I Always Keep This Versatile Bulk Costco Item In My Pantry

Costco is known for its larger-than-life bulk items, like a 6-pound package of hemp seeds or a 5-pound bag of almonds, but I'd like to recommend another ginormous product for your cooking and baking needs. Enter: Krusteaz Complete Buttermilk Pancake Mix, packaged in a 10-pound bag. You might assume that there's no way your family will eat 10 pounds of pancakes before the best-by date. Perhaps that's true, but you could likely eat your way through something more versatile. What if you used the Krusteaz product not only for pancakes, but for waffles, desserts, and more? It's much easier to finish the bag when you think of its uses beyond what its name implies.

Krusteaz Complete Buttermilk Pancake Mix is made with wheat flour, malted barley flour, baking soda, salt, soybean oil, buttermilk, and a handful of other ingredients. The buttermilk aspect means the base has a mildly tangy note, which is great in sweet and savory uses. While it's true that not all Costco items are actual bargains, this item costs $7.99 at my local warehouse in the San Diego area — I'd wager that's a pretty good deal for how much time and effort it saves me. I bought a big blue bag for my family, and it's been incredibly easy to work it into our weekly meals. 

Of course, you can make your own bulk pancake mix and store it until needed. But I'm a busy working mom with a toddler and an infant, so having something incredibly simple on hand works for my family. My husband or I can make a quick brunch, breakfast, or snack with minimal effort and dishes. I also love using it to make a fruit cobbler. Simply mix fruit, such as blueberries or chopped strawberries, with a smidge of sugar and cinnamon and place in a small ramekin. Then prepare the batter as directed (sometimes I add in warm spices like cardamom, clove, or allspice), and drizzle it over the fruit. Bake until the batter is fully cooked for a quick, personal-sized treat to whip up on hectic weekdays.

Another one of the easiest uses is to just make the batter as directed and place it in a waffle maker — and boom, you have waffles! I like adding cinnamon or chocolate chips for added flavor, but you could also consider topping the cooked waffles with savory ingredients for a breakfast-meets-dinner type of meal. Layer on chili, sausage and gravy, or even steak and eggs for a hearty and memorable meal.

There are also other savory applications for the pancake mix, such as using it as a batter for perfectly fried onion rings or battered chicken nuggets. Add a bit of onion powder, paprika, cayenne, or pepper into the mixture before dunking your onions, chicken, or whatever else to further enhance its savory qualities. Realistically, you might burn through the large Krusteaz bag faster than you thought. It might not last very long in your pantry, after all — it certainly doesn't at my house.