-second squeeze and it turns into a slushy without a blender. The mouthfeel is right between a slush and a smoothie.

Make It Better: Pop it in the freezer for 20 minutes before serving for a thicker, frostier consistency. For adults, this also makes a clean lemon-drop cocktail base — pour into a shaker with vodka and a splash of triple sec.

Perfect Pairings: On its own or with a turkey sandwich for the world’s easiest summer lunch. Pairs surprisingly well with anything spicy — the cold + sweet cuts through heat.

Final Verdict: BUY — 9/10. Stock up now — once the weather turns these will fly off shelves and the price will likely climb after the launch promo.

Bobo’s PB&J Oat Bar Variety Pack — Genuinely Portable, Genuinely Good for You

Price: $17.99 / 20 bars (10 strawberry, 10 raspberry) of Bobo’s PB&J Oat Bars

Taste Test: These taste like an actual peanut butter and jelly sandwich on a soft, chewy oat base. The strawberry is the sweeter of the two; the raspberry has a noticeable tartness that grown-ups will prefer. Peanut butter is the dominant note in both.

Texture Summary: Soft, chewy, dense — not crumbly, not dry. These bend instead of snapping when you fold them, which is the texture you want in a bar that lives in your purse or glovebox for two weeks.

Make It Better: Microwave for 8 seconds and the peanut butter softens just enough to read as a real warm PB&J. Or break one in half and crumble it over Greek yogurt with a drizzle of honey for a 2-minute breakfast.

Perfect Pairings: Black coffee, a tall glass of cold milk, or the school-lunch nostalgia of a side of apple slices.

Final Verdict: BUY — 9/10. Gluten-free, dairy-free, plant-based, 230 calories each, no weird aftertaste. Bobo’s first PB&J warehouse launch and an obvious one for travel, road trips, and pre-workout fuel.

Authentic Wagyu A5 Beef Tallow Lands at Costco — Worth the $60 for Cooks, Skip If You’re Just Curious

 

Price: $47.99 / two 22-oz jars (2.75 lb total) of Authentic Wagyu A5 Japanese Wagyu Beef Tallow

Taste Test: You don’t eat this on its own — you cook with it. But when you do, it’s an experience. Steaks finished in a tablespoon of this melt have a depth and butter-richness that vegetable oil can’t touch. Sear fries in it and they taste like a steakhouse’s side instead of a frozen-food shortcut.

Texture Summary: Solid at room temp, melts at 95°F into a thin clear-amber liquid. No off odors, no oxidation taste — the jar lid seals tight so it stores well.

Make It Better: A tablespoon in the skillet before you sear a ribeye, then baste with another tablespoon plus a smashed garlic clove and thyme sprig for the last minute. Or render it into popcorn for a snack that’s borderline indulgent.

Perfect Pairings: Steaks, fries, roasted potatoes, smashed burgers, popcorn. Bold red wines — a structured Cabernet or a Napa Zinfandel.

Final Verdict: MAYBE — 8.5/10 if you cook often; 5/10 if you’re a curious shopper. The price-per-ounce undercuts specialty butchers significantly, but if you don’t already cook with rendered fats this jar will sit unopened.

Havanna Alfajores 3-Box Bundle Brings the Cult Argentine Cookie Stateside — But Read the Price Tag First

Price: $64.99 / 3-box Havanna Alfajores bundle (mix of chocolate and white chocolate)

Taste Test: A genuine Havanna alfajor is two soft, slightly crumbly cookies sandwiching a thick layer of authentic dulce de leche, then dipped in chocolate. Cult-favorite in Argentina since 1948, and Costco landed both the chocolate and white-chocolate varieties as a limited bundle. The dulce de leche is the star — rich, milky-caramel, not artificially sweet.

Texture Summary: The cookie is soft and almost cake-like; the dulce de leche is thick enough to stay put but soft enough to ooze slightly when you bite. The chocolate shell has a clean snap.

Make It Better: Eat them with espresso — they’re engineered for the pairing. For dessert plating, dust the white-chocolate ones with a tiny bit of cocoa powder and serve next to a strong coffee.

Perfect Pairings: Espresso, dark coffee, or a small glass of Pedro Ximénez sherry. Avoid mild teas — the dulce de leche overwhelms them.

Final Verdict: MAYBE — 9/10 on quality, 7/10 on value. At $64.99 for the bundle this is gift-territory pricing — great for Mother’s/Father’s Day or as a hostess gift, harder to justify for everyday snacking.

11 More Costco Finds the Costco Community Has Been Buzzing About

Pasta Prima Spinach & Mozzarella Ravioli Is the Most Beloved Frozen Item at Costco — and It’s Back

Price: $12.99 regular / ~$9.99 on sale / 3.5 lb club-size bag (item #229644) with the included parmesan-herb seasoning packet that members swear is the secret weapon.

Taste Test: After a multi-year disappearance in some warehouses, Pasta Prima’s spinach-and-mozzarella ravioli is back — and the Costco subreddit lit up with 1,400+ upvotes calling it the best item in the entire warehouse. The pasta has real spinach in the dough; the filling is creamy mozzarella with just enough herb to taste like a real Italian restaurant version, not a freezer-aisle cheat.

Texture Summary: Tender but never mushy — the ravioli pillows hold their shape through the boil and into the sauce. The included seasoning packet does the work most pre-packaged ravioli skip; sprinkle it during the final minute of simmering and it transforms a $13 bag into a dinner that tastes hand-made.

Make It Better: The pro-move from longtime fans: skip the boil, go straight to a sheet pan with marinara, a layer of fresh mozzarella, and 22 minutes at 400°F. That’s the “lazy lasagna” the back of the bag teaches you and the version most members ended up cooking weekly. Add a squeeze of lemon and torn basil at the end.

Perfect Pairings: A Chianti Classico, a Barbera, or even a cold Pinot Grigio on hot nights. For a side, a chopped arugula salad with shaved parmesan keeps the meal balanced.

Final Verdict: BUY — 10/10. One of the most childhood-defining items in the Costco freezer for thousands of members. If your warehouse has it (still gone in AZ and NE Ohio per recent threads), grab two bags — the second goes in the freezer for the next desperate Tuesday.

PuraVida Fire Roasted Mexican Street Corn Is the $11 Freezer Shortcut That Actually Tastes Like Elote

Price: $10.89–$10.99 / 4-pack of 14 oz pouches (3.5 lb total, item #1792936)

Taste Test: Real elote needs lime juice, cotija, tajin, and time — PuraVida gets you about 75% of the way there straight from the freezer. The fire-roasted char is genuine (not just food coloring), the creamy mayo-and-cheese coating is balanced, and the corn itself tastes like sweet summer corn. Members who genuinely love elote say it needs doctoring; members who just want a quick side say it’s the easiest weeknight win Costco has stocked all year.

Texture Summary: The corn stays toothsome through reheat — no mushy kernels. The sauce melts evenly without curdling, which is the harder part to nail.

Make It Better: Hit it with a squeeze of fresh lime, an extra crumble of cotija or queso fresco, and a dust of tajin or smoked paprika before serving. Total upgrade time: 90 seconds. Pro-move from the subreddit: stir in a spoon of mayo + a tablespoon of chopped cilantro right at the end.

Perfect Pairings: Carne asada tacos, grilled chicken thighs, or just on its own with crumbled queso fresco and a margarita. A Tecate or Modelo with a lime wedge keeps it casual.

Final Verdict: BUY — 9/10 with the lime upgrade; 7/10 straight from the bag. Pair this with the Pasta Prima ravioli and you have a Tuesday night dinner in 20 minutes.

The Korean Sweet & Spicy Puffs Are Dangerously Addictive — Members Are Rationing Them by the Handful

Price: $5.64 / 10.58 oz bag of 180 Snacks Korean Sweet & Spicy Puffs (yangnyeom-style)

Taste Test: A real flavor moment. Crispy puffed rice base coated in a sweet-spicy yangnyeom glaze that hits sugar, chili, soy, and garlic in the right balance — no single note dominates. The heat builds slowly, the sweetness pulls you back, and the salt closes the loop. The orange-chicken-flavored variant from the same brand is also worth chasing if you spot it.

Texture Summary: Crisp puff that stays crisp through the bottom of the bag. The glaze is dry-coated (not sticky), so your fingers stay clean — which is dangerous because it means you keep eating.

Make It Better: These are the snack-bowl move next to charcuterie or game-day spreads. Pour into a small bowl with a serving spoon rather than eating from the bag — the Costco subreddit’s top advice is “don’t pretend you’ll save some.”

Perfect Pairings: A cold beer (Korean lager or any pilsner), Topo Chico with lime, or as a textural addition to a poke bowl — toss a small handful on top for crunch.

Final Verdict: BUY — 9.5/10. A small minority of members find the sweet-and-spicy combo nauseating; everyone else finishes the bag in two sittings. Best bargain snack Costco is stocking.

Cloud 9 Mango Sticky Rice Crispies Are the $18 Bag Members Are Driving Across State Lines to Find

Price: $17.99 / 31.5 oz bag (21 individually-wrapped 1.5 oz bars, item #2026968)

Taste Test: A genuine surprise — this is real Thai mango sticky rice translated into a crispy rice-treat bar format. Dried mango pieces are folded into a crispy rice base with shaved coconut, and the sticky-rice sweetness comes through cleanly. Not as cloying as you’d expect from a marshmallow-style crispy treat.

Texture Summary: The rice stays crispy (no sogginess from the mango); the coconut shavings add a soft top note. Individually wrapped bars mean each one bites cleanly.

Make It Better: Eat them cold from the fridge for the most-defined sticky-rice flavor. For dessert plating, pair with a small scoop of vanilla ice cream — the warm-cold contrast against the room-temp bar is the move.

Perfect Pairings: Thai iced tea, jasmine green tea, or a cold lager. Skip dessert wine — these are sweet enough already.

Final Verdict: BUY — 9/10 if your warehouse has them. Geographically gated — East Coast members report empty shelves while West Coast and Mountain warehouses are well-stocked. Home Goods also carries them as a backup.

Choice Beef Bulgogi Is the $7/lb Costco Member Favorite — But Everyone Says the Same Thing About the Sweetness

Price: $3.33/ lb (Choice grade, marinated, item #36946)

Taste Test: The beef is genuine USDA Choice with respectable marbling, sliced thin and pre-marinated. The flavor is rich, savory, with the gochugaru-and-soy backbone you want from real bulgogi. The one near-universal critique: it’s too sweet straight from the package. Once you cut the sugar, it’s outstanding.

Texture Summary: Thin slices that sear in 60–90 seconds per side. The marinade caramelizes hard if you hit it with high heat, which gives the crispy edges Korean BBQ joints charge $25 for.

Make It Better: The Costco-subreddit fix: stir in 2 tablespoons of gochugaru (Korean chili flakes), a teaspoon of sriracha, and a glug of soy sauce, then rest 1–2 hours before searing. Or sous-vide first to render some of the sticky marinade off, then high-heat finish in cast iron. Slice extra-thin against the grain.

Perfect Pairings: Steamed jasmine rice, a quick cucumber-rice-vinegar pickle (oi sobagi style), and kimchi on the side. Hite or Cass lager if you can find them; otherwise any cold Mexican lager.

Final Verdict: BUY — 8.5/10 with the sweet-fix; 7/10 straight from the package. The fix takes 5 minutes and turns this from candy-beef into a legitimate weeknight Korean BBQ.

Kirkland Flank Steak with Lime-Cilantro Marinade Is the $12/lb Grilling Shortcut That Costco Pros Swear By

Price: $2.71/ lb (Kirkland Signature, pre-marinated, item #40241)

Taste Test: Real citrus, real cilantro, real garlic — not a sugar-bomb teriyaki situation. The marinade is bright and balanced, lets the beef stay the star, and works as well over rice as it does in tortillas. The lime-cilantro lift makes this an instant carne asada substitute without the overnight marinating step.

Texture Summary: Cook to medium (NOT medium-rare) — flank steak needs the slightly higher doneness to break down. Pat the surface dry before searing so you get crust instead of steam. Then rest 10 minutes, slice paper-thin against the grain, and watch the texture transform.

Make It Better: The Costco subreddit’s playbook: high-heat grill (cast iron at 500°F works too), 4 minutes a side for a 1-inch thick cut, rest, slice thin. Sous-vide-then-sear is a popular second option if you have the gear. The cooking instructions on the package are actually solid — read them.

Perfect Pairings: Warm corn tortillas, salsa verde, crumbled queso fresco, pickled red onion, fresh cilantro. A cold Tecate or a chilled Sauvignon Blanc cuts the marinade beautifully.

Final Verdict: BUY — 9/10. One of the rare pre-marinated Costco proteins where the marinade is actually balanced. Grab two and freeze one.

Bubbie’s Kosher Dill Pickles Finally Hit Costco — Lacto-Fermented, Salt-Brined, and Worth the Hunt

Price: ~$7 / 33 oz jar of Bubbie’s Kosher Dill Pickles (warehouse rollout in progress; some stores have only the bread-and-butter variant)

Taste Test: These are not vinegar pickles. Bubbie’s uses old-school lacto-fermentation (salt brine, no vinegar), which gives them a tangier, more complex sour-cucumber flavor that has real probiotic-good-for-you benefits. The crunch is real. The brine you can use later (chug it after a long run, or marinate chicken thighs in it for next-level juiciness).

Texture Summary: Crisp center, firm skin, no soggy ends. The brine is cloudy — that’s the lacto-fermentation working, not a defect.

Make It Better: Chop two pickles and stir into tuna salad with a dollop of mayo and a squeeze of lemon. Or slice lengthwise and lay across a turkey sandwich. The pickle juice itself is the secret to a great salad dressing — whisk 2 tablespoons into olive oil and shallot for a quick vinaigrette.

Perfect Pairings: Pastrami on rye. Smoked-fish bagels. A pickle martini if you’re feeling bold. Beer-cheese soup. The bread-and-butter variant pairs with cheddar on a charcuterie board if your store only stocks that one.

Final Verdict: BUY — 9.5/10 if you find the dill spear/whole variant; 6/10 if your store has only the bread-and-butter chips. Bubbie’s vs. Grillo’s is the great Costco pickle debate; both are excellent, Bubbie’s wins on consistency.

The Shrimp Chili Crunch Is the New Asian-Aisle Sleeper Hit — If Your Warehouse Has It

Price: Pricing varies by region; comparable jarred Asian crunches at Costco run $14–$17 for a 16 oz jar. Sold in the international/Asian aisle (regional rollout, not yet on every shelf)

Taste Test: Real shrimp flavor, real heat, real crunch — this is what XO sauce or chiu chow chili oil aspires to be in a more affordable format. Garlicky, smoky, savory with a low-heat warmth that builds gradually. Works on rice, eggs, noodles, dumplings, and any roasted vegetable.

Texture Summary: Crispy fried garlic and shallots plus tiny crunchy shrimp pieces suspended in chili oil. Spoonable but not soupy.

Make It Better: Spoon over a fried egg on rice and you have lunch in three minutes. For a dinner upgrade: stir into a butter-and-soy noodle sauce or finish a stir-fry with two spoons on top. Pro-tip from the subreddit: a single spoon transforms a $1 ramen pack into something genuinely good.

Perfect Pairings: Steamed jasmine rice, a soft-boiled egg, scallions, and toasted sesame seeds. Cold beer or chilled Riesling.

Final Verdict: MAYBE — 9/10 if you find it — uncertain price and limited regional availability. The Costco subreddit’s response was “item number please” en masse. Check the Asian aisle of your warehouse before you commit to a special trip.

Edward Marc Strawberry Shortcake Bites — Reddit Is More Skeptical Than the Bakery Hype Suggests

Price: $11.49–$11.89 / 20 oz bag of Edward Marc Strawberry Shortcake Bites (item #1932019)

Taste Test: The packaging promises the Good Humor ice-cream-truck strawberry shortcake. The reality is closer to a strawberry-flavored shortbread cookie with a creamy filling and noticeable artificial-strawberry/food-dye tang. The first bite is fun. The second bite is plenty.

Texture Summary: Crisp shortbread shell, creamy filling that softens at room temp. The shell stays crisp from the freezer if you store it there, which the subreddit recommends.

Make It Better: Freeze them before eating — the texture and flavor both improve noticeably when they’re very cold. Or crumble two over a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a $2 dessert-plate dupe that hides the artificial notes.

Perfect Pairings: Strong coffee or a glass of cold milk to cut the sweetness. Skip wine pairings — too one-note.

Final Verdict: MAYBE — 7/10 with the freezer trick, 5/10 at room temp. The Costco subreddit is more measured than the marketing — many members report a still-80%-full bag months later. Try a single bag before committing to a stock-up.

Spiceology Teriyaki Takeout Seasoning Tastes Surprisingly Plain — Skip This One

Price: $4.97 sale / $9.59 regular / 8.8 oz jar of Spiceology Teriyaki Takeout Seasoning Blend (item #2011048)

Taste Test: The name suggests bold, sweet-savory teriyaki punch. The reality is muted — even applied heavy-handed, the seasoning doesn’t produce the lacquered, glossy, sweet-soy flavor that wet teriyaki marinades nail. Several members tried it twice and gave up.

Texture Summary: Standard dry-seasoning grain. Worth noting: contains silicon dioxide as an anti-caking agent, which some shoppers avoid.

Make It Better: If you grab it anyway, double the suggested amount and add a tablespoon of soy sauce + a teaspoon of brown sugar + a teaspoon of mirin (or rice vinegar) at the end of cooking to get closer to actual teriyaki flavor. Or skip it and pivot to Spiceology’s Greek Freak (sold next to it) — that one earns its shelf space.

Perfect Pairings: If you must use it: grilled chicken thighs with white rice and steamed broccoli. The dry seasoning never quite recreates a real bottled teriyaki, no matter the side.

Final Verdict: SKIP — 5/10. If you want a real teriyaki shortcut, grab a bottle of Yoshida’s Original Sweet Marinade ($9 at Costco) instead — that one delivers what this jar promises.

Bitchin’ Sauce Chips Are Sturdy Enough to Dip With — But the Flavor Doesn’t Match the $8 Price

Price: $7.99 / 10 oz of Bitchin’ Sauce Classic Sea Salt Tortilla Chips (almond-oil fried)

Taste Test: Plain. Aggressively so. There’s a faint almond-oil note if you pay attention, but the sea-salt level is mild and the corn flavor is muted. As a standalone snack chip these underdeliver; as a dipping vehicle they work fine.

Texture Summary: Thick, sturdy, and structured — built to scoop. Won’t shatter in a dip the way a thinner chip does. That structural strength is the chip’s one real win.

Make It Better: Use them strictly as a dipping chip with a high-flavor dip — the Bitchin’ Sauce cashew dips themselves (the brand’s namesake), salsa, or a roasted-pepper hummus. Don’t bother eating them solo.

Perfect Pairings: A high-flavor dip is non-optional. Pair with Bitchin’ Sauce Heat or Chipotle if you can find them, or with a thick guac.

Final Verdict: SKIP — 6/10 as a dipping chip; 4/10 as a snack chip. Better-value: Kirkland Organic Tortilla Chips at $5 for 30 oz, or Siete tortilla chips when they’re on the coupon book. Save the $8 for a better-tasting bag.

Bottom line for this week’s cart

• Top three buys: Fishwife Tinned Tuna, Lindt Lindor Ice Cream Truffles, Kinder Bueno Hazelnut Cones — all genuine breakthroughs.
• Best weeknight rescue: Kirkland Broccoli Beef at $6.99/lb. Plan a dinner around it.
• Best summer stock-up: JonnyPops (with the $3.50 coupon) and Vita Coco Frosted Lemonade.
• Approach with skepticism: The Olipop variety pack (only Raspberry Sherbet earns the price) and the Havanna bundle (gift-only pricing).