Here’s Why You Should Never Buy This Type of Bread at Costco
At this point, my deep feelings for all things Costco are well documented on the (web) pages of Reader’s Digest. Obviously, Costco’s low prices are at the top of my love letter to the membership warehouse club. But then there’s that $4.99 rotisserie chicken and Costco newcomers like the Tiramisu Cheesecake (which is *chef’s kiss*).
With that said, there are some things I’ve learned to avoid at Costco over time, as much as it pains me to admit it. And, yes, I’ve had to learn the hard way, because one of those items was a repeat offender in my cart for a long time. There’s a certain type of bread I no longer buy at Costco for good reason, and I’m ready to dish so you don’t make the same mistake I did.
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Which type of bread shouldn’t you buy at Costco?
Let me cut to the chase—it’s sandwich bread. And as Costco shoppers know, the retailer typically carries several different brands of the stuff. At my local store, I can always spot Alfaro’s, Pepperidge Farm, Canyon Bakehouse, Dave’s Killer Bread, Oroweat (for which I can mix and match two loaves) and more. With so many options at your fingertips, it might sound ridiculous to suggest avoiding sandwich bread at Costco, especially when you have a houseful of hungry kids who need lunches, but there’s actually a good reason for it.
Why should you skip this Costco purchase?
It all boils down to savings—the whole reason you’re at Costco in the first place! Though Costco deals are plentiful, the sandwich bread, surprisingly, isn’t the best buy. “Skip name brand bread in bulk,” says Andrea Woroch, a consumer savings expert. “You can save more on smaller quantities of your local grocery store’s generic bread and not worry about any going bad. The same actually holds true with cereal.”
Let’s look at the basic Bimbo plain white bread my Costco carries. It costs $6.21 for two 24-ounce loaves. This breaks down to $3.10 per loaf, and drilling down even more, $0.12 per ounce. However, if I head to my local Kroger, I can buy their private label white sandwich bread in a 20-ounce loaf for $1.99. Per ounce, that’s just $0.09.
Now, a 3-cent-per-ounce difference might seem small, but it’s still 25% costlier at Costco. And you have the added concern of food waste. Anecdotally, I can tell you one of the most frequent food items I see in my local Buy Nothing group on Facebook is Costco bread. (And not just sandwich bread—often croissants too!) It’s just too hard to finish all of it before the expiration date.
How quickly does bread go bad?
Soft packaged bread, like the white bread in my example, is expected to last in the pantry for five to seven days, though with preservatives incorporated during the manufacturing process, your mileage may vary. Now if you’re purchasing two 24-ounce loaves of bread at Costco, with the expectation of consuming it all within a week’s time, that’s a challenge.
If you have a large family that goes ham on both sandwiches and toast, then there’s a chance you can consume it all before the bread goes bad. Because, remember, not only are there two loaves of bread in every package at Costco, but the loaves also tend to be larger than the single loaves at your local grocer.
According to the USDA, you can freeze bread for up to three months. If you have the freezer space, this is a smart way to eliminate food waste and not waste money. Or you could use the leftover bread to make bread crumbs by drying out a few slices of bread the oven on a low setting (about 275 degrees Fahrenheit) for 45 minutes.
Is buying sandwich bread here ever a good idea?
If your family has a favorite brand only sold at Costco, then, by all means, buy your sandwich bread in bulk. However, there isn’t a Kirkland brand sliced sandwich bread (yet!), so you’ll likely find their offerings at any local grocery store.
Another time you might want to buy in bulk? If you’re making sandwiches for a crowd (picnics, potlucks, you get the idea) and you know those two oversize loads will go in a flash. But even if you’re a connoisseur of Dave’s Killer Bread, you can typically get a 27-ounce loaf of that brand at Walmart for $3.80—whereas a package of two 27-ounce loaves of it at Costco costs $11.93 (or$5.96 per loaf). That means you’ll pay 36.2% more per loaf at Costco than you will at Walmart!
What type of bread is a better idea at Costco?
A year ago, I would have said the Kirkland Country French Bread, but that was sadly discontinued. For those looking for a little something special with their bread, go for the Kirkland Signature Rosemary Parmesan Cheese Bread in Costco’s bakery section. (Just note that you’ll need to finish it off within a couple of days because it turns stale quickly.) Now, this is more of a special-occasion bread in my house because, even at Costco, it runs close to $10 for a 32-ounce loaf. But, for comparison, the La Brea Bakery Rosemary Olive Oil Bread I buy at Albertson’s is $6.99, and only 14.5 ounces.
Another tried-and-true Costco bakery product? Costco’s baguettes, which are sold in packs of two and run about $6 at my local warehouse, Compared to baguettes at my local grocer’s, they aren’t really a steal in terms of savings. I can head to Albertson’s and get a baguette for $2.99. But in my experience, the Costco baguettes are excellent quality and totally worth it.
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Sources:
- Andrea Woroch, a consumer savings expert
- Eat by Date: “How long does bread last?”
- Ask USDA: “How long can I store bread?”
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