The Best Thing You Can Buy at Costco This November

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 Oct 3, 2022
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As Kitchn’s Honorary Costco Expert, I search high and low for the smartest tips and savviest buys to help my fellow shoppers navigate the warehouse giant. And in the two years since I started sharing my monthly best-bulk-buy recommendations, I’m honestly shocked that this month’s pick hadn’t yet earned the honor.

Now, alarmists will warn against investing in the large packages of produce at big-box stores (here’s what they say: You’ll never get through it all! The produce will rot! Think of the food waste! The quality is poor!). But here’s what I say: Get the mushrooms!

While mushrooms might appear to be the riskiest of bulk produce investments, I say ignore those naysayers — especially when armed with a plan (more on that below). The best thing you can buy at Costco this month is a bulk container or two of baby bella mushrooms.

How much space will you need in your cart for this month’s best bulk buy? As mushroom as possible! See what I did there?

Credit: Patty Catalano

Organic Baby Bella Mushrooms, $5.79 for 24 ounces

My love affair with cremini (aka baby bella) mushrooms reached a whole new level this summer, and I can’t keep it in any longer. The quick-cooking caps are perfect for tossing on the grill with a few fresh herbs! Now that the holiday season is upon us, the potential for these mushrooms is at its peak.

Credit: Joe Lingeman/Kitchn
Garlic Butter Mushrooms

Start your morning with a soft egg scrambled with nutty Gruyère cheese and sautéed spinach and mushrooms. Just remember our favorite culinary school tip for getting the most color on stovetop-seared shrooms — don’t salt until the end. If you’re looking for a make-ahead egg-and-mushroom option, we’ve got you covered there, too, with this cheesy mushroom frittata.

Come dinnertime you can let the slow cooker do the prep with this cozy mushroom soup, or dress up baked chicken with an easy three-ingredient creamy mushroom-garlic sauce. Creminis are perfect on pizza, shepherd’s pie, and pasta.

If you’re entertaining, you’ll love these two-bite stuffed mushroom appetizers to start the meal, and I recommend serving them alongside a rosy pink roast and creamy horseradish sauce. And of course, you’ll need these mushrooms if you’re making a stuffing. Think strategically and you may even toss a second package into your cart!

What are you buying this month at Costco? Tell us in the comments below!

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autumn
Ingredient
Mushrooms
Tips & Techniques