The Single Best Thing to Buy in Bulk at Costco This Month

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.
Follow
updated Sep 14, 2020
pinterest
comments
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Post Image
Credit: Helen89 / Shutterstock

A lot has changed during these last six months of sticking close to home — especially our grocery shopping habits. At the start of the year, it wasn’t unusual to pick up a forgotten item at our neighborhood grocery store multiple times a week (or a few times a day, if I’m being honest!). Now, we reduce our shopping trips to limit our exposure. I’ve always been a Costco shopper, but I’ve learned to rely on it more and more because, when you buy things like onions and lemons in bulk packaging, you don’t really run out all that quickly. This month’s super-smart bulk buy? Sliced deli ham! Which is just $4.89 per pound at Costco. Let’s take a look at my reasoning.

Credit: Patty Catalano

Why Sliced Ham Is the Best Thing to Buy in Bulk This Month

Deli ham is exactly what you need to complete every meal of the day. Start your morning with diced deli ham and end-of-summer veggies baked into a rich egg custard, then sandwich leftover frittata slices between slices of bread for another protein-packed breakfast option. Ham’s got you covered if you need to make something in advance, too — build freezer-friendly club sandwiches for those mornings when you’ve hit the snooze button too many times.

Ham is a classic component of brown bagged lunches. Go for basic-yet-satisfying ham and cheese sandwiches, and when you need something more fun, bake the chopped deli slices into lunch box muffins instead.

At the end of the day, assemble dinner-style sandwiches like a Cuban or Monte Cristo, or chop slices and pile them over the top of a Cobb salad. Before you know it, you’ve easily eaten (or meal prepped!) your way through your entire bulk buy.

What are you picking up from Costco this month?

Filed in:
Tips & Techniques