Why do people like Costco so much?

[MrSquished]

I just buy frozen fruit to make shakes and add in my Amazing grass powder and some collagen peptides powder, yogurt and raw honey. Definitely not to eat frozen fruit thawed or in any other state.

 

[Aikouka]

Blueberry prices and flavor change all the time. Price at Costco have also been lower than Target or my local grocery any time I've check both close together. I generally get 18 oz for less than 12 oz elsewhere.

The changes in flavor is annoying with blueberries, but I don't think that is a Costco problem. It depends on where they are from and how big they are. In general I find Driscoll's to be the worst.

As a side note, I find that Target usually has expensive produce all around. I also like green grapes, and Costco has had some decent, non-sale prices in the past on those (~$1.40 per pound), which aren't better than some place's sale price (Kroger at $1 per pound), but far better than Target, which is usually over $2 per pound.

I know I've had Driscoll's in the past, but I can't recall if they were bad or not.

Do you guys ever try the frozen organic 3lb bags of blueberries at Costco? How do they compare with fresh?

I've only ever bought frozen fruit for smoothies or making fruit sauces. Kroger used to carry frozen strawberries in a plastic container (as part of their Private Selection brand) that were great for making a strawberry topping. It included just enough juices that it made it very simple to create just the right consistency. I was rather fond of using it for creating said strawberry topping for when I made my own vanilla yogurt. Speaking of that, I need to try to see if I can recreate my favorite yogurt, Dannon's low-fat vanilla. It's not too sweet, but not too tart, and has a nice tinge of vanilla.

 

[Muse]

I just buy frozen fruit to make shakes and add in my Amazing grass powder and some collagen peptides powder, yogurt and raw honey. Definitely not to eat frozen fruit thawed or in any other state.

I put some frozen organic Costco bought blueberries in waffle batter the other day (along with some chopped pitted dates), sprinkled sunflower seeds and sesame seeds on top before closing the waffle iron. The result was excellent.

 

[Muse]

I was rather fond of using it for creating said strawberry topping for when I made my own vanilla yogurt. Speaking of that, I need to try to see if I can recreate my favorite yogurt, Dannon's low-fat vanilla. It's not too sweet, but not too tart, and has a nice tinge of vanilla.

I'd think that frozen strawberries would make a decent strawberry jam. I've been buying fresh organic strawberries at Costco for that, figure frozen would be cheaper, not having to undergo the shipment and presentation protocols.

I have made yogurt many times, it's so easy. I had a yogurt maker but gave it away. I find that my oven incubates a quart container filled with milk and a bit of plain yogurt in less than 24 hours (pilot light keeps the interior ~85F). I do this for kefir from dry starter in the same way.

 

[MrSquished]

I put some frozen organic Costco bought blueberries in waffle batter the other day (along with some chopped pitted dates), sprinkled sunflower seeds and sesame seeds on top before closing the waffle iron. The result was excellent.

That sounds really good. The few times I've tasted a frozen fruit before putting it in a shake us that they had like virtually no sweetness. I was concerned about that

 

[Muse]

That sounds really good. The few times I've tasted a frozen fruit before putting it in a shake us that they had like virtually no sweetness. I was concerned about that

I had a frozen fruit smoothie just an hour ago, tasted plenty sweet:

2 bananas, ~1/4 cut blueberries, ~1/4 cup pineapple, all frozen, plus 10oz. NFDM.

The waffle had 32 frozen blueberries in it, 1oz finely chopped deglet noor dates, plus those sunflower and sesame seeds sprinkled on before closing the waffle iron. Sweet enough it didn't need syrup.

 

[JEDI]

I had a frozen fruit smoothie just an hour ago, tasted plenty sweet:

2 bananas, ~1/4 cut blueberries, ~1/4 cup pineapple, all frozen, plus 10oz. NFDM.

The waffle had 32 frozen blueberries in it, 1oz finely chopped deglet noor dates, plus those sunflower and sesame seeds sprinkled on before closing the waffle iron. Sweet enough it didn't need syrup.

i used to make smoothies with frozen fruit and can of condensed milk. DELICIOUS!
i stopped a shortly thereafter after i found out an 8oz can is 1000 calories

 

[Muse]

i used to make smoothies with frozen fruit and can of condensed milk. DELICIOUS!
i stopped a shortly thereafter after i found out an 8oz can is 1000 calories

My only milk for decades has been from non-fat dry milk powder. It's cost effective, light (dehydrated), keeps very very well, low calorie, high protein, high calcium... win win win win win.

When reconstituting NFDM powder I'll measure by weight, not volume. 1 quart will require ~3.20 ounces powder. Add enough water to make up a quart, shake and refrigerate (I don't make quarts, I make pints, 2 at a time).

If a recipe calls for condensed milk I just double the amount of the powder for reconstituted NFDM. If I'm concerned for the lack of fat, I'll add some olive oil.

 

[JEDI]

Was going to by pork belly ($5/lb) then saw costco brand cooked pork belly for $6.60/lb.
$1.60/lb more for it being perfectly cooked and i dont have to deal with the mess.
no brainer, or so i thought.





the cooked pork belly also includes the bacon grease in the vacuum sealed package.
so maybe it's $7/lb for usable product.

and the cooked pork belly i got had the lower third of it as fat so 2/3's meat.
the uncooked pork belly was WAY more lean.

next time, i'm going to buy the uncooked version and air fry it.
@Kaido , but how long to air fry it for?

 

[ElFenix]

i used to make smoothies with frozen fruit and can of condensed milk. DELICIOUS!
i stopped a shortly thereafter after i found out an 8oz can is 1000 calories

there's 3/4 of a cup of sugar in that 1 cup of condensed milk.

evap milk doesn't have the sugar added.

 

[JEDI]

there's 3/4 of a cup of sugar in that 1 cup of condensed milk.

evap milk doesn't have the sugar added.

ok, will try bag full of frozen mixed berries and evap milk

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Update:
I finally went and full disclosure bulk shopping stresses me out, storing tons of stuff stresses me out.

I’m not sure I will keep the membership. Things I didn’t like:
Total Chaos inside the store, no exaggeration complete chaos everywhere. I hate that.
Most of the meats made no sense for me to purchase because I do not need 4-5 pounds of any meat at one time.
Same with the prepared food, I almost got some good looking chicken burritos but I simply do not need 12 of them
Great deal on some various kielbasa and sausages but again the volume of the packs were far too much for me.
Brief look at TVs didn’t appear to be super awesome deals. They were priced well but not noticeable better than Best Buy or Walmart.
I’ve been stalking them for tires and I realize there are shortages I’ve yet to find them priced better or equal to Hogan tire or town fair tire (whom I hate but that’s another thread topic)

Things I liked:
Meats looked like they were good quality particularly the beef
Some bulk things were priced well like $40 for 16 (or 20?) Gillette razor blades, we got plenty of storage bags, some condiments and so on.
I wanted to look for some jeans but the massive pile and dozens of Asian mothers combing thru the piles made it an exercise in frustration
I had a sample Kirkland meatball & hotdog it was great quality just as above the amount in the package was the problem.
I liked the old school checkout with two workers at every isle
No bags but a pile of boxes to reuse reminded me of going to Spags in Worcester with my Parents as a kid, even the chaos reminded me of Spags.

I skipped picking up a roasted chicken because I have something for dinner tonight and Monday I won’t have time for a proper sit down dinner.
Going to go again before membership expires. I definitely will go during the week.

 

[VirtualLarry]

No bags but a pile of boxes to reuse reminded me of going to Spags in Worcester with my Parents as a kid, even the chaos reminded me of Spags.

LOL. A SPAG'S reference. That made my day!

For those that don't know Spag's, it was one of the first "deep discount" stores in the area, way before costco and sam's, probably before walmart was wide-spread.

Well, if costco is big and open, and chaos, imagine "twisty little passages, all sort of similar", only with different brand-new merchandise around every corner, and like chaos, kind of like an ant colony.

It was definitely an "experience", thankfully my father knew his way around there, when I was a kid.

 

[Captante]

Total Chaos inside the store, no exaggeration complete chaos

Never.... and I mean NEVER go shopping at Costco on a Sunday afternoon. (unless you enjoy crowds & big lines)

Try going on a Tuesday instead... you'll have a much better experience.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

LOL. A SPAG'S reference. That made my day!

For those that don't know Spag's, it was one of the first "deep discount" stores in the area, way before costco and sam's, probably before walmart was wide-spread.

Well, if costco is big and open, and chaos, imagine "twisty little passages, all sort of similar", only with different brand-new merchandise around every corner, and like chaos, kind of like an ant colony.

Yeah Spags was a tiny version of a WH40k Hive World.
Tiny corridors boxes and crap everywhere barely any order but also magical. Sort of like how dollars stores can have such wonderfully weird stuff.

 

[Fritzo]

Update:
I finally went and full disclosure bulk shopping stresses me out, storing tons of stuff stresses me out.

I’m not sure I will keep the membership. Things I didn’t like:
Total Chaos inside the store, no exaggeration complete chaos everywhere. I hate that.
Most of the meats made no sense for me to purchase because I do not need 4-5 pounds of any meat at one time.
Same with the prepared food, I almost got some good looking chicken burritos but I simply do not need 12 of them
Great deal on some various kielbasa and sausages but again the volume of the packs were far too much for me.
Brief look at TVs didn’t appear to be super awesome deals. They were priced well but not noticeable better than Best Buy or Walmart.
I’ve been stalking them for tires and I realize there are shortages I’ve yet to find them priced better or equal to Hogan tire or town fair tire (whom I hate but that’s another thread topic)

Things I liked:
Meats looked like they were good quality particularly the beef
Some bulk things were priced well like $40 for 16 (or 20?) Gillette razor blades, we got plenty of storage bags, some condiments and so on.
I wanted to look for some jeans but the massive pile and dozens of Asian mothers combing thru the piles made it an exercise in frustration
I had a sample Kirkland meatball & hotdog it was great quality just as above the amount in the package was the problem.
I liked the old school checkout with two workers at every isle
No bags but a pile of boxes to reuse reminded me of going to Spags in Worcester with my Parents as a kid, even the chaos reminded me of Spags.

I skipped picking up a roasted chicken because I have something for dinner tonight and Monday I won’t have time for a proper sit down dinner.
Going to go again before membership expires. I definitely will go during the week.

Costco is 100% a "Need a freezer" store. They offer discounts on food because it comes in bulk quantities. It's also a Mecca for old people. They go there in droves on weekends.

 

[PingSpike]

Costco is 100% a "Need a freezer" store. They offer discounts on food because it comes in bulk quantities. It's also a Mecca for old people. They go there in droves on weekends.

IIRC I bought my chest freezer at costco, lol. That thing is always full.

 

[sandorski]

IIRC I bought my chest freezer at costco, lol. That thing is always full.

What if Costco is just a Plot to sell Freezers?

 

[Muse]

Update:
I finally went and full disclosure bulk shopping stresses me out, storing tons of stuff stresses me out.

I’m not sure I will keep the membership. Things I didn’t like:
Total Chaos inside the store, no exaggeration complete chaos everywhere. I hate that.
Most of the meats made no sense for me to purchase because I do not need 4-5 pounds of any meat at one time.
Same with the prepared food, I almost got some good looking chicken burritos but I simply do not need 12 of them
Great deal on some various kielbasa and sausages but again the volume of the packs were far too much for me.
Brief look at TVs didn’t appear to be super awesome deals. They were priced well but not noticeable better than Best Buy or Walmart.
I’ve been stalking them for tires and I realize there are shortages I’ve yet to find them priced better or equal to Hogan tire or town fair tire (whom I hate but that’s another thread topic)

Things I liked:
Meats looked like they were good quality particularly the beef
Some bulk things were priced well like $40 for 16 (or 20?) Gillette razor blades, we got plenty of storage bags, some condiments and so on.
I wanted to look for some jeans but the massive pile and dozens of Asian mothers combing thru the piles made it an exercise in frustration
I had a sample Kirkland meatball & hotdog it was great quality just as above the amount in the package was the problem.
I liked the old school checkout with two workers at every isle
No bags but a pile of boxes to reuse reminded me of going to Spags in Worcester with my Parents as a kid, even the chaos reminded me of Spags.

I skipped picking up a roasted chicken because I have something for dinner tonight and Monday I won’t have time for a proper sit down dinner.
Going to go again before membership expires. I definitely will go during the week.

Comments:

Yes, during the week.

TVs. Costco's extended warranty if all else is equal is a reason to shop Costco.

Free rotation on tires.

These days most of my eating is by virtue of Costco. I live alone and I have adapted to the bulk purchasing. Their produce has improved over the years. Quite often everything in my cart is a food item. I snagged big boxes there and bring one every time I go, which is every two weeks.

Been a Costco customer for over 30 years. Well worth the yearly dues.

 

[MrSquished]

Definitely try to avoid weekends. You can't go once you have to really explore when it's more quiet to find the things that work for a smaller household.

Since I live alone I just buy certain things from there. The organic chicken stock is a great one. I use two cartons at a time to make great soups. I do get some of the meats. The organic chicken three packs are good, not too big. I'll buy a pack of rib eyes or flank steak if I'm going to use some in the next couple days, then I freeze the rest for a second usage. So it's not an insane quantity. A bag of frozen fruit for shakes. The three pack of organic ground beef. The two packs of refrigerated soups. Some of the oils. I'll buy a box of the ramen or pho sometimes. A bag of chips. I'll get some produce sometimes - organic baby spinach, mushrooms. Most produce is just too much for me. The better than bouillon jarred concentrated stock. Lightly smoked sardines. Clothes detergent. Dishwasher tablets.

There are other random things throughout the store I get sometimes too that work in a smaller household depending on your taste and cooking habits.

If you have extra room for dry goods storage, paper towels, toilet paper, ziplock bags, kitchen garbage bags.

 

[Fritzo]

Comments:

Yes, during the week.

TVs. Costco's extended warranty if all else is equal is a reason to shop Costco.

Free rotation on tires.

These days most of my eating is by virtue of Costco. I live alone and I have adapted to the bulk purchasing. Their produce has improved over the years. Quite often everything in my cart is a food item. I snagged big boxes there and bring one every time I go, which is every two weeks.

Been a Costco customer for over 30 years. Well worth the yearly dues.

Their seafood selection is one of their best assets. They often have better seafood than the fish markets around me! Seabass, cod, steelhead trout, walleye, fresh muscles...it's fantastic!

 

[Brainonska511]

TVs. Costco's extended warranty if all else is equal is a reason to shop Costco.

Free rotation on tires.

These days most of my eating is by virtue of Costco. I live alone and I have adapted to the bulk purchasing. Their produce has improved over the years. Quite often everything in my cart is a food item. I snagged big boxes there and bring one every time I go, which is every two weeks.

Many credit cards will double warranties, up to a year. So if something does legitimately break outside of the initial warranty period, you'll still be covered. And my local mechanic rotates tires for free too (provided you bought them from them in the first place), but that works out to a few bucks every 6 months.

Bulk purchasing can be fine for some people, but I find these days, I'd rather just cook with fresh ingredients, and don't have tons of room in my apartment to store too many items that I could buy in bulk.

 

[Zorba]

Many credit cards will double warranties, up to a year. So if something does legitimately break outside of the initial warranty period, you'll still be covered. And my local mechanic rotates tires for free too (provided you bought them from them in the first place), but that works out to a few bucks every 6 months.

Bulk purchasing can be fine for some people, but I find these days, I'd rather just cook with fresh ingredients, and don't have tons of room in my apartment to store too many items that I could buy in bulk.

I'm with you, I don't like buying in bulk. But they have the best produce selection around me, at slightly to much better prices. So between savings on produce and gas I can pretty easily cover the membership. I do buy some kids snacks and rice in bulk. Also they are the only place besides Amazon I can get individual serving bags of Sunchips.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

I'm with you, I don't like buying in bulk. But they have the best produce selection around me, at slightly to much better prices. So between savings on produce and gas I can pretty easily cover the membership. I do buy some kids snacks and rice in bulk. Also they are the only place besides Amazon I can get individual serving bags of Sunchips.

Hmm that may explain part of my disinterest.
I am fortunate enough to have several great places for produce near me.

 

[Zorba]

Hmm that may explain part of my disinterest.
I am fortunate enough to have several great places for produce near me.

Yeah, for some reason since the pandemic my normal grocery store has had a very limited supply of blueberries and honeydews, which are weekly staples here.