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The $20 Costco Grocery Staple Members Only Buy Once a Decade

Mara Weinraub
Mara WeinraubLifestyle Editor, Groceries
Mara is the Groceries Editor at Kitchn. She's fascinated with how we eat and what it says about our society. She lives in New York City where she stocks a minimum of three peanut butter jars in her apartment at all times.
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published Feb 3, 2023
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
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Credit: dennizn / Shutterstock

Costco members expect their groceries to last for an extended period of time. In fact, the big reason to visit the bulk warehouse is to stock up on these oversized versions of everyday staples for quick family meals and easy school lunches, as well as multi-packs of the best jarred pasta sauce, and of course, this. Buying in bulk means fewer trips to the grocery store and, oftentimes, less money in the long run. 

How long of a run will vary depending on the size of the item and household, and frequency of use. It could be a few weeks, months, or even years before some products need to be replenished. 

Credit: Brian Lam/ Shutterstock

Which brings us to a recent post in a Costco-themed Facebook group. A member posted a picture of a box of plastic food wrap with a celebratory, yet commemorative caption: “Happy 10th birthday to this baby! You were with us when we were just 2 new homeowners, and still with us now as a family of 4.”

In less than 24 hours the post had over 1,200 likes and 83 comments from fellow Costco fans. Dozens shared that they too have had this box of Kirkland Signature Stretch-Tite Plastic Food Wrap for 10, 12, 13, 15, and as many as 20 years (and counting)! One commenter even added that they inherited a roll from their grandpa.

How exactly did they keep track? Several people explained that they marked the date on their boxes of plastic wrap (how fun!). Others noted there’s actually a date on the inside of the box, presumably from the manufacturer.

For some, the 3,000-square-foot wrap didn’t last quite as long (the shortest we saw in the post was five years and that commenter still called it “such a great buy”). But it’s probably because plastic wrap is such a useful item to have on hand — particular this brand, which is a favorite of both Kitchn editors and Ina Garten.

No one in the group was sure what the price of the plastic wrap was 10 years ago, but one did note its 2023 price: $19.99. (You can also find it online for a few dollars more.)

Find it in stores: Kirkland Signature Stretch-Tite Plastic Food Wrap, $19.99 for 3,000 square feet

This post was originally published on Kitchn. Read it there: The $20 Costco Grocery Staple Members Only Buy Once a Decade