Kirkland Products: 12 to buy

I have written before about the high quality of Kirkland (Costco’s store-brand) products before–both in general(Countering anti-Costco sentiments: Part 1) and in individual product reviews.

Here is an article discussing 12 (yes, they say 10 but include two “bonus” items) of the top Kirkland items to purchase.

https://www.kiplinger.com/slideshow/spending/T065-S001-10-kirkland-products-you-should-buy-at-costco/index.html?cid=56&kwp_0=512718&kwp_4=1838443&kwp_1=780292

I will briefly (brief is rare with me but I will try!) comment on each of these, several about which I have written:

1.Bacon

I have mentioned on a few occasions that I do not eat much meat–and bacon is not among the few meats that I do eat, so I really don’t have much to say on this one.

2. Batteries

I rarely buy batteries. Batteries are one of those items (toilet paper and light bulbs also come to mind) that just seem to “be there” without actually having been purchased. I guess, growing up, I never saw them being purchased and just knew where to find them in the house when needed. And when I moved into my condo, my mom left a lot of batteries there and I just don’t use many. I don’t even know if they are Kirkland brand or not.

3. Beer

I do not drink beer. I’d be interested in what others have to say on this one though.

4. Coffee

I also don’t drink coffee (but love the smell…especially the French vanilla or hazelnut varieties…yes, I am that creepy person standing close to people drinking their lovely-smelling coffee in the winter while waiting for the train). I know that my parents buy a lot of this coffee…when I go to Costco with them, I ask how they go through so much coffee when there are only two of them and they only drink 1-2 cups/day each. They always say, “we have some but it is on special.” So, apparently, it is a good deal to begin with and usually on an additional discount…

5. Gas

Already discussed (Got gas?)

6. Golf Balls

I don’t play golf and, to be honest, it never even occurred to me that there would be differences in golf balls. But, if I ever decide I want to try, I would benefit from spending as little money as possible on golf balls, as I have a suspicion that many will end up in the water! Unfortunately, as the article notes, they are no longer available (like so many other products It’s Gone? Discontinued Products) but perhaps the new ones will arrive sooner than anticipated.

7. Greek yogurt

Already discussed (Product Review: Kirkland Greek Yogurt)

8. Ice Cream

I have never tried it but did mention it among the products in which I am interested (Would You Recommend?). I haven’t looked at the ice cream recently, but last time I looked, they actually were selling a different brand (Humbolt’s organic ice cream) but perhaps they have reverted back to Kirkland?

9. K-Cups

See comment on coffee. My parents still brew coffee but buy K-cups for the times when my mom is away (I guess my dad still doesn’t know how to brew coffee…) or for when someone is at the house and just wants one cup. My Grandma (yes, my entire family is into Costco) also buys these…it is a big pack for her but she has a lot of storage space, so it makes sense for her to “Stock up and save.”

10. Olive Oil

Despite the apparent benefits of olive oil, I do not generally cook with it. One funny “olive oil” story is that, one time, my dad was picking up Chinese food and saw another customer enter with a large bottle of olive oil. Apparently, this customer has such a preference for it that he requests that the restaurant use it when preparing his order. (Yes, I realize this story has nothing to do with Costco, but figured I would share it anyway).

11. Peanut Butter

Already discussed (Product Review:Kirkland organic creamy peanut butter)

12. Salmon

Although I very much enjoy the frozen Kirkland salmon (Product Review: Kirkland frozen Atlantic salmon) and the Kirkland lox (Product Review:Kirkland Signature Smoked Salmon), I have never tried the fresh variety. Although I love salmon in all forms, the packages are enormous! But, if I were planning to prepare salmon for a large group of people, it might be a good purchase. It can probably also be frozen, but the idea of freezing fish (despite the fact that I eat frozen fish) just seems odd to me.

What do you think of this list?

Do you buy these items?

Any others you would add to the list?