The 1 Pantry Item I Always Restock At Costco Because The Price Can’t Be Beat

I do the bulk of my shopping at Costco. Every Sunday morning I’m there early to restock for the week, and not just on paper towels and rotisserie chicken. I find incredible deals on everything from new cookbooks to canned seltzer.

One of my favorite bargains can be found in the baking aisle. While a lot of items in that section are perhaps better suited for professionals, there is one product that during baking season I always grab. And don’t worry, it’s small and easier to store than the bakery-sized flour bags.

Time To Grab Vanilla Bean Paste

When I worked in professional kitchens and bakeries I almost always used Nielsen-Massey products, as the brand is considered the gold standard for vanilla. It’s not an inexpensive product though, so at home I tended to use less expensive alternatives. That was until I found their vanilla bean paste at such a great price at Costco. At my local store, a 10-ounce bottle goes for $19.99.

That might still feel pricey, but compare it to other retailers. Most sell four-ounce jars for around that price, like Sur La Table, which (as of publishing) has the four-ounce bottle for $19.72, while Walmart beats the price slightly at $18.95 per 4 oz. jar.

Essentially you can get more than double the product for the same price at Costco. Plus, the larger jar is bound to last you quite a while. A teaspoon of paste is equal to a teaspoon of extract, so think about how many batches of baked goods you’ll be able to make with this jar.

Why Use Vanilla Paste Over Extract?

Both extract and paste will add vanilla flavor to batters, frostings, and more, but pastes have a few unique benefits.

• Its thick consistency makes it easier to add more vanilla flavor without adding a ton of extra liquid.

• The specks! Since the paste contains vanilla bean seeds, you get the beautiful flecks of vanilla throughout your recipe without having to buy and scrape pods yourself.

• Because pastes contain both extract and seeds, you get a richer vanilla flavor than you do with extract alone.

Recipes To Try Out With Vanilla Bean Paste

Here are a few recipes where vanilla really shines especially when you use the paste.

Read the original article on Southern Living