The Hidden Problem With Costco Bakery Items That Smart Shoppers Check First

When it comes to shopping at the warehouse retailer, Costco devotees know all about insider secrets. Veteran Costco customers can recognize the best deals, the perfect time to shop, and how to best circumnavigate some of the hidden problems when it comes to shopping in bulk. Recently, shoppers have been calling out an issue with some of the bakery items, namely that they become stale quickly after purchasing. Patrons report having to carefully check the best-by dates on their favorite bakery items to avoid having to immediately pitch them.

Beloved Costco bakery items like Kirkland Signature butter croissants (and the perennial favorite homemade bagels) have come under scrutiny for quickly turning moldy or stale. Some folks even claim that the baked goods expire faster than traditional grocery store fare. One Redditor cautioned others to check the best-by dates carefully, noting that newly purchased bagels had a "best before" date of two days away (after having the last package turn moldy).

Others on social media have correctly pointed out that the same reason the bakery goods are so popular is also the reason they have a short shelf life. Baked fresh in-house, many Kirkland Signature bakery items are preservative free. This is an appealing selling point, but purchasing a dozen bagels can be a bit daunting when you aren't prepared to eat that many at once. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to ensure fresh bakery items, in addition to scrutinizing the best-by dates.

With Costco's bulk purchasing requirements thrown into the mix, it's essential to consider how to properly store your newly purchased baked goods. One Reddit user responding to the moldy bagel post points to heat and humidity as a reason for increased chance of mold. "Even putting them in the refrigerator slows things down," the Redditor notes. "It also depends on how hot your house is and where you store them. Mold loves heat and moisture and breads have lots of moisture so extra heat makes them go off sooner." This is indeed why Costco's bakery doesn't serve hot pastries from the oven.

Condensation in packaging can easily lead to a higher chance of mold, so check your purchase carefully and store the baked goods in a cool, dry place once home. You can also repackage the baked goods by removing them from the plastic container and storing them in individual freezer bags. If you aren't prepared to eat all those bagels or croissants in one sitting, don't be afraid of the freezer. Multiple customers report that freezing works well for many Costco baked items (muffins, bagels, and croissants) and that they revive beautifully when heated.

One Reddit user's foolproof method for bakery storage? "Bring home. Eat one. Put one in [the] fridge. Put the others (each in their own bag) in the freezer. Take one out each night. Eat in the morning." The next time you head into Costco for fresh bagels, check the bakery carefully. In a possible attempt to please customers who can't commit to the two, six-pack purchase requirement, certain Costco locations are offering an eight-pack of bagels.