I worked at Costco for almost a decade and still shop there for my big family. Here are 8 products I buy every week. [Business Insider]

I spent nearly ten years working at Costco, stocking shelves, manning the food court, and watching thousands of members push giant carts through those cavernous aisles. When I finally left for a reporting job, I assumed my Costco days were behind me. But then I had kids—three of them—and suddenly, the warehouse club became the only place that made logistical and financial sense for my family.

Now, I shop there every single week. Not because I have to, but because I genuinely can’t beat the value or the quality for a household of five. After a decade inside the machine, I know which products are worth the membership fee and which are just clever packaging. Here are the eight items that land in my cart every week without fail.

1. The $4.99 Rotisserie Chicken

This is the loss leader that keeps members coming back, and for good reason. Costco famously loses money on every rotisserie chicken, selling them at a price that no grocery store can touch. For my family, one bird becomes three meals: shredded chicken tacos on night one, chicken salad for lunch, and then the carcass gets boiled into a simple stock for rice. The meat is consistently juicy, the seasoning is mild enough for kids, and at under five bucks, it’s the cheapest protein you can buy. I grab two every Sunday.

2. Organic Whole Milk (Three-Gallon Pack)

With three kids under ten, we go through milk like it’s a utility. Costco’s three-gallon pack of organic whole milk costs roughly the same as two gallons at my local supermarket. The expiration dates are usually two to three weeks out, so I never worry about spoilage. I also appreciate that Kirkland Signature sources its milk from cows not treated with artificial growth hormones. It’s a small peace of mind that adds up when your kids drink it by the cupful.

3. Kirkland Signature Extra Virgin Olive Oil

I learned this trick from the buyers back when I worked there: Costco’s house brand olive oil is consistently rated among the best in blind taste tests, often beating fancy Italian imports that cost four times as much. The two-liter bottle is a beast, but I decant it into a smaller cruet for everyday use. I use it for everything—roasting vegetables, making vinaigrettes, and sautéing onions for my family’s favorite pasta sauce. It’s a pantry staple that never disappoints.

4. Fresh-Cut Fruit Platter (The Large Tray)

I know, I know—pre-cut fruit is a luxury. But hear me out. When you have kids who refuse to eat whole apples but will devour a bowl of cubed pineapple and melon, a $15 tray of fresh fruit saves me from buying three separate whole fruits that will rot in the fridge. The quality is surprisingly high; the pineapple is always ripe, the honeydew is sweet, and the strawberries are rarely mushy. I split it into small containers for school lunches and afternoon snacks. It’s the lazy parent’s secret weapon.

5. Kirkland Signature Paper Towels

I used to roll my eyes at the cult of Costco paper towels when I worked there. Then I had a toddler who spilled apple juice on the carpet three times in one morning. These towels are thick, absorbent, and one roll lasts me an entire week. The perforation is perfect—no tearing a sheet in half by accident. I buy the 12-pack and store it in the garage. It lasts about two months, which means fewer trips and less money spent on a product that literally gets thrown away.

6. Frozen Wild-Caught Salmon Fillets

Fresh fish at Costco is decent, but the frozen section is where the real value lives. The individually vacuum-sealed wild-caught salmon fillets are flash-frozen at sea, which means they taste fresher than the “fresh” fish that’s been sitting on ice for three days. I thaw two fillets overnight, season them with salt and pepper, and pan-sear them in that Kirkland olive oil. Dinner is on the table in 12 minutes. My kids call it “pink fish” and actually ask for it. That alone is worth the membership fee.

7. The 24-Pack of Kirkland Signature Spring Water

I’m not proud of buying bottled water, but the reality is that we need it for school lunches, soccer games, and road trips. Costco’s house brand water is cheap—about 25 cents per bottle—and the bottles are sturdier than the flimsy store-brand ones that collapse if you squeeze them too hard. I also appreciate that Kirkland water is sourced from a municipal supply that’s filtered and ozonated, not some mystery aquifer. For the price, it’s a no-brainer.

8. The Giant Box of Cheez-Its

This is the pure indulgence on the list, and I own it. Costco sells a box of Cheez-Its that weighs roughly the same as a small cat. It’s about $11 for a 3.5-pound box, compared to $4 for a 7-ounce box at the grocery store. Do the math: that’s a 60% savings. I portion them out into snack bags for the kids’ lunchboxes, and they last about three weeks. Yes, it’s processed cheese crackers. Yes, they’re delicious. And yes, I eat a handful every time I open the box. No regrets.

Working at Costco taught me that the store’s business model is genius: sell a limited number of high-quality items at razor-thin margins, and make money on membership fees. As a customer, I’ve learned to lean into that. I don’t buy the snacks, the seasonal decor, or the electronics. I stick to the staples that make my life easier and my grocery bill smaller. These eight products are my weekly foundation. They’re the reason I keep renewing my membership, even though I know exactly how the sausage is made.

Ahmed Abed – News journalist