Follow This Costco Plan For The Best Shopping Trip

A sundae in hand, a full cart, and frozen food aisles lined with just-microwaved samples—it’s these details that make Costco my favorite place to grocery shop. But, thanks to the gigantic and ever-changing array of goods sold by the warehouse retailer, it’s not exactly the easiest place to navigate.

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If you’re looking for a smarter, more efficient method for tackling your grocery shopping and the food court’s menu full of treats, this is the plan you need for the best Costco shopping trip so you can navigate the store (and food court) like a pro.

Hit the Costco Food Court First, Not Last

If you love to grab a hot dog, pizza, calzone, or even a sundae during your Costco visits, that’s where you need to kick off your shopping trip. Fill up now, and you won’t have to worry about trying to eat while pushing your cart through the aisle—and as an added perk, your odds of picking up items you don’t actually need will be lower. 

Plus, hitting the food court first ensures all of the refrigerated and frozen items you pick up during your shopping trip won’t slowly warm up and defrost as you’re enjoying your berry smoothie or pizza slice. If you hit Costco during a popular time of day, you could face quite a wait in the food cart (and I don’t know about you, but warmed-up and refrozen ice cream isn’t exactly on my shopping list when I head here).

Grab Non-Perishables (and Fun Items) First

Once you’ve wrapped up your Strawberry Shortcake Sundae or other go-to food court treats, pick up a cart and head inside Costco. But don’t make a beeline for the food first. Instead, shop for non-food items and non-perishables first. 

This is the simplest way to navigate the store and move from the front towards the refrigerated and frozen sections at the very back. You can start filling your cart as you make your way to the free samples that await.

I know, I know: Costco features non-perishable and non-refrigerated items on both sides of its gigantic stores. That’s why I recommend hitting the non-food aisles first, checking out what’s in the middle (you know, in case you need a gigantic inflatable slide, some of Costco’s best kitchen products, or oversized holiday decorations for your yard), then heading over to the dry goods and non-refrigerated food aisles.

Save Frozen And Refrigerated Foods For The End

Lastly, you should head to the back half of the warehouse to pick up baked goods, refrigerated foods, and frozen items at the end of your trip. No one wants to watch as their refrigerated raw chicken breasts, once-perfect chilled strawberries, or frozen taquitos thaw over the course of an hour-plus shopping trip. Grabbing cold items last ensures they’ll stay cold for as long as possible, preserving their quality.

Oh, and I can’t forget this added perk: once you’ve made your way through the entire warehouse and do finally hit the refrigerated and frozen foods, odds are you’re ready for a second round of delicious Costco goodies. The best samples are always tucked away in these aisles and you’ll have a lighter, emptier stomach so you can grab a few bites.