We love shopping at Costco for deals on everything from paper products to travel and gas. But it’s also a great place to shop in bulk and pay a lot less per unit or serving in the process. One great example of this is stocking your spice rack.
Herbs and spices are the best way to add layers of flavor to our cooking so we are more likely to eat at home and not bust on budget on takeout. But that requires investing in an arsenal of spices, and that can get pretty pricey rather quickly.
One way to maintain a go-to spice collection is to shop at a spot like Costco and stock up on those heavy-use spices that can handle large quantity purchases without outlasting their shelf life. This may include buying items like whole peppercorns, sea salt, or cinnamon in bulk and spending a lot less per unit, knowing they will get used all the time and stay fresh.
For those who don’t use spices as much, another way to save may be buying that large container of, say, crushed chili flakes or turmeric, and then dividing it among friends and family. That way you all benefit from the lower per-unit price of buying in bulk without having to actually own the larger quantity of the spice and use it themselves. This may be useful for single people who live alone or those who don’t cook as much and are afraid of using the spices so sparingly or slowly they begin to lose their potency before the spices are used.
Costco Membership Details
Before we dive even further into the world of shopping and saving on spices at Costco, it’s important to note that you do need to have a Costco membership to shop for most products at this wholesale retailer.
If you aren’t a member yet, right now is the ultimate time to sign up. Not only will Costco be increasing its annual membership fee on Sept. 1 (going from $60 per year to $65) but you can currently take advantage of a special promotion that allows you to save even more on a membership.
When you join as a new Costco member online and enroll in auto-renewal of your annual membership, you’ll receive a $40 Digital Costco Shop Card. Meanwhile, if you join as an Executive member ($120 membership per year) you will also receive a promo code for $60 off a Costco.com order of $200 or more.
How to Save Big on Spices at Costco
OK, now back to the spices. Here are some examples of where the price per ounce – that we mentioned above – comes into play when saving on spices at Costco.
Kirkland Signature, Minced California Garlic, 48 oz
This minced garlic is 100% California garlic and comes in a 48 oz container for $8.49. Compare that to a similar product, also minced garlic that is grown, processed, and packaged in California, that is on sale for $8.99 for 8 ounces, and the tremendous savings are clear – you are getting several times as much and spending less.
Kirkland Signature, Whole Black Peppercorn, 14 oz
Ground black pepper is never going to taste as fresh and flavorful as buying whole black peppercorns and grinding them ourselves with a pepper grinder as we use them. Pepper is the kind of thing we are going to use every single day, making it an ideal item to bulk up on – it’ll get used before losing its potency. And at $5.99 for 14 oz, it’s a steal compared with paying more than three times more for a like-sized similar product elsewhere.
Kirkland Signature, Crushed Red Pepper, 10 oz
I love keeping things spicy, and crushed red pepper is used in my home all the time. I add it to pizza, pasta and even my avocado toast. Costco sells a 10 oz container of crushed red pepper flakes for under $5 – that’s a steal when you consider you’ll pay almost double for a similar size of the same spice elsewhere.
Kirkland Signature Ground Turmeric, 12 oz., 2-count
Turmeric is often used in recipes ranging from Indian dishes to Middle Eastern menus, and as it’s something of a specialty spice, it is sometimes expensive to come by. Costco, though, sells a 2-count of 12-oz containers (so 24 oz in all) for under $20. Considering you may spend around $7 for just under 3 ounces, elsewhere – this is something worth buying in bulk on.
McCormick, Ground Cumin, 14 oz
I use cumin at home while making everything from enchiladas to chili, and tons in between – so this is one of my staples that I love to buy in bulk. Ground cumin is available at Costco in a major mainstream brand (as compared to the store brand most Costco spices are found in) at 14 oz for under $8. You’ll spend nearly half that on a much smaller size container (less than 2 oz) elsewhere.
Lawry’s, Seasoned Salt, 40 oz
Seasoned salts is a mainstay in many home kitchens, and Lawry’s is a go-to brand for this seasoning. It’s available at 40 oz for under $10 at Costco, while you’ll pay nearly $4 for just 8 oz at a spot like Target.
Full Thread Greek Saffron, 14 gram
Saffron is not an everyday spice, but it’s a splurge one to keep on hand for special occasions and dishes such as paella. It’s quite expensive, and even at Costco, it will be $80 for a 14-gram jar – that works out to a price per gram of just under $6, at $5.71. As organic saffron is $9 for around 1 gram at Amazon, this is a steal.
Expert-Approved Tips for Stocking up on Spices
While stocking up on spices, keep some expert tips in mind to make sure you get the most out of them – and your investment.
1. Consider storing your spices in a place where they are more visible and, therefore, can inspire you in the kitchen
“If they are tucked away in a high or low cabinet somewhere, it’s easier for them to be “out of sight, out of mind”, and you’ll likely use them much less often,” said Lior Lev Sercarz, owner and founder of La Boîte, a four-time author on the art of using and blending spices. It’s best to store them on an exposed shelf or cabinet close to where you’re preparing or cooking, so they excite and inspire.
2. Carefully consider which spices to buy in bulk
When buying large quantities of spices, the best idea is to focus on spices you are going to use a lot of in order to avoid them losing their potency before being used.
3. Check on inventories often
When you do, simply smell and/or taste them to understand if they’re still good. “Spices don’t really expire in a way that you can get sick or anything. Over time spices do lose their scent and flavor. At some point, it just becomes pointless to use them,” said Sercarz. The easiest test is just to smell and taste them and if they do not have both you can trash them.
4. Try your hand at blending
Rather than buying items like Italian seasoning blends or taco seasoning blends, use the individual spices you already have on hand to create your own homemade blends, precisely to your own liking. “If you are new at the art of blending, before taking an innovative approach, start by blending with existing spice recipes from chefs or spice experts, so you can get an idea of how to use preparation tools and blending techniques before you go off on your own,” said Sercarz.
When blending, be sure to keep track of your recipe so you can remember how to make it again so you can recreate it once you get it to your preferred taste. “At La Boîte, we write everything down with precise quantities as we work to perfect our blends. This ensures we know exactly how to repeat it so we get it perfectly right every time,” said Sercarz.
5. Go for your flavor profiles, no one else’s
There’s no “one size fits all” as it applies to spice essentials or must-haves. “Everyone has a different palate and style of cooking,” said Sercarz.
Be honest with yourself about what you are actually using or will use. “If you cook often, then it might warrant the need for a more comprehensive collection,” said Sercarz. But if you’re rarely preparing meals that require more than your basics, keep it simple.
6. Check the price per ounce
When buying in bulk, don’t think of it as spending more because you are also getting a lot more for the price. You can do this by comparing the price per ounce at Costco to smaller packages at other stores, to get a better idea of how much you are actually spending on those spices (and saving).
The post Why Costco Is the Ultimate Place to Shop (And Save) on Spices appeared first on The Real Deal by RetailMeNot.
