7 Groceries Our Editors Only Buy on Sale

Whether we’re grocery shopping for one or a party of 15, one thing’s for certain: We’d rather not pay full price for the items in our carts. Who’s with us? We haven’t been able to find discounts on everything, everywhere, all at once (yet!).

There are certain items, though, that Kitchn editors have designated to the on-sale-only section of our shopping lists. Some of these are staples we seek out regularly (and at the same store!), while others are ones we’ll add to our carts if and when we spot the sale tag. These are the seven groceries editors only buy on sale.

“We love the ultra-smooth texture of commercial peanut butters rather than natural ones, and were so excited when Skippy started making a natural version,” says Senior Recipe Editor, Christine Gallary. “It always seems to be on sale at big chain stores, so I always wait until it’s cheaper before loading up — especially because it has a long shelf life!” 

Buy: Skippy Natural Creamy Peanut Butter, $3.59 for 15 ounces at Target

“It’s the hummus that I’ve purchased for years, so it’s the only one my kids will eat,” says Staff Writer, Patty Catalano. (She’s also a fan of its smooth texture.) “I buy hummus only when it is BOGO (buy one, get one free) at Publix, about once a month. Although the BOGO rules differ by state, in Georgia you can also just buy one, but for half price! That makes it more cost effective for me to buy hummus rather than make it.”

Find it in stores: Sabra Classic Hummus

“As many people already know, it’s *the* best jarred pasta sauce,” says Recipe Director, Lauren Miyashiro. “My go-to, local grocery store often has the sensitive version (no garlic or onions) on sale and it’s really, really good! So, I’ll add an extra jar to my cart whenever we’re running low.”

Buy: Rao’s Homemade Marinara Pasta Sauce, $6.88 for 24 ounces at Walmart 

“When I was a kid, I’d shovel spoonfuls of delicious, sugary cereals in my mouth before heading to school, and even now I’ll snack on dry handfuls during movie nights with my husband,” says Shopping Director, Jada Wong. “I don’t buy it in grocery stores anymore; the prices have gotten so expensive and the boxes have gotten so small — it’s like a double whammy of inflation. I’ll only buy it in bulk at Costco because the price is much more reasonable and I know it won’t go bad before I can eat it.”

Find it in stores: Cinnamon Toast Crunch Breakfast Cereal

This is the dark-roast blend my husband and I both love, and it’s been our go-to for years,” says Culinary Producer, Kelli Foster. “It’s not that I refuse to pay full price (which ranges from $11 to $14, depending on the grocer), but a local grocer reliably has it on sale maybe every other month. So I wait until it’s on sale (usually about $7.99) and then stock up. Best of all, there’s no maximum on how many bags you can buy.”

Find it in stores: Peet’s Coffee Major Dickason’s Blend

“I ordered this tea on a whim at a local coffee shop over a decade ago, and it’s still one of my favorites,” says Senior Lifestyle Editor of Groceries, Mara Weinraub. “Even at the grocery store, the per-bag price is on the higher-end, so I watch for sales and then buy multiple boxes. (At the time of writing this story, the tea was on sale at Walmart for $6.29, almost 50 percent off!) I drink it almost daily, until I run out of it and need to restock my supply.”

Buy: Mighty Leaf Tea Green Tea Tropical Green Tea, $6.29 (on sale) for 15 tea bags at Walmart

“I adore pistachio ice cream and, to me, if you can’t venture out to Italy at a moment’s notice, this gelato is the best store-bought option,” says Recipe Production Coordinator, Justine Lee. “I am pretty brand loyal when it comes to pistachio gelato, and every time I want to buy a pint, it just so happens that it’s on sale at Whole Foods. Call it a coincidence!”

Find it in stores: Talenti Pacific Coast Pistachio Gelato

What groceries do you ONLY buy on sale? Tell us about it in the comments below.