Costco offers an extensive array of exceptional products, especially in its food section. From stocking up on tasty frozen dinners to enjoying the well–loved hot dog combo at the food court, Costco provides a wide range of delightful choices. However, not every product meets everyone’s expectations. According to loyal customers, some items are best avoided. Here, we have listed eight Costco Kirkland products that enthusiasts believe have declined in quality lately.
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Costco Fans Reveal 8 Food Items They Never Purchase From The Chain—And Why
1. Prepared Potato Salad
Potato salad is often hit or miss. And if you're picky about this beloved side dish, you may want to steer clear of Costco's variety. "The big container of potato salad used to be my favorite, and now it is trash," one commenter on Reddit lamented. "I don't know what happened to it, but it is definitely not the same!" Others agreed. "I got some bacon potato salad like two years ago and it was so bad. I returned it and it gave me a whole perspective of what not to buy at Costco," someone else wrote. Noted!
2. Macaroni and Cheese
It's hard to go wrong with macaroni and cheese—or at least that's what we thought. According to Redditors, the mac & cheese at Costco is incredibly disappointing due to a lack of flavor. Say it ain't so! "It's BLAND!" one comment complained. Someone pointed out a bit of irony: "But to your surprise, it’s still really high in sodium!" When you consider the health risks of all that sodium, bland macaroni and cheese definitely isn't worth the risk. We'll stick to making our own at home, or even microwaving some Easy Mac.
3. Chicken Pot Pie
If you ask us, chicken pot pie is just about the comfort food to end all comfort foods. But it sounds like Costco's take on this tasty dish just doesn't meet the mark flavor-wise. "They use those stupid flavorless baby carrots and somehow find a way to put rubbery cubes of chicken in there. It’s gross," says one comment. "Totally agree that they are awful," someone else replied. "The crust is cardboard, the flavor is not there and it's hard to get past all the sodium. I've been spoiled all my life with good homemade chicken pot pie, so that may be part of the problem, but damn, so bad!"
4. Rotisserie Chicken
Without question, Costco's hot rotisserie chicken is one of its most iconic offerings. Straight from the deli, expertly seasoned and cooked just right, it has earned its reputation for a reason. Nonetheless, not every customer shares this sentiment. Some have raised concerns about its quality and frequent lack of freshness, as mentioned in the Reddit discussion “What do you NOT buy from Costco?” in r/frugal.
One user wrote: "I don't buy rotisserie chicken" as other users found their chicken to be tasting "chemically" and "soapy," and employees suggested that it might be the packaging. (Maybe there are better and fresher rotisserie chicken options elsewhere!)
5. Fresh Produce
A different Reddit user mentioned in the aforementioned conversation that they refrain from purchasing fresh fruits at Costco. "It’s too much to finish for my family and can most of the time be cheaper at the local grocery stores around me," they wrote. Another agreed and added that they avoid purchasing "frozen strawberries" at the wholesale retailer. They noted that they sometimes get them for "something like half as much at Aldi."
6. Baked Goods
Other Costco members in the chat noted that they refrain from buying baked goods in the iconic bakery section. "I go out of my way not to buy baked goods there," one noted. They explained: "I occasionally make exceptions (like pumpkin pie) but I just can't have 36 enormous delicious cookies around me. I can't have a 9 pound cheesecake." Someone else replied: "I only buy bagels if I can immediately slice and freeze them. They’re great right out of the freezer! Otherwise they go moldy before we can eat them." An additional user noted that they choose to grab these goods elsewhere as the "portions" at Costco are "just too large."
7. Milk And Cream
Someone else wrote that they don't buy "milk and cream" at Costco. They shared that they "can't go through those sizes before it spoils." One other concurred, commenting: "The lactose free I like is not available. I also don't like buying milk in bulk." Another chimed in, sharing that they never buy "cream cheese" at Costco. They wrote: "Kirkland cream cheese can go die in the fires of hell. Philly only, so I make trips to [Sam's Club] for the value pack."
8. Kirkland Orange Juice
Costco customers insist that the orange juice doesn't have the same flavor it once did, as one person recently noted on Reddit. "I have been buying Kirkland OJ for many years, there is normally some small variation since the product uses only orange juice, but now it has an additional strange taste, a sort of liquorice flavor that is very strong." The user, as reported by Eat This, Not That, added: "The flavor is VERY different now…it tastes like Tropicana calcium fortified oj. I was always impressed with the fresh squeezed taste, high quality flavor of Kirkland oj, but now it's BAD."
The Bottom Line
Costco is a fantastic place to find a lot of things—but unfortunately, that doesn't include these foods. So next time you're at the warehouse, stick to those fan-favorite products you know and love, and maybe just go with a food court hot dog.
