Did somebody say luxury foods and gourmet items? You can find them at Costco at unbelievable prices!
Costco is a well-known spot among frugal people who want to save money on eggs, coffee, or toilet paper. But did you know that Costco can also help you save money on luxury foods?
Usually, you want to save a few bucks on everyday shopping, but from time to time, it is not bad to indulge yourself and purchase some luxury foods. These are things you don’t buy every day, but sometimes you need them for a special occasion or maybe just because you really like them and buy them so rarely.
So, forget about Erewhon, Whole Foods, or other overpriced grocery stores. Check out Costco if you want to buy restaurant-quality luxury foods at incredibly good prices. And this is not what we say, but restaurant professionals and chefs who have years of experience in some of the best kitchens in this country.
Keep in mind that they will not be as affordable as regular items, but when you want to treat yourself or celebrate a special occasion, Costco is the best place to buy them.
1. Caviar
Probably when you think about luxury foods, the first thing that comes to mind is caviar. These are malossol-salted, unfertilized sturgeon eggs, and the most surprising thing is that you can find them at Costco for good prices. The best thing is that you have a selection to choose from but depending on how much you want to buy.
Malossol is caviar of the highest quality, and it has a low content of salt, usually between 5% and 3.7% or lower. What makes this one of the luxury foods is that sturgeon are rarer than they used to be, and since it is hard to find caviar in the wild, the fish should be farmed in special establishments. There is a lot of work involved, and the prices show it.
At Costco, you can find the Plaza Golden Osetra Caviar at $70 per ounce. In most places, the prices start at about $100 per ounce, but as we said here, you can find it cheaper. The next time you feel like eating something special, you must try this treat.
2. Vanilla beans
Sometimes baking can make you buy things you can’t really afford, and a good example of this is when the recipe tells you that you need to use vanilla beans. If you ever had such a baking project in the past, you know how expensive things can get when you need vanilla beans.
What makes vanilla beans luxury foods is the whole process of harvesting them. It is a meticulous and delicate process, and those who take care of it need to be paid accordingly.
This is why most of us, when we need vanilla, gravitate towards the more affordable options, such as vanilla extract and, in some cases, artificial imitations.
But now there is no need to do that anymore because even if vanilla is one of the luxury foods, you can finally upgrade your baking and buy Costco’s vanilla beans for as little as $15! For this price, you will get 10 vanilla beans. This is a lot, and considering that this is how much you would pay for a bottle of extract at any other store, it is for sure a bargain.
3. Parmigiano Reggiano
What is the best part of a pasta dish? For many, it’s the parmesan you put on top. And one thing about it is that, as you sprinkle it on top of your pasta, you may not realize that this is one of the luxury foods.
Parmigiano Reggiano is delicious, and many believe that it is the king of cheese. But because of this, the price is also fitting for a king. Sure, we have domestic versions of parmesan, but nothing beats the original, especially on a charcuterie platter paired with a nice wine.
But why is this Italian cheese one of the luxury foods, and why does it cost so much? Most of this has something to do with the extremely high standards that this cheese has to meet before it is suitable for sale.
Before being considered Parmigiano Reggiano, the cheese has to meet Italy’s Denominazione d’Origine Protetta (DOP) criteria. This is not an easy job. The cheese has to be produced in one specific region of Italy, and it can only be made from unpasteurized cow’s milk. And these are only two of the criteria.
Hopefully, at Costco, you can buy Parmigiano Reggiano as one-and-a-half-pound wedges for half the normal price you can find in other stores.
4. Confit duck legs
Duck is for sure one of the luxury foods, and it is not something you just find on any menu. Generally, you can find duck on the menus of high-end restaurants because most consider it to be difficult to cook properly.
One of the best ways to eat duck is confit. This is a French method where the meat is cooked in its own fat for a day until it just falls off the bone. Unfortunately, since it is one of the luxury foods, duck meat is not cheap. Ducks are more expensive than chickens because they take more time to grow, and ducks are also not grown on a large scale.
The best part is that Costco sells pre-cooked confit duck legs at around $26 per pound. I think we don’t have to say that this is your chance to take advantage of this and enjoy this delicacy.
5. Saffron
This is the most expensive spice in the world, and this is why it is one of the luxury foods. Generally, a pinch of it will make you take about $30 out of your pocket.
This ancient fragrant spice is derived from a purple flower belonging to the iris family, commonly referred to as saffron. Each flower develops three threads, which are picked and dried.
The catch is that for a single gram of saffron, there are thousands of flowers needed. Also, they need to be picked at a certain time. This is why this spice is one of the luxury foods. The whole production process is complicated, but in the end, it is also very rewarding.
Since Costco sells in bulk, this gives room for more affordable prices, which is why you can buy a 15-gram jar of saffron for $79.99. Compared to other stores, this is an amazing price.
6. Dom Pérignon
If you really want to feel lush, then you can’t go wrong with a bottle of Dom Pérignon. Rappers mention it in their lyrics, associating it with opulence and success, and this makes this sparkling wine one of the fanciest in the world and also a symbol of celebration.
Depending on the vintage, a single bottle of Dom Pérignon can cost up to $300 or even more! This is not really one of the luxury foods, but it is definitely a luxury drink that you can buy for a special occasion.
But if you go to Costco, you can find bottles of Dom Pérignon for only $160! This is a steal of a deal, and if you want a good drink, go and grab it immediately.
Next time you want to hold a fancy dinner and you want to impress your guests with luxury foods, you will know that Costco is there and has amazing prices as always.
Do you think they should sell more luxury foods? Tell us in the comments!
If you want to know more about how to ear caviar, this book might help: The Art of Caviar Pairing: A Connoisseur’s Guide to Fine Caviar: Enjoy the World’s Finest Caviar
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