5 Things I Never Buy at Costco

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I'm a bit of a Costco superfan. This is pretty much my dream job because I get to write about Costco for a living. However, there are a few items at Costco that even I won't buy. Not everything on the Costco shelves (or in the Costco freezer section) is the right choice for my family's budget.

It's not that Costco products aren't a good deal. It's not that the food isn't delicious. It's more a matter of practicality and logistics. Even if you're happy to pull out a credit card and buy all of these five Costco items, you might find that the experience isn't so pleasant after you get home from the Costco warehouse.

Here are five items I never buy at Costco -- and why you might want to avoid these Costco deals on your next shopping trip.

1. Perishable bulk groceries

Costco is famous for its big quantities of groceries. And it's true that if you look at the average price per ounce or per item, most Costco grocery deals are exceptionally cheap. But here's the problem: My family can't always eat the entire package of whatever cheap, huge thing we bought from Costco.

We've had particularly bad luck with bagged salads, yogurt, and other perishable bulk items that quickly go bad in your fridge if they're past the expiration date. Unless you have the discipline to eat all 16 containers of low-cost Greek yogurt before they expire, Costco's low prices might turn out to be a false economy.

2. Protein bars

Costco offers several varieties of protein bars, nut bars, granola bars, and other sweet-and-salty snack bars in bulk quantities. I'm not a big breakfast eater, so I will often start my day by eating a protein bar instead of an entire meal.

Here's the problem with buying these at Costco: The quantities are so big, that even if it's your favorite brand and flavor of protein bar, sometimes it gets monotonous and you end up struggling to finish the whole box. For example, the Kirkland Signature Soft & Chewy Granola Bars come in a 64-count box.

That's an awful lot of bars, even if you love to eat one every day. It's a struggle to keep eating the same granola bar every morning for weeks at a time. Getting bored with your food is no fun, no matter how cheap it was at the store.

3. Unsalted mixed nuts

Costco sells a big bag (2.5 pounds) of Kirkland Signature Extra Fancy Salted Mixed Nuts that is one of the most delicious and reliable snacks I've ever tasted. I keep a big bag of this stuff open and within reach of me at all times; I never get tired of eating this nut mix.

It's perfectly salted and almost buttery in its goodness, and it feels like I'm eating real, plant-based food instead of greasy potato chips or an over-sweetened, highly processed granola bar.

But here's the problem: One time, we accidentally bought the unsalted blend of mixed nuts. This was a terrible mistake. The unsalted nuts were nowhere near as good as the salted kind. Unless you're on some special low-sodium diet and you can only eat the unsalted nuts, I highly recommend not buying those. Get the Costco Salted Mixed Nuts instead.

4. Cake

The Costco bakery sells delicious cookies, croissants, and other baked goods. One of my favorite Costco bakery items is something that I don't get to have very often anymore: cake. Costco sells delicious, gooey, rich, multi-layered cakes (chocolate and white cake) with mousse and ganache and other beautiful things.

Unfortunately, the Costco cake sizes are just too big to be practical. My family can't eat an entire Costco cake. I rarely host dinner parties big enough to polish off an entire Costco cake. One year, we bought a Costco cake for my birthday, and it took up too much room in the fridge and some of our other food had to be thrown away.

5. Frozen foods

The same problem I have with Costco cake can also be found in the Costco freezer section. Costco sells delicious-looking frozen meals, frozen pizzas, and other prepared foods. But the quantities are huge. Unless you have a large chest freezer, it can be hard to make enough room in your home for the enticing items you see at the Costco warehouse freezer section.

Sometimes Costco food is just too big. It's tragic. I want to eat all the delicious Costco foods, but I also hate wasting food, having food go past its expiration date, having the freezer get clogged up with too many packaged meals, and getting freezer burn.

Bottom line

Costco can be a great place to shop for big-ticket items, housewares, appliances, and everyday items. You can also use Costco to shop for groceries -- but beware. Sometimes buying groceries in bulk quantities can lead to extra hassles and logistical challenges, like fitting an entire Costco chocolate cake into a crowded fridge, or suddenly having to eat an entire big package of yogurt before it expires.

To maximize the rewards of your Costco membership and avoid wasting food, make a plan and stay disciplined about how you consume your Costco purchases -- especially the perishable, dairy-based items.

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