Costco is known for bulk deals that can save you money, but for a two person household, those savings can quickly turn into waste. Oversized portions may seem like a bargain at first, but you might end up throwing away spoiled food and unused products, ultimately wasting money. If you’re shopping for two, here are the things you should think twice about before buying at Costco.
Pies
Costco’s pies are legendary in size and value—take their iconic $5.99 pumpkin pie, for example. It’s enormous, delicious, and a great deal. But unless you’re hosting a party, it’s a bad buy for a two person household. Let’s be real: by the third slice, you’ll be sick of it, and the rest will end up in the trash. Great price, sure—but only if you can actually finish it.
Chips
Giant bags of chips are a great deal at Costco, but for two people, they can quickly become a waste of money. Once opened, chips start getting stale fast. Plus, if it’s a new flavor you’re just trying out, it’s a gamble—you might hate it and be stuck with a club size bag. When it comes to chips, smaller is smarter.
Pickles
Unless you’re running a deli, Costco’s jars of pickles are just too big for two people. We’re talking restaurant supply size jars that dominate an entire fridge shelf. Sure, pickles last a while, but even then—do you really eat them that often? More often than not, you’ll forget about them, and they’ll sit there, half-full, taking up space for months.
Avocados
Buying avocados in bulk might sound healthy, but it’s a ticking time bomb. Costco’s avocados tend to ripen all at once, leaving you with a 48 hour window to eat five or six of them. Odds are you’ll be tossing at least a couple into the compost bin.
Organic Spring Mix
The big, clear tub of spring mix from Costco is a fridge staple for some—but it shouldn’t be if you’re only shopping for two. The greens go from fresh and crisp to slimy and sad in a matter of days. Unless you’re committed to eating a salad at every meal, it’s not worth the waste. Smaller bags from the grocery store are a much smarter option.
Grated Cheese
Grated cheese in Costco-sized containers seems like a smart buy—until you’re halfway through and it starts to clump, dry out, or grow mystery fuzz. For couples, it’s just too much to use up in time.
The Kirkland grated Parmegiano Reggiano in particular comes in a massive bottle that feels like it belongs in a restaurant kitchen, not a two person fridge. It takes up a ton of space, so stick to smaller containers that keep better and don’t monopolize your fridge shelf.
Croissants
Those buttery, flaky Costco croissants are hard to resist. For two people, that’s croissants for breakfast, lunch, and dinner all week long. Even with creative meal planning, you’ll likely end up throwing away a few because they mold or go stale. And no, freezing them doesn’t really bring back that oven-fresh goodness.
Brie
Costco’s Kirkland French Brie is too much for two people. Soft cheeses like Brie have a short shelf life once opened, and unless you’re hosting wine-and-cheese nights every weekend, you’ll likely end up scraping off mold. Smaller wedges from the local grocery store are more manageable.
Dips
It’s tempting to buy one of Costco’s oversized tubs of dip—especially when the price per ounce looks like such a good deal. But for a two person household, most of these are simply too big to finish before they go bad.
Take the La Terra Fina Spinach Artichoke & Parmesan Dip, for example. It comes in a huge tub that starts to lose its freshness after just a few days. Unless you’re hosting a party or planning to eat it daily, it’ll likely end up getting tossed.
Fresh Salads
Pre-made salads from Costco are a tempting buy, but they’re just too big for two people. Like the Summer Fresh Tuscan Bean Salad or potato salads, they come in hefty containers that are better suited for parties or family dinners. Even if you love a good salad, you’ll get tired of eating the same one meal after meal.
Jam
Costco’s giant jars of jam might seem like a great deal, but if you’re a couple, it’s likely to end in waste. Jam can grow mold quickly, especially when it’s opened and repeatedly exposed to air and moisture.
Unless you eat toast every morning or bake with it often, you’ll struggle to finish that oversized jar before it starts growing fuzz. You’re better off buying smaller jars for better freshness and less waste.
Chicken Pot Pie and Shepherd’s Pie
Costco’s Chicken Pot Pie and Shepherd’s Pie are massive, meant to feed six or more. For a two person household, finishing one before getting bored—or before it spoils—is nearly impossible. Unless you’re planning to eat it multiple times a week or freeze a large portion, it’s not worth it.
Tortillas
Costco’s tortillas come in massive packs—more than enough to feed a large family taco night after taco night. For a couple, though, it’s just too much. Yes, you can freeze them, but tortillas take up valuable freezer space and don’t always thaw perfectly.
Unless you’ve got room to spare and a long-term plan for quesadillas, it’s better to stick to smaller packs from your local grocery store.
Hummus
Costco’s price on hummus is amazingly low—but unless you’re dipping veggies around the clock, that giant tub is a waste for 2 people. Hummus has a relatively short shelf life once opened, and no matter how healthy your intentions are, two people will have a tough time getting through the Costco-sized container before it turns bad. Smaller containers from the grocery store are a smarter—and fresher—option.
Steak
Costco’s per-pound price on steaks can be hard to beat—but the bulk packaging isn’t ideal for two. You’ll often get four to six large cuts in a single tray, and unless you’re ready to eat steak all week or freeze the rest, it becomes more hassle than it’s worth. Freezing is an option, but it takes up space fast—and defrosted steak never tastes quite as good as fresh.
Refrigerated Sauce
Costco’s refrigerated sauces are tempting buys, but they are just too much for two people to use up. Take the cilantro lime crema, for example—there’s no way two people can finish both bottles before the sauce spoils.
These sauces don’t have the shelf life to justify the size. Stick to smaller bottles from the grocery store so you can enjoy them while they’re fresh. Check out What I Buy at Costco But Never at Sam’s Club (and Vice Versa)
Shredded Cheese
Think twice before buying the double-pack of shredded cheese at Costco. Costco’s shredded cheese—especially their Mexican blend—comes in two giant 2.5 pound bags. That’s five pounds of cheese!
Mold shows up fast on shredded cheese, and unless you’re hosting a nacho bar every weekend, you’ll likely have to throw some of it out. It’s cheaper per ounce, sure, but it’s not worth it if half ends up in the trash. Check out Costco vs Sam’s Club: 14 Major Differences You Should Know About
Butter
You might think butter lasts forever, but it doesn’t. Costco’s bulk packs typically include four 16 ounce sticks (that’s a full 4 pounds of butter). Unless you’re baking every week or making large batch meals regularly, it’s more than two people will realistically use before it starts going bad.
Even if you freeze some, quality can suffer over time. Better to buy smaller quantities and keep it fresh. Check out 23 Costco Items that are a Total Waste of Money for Small Households
Salsa
Costco’s salsa giant tubs are way too big for a two person household. The fresh, refrigerated options like Organic Jack’s Cantina Salsa come in 48 ounce tubs—enough to feed a whole party.
But if you’re not planning to serve it to guests, the salsa will start to go bad before you’re halfway through. Plus, it hogs precious fridge space. Check out 18 Easy Meals from Costco for When You’re Too Lazy to Cook
Rolls and Buns
Costco’s baked goods are incredibly affordable, but they’re a waste for small households. Packages of rolls and breakfast buns come in large quantities— impractical for just two people.
Unless you’re planning to host brunch or make sandwiches every day for a week, most of those soft, fluffy buns will go stale or moldy before you can finish them. Check out 21 Best Bulk Buys from Costco that Will Last You All Year (and Save You Money)
Condiments
From ketchup to mustard to mayo, Costco’s condiment bottles are supersized and fridge-space hogs. For a household of two, it’s overkill. Unless you’re running a summer BBQ every weekend, you’re unlikely to get through those club size squeeze bottles before they start to separate or expire. You’ll also constantly be annoyed at how much space they take up in the fridge. Check out 24 Best Kirkland Products I Always Buy at Costco
Fresh Pasta
Costco’s fresh pasta is too much for 2 people. Unless you’re planning a pasta dinner for six, you’ll end up freezing most of it, taking up precious freezer space. For couples, it’s more practical to stick to dry pasta or pick up a smaller pack from a local market. Check out 17 Costco Meals Cheaper than Restaurant Take Out to Save You Money
Specialty Desserts
Costco is known for its tempting array of specialty desserts—from tiramisu cups to packs of delicate French macarons. And while they look beautiful and are priced well for the quantity, they’re simply too much for a two person household.
Take the macaron packs, for example: unless you’re planning to eat several every day, they’ll either go stale or need to be frozen. If you want to treat yourself, it’s better to buy a smaller portion from a local bakery where quality and freshness are easier to enjoy in moderation. Check out 28 Things I Always Buy at Costco
Yogurt
Costco’s yogurt packs are a great value—if you can eat them fast enough. Most come in large multi-pack cases, which are hard for a two person household to get through before the expiration date.
Unless you’re both eating yogurt daily, you’ll probably end up tossing a few cups (or more). Stick to smaller packs from your local grocery store to reduce waste and keep things fresh. Check out 26 Things I Never Pay Full Price at Costco