Costco Products That Seem to Last Forever

Obviously, one of the draws of Costco (and other warehouse stores) is the ability to save money by buying in bulk. Whereas for items with short shelf lives, buying in bulk only saves money if the product is used before it spoils (Produce at Costco: To Buy or Not To Buy), other items seem to last forever. After coming across a list of this latter group, I decided to add to it and write this post. Some of the items are specifically designed to last for decades. Others are just products that last a long time. As long as one has the space, it makes sense to “stock up and save.

1. Kirkland Signature Stretch-Tite

This Costco version of Saran wrap can last a very long time. It is sold in a two pack, with a combined total of 1500 square feet of wrap. That is a lot! 

My family does buy this product and we have actually finished rolls but they do last a very long time. 

2. Kirkland Signature Reynolds Foodservice Foil

Like the Stretch-Tite, there is a lot of foil in this package, with a total of 1000 sq ft of foil. It is also good quality.

I have bought store brand full at times and struggles to keep the foil in the box, leading to most of the roll coming out at once. May be a good comedy routine but not effective for preserving food!

3. Palmolive Ultra Strength Liquid Dish Soap

Bottles of this dish soap are 102 ounces. The soap is thick and cleans very well.

My family buys this soap in a regular basis. It lasts a long time. Due to how thick it is,very usually water it down, making it easier to use and last even longer.

4. Advil Ibuprofen 200 mg Pain Reliever/Fever Reducer

This name brand medication is sold in large bottles containing 360 tablets, enabling people to save money and ensure that it will not run out.

We buy this Advil. We have plenty of space to store it and save money by buying the large bottle. We don’t tend to use much of it but it is good to know that it is here when needed.

5. Kirkland Signature Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner 

These bottles of hair care products are 33.8 ounces, over twice the size of typical 12-16-ounce bottles.

I recently reviewed this item (Quick Product Review: Kirkland Signature Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner). The bottles are large to begin with. In addition, as I had mentioned, not much is needed to wash hair, leading to the product lasting even longer.

6. Colgate Total Active Prevention Toothpaste

 Most people (hopefully) use toothpaste on a(t least) a twice daily basis. Even so, five 6.4-ounce tubes of toothpaste last a very long time.

We buy this toothpaste on a regular basis. I used to use way too much toothpaste for each brushing because I assumed that more was better. However, I then learned that it is actually better to use less, as too much paste can be damaging to the teeth and gums. Obviously using less makes each tune last even longer.

7. Oral-B Glide Advanced Multi-Protection Floss

Another oral care item that, when bought at Costco seems to last forever, is floss. Sold in  six-packs, the entire package contains almost 290 yards of floss.

I floss every day (okay, *almost* every day) and a single container lasts me a long time. Even for a family of people with stellar oral hygeine, this floss lasts a long time.

8. Kirkland Signature Flex-Tech 13-Gallon Kitchen Trash Bag

These large trash bags come in boxes of 200 bags. 

We buy these bags and it takes a long time to go through a box. Each bag holds a lot of trash and 200 is a lot of bags. Ironically, as I was writing this post, my dad commented that the plastic bags were on sale for the first time in about three years. He said that there were online comments from members about how the timing works out well for them because they take that long to go through the box. Funny timing. 

9. Nutrient Survival Freeze Dried Homestyle Scramble

One of the food items purposely made to last a long time is this canned scrambled egg mixture created to last 25 years. The mixture (cheddar; eggs; shredded potatoes; bell peppers; Himalayan pink salt) is high in protein.

Hmmm…I realize that these cans are not really created for everyday enjoyment. Even so, the idea of unrefrigerated cheese and eggs that could be eaten 25 years later is a bit disconcerting.

10. Nutristore Freeze Dried Strawberries

Another 25-year option at Costco are these dried strawberries. They are sold in a package of six cans, for a total of 138 servings. Members recommend using them in smoothies, or on oatmeal or cereal. 

138 servings of dried strawberries is a lot! I don’t like dried strawberries but given that it can be difficult and/or expensive to buy fresh strawberries, I can see the advantage of this product.

11. Nutristore Freeze Dried Veggie Variety

In addition to strawberries, Nutristore sells cans of vegetables, also able to last 25 years. There are six cans of a variety of vegetables (Butternut squash; Corn; Green beans; Green peas; Potatoes; Onions) for a total of 124 servings.

There are enough other ways to buy vegetables that these do not appeal to me. 

12. Mountain House Emergency Meal Kit

If 25 years is not far out enough, these meal kits last 30 years. The kit sold at Costco contains 15 pouches, for a total of 28 servings. Meals include breakfasts (Granola with Milk & Blueberries; Scrambled Eggs with Bacon), lunches/dinners (Lasagna with Meat Sauce; Chicken & Dumplings; Beef Stroganoff with Noodles). After hot water is added, the meals are ready to eat. 

Similar comments as above. I don’t have any need for these meals.

13. Mountain House Asian Inspired Freeze Dried Kit

Mountain House has an Asian line of products as well. These items are sold in packages of 24 pouches, totaling 48 servings. There are four varieties (Pad Thai with Chicken; Chicken Fried Rice; Yellow Curry with Chicken and Rice). They also require hot water. 

Same as above.

14. ReadyWise Gluten-Free Emergency Food Entree

An additional item that Costco sells that can last 25 years are these kits that contain 48 servings (24 each).of two food items (Teriyaki Rice; Loaded Baked Potato Casserole).

Nothing new to add except that these two items seem incredibly random! 

15. Krusteaz Complete Buttermilk Pancake Mix 

In addition to the food items designed to last for decades, other products are sold in such large quantities that they may seem to ladt forever. This mix is sold in 10 pound bags, and members claim that freezing it in airtight containers does not decrease its quality. 

Although I know that many Costco items last well in the freezer (Best Costco Items to Freeze), I never would have included pancake mix on the list. Honestly, I’d be more likely to just toss what was left when it hit the expiration date but it is good to know. 

16.Kirkland Signature Organic Pure Maple Syrup

A popular topping for those never-ending pancakes or waffles that may also seem to hang around forever is this maple syrup. Bottles contain 33.8 ounces.

This syrup is delicious and I use it often (Product Review: Kirkland 100% Pure Maple Syrup). My family does go through bottles of it (probably 1-2/year) but it does last a long time, largely because it is so sweet that one does not need to use much at a time. 

17. Kirkland Signature Wild Flower Honey

A second sweet condiment that can last a very long time is honey. Costco sells five pound jars. 

I remember reading that honey never expires. Therefore, this item really can last forever, regardless of the quantity. I cannot imagine coming even close to using five pounds of honey. As I think I have mentioned before, my Grandma used to store water in the fridge in cleaned out honey bear jars. These jars were 12 ounces and even then, I was amazed that anyone could go through one of them, let alone multiple (we used so little in my house that I think one jar literally did last forever, only used on Rosh Hashanah). I still remember my cousin asking for some water and when she directed him to a bear jar, we decided that we had a new unit of measurement…a “bear” of water. 

18. Kirkland Signature Olive Oil

Members have commented that the two liter bottle of Olive Oil lasts a very long time. 

I don’t use much oil of any kind, but it does seem like this quantity would last a long time, given that not much is needed at once.

19. Spices

Another cooking item that can seem to ladt forever are the large containers of spices. 

Again, I don’t use many spices but I definitely can imagine that buying them in bulk would set someone up for a very long time. 

20. Kirkland Signature Organic Roasted Seaweed

One of the items that shoppers report lasts a long time is the roasted seaweed if used for cooking rather than snacking. Sold in packages of 10 individual bags, it can be used for a long time.

I have never bought this item and wouldn’t know how to use it.

21. Thai Hom Mali Jasmine Rice

This rice, sold in 25 pound bags, can serve as a base for meals for a long time. 

My family used to buy a few different varieties of rice at Costco in these huge bags. It did last a long time! My only concern is the storage as grains can attract bugs, but one of would be to store it in large plastic jars instead of rewrapping the original bag. 

22. SPAM, Classic

A canned meat item that Costco sells and that can last for years is SPAM. Packages contain eight 12-ounce cans. 

For most of my life, SPAM has been very high on the list of “most disgusting sounding/looking items ever.” I have never eaten it and don’t understand the appeal at all. I know that many like it but it has always bothered me.

23. Other Canned Goods

Costco sells a variety of canned goods (e.g., corn; beans; potatoes).in varying sizes. Most canned goods carry expiration dates that go out several years, making these items available seemingly forever after purchase. 

I don’t use many canned goods but I do like to keep a few of different types around so thT I know I have them for.an easy side dish.

24. Beverages

Like canned goods, many beverages can last years before expiring. Therefore, one can buy a package of drinks (e.g., water; soda; Gatorade) and store it, knowing that it will last a long time.

My family definitely keeps beverages for a long time. Funny story…in the early 2000s, my cousins were visiting and looking for packaged water to take in the car. When my mom found some, I commented that I could not believe that we still had those bottles, given how long it had been since I had seen one. She commented that “water doesn’t expire.” Not willing to let it go, I examined the bottles and saw that they had actually expired in 1990…my cousins declined the water…)

25. Candy

Although candy doesn’t necessarily last forever, some of the quantities sold at Costco (e.g., 30 full-size bags/bars; 150 individual mini chocolate bars; 360 Jolly Ranchers) can make it seem never-ending.

My family has bought candy at Costco on multiple occasions but does last a long time. I remember buying the huge bags of jolly Ranchers when I was much younger and being set for a very long time. I certainly have “ruined” the lasting nature by eating WAY too many candies at once (I literally went through an entire box of Swedish Fish in college in about a week). 

26. Gum 

Similar to candy, buying gum at Costco ensures availability for a long time. Packages tend to contain 150-200 sticks of gum.

I no longer chew gum but, when I did, it was nice to know that there was always a lack available to grab on my way out.

Do you buy any of these items that seem to last forever? Any others you’d add to the list?