The Single Best Thing to Buy at Costco This Month to Get You Through the Winter

Patty Catalano
Patty CatalanoFood Editor at The Kitchn
The only subject that has ever held my attention has been food, because there’s no end to what you can taste, smell, learn, and cook. I patchworked my way to recipe development and food writing by earning degrees in Family & Consumer Sciences (you may have known it as Home Ec) and Food, Nutrition, and Culinary Science, and working anywhere that would take me: university food services, local bakeries, and the set of Good Eats on Food Network. Early on, I asked my mom how she knew what a cookbook recipe (with no pictures) would look and taste like. While my mom was there to teach me, I realized that not everyone has someone to turn to for trusted cooking guidance. I try every day to be that person for The Kitchn’s readers by sharing smart recipes they can feel proud to serve. Recipe development is the most fun job I can imagine, but it also comes with a lot of dirty dishes and hours spent in the grocery store. I’ve found that I actually really love grocery shopping — especially at Costco and Aldi — and it brings me such joy to share my finds with The Kitchn readers.
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updated May 11, 2022
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Come January, my family seeks out comfort food every which way. It’s a month when soups, stews, casseroles, and one-pot pastas constantly cycle through our kitchen. The one ingredient most of these dishes have in common? Broth.

However, as my stash of homemade freezer stock shrank over the past few months, I found myself turning to cartons of broth instead. Looking at how much room they took up in my pantry (and recycling bin) made me wonder: Is there a better option? And there is. If there’s just one thing you buy from Costco this month, let it be a jar of Better Than Bouillon.

Credit: Patty Catalano

Why Better Than Bouillon Is the Best Thing to Buy from Costco This Month

Broth is a pillar of the pantry, but if you’re tired of spending money on slightly seasoned water and the packaging waste that comes with it, then it is time to finally buy Better Than Bouillon. Costco sells 1-pound jars of the roasted chicken and beef varieties of Better Than Bouillon. That’s double the size you’ll see at your neighborhood grocer — and will certainly last you through the winter months.

It’s made of roasted chicken or beef (depending on the version you choose), stock, and seasonings that are reduced and concentrated into a rich and savory paste. Costco sells the reduced-sodium bases, which I prefer in cooking, as it gives me more control over seasoning my meal. Hardly a day goes by where I don’t add at least a splash of broth to a skillet or stockpot, which is why I love this concentrate so much.

Buy: Better Than Bouillon Roasted Chicken or Beef Base, $5.99 for 16 ounces at Costco (Note: the price is $6.99 online, but $5.99 in stores.)

Credit: Patty Catalano

How to Use Better Than Bouillon

Better Than Bouillon is a seasoning base that packs a powerful flavor punch, and each 16-ounce jar contains 76 one-teaspoon servings. Turn the bouillon into broth by dissolving 1 teaspoon into 1 cup water. (Dissolve the concentrate in a small amount of hot water first to make sure there are no lumps before incorporating it into a larger volume of liquid.) Each teaspoon ends up being equivalent to one 8-ounce can of broth.

Making broth isn’t the only thing Better Than Bouillon can do, either. Mix a small amount — 1/2 to 1 teaspoon usually does the trick! — to pan sauces, chili, and meatloaf to add depth and richness to the dish. When a meal tastes a little flat and needs a little somethin’ something, a dab of Better Than Bouillon might just do the trick!

Read more: 6 Ways to Cook with Better than Bouillon

What are you picking up from Costco this month?

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