There's quite a bit to learn about the Costco food court beyond what you can see on the menu board. These are some of the secrets only the Costco pros know.
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00:00There's quite a bit to learn about the Costco food court beyond what you can see on the
00:04menu board.
00:05These are some of the secrets only the Costco pros know.
00:08Thanks to its 750 locations and $1 billion annual food court sales, Costco is frequently
00:15cited as one of the nation's biggest pizza chains.
00:18Sure, the retail giant's ridiculously inexpensive $1.50 hot dog and soda deal gets all the attention,
00:24but Costco is a real pizza contender.
00:27In fact, according to Business Insider, the company ranked as the 14th largest pizza
00:31chain in 2015.
00:33Not too shabby for a warehouse store.
00:35But what is it that makes Costco's pizza so irresistible?
00:39Let's break it down.
00:40If you've ever ordered a slice of Costco pizza, you know that it is massive.
00:44Like hang-off-the-edges-of-your-paper-plate massive, and that giant slice will only set
00:48you back a measly $1.99, whether you choose cheese, pepperoni, or a combo.
00:53A major factor in what makes Costco pizza great is that they do not skimp on toppings.
00:58And you know that each slice you get will be fully loaded, no matter what you order
01:02or who's making it.
01:03One Costco supervisor bragged on Quora, saying,
01:06"'We never shortcut the ingredients.
01:08Everything is measured to a standard.
01:10Every Costco pizza you get should have the same amount of sauce, cheese, and toppings.'"
01:15So how do they manage to ensure that each and every pie is so perfect?
01:19In a word?
01:20Robots.
01:21The dough is placed onto a machine that effortlessly presses the blob into a nice, even circle,
01:26guaranteeing that it's not overworked.
01:28We'll call that robot number one.
01:30After that, Costco food court workers only have to stretch the dough the littlest bit
01:34to make it fit the pan before rolling it with a dough docker.
01:37This spiky contraption helps ensure that the finished crust doesn't have those huge air
01:42bubbles.
01:43Now comes the best part.
01:44Robot number two, the all-important sauce robot.
01:48The pizza pan takes a spin under a spigot that perfectly sauces every pie, dispensing
01:53just the right amount each time.
01:55It's a magical sight, and explains why every Costco pie has the same mouth-watering appearance
02:00and consistency.
02:01After that, it's back to the humans for the finishing touches, where the cheese gets weighed
02:05precisely on a scale and the prescribed amount of pepperoni gets placed just so.
02:11Because these pizzas are cooked in only six minutes, thanks to super-efficient conveyor
02:15belt ovens that cook from all sides, you can always expect a fresh slice waiting for
02:19you at the food court window.
02:20In fact, that same supervisor confirms that any pizza slice that doesn't sell within the
02:25hour gets tossed out and replaced with a new one to maintain freshness.
02:29If there's one widespread knock on Costco pizza, it's that the slices lack crispness.
02:34But really, how can you expect a pizza that's loaded with 24 ounces of cheese to stay super
02:39crisp?
02:40You heard that right.
02:41According to The Costco Connection, a cheese pizza from Costco contains one and a half
02:45pounds of aged buttery cheeses and 10-month-aged shredded Parmesan.
02:50A pepperoni pie, meanwhile, boasts 60 thin slices of spicy meat, and a combo weighs in
02:55at almost four and a half pounds thanks to all the sausage, pepperoni, green bell peppers,
03:00red onion, mushrooms, and black olives.
03:02A slight lack of crispness in exchange for that kind of toppings extravaganza seems like
03:07a fair trade.
03:09Wondering how all that cheese and meat stacks up when it comes to calorie count?
03:12Depending on which slice you choose, you're looking at 710 to 760 calories, with total
03:18fat hovering around 30 grams each, approximately half of your daily intake, and saturated fat
03:23content weighing in around 65 to 70 percent of your recommended daily value.
03:28But hey, you're also getting up to 40 grams of protein just for chowing down on an amazing
03:33slice of pizza.
03:34So there's that.
03:36The bottom line is that Costco pizza, in all its greasy, cheesy glory, isn't meant
03:41to be diet food.
03:42It's just meant to taste good, and it does.
03:46The food court at Costco offers a full menu of cheap, filling, and dare we say, really
03:51good food.
03:52But if you've never dined at Costco, there are a few things you should know ahead of
03:56time to help maximize the experience.
03:59If you find yourself standing in a long checkout line at Costco, you may feel discouraged by
04:04the prospect of having to wait in yet another line just to place an order at the food court.
04:09After all, after you've waited to put $400 worth of spaghetti sauce onto your battered
04:14and broken debit card, the notion of repeating the whole process just to add another $1.50
04:19to your tally can seem discouraging.
04:21Fortunately, there's a solution.
04:24If you know what you plan to order at the food court, you can politely ask your cashier
04:28in the warehouse store to add your food items to your main order.
04:31Then you can march over with your receipt and show it to whomever's working the counter
04:35at the food court.
04:36Just like that, you've got a full stable of bulk pantry items and a delicious, ready-to-eat
04:41hot dog all in one transaction, without risking further injury to your card-swiping hand.
04:47If you think a stop at the Costco food court could be part of a commitment to a healthy
04:52lifestyle, you're probably barking up the wrong tree.
04:55The pizza is pretty much comically bad for you.
04:58So is Costco's signature chicken bake, which is basically a Hot Pocket-esque mash-up of
05:02chicken breast and bacon, all bound together by rivers of melted cheese and Caesar salad
05:07dressing.
05:08Costco doesn't publish the nutritional information for its food court items online, though they
05:12do offer printouts in person.
05:15In terms of total calories per serving, Spoon University has identified the pepperoni pizza,
05:20hot turkey and provolone sandwich, and the chicken bake as the worst offenders.
05:24A single slice of pepperoni pizza clocks in at 710 grease-soaked calories, which elevates
05:30a snack into full-meal territory pretty quickly.
05:33The hot turkey and provolone sandwich comes in at 730 calories, which is quite a lot for
05:39a post-shopping lunch.
05:41Somehow, the chicken bake is even worse, carrying a calorie load of 770, which is a pretty sizable
05:47portion of what the average person should eat in an entire day.
05:52Pizza!
05:53Pizza, pizza, go in tummy, me so hungry, me so hungry!"
05:58While the wait time for a slice of Costco pizza may be incredibly short, that's not
06:02always the case for an entire pie.
06:05There have to be slices ready for that long line of pizza fans, meaning there's not always
06:09an entire extra pie to spare.
06:11But if you don't want to wait around for your pizza to cook, you can game the system somewhat
06:15by ordering ahead of time and planning your day around your pizza.
06:19That's pretty much how most of us are living our lives, anyway.
06:22As reported by Taste of Home, Friday and Saturday nights tend to be prime pizza time at Costco.
06:28During these evenings, customers can expect at least a 20 to 30-minute wait for pizza.
06:32But if you swing by the food court before you do the rest of your shopping, you can
06:36place your order and have it bubbling away in the oven while you pick up everything else
06:40on your shopping list.
06:41If you time it just right, you'll be biting into your first slice after you've finished
06:46walking through the aisles.
06:47At most Costcos, you can even call ahead and place your order over the phone, ensuring
06:52a pizza that's hot, fresh, and ready when you are.
06:56Costco famously sells just a few different kinds of pizza.
06:59There's plain cheese, pepperoni, and the combo pie that consists of pepperoni, bell peppers,
07:05onions, olives, sausage, and mushrooms.
07:08But what if you wanted extra cheese, or a half-and-half pie with pepperoni only on one
07:12side, or a combo with no onions, or extra mushrooms?
07:16For the most part, the Costco food court will try to work with you to accommodate your requests.
07:21When it comes to extra toppings, this seems to be left to the whims and attitude of whomever
07:26is preparing your pizza, according to a Costco employee who dished on Reddit.
07:30It apparently depends on how busy the store is and how easygoing the managers and supervisors
07:35are.
07:36But some requests may just be a bridge too far.
07:39For example, whatever you do, don't try to ask for that combo pizza with no onions.
07:44Many Costco food courts insist that their vegetable blends are pre-mixed, which would
07:48make leaving just one ingredient out practically impossible.
07:53Costco hot dogs are custom-manufactured into quarter-pound, high-quality behemoths that
07:58can satisfy even the hungriest of customers.
08:01Adding a fountain soda brings the total cost of the combo up to a scant $1.50, which is
08:06mere change when you compare it to other fast food meals.
08:09And this isn't just a great value, it's also delicious.
08:13Unlike the typical boiled-to-death wieners you might expect from a gas station, the Costco
08:17hot dog is an impressive, meaty sausage with lots of smoky notes reminiscent of a backyard
08:23barbecue.
08:24It bears more than a passing resemblance to a kielbasa, but without all of the gnarly
08:28nuggets of fat and gristle you'd find in a more coarsely ground smoked sausage.
08:33The all-beef hot dog isn't the only reason why this snack is so delicious, as the bun
08:37represents the gold standard in hot dog vessel technology.
08:41It's almost impossibly soft, but its most impressive feature is its ability to withstand
08:46the onslaught of as many toppings as good judgment allows you to add.
08:50No matter how much mustard, ketchup, or relish you squirt on, the bun never breaks down,
08:55gets soggy, or falls apart.
08:57It's something pretty close to magic, and all that for $1.50.
09:02The hot dog and drink are a fantastic deal at $1.50, same price they've been for 30 years."
09:08When it comes to maxing out your ratio between highest possible number of calories and lowest
09:13possible price, additional toppings can make all the difference between a meal that will
09:17leave you full for the rest of the afternoon and one that will have you scrounging for
09:21crumbs in your car a few minutes after eating.
09:24At Costco, there are more opportunities for free additional toppings than you may think,
09:29even in the case of the humble hot dog.
09:32In addition to the ketchup, mustard, and sweet pickle relish that you can apply as you see
09:36fit, many Costco locations also have some extra options tucked away behind the counter.
09:41These include diced raw onions and a vat of sauerkraut that's all free for the asking.
09:46Just like that, your standard-issue hot dog has been transformed into a smorgasbord of
09:51additional texture, briny flavor, and those all-important extra calories without adding
09:56extra cost.
09:58That's an all-beef hot dog.
10:00I'm fairly certain that that cow had a very high quality of life."
10:08While pizza and hot dogs are available everywhere and universally awesome, you may find you
10:13start to get a little tired of them every now and then.
10:16Luckily, it turns out that Costco food court menus may vary a little bit by location.
10:21While Costco food courts always carry their staple standard offerings, many also add an
10:25extra item or two to try and incorporate a little local flavor into their menus.
10:31For example, Canadian Costcos often feature crispy chicken wings, bargain-priced at just
10:36$6.99 for 10 wings.
10:38They've also got a take on French-Canadian poutine, which consists of french fries soaked
10:42in cheese curds and brown gravy.
10:45Some California locations feature the al pastor salad, which costs $4.99 and comes loaded
10:51with chopped romaine, fresh vegetables, and a soy-based protein spiked with Mexican seasonings.
10:57And if you love chicken teriyaki, you can even find that at some Costcos, though you'll
11:01probably have to visit a location in Japan to do it.
11:05When hunger hits, nobody wants to be confronted by the sight of a mile-long line outside a
11:10Costco food court.
11:11After all, when you're hungry, waiting even a few extra minutes can seem like an eternity.
11:16But instead of rage-tweeting about it, consider the fact that long lines at Costco can often
11:21translate into fresher, better, hotter food.
11:24It makes sense if you think about it.
11:25When lines are long, it means that more food is getting turned over more quickly, which
11:29makes it less likely that you'll end up with a slice of pizza that was prepared hours before,
11:34or a chicken bake that's past its prime.
11:37There's no need to even ask employees to make sure your order is fresh.
11:40I feel like I know you well enough to know your mind is blown right now.
11:45You haven't been this happy since your wedding day."
11:50Cold churros are a major bummer.
11:53Nobody wants an old hot dog, and a chicken bake whose insides have congealed into a rubbery
11:57mass can ruin your whole day.
12:00But at the Costco food court, unlike many notable fast food establishments, you don't
12:04have to accept your bad luck by choking down your tepid meal and hoping for a better experience
12:09next time.
12:10As it turns out, that's just not the Costco way.
12:13At Costco, food court employees want you to have a good experience, so they'll happily
12:17offer a replacement for any less-than-fresh subpar items at no additional cost.
12:23Just remember that when requesting a replacement that the people who work in the service industry
12:27are human beings just like the rest of us.
12:29Thus, scoring an extra helping of please and thank you can work wonders for greasing the
12:33wheels on scoring some piping hot fresh food.
12:37That's something to keep in mind at any dining establishment, but it might just be especially
12:41true at Costco.
12:44Have you ever really, truly had the full, be-all-end-all Costco experience if you've
12:49never ordered one of the chain's iconic food court hot dogs?
12:54Here's everything you need to know about the $1.50 snack.
12:57The warehouse retailer built its cult-like following by selling high-quality products
13:02at low prices.
13:04And perhaps the most quintessential example of that business model is Costco's Kirkland
13:08Signature Hot Dogs.
13:11You can buy the famous franks in huge packs in the meat section, or, as already mentioned,
13:17famously grab one with a steamed bun and a soda at the food court for $1.50.
13:22It's a price that's set in stone, thanks to founder Jim Sinegal.
13:26At one point, there's a story where the co-founder told the CEO to never change the price.
13:33According to a report from Insider, that's a tame version of what Sinegal told CEO Craig
13:38Jelinek.
13:40Jelinek told the audience at a Chamber of Commerce luncheon that Sinegal's exact words
13:45were,
13:46"'If you raise the effing hot dog, I will kill you.
13:49Figure it out.'"
13:50So what's the secret to the flavor and price of the famous Costco hot dogs?
13:55Well, Costco makes the dogs themselves at their own Kirkland meat processing factories,
14:01which keeps costs down and allows them to maintain taste and quality year after year.
14:07While a lot of Costco's private-labeled products are made by other brands and packaged with
14:11in-house labeling, Costco also maintains its own food manufacturing supply chain for products
14:18that are bestsellers.
14:20Even though it's a fun game for shoppers to guess which big company makes a certain product,
14:25when it comes to the signature hot dog, it's a total in-house operation.
14:30It's understandable that if you've never had a hot dog at Costco, you might not get what
14:34all the hype is about.
14:35But as any frank lover knows, not all dogs are created equal.
14:40The Kirkland dogs are made with 100% USDA-inspected beef and contain no fillers, byproducts, or
14:48corn syrup.
14:49The hot dogs in question are also comparatively huge, clocking in at almost four ounces each.
14:56Plus, the hot dogs are bun-length, so you'll get a bite of meat with every bite of bread.
15:01Indeed, Costco's hot dogs are so popular that, according to Business Insider, the company
15:06sold 151 million of them in 2019 alone.
15:11And that number only counts the hot dogs sold in Costco food courts, not in retail packages
15:17at Costco warehouses.
15:19That's $226.5 million in revenue just in hot dogs for a single year.
15:27As previously mentioned, a lot of Costco's Kirkland products are made by other, larger
15:32companies.
15:33And for a long time, the company's hot dogs were made by Hebrew National, although they
15:37were sold under their brand name.
15:40As you may have already guessed, that's not the case anymore.
15:43So what exactly changed, and how, and why?
15:48According to Costco Connection, the company's in-house magazine, Hebrew National was the
15:53go-to choice for Costco's food court hot dogs from the time the company started selling
15:58them in 1984 until 2008.
16:00However, as Costco grew, kosher meat suppliers decreased in number, and the price of Hebrew
16:07National's products went up accordingly.
16:10As a solution, the company then made the executive decision to make its own dogs in order to
16:15keep costs down.
16:17In order to do this in a cost-effective manner, Costco bought a meat processing factory in
16:22California.
16:24And in short, the gamble looks like it paid off.
16:27Costco now operates multiple meat processing facilities in the U.S., where in addition
16:32to hot dogs, they make a number of other products, including raw and cooked hamburger patties,
16:38meatballs, and other meat department favorites.
16:41As this meat-related production and expansion would suggest, Costco's hot dogs have only
16:46grown in popularity since the Switch, along with a slew of loyal, die-hard fans.
16:53As one fan on Reddit claimed,
16:55"...I'm now a hot dog snob because of them.
16:58No Ballpark or Oscar Mayer for me.
17:01I want those Kirkland hot dogs."
17:04Now that you know all about what goes into the famous franks, grab a jumbo pack for your
17:08next backyard party and be a barbecue hero.
17:12Or reward yourself and stop by the food court on your next trip to the warehouse retailer
17:17for a taste.
17:18After all, they'll always be $1.50.
17:22A glorified Hot Pocket, a milkshake masquerading as a caffeinated pick-me-up, and a sandwich
17:28with over 1,700 milligrams of sodium.
17:30We're diving into the unhealthiest Costco food court orders and, warning, you'll never
17:35look at these the same way again.
17:37Wow, well thank you for the hot dog.
17:40Oh Martha, it was $1.50.
17:42Thank you for spending time with me.
17:45As a lean animal food source, chicken is favored over red meat for its high protein content
17:49and lower saturated fat count.
17:51Therefore, any product that includes chicken in the recipe must be a healthy option, right?
17:56Nope.
17:57Not when it comes in the form of an oh-so-delicious, but not terribly nutritious, Costco chicken
18:01bake.
18:02This faux burrito is essentially a Hot Pocket.
18:05Essentially a loaf of bread rolled around chunks of chicken swimming in creamy cheese
18:09sauce with a little extra cheese toasted on the outside for good measure.
18:13While there's no denying that chicken bake tastes amazing, the micronutrients it delivers
18:17to your physiology are an entirely different story.
18:19In the same way you wouldn't consider a calzone healthy eating, you should consider a chicken
18:24bake a dietary mistake.
18:25This single-serving culinary log contains 769 calories and 25 grams of fat.
18:32The sodium count is a heart-stopping 2,310 milligrams, otherwise known as more than the
18:38FDA-recommended daily allowance of 2,300 milligrams.
18:42You'd be better off heading back into the store, buying a whole rotisserie chicken and
18:45making something a whole lot healthier once you get home.
18:49Nutritionally speaking, this chicken bake is for the birds.
18:52Pizza never tops anyone's list of mindful dining, so naturally it joins our lineup of
18:57unhealthy Costco fast food items.
18:59Chicken size can sometimes help make enjoying a slice or two a workable option.
19:03But as with all things Costco, the bigger the better, though in this case, being bigger
19:07means being an epically bad nutrition decision.
19:10Set aside the prospect of enjoying something delicious for a phenomenal price, the dietary
19:15trouble of these inexpensive eats is a pie chart filled with poor choices, no matter
19:19how you slice it.
19:20If you stick with a single slice of basic cheese pizza, you'll be packing away 700 calories
19:25and 28 grams of fat.
19:27You also get 44 grams of protein, a small consolation in a sea of greasy disappointment.
19:32Carb watchers will have a hard time digesting the 70 grams of total carbs, too.
19:37As bad as that seems, try doubling those numbers by committing to a slice duet, and you can
19:42see how quickly the counts get out of hand.
19:44Now, imagine taking home an entire pie, and it becomes much easier to see why pizza is
19:49not your friend at the Costco food court carnival.
19:52Not even close.
19:54Something made of crispy fried dough and visibly encrusted in sugar should even be mentioned
19:58in a discussion about nutrition, unless it's to lend contrast to actually healthy food.
20:04These crispy wands of circus-style pastry magic may be delicious to the max, but they're
20:08nutritious to the min, offering no dietary value whatsoever.
20:12So, while you may be drawn in by that phenomenal cinnamon scent like a cartoon character drawn
20:17to a freshly baked pie, you're in for a world of hurt with your nutritionist if you follow
20:21the impulse and down one of these horizontal donuts.
20:24How bad is bad when it comes to churro nutrition facts?
20:27It's so bad that it's 530 calories, 21 grams of fat, and 25 grams of sugar.
20:33In comparison to that tally sheet, a Dunkin' Donut generally contains about 270 calories,
20:3812 grams of fat, and 15 grams of sugar.
20:41Essentially, you're eating a double Dunkin' when you snap into a churro.
20:45It's obviously a dessert meant more for entertainment than for healthy snacking, but the physiological
20:50setback is entirely avoidable if you just keep walking after your shopping is done.
20:55Another great Sunday, and not too rough on the old pocketbook.
20:58The hypnotic appeal of watching a swirling soft-serve spiral down into a cup or cone
21:03is enough to mesmerize Costco shoppers into snatching up a snack, whether they want one
21:07or not.
21:08And if you've seen the size of the colossal cones that catch the creamy concoction, you
21:12know that the Statue of Liberty's torch is only slightly larger.
21:16The quantity of food alone is cause for pause, even if the contents were full-blown health
21:20food.
21:21Knowing you've got the equivalent of a small dairy wrapped in a flattened cookie should
21:24clue you in on the dearth of nutritional love you're getting every time you swirl up to
21:29the counter.
21:30Every cone is its own creation, thanks in part to the creator serving it up.
21:33The gist of the nutrition knowledge you need?
21:35A Costco soft-serve cone shows up with 510 calories, 16 grams of fat, and 39 grams of
21:41sugar.
21:42The calories will vary depending on the generosity of your server, which means you're in for
21:46an even less healthy time if they top you off with extra curl on the swirl.
21:50The count includes the cone, so at least you're not paying an extra penalty for that.
21:56Nutrition isn't a food-only consideration at the Costco food station.
21:59Beverages are a big part of the experience, especially when they come in sizable, 20-ounce
22:04refillable portions.
22:05Usually, your bubbly beverage is a ride-along with the food you purchase, which means an
22:09extra concentrated dose of questionable dietary consumption is in the cards.
22:14Of course, there are soda selections that can trim the gristle and bring you in at no
22:17additional calories or sugar.
22:19They typically include the words diet or zero somewhere in their titles, making for a mightier
22:24choice nutrition-wise.
22:25But setting the option of sugar-free soda aside, let's focus on the sugar-inclusive stuff
22:30and see what's what.
22:31How flexible is the health quotient of a fountain drink that contains nearly double a single
22:36can serving of bubbly beverage?
22:38It depends entirely on the lever you press.
22:40Different sodas will have varying amounts of calories and sugar, but if you use a full-sugar
22:4520-ounce Pepsi as the test substance, you'll be drinking 250 calories and taking in 68
22:51grams of sugar, all from a refreshment that's washing down an equally unhealthy dish.
22:56Compare this to a regular-sized 12-ounce can of Pepsi, which carries 150 calories and 41
23:01grams of sugar, and you're doing almost twice the damage to your system that you would with
23:05a more standard soda experience.
23:08Loaded with fantastic protein, the barbecue beef brisket might sound like one of the healthier
23:13orders you can make during your Costco visit.
23:15Indeed, studies have shown brisket to have high concentrations of healthy oleic acid,
23:20a helper chemical in the fight against bad cholesterol.
23:23But anyone who's sunk their teeth into a juicy brisket in any form knows the fabulous flavor
23:28comes from a fair quantity of fat in the meat.
23:31This is a sure indicator that you won't be eating healthily at the Costco food station
23:35by ordering up a mega-mound of beef on bread, even with the oleic acid in tow.
23:40What do you get inside the foil wrapper where nutrition is concerned?
23:43A bullish 710 calories, with 33 grams of fat riding shotgun, 11 of which are saturated.
23:50The 28 grams of protein might almost make it worth taking a chance on the less healthy
23:54elements ruining your blood chemistry.
23:56However, if you can skip this tricky brisket, you'll be doing yourself a favor in the long
24:00run.
24:01How exciting the idea of a food court barbecue sandwich might seem — or smell.
24:07Starbucks thought they'd cornered the market on frozen coffee drinks.
24:10Then, Costco started serving up its delicious Mocha Freeze, and the Seattle super chain
24:15knew it had competition.
24:16Maybe not direct or significant competition, but competition nonetheless.
24:20Adding a coffee shop confection to its luscious listing meant anyone needing a little pick-me-up
24:25after coasting through the oversized aisles could catch a buzz on the way out.
24:29After all, you've had a hard hour or two of resisting the oversized holiday decorations
24:33while shopping for your enormous quantities of ketchup.
24:36That sort of determination deserves a prize in the form of a mocha-fied slush.
24:40Or perhaps you deserve something healthier?
24:42The reality of a Mocha Freeze is that you're getting what amounts to a milkshake made with
24:46coffee and loaded with sugar — a fact that Costco isn't trying to hide even a little
24:50bit.
24:51The nutrition facts reveal that you'll be consuming 310 calories that come with 6 grams
24:55of fat and 46 grams of sugar — more than a full day's serving on a 2,000-daily-calorie
25:01diet.
25:02The story of the Mocha Freeze doesn't come with a healthy, happy ending, no matter how
25:05temporarily satisfied sipping one might make you.
25:09Rather than beverages that should be considered nutritious by default, smoothies have long
25:12since been debunked as often unhealthy options masquerading as rejuvenating potions.
25:18Case in point?
25:19The mango smoothie.
25:20Look at the gold-orange nectar glowing on the Costco menu board, and we dare you to
25:24not be drawn into its luscious tropical splendor.
25:26It's the color of sunshine, like an exotic vacation in a cup offering a sweet escape
25:31to more desirable climates someplace where the ocean dominates the landscape.
25:35What it really is, though, is a heavy-duty dose of high-calorie sugar blended into a
25:39slushy pulp that hits your bloodstream with an insulin-spiking rush that inevitably ends
25:45in a crash that leaves you deserted on an island of nutritional misery.
25:52Leslie?
25:53Yeah?
25:54Let's get some almonds in you, okay?
25:57Okay.
25:58So just how not cool is this frosty treat?
26:00It's enough to chill your blood.
26:02The 16-ounce cup holds an icy 360 calories, which might not be the worst if it wasn't
26:08due to a brain-freezing 78 grams of sugar they all come from.
26:12If you think you're getting vitamins and minerals along with that, think again.
26:16You'll have 1% of your daily calcium and 4% of your daily magnesium to compensate for
26:21the syrup slops sloshing around in your veins, making this one rough smoothie.
26:26Shove over, Subway!
26:28Costco has a hot turkey and provolone sandwich that keeps shoppers satisfied.
26:32The Wiley Witch features layers of Better Than Deli slices lying beneath a melty spread
26:37of cheese, all served on a toasted ciabatta roll.
26:39It certainly sounds hearty and filling, and turkey is a healthy white meat touted as a
26:44fine replacement for red meat cold cut options.
26:47So is this a deceptively unhealthy dish, a nutritional wolf dressed in poultry clothing?
26:52Or is it an honest-to-goodness healthful choice among a menu filled with bad decisions?
26:56Sadly, this sandwich comes with wolf teeth and a bad attitude regarding mindful eating.
27:01There are 740 calories in this bread-based behemoth, containing 39 grams of fat and 51
27:07grams of carbs.
27:08You do get a considerable 45 grams of protein, too, but that win is crossed out by the 1,710
27:15milligrams of sodium included.
27:17Rather than thinking you're making a smooth move for your nutrition by downing one of
27:21these bad boys on your own, share it with a friend and split the difference.
27:25At least you won't be taking in as much of the bad stuff.
27:27That sandwich was the only good thing going on in my life."
27:32While most everything the Costco food court sells is utterly delicious, it's their pizza
27:36that's tops.
27:38Starting from an unassuming ball of dough, adding in a few handy robots, and ending with
27:42that ginormous finished product, here's exactly how Costco pizza is made.
27:48Good dough is the foundation of any great pizza, which is why Costco puts so much effort
27:52into every detail of their dough.
27:54First, they purchase the dough from a Brooklyn-based pizza distributor who delivers the authentic
27:58New York-style dough fresh daily.
28:00Then, Costco employees utilize a special dough-squishing contraption to flatten the dough ball into
28:05a perfectly shaped crust.
28:07And finally, workers go over the dough with a unique tool called a dough docker, which
28:11pops any air bubbles in the dough to ensure it bakes evenly.
28:15No wonder the crust is so dough-licious!
28:18After all that care they put into crafting the pizza, you just know Costco is going to
28:22use a special pan, too.
28:24Costco uses pizza pans with holes, otherwise known as perforated pans, and these holes
28:28allow the crust to bake up crispier, thanks to two things.
28:32One, rather than solid metal grabbing all the heat, the holes ensure that it transfers
28:36directly to the crust.
28:38Two, the holes allow moisture to escape out the bottom, rather than sog up the crust,
28:42and lets the entire thing cook evenly.
28:44Plus, as an added bonus, pizzas baked on perforated pans cook faster.
28:49And when the pizza is this good, who wants to wait?
28:52Costco doesn't just use special pans, though.
28:55They also use robots.
28:57We know what you're thinking.
28:58Robots?
28:59What the f— does that have to do with pizza?
29:01But it's true.
29:02Once the pizza dough is squished and docked, the prepared pan gets placed onto a special
29:06sauce robot.
29:08At the push of a button, the contraption spins the pan around and spits out sauce in a very
29:12precise stream as its arm moves towards the center of the pie.
29:16The result is a kind of spin-art effect on the dough, and while it's mesmerizing to watch,
29:20the reality is that the robot not only ensures that just the right amount of sauce is on
29:24each and every pizza, it also ensures that the right amount of sauce is equally distributed.
29:29Sure, it will inevitably lead to humanity's doom, but that's a small price to pay for
29:34good pizza.
29:36If you've ever ordered a whole Costco pie, you've probably noticed it can be a bit oily.
29:41But there's no oil robot to blame.
29:43Instead, according to one Reddit expert, Costco instructs employees to use a lot.
29:48The only thing that concerns me is how much oil gets used in the process of making a pizza
29:52skin — the stretched-out and sauced pizza dough — too much.
29:56And when you don't use the corporate-requested amount because you think it's too much and
30:00corporate notices, you use more oil to avoid being in trouble.
30:04Some managers overcompensate and use a quarter cup of oil-plus when making them.
30:08This whole damn thing was about oil.
30:12Now that we've got the crust and the sauce, and some oil, it's time for the good stuff
30:16— the toppings.
30:17And Costco doesn't skimp.
30:19If you order the combo, you'll get Italian sausage, pepperoni, and a medley of sliced
30:23green bell peppers, red onions, mushrooms, and black olives — and a lot of each.
30:28A whole combo pizza weighs in at an incredible 4.49 pounds.
30:33Then there's the pepperoni, which gets decked out with 60 slices of pepperoni per pie.
30:39And the cheese, made with a combination of low-fat mozzarella, provolone, and 10-month-aged
30:43shredded Parmesan.
30:45A single cheese pizza includes a whopping one-and-a-half pounds of cheese alone.
30:50Wow.
30:51One thing you never have to worry about when you grab a slice from the Costco food court
30:55is that you're going to be cheated on the portion.
30:57And that's because the food court employees use a handy-dandy cutting guide that ensures
31:01every slice is exactly the same.
31:04Considering each pie is absolutely massive, you know that after the cutting is done, you're
31:08also going to be getting a massive slice — one-sixth of an 18-inch pizza, to be exact.
31:14Just more proof that Costco has every aspect of the pizza-making process down, even something
31:19as simple as how best to cut it.
31:21With all those gadgets and doodads, Costco has their pizza-making down to a science.
31:26Starting with a ball of dough, employees can make the crust, sauce it, and add the toppings
31:30all in about 75 seconds flat.
31:32And even the oven has been optimized for performance, with conveyors zipping pizzas through at just
31:37the perfect temperature.
31:38All told, from start to finish, a Costco pizza takes under eight minutes to make.
31:43And that's part of why their pizzas are always fresh.
31:46One Reddit expert revealed that the company never serves leftovers, saying,
31:49"...everything leftover is tossed after we roll the door at night and made fresh in the
31:53morning."
31:54And during the day, one Costco supervisor wrote on Quora,
31:57"...any pizza slice that doesn't sell within the hour gets thrown out and replaced to maintain
32:01freshness."
32:02Great pizza made at light speed by robots?
32:05Turns out we're living in the future right now, and it's delicious.
32:10It's not every day that the CEO of a major company makes a death threat, but that wasn't
32:14even the most controversial thing to happen in the world of Costco.
32:17While shopping at Costco stores has always required a membership, certain services at
32:21the stores have been historically open to the public.
32:23These include the pharmacy, the alcohol department in select states, and the food court.
32:27However, as of March 16, 2020, the store's corporate policy now requires you to have
32:32an active Costco membership in order to dine at the food court.
32:35Apparently, eating at the food court has always technically required a membership, even though
32:38the company had not previously enforced this policy.
32:41To make the matter even more confusing, some Costco locations still aren't enforcing the
32:45members-only protocol to this date.
32:47In response to an inquiry from Business Insider, a customer service associate at an East Coast
32:51Costco noted that some stores have become more lenient on the policy.
32:55While this is an issue that primarily affects non-members, it also inconveniences members,
32:59since they now have to keep their Costco cards on them even when they don't plan on going
33:02into the store that day.
33:04Previously, anyone could walk up to one of the indoor or outdoor food court locations
33:08and place an order, but now some locations will ask to scan your membership card before
33:11serving you.
33:12While the cheap hot dog and drink combo has been a staple of the Costco food court since
33:16the first Costco hot dog stand opened in 1984, its beloved counterpart, the Polish Dog, has
33:22not had the same staying power.
33:23It's unclear when the Polish Dog was first added to the menu, but both styles of sausage
33:27were available until 2018, when the company announced that the Polish Dog was getting
33:31the axe.
33:32The news was poorly received by the public.
33:34This menu change came partially out of an attempt to create a healthier menu.
33:38Costco tried to fill the gap with healthy items like an acai bowl and a plant-based
33:41protein salad, but both of these items have since been discontinued, just like the Polish
33:45Dog.
33:46Considering that the only two differences between the hot dog and the Polish Dog were
33:49that the latter had a slightly different spice mix and a more kielbasa-like shape, it is
33:53somewhat surprising that the general public was so outraged by its retirement.
33:57But Costco seems to cause controversy every time it removes an item from its limited menu.
34:02Few corporate feuds run as deep as the rivalry between Coke and Pepsi loyalists.
34:06That's why there was proverbial blood in the streets when Pepsi replaced Coca-Cola
34:09as Costco's primary beverage vendor.
34:11"...No Coke, Pepsi."
34:14Former Costco VP of Food Services Alan Bubbitz noted at the time that the change was made
34:19to maintain the low combo price.
34:20But this didn't stop diehard Coca-Cola enthusiasts from taking up arms on social media, with
34:25one Twitter user writing,
34:26"...still can't forgive Costco for taking Coke out of the food court and replacing it
34:29with Pepsi.
34:30I don't think I ever will."
34:32At the end of the day, the issue probably didn't deter many customers from ordering
34:35the hot dog and drink combo.
34:37After all, it's still a great deal, even if you throw your beverage cup right in the trash.
34:41But again, it is warranted for the fee-paying Costco members to be outraged when they can
34:45no longer guzzle their soft drink of choice while they shop in the warehouse.
34:48When Costco first released its roast beef sandwich in February 2023, people were livid
34:53about the price.
34:54Although a $10 sandwich wouldn't be considered that unreasonable at an ordinary restaurant,
34:58many customers were outraged because of how its price compared to other items on the menu.
35:02The only Costco food court item that compares in price is a whole 18-inch pizza.
35:06And considering the pizza could reasonably feed a family of four, the math definitely
35:10doesn't add up.
35:11$10 is enough to buy six hot dog and drink combos with change back.
35:14The company also charged lower prices for comparable roast beef sandwiches in its Japanese
35:18and Korean locations.
35:20This further exacerbated the feeling customers had that they were being insulted by the uncharacteristically
35:24high price of this new item.
35:26And to make matters worse, the sandwich was served cold, so it required even less prep
35:29time than other options.
35:31A baby food smoothie?
35:33A fancy dessert that might have been too fancy?
35:36These foods didn't just flop at Costco.
35:39One might have pissed off an entire state.
35:41I like the Costco food court.
35:43Even a hardcore Costco enthusiast may be surprised to hear that Costco at one point sold a cheeseburger.
35:50That's because it was only tested in Seattle and a handful of other stores starting in
35:542017.
35:55It lasted until 2020, when the Costco Corporation announced without explanation that the cheeseburger
36:01would no longer be served.
36:03So where did things go wrong for the Costco cheeseburger?
36:05It all started when early reviewers compared the burger to that of the beloved New York
36:10hamburger franchise, Shake Shack.
36:12It is uncertain exactly who made this comparison first, but it did no favors for this experimental
36:17menu item.
36:19Some reviews hyper-focused on the comparison.
36:21They criticized the burger for not matching Shake Shack's delicate Smashburger-style patties,
36:26and instead smothering the eater with too much meat.
36:29One user on Instagram shared their thoughts in a 2018 post, writing,
36:33"'The Costco next to my house sells cheeseburgers.
36:36It's supposed to be a Shake Shack clone.
36:38Not even close.'"
36:39To top things off, the cheeseburger did not appear to have been tested alongside french
36:43fries on any menus.
36:45An unusual choice, considering that some Costco food court locations have sold french fries.
36:50In the end, it's hard to say exactly what sounded the death knell for Costco's organic
36:54cheeseburger, but it did not live up to the hype.
36:57There is no match for the rich and complex flavor of traditional al pastor.
37:02The smoky heat of chili peppers and the subtle sweetness of pineapple partner perfectly with
37:07tender pork shoulder.
37:08That's probably why the vegan al pastor salad never gained any traction on the Costco food
37:13court menu.
37:14Not only did its healthy, plant-based protein disappoint omnivorous patrons, but it also
37:19frustrated those expecting authentic Mexican flavors.
37:22The salad was made from soy al pastor, chopped romaine lettuce, black beans, olives, dressing,
37:28and so-called banh mi vegetables.
37:30The banh mi vegetables were an unusual addition and a source of complaints from certain shoppers
37:35who weren't expecting Asian-style vegetables or olives in what should be a Mexican-style
37:40dish.
37:41Ultimately, the reviews for this salad were mixed, even from vegans who barely had other
37:45options in the food court.
37:47According to reports on Reddit, the al pastor salad was discontinued sometime around 2018.
37:54Employees cited poor sales as the reason for its demise.
37:57Whether or not this was because it was made from imitation meat is hard to say for certain,
38:02but it is mostly vegans who seem to be asking for its return.
38:06The Costco acai bowl may be the most disliked menu item in the history of the discount warehouse's
38:11food court.
38:12It was added to the menu in 2018 to increase the number of healthy dining options and then
38:17discontinued shortly after in 2020.
38:21While it did collect some fans in its two-year run, the majority of consumers either tried
38:25it once and moved on, or never found a compelling reason to order it in the first place.
38:30In retrospect, the issue with the acai bowl may be that it didn't fit in with the rest
38:35of Costco's core menu.
38:37It was not quite sweet enough to replace dessert options like the hand-dipped ice cream bars,
38:42and not quite filling enough to replace a full meal like the chicken bake.
38:46It was also one of the more expensive menu items at $4.99.
38:50And despite being marketed as a healthy food option, it was surprisingly high in sugar,
38:54with estimates ranging between 30 grams and 41 grams of sugar.
38:59So it failed with the health food crowd, the value shoppers, and the dessert enthusiasts.
39:04Brutal reviews started rolling in right away, when Twitter users said it tasted like,
39:09"...lush bath bombs and regret."
39:11Costco's customers clearly weren't craving the tart and earthy flavor of acai.
39:16Customers felt there were better options on the menu for them, so the bowl flopped hard.
39:21"...Costco giving customers quite a shock with its new addition to the food court."
39:25Costco's roast beef sandwich isn't the worst sandwich ever released by the company, but
39:29it doesn't stand a chance against the rest of the items on the food court's value-focused
39:34menu.
39:35On top of lacking in the flavor department, the sandwich also debuted at a price of $9.99.
39:41Customers felt downright insulted to be offered a cold sandwich with no side or beverage
39:45for the same price as a whole 18-inch Costco pizza.
39:49And although the roast beef itself is of high quality, it can't save the sandwich from
39:54its own staleness.
39:55The roast beef sandwich consisted of a large helping of sliced roast beef, topped with
40:00onion relish, lettuce, roasted cherry tomatoes, red onions, and a mayo-mustard mixture served
40:06on an artisan roll.
40:08One of the biggest criticisms of the sandwich when it debuted was how dry it tasted because
40:12of the giant bread roll it was served on.
40:15Users in one Reddit thread reached a quick consensus, with one writing,
40:19"'Just got one.
40:20Feels a bit too dry for me.
40:22Not getting it again."
40:23Another shared,
40:24"'Looks super dry.
40:26Like the Sahara.'"
40:27Another commenter predicted,
40:28"'I don't see this sandwich being around for too long.
40:31It's very un-Costco-like.'"
40:33The closest thing this sandwich got to a positive review was,
40:36"'I tried it today.
40:38It's decent.
40:39Definitely dry.
40:40Was large enough for two people, but I don't think it will stay at Costco too long.'"
40:45It's hard to tell if Costco simply can't get sandwiches right, or if any meat-and-bread-related
40:50option automatically struggles to compete with the hot dog-and-soda combo.
40:55In either case, the Costco Food Court's barbecue beef brisket sandwich was never destined for
41:00greatness.
41:01Though not as expensive or dry as the roast beef sandwich, the Costco barbecue beef brisket
41:06sandwich still barely lasted two years before it was silently removed from food court menus
41:12nationwide.
41:13Food court goers who tried the sandwich between 2018 and 2020 seemed to love it, but that
41:19still couldn't save it from being discontinued.
41:21For a kitchen that is defined by the longevity of its most popular items, a two-year run
41:26is the closest you can get to a Costco food court flop.
41:29It's not clear exactly why it went away.
41:32The pandemic, a desire for more healthy food court items, and simple menu turnover may
41:37have all played a role.
41:39At $4.99, the barbecue brisket sandwich was also one of the most expensive menu items
41:43at the time of its release.
41:45And ultimately, price-sensitive consumers will default back to the juggernaut, the $1.50
41:51all-beef hot dog.
41:53The beef chili with beans is an interesting example of a Costco food court item that may
41:57have flopped for reasons other than flavor.
42:00Customers generally agreed that the chili was pretty decent and combined deliciously
42:04with the hot dog to make an impromptu chili dog.
42:07Yet, it was discontinued in 2023 alongside other generally liked items such as the Caesar
42:13salad and the combo pizza.
42:15The fact that it was removed alongside other items likely had to do with maintaining the
42:19razor-thin margins at the Costco food court.
42:22However, this chili's role in some regional recipe drama could possibly have contributed
42:27to its demise.
42:28Costco's beef chili chose the losing side in the longstanding debate as to whether or
42:33not chili should contain beans.
42:36The debate is serious business to native Texans, who strongly believe beans do not belong in
42:41chili.
42:42And Texas has some authority here, as chili con carne was first popularized there, and
42:48it is the state dish.
42:49One Twitter user perfectly summed up the thought process of a Texan visiting the food court
42:54with their tweet.
42:55Ooh, Costco has chili.
42:57Never mind, it has beans.
42:59Outside of Texas, this issue likely didn't affect the general public's opinion of Costco's
43:04chili.
43:05But can you really call it a success when your chili defies the traditions of Texas?
43:10Not if it's no longer on the menu.
43:11Plus, who knows, maybe it would have ultimately succeeded if it didn't have beans.
43:16Okay, I think I know what would help right now.
43:20What?
43:21Frozen chocolata gelato!
43:23The Costco food court has served many desserts over the years, but none have been as fancy
43:28or refined as the company's gelato.
43:31And yet, it's only ever been offered at 16 different stores in the U.S., according to
43:36a 2010 post from the Costco Insider website.
43:40And despite a handful of positive remarks online praising the gelato, it didn't seem
43:44to be a popular purchase at the locations where it was available.
43:48Users reported quite the deal on the gelato, with three scoops in a waffle cone priced
43:53at just $1.50.
43:55But one Reddit user commented,
43:56"'Not once did I ever see anybody actually order it.'"
44:01According to an account on a different Reddit thread, the dish was considered a failure
44:04long before it was pulled from stores in 2015.
44:08That said, failure in this case seems to be measured by profitability and not popularity
44:14because the customer response was overall positive.
44:17In the end, though, the affordable pricing and reliable flavor of other popular Costco
44:21desserts, like the churro or frozen yogurt, won out.
44:25If you regularly visit the Costco food court, you may be surprised to learn that it sells
44:30a mango smoothie.
44:32That's because it is currently failing hard in its limited test markets and will likely
44:36be disappearing for good soon.
44:38The mango smoothie was first tested in Australia in early 2023, then made its way to the U.S.
44:44by way of Hawaii.
44:45It is now also sold at Costco locations in Oklahoma, Washington, and California.
44:51Don't expect to find it soon in a Costco near you if you don't live in these states,
44:55though.
44:56The early reviews are largely negative.
44:57We've seen some truly savage reviews on the Costco mango smoothie on social media, where
45:02people are simultaneously mourning the recently discontinued fruit smoothie and dissing its
45:08mango-flavored successor.
45:10The most brutal review states,
45:12"'Costco's new mango smoothie is trash.
45:14The color looks weird and it tastes like baby food.'"
45:17It's possible that customers simply aren't accustomed to desserts without added sugar.
45:22But either way, the mango smoothie is not expected to last long at Costco stores, with
45:27the kind of reception it has had.
45:29Salad on a pizza?
45:31And what exactly is a forbidden glizzy?
45:35There's a whole lot more to Costco's food court than just pizza and hot dogs, if you're
45:39willing to get a little crazy.
45:42Considering the popularity of Costco's hot dog and pizza slices, it's not that surprising
45:47that a few curious food court fans decided to make a mash-up of the two staples by wrapping
45:52a hot dog in a slice of pizza.
45:55Some people prefer to roll up the hot dog, without its usual plain bun, inside of the
45:59entire pizza slice.
46:01Others prefer removing all of the cheese and toppings from the pizza crust and then wrapping
46:06the hot dog in the cheesy upper layer of the pizza.
46:10Based on some online chatter, there doesn't seem to be one agreed-upon name for this gluttonous
46:14menu hack, probably because it really is so customizable.
46:18Some people who include the crust might call it a pizza taco, while the cheese-only version
46:23seems like more of a pizza dog.
46:25However, we just call it…
46:28"...delicious."
46:30The forbidden glizzy is one of the most well-known Costco food court hacks, and also one of its
46:35most ridiculous in appearance.
46:38It's another hack that starts with the humble hot dog and the food court's popular warm
46:42chicken bake entree.
46:44The chicken bake is a piece of fried bread filled with pieces of chicken breast, three
46:48kinds of cheese, bacon, and creamy Caesar dressing, and resembles a calzone, or a Hot
46:54Pocket.
46:55The forbidden glizzy is a bit of an awkward dish to make, as it involves shoving a hot
47:00dog into the center of the chicken bake and eating the entire mash-up like an abominable
47:05corn dog.
47:06Apparently, the chicken bake itself isn't too stuffed with filling, so it actually isn't
47:11as difficult as one might expect to bite off the top of the dough and slide the hot
47:15dog right into the middle.
47:17It just feels a bit wrong to be eating the two items together at once, but the resulting
47:22flavor will suggest otherwise.
47:25The pizza-wrapped forbidden glizzy is the even more outrageous version of both of the
47:30above hacks.
47:31First, you will need to put the hot dog inside the chicken bake to make the forbidden glizzy
47:36as previously directed.
47:38Then, you wrap the entire chicken bake with a slice of pizza of your choice, taco-style,
47:44whether it be topped with cheese or pepperoni.
47:46This one-of-a-kind mash-up is nearly 2,500 calories if you wash it down with a sugary
47:51soda, so it's far from a light snack from the food court.
47:55Instead, the pizza-wrapped forbidden glizzy should be someone's go-to option if they end
47:59their Costco shopping excursion with an insatiable hunger, and they're having trouble deciding
48:04between ordering a hot dog, a slice of pizza, or a chicken bake.
48:08It's a hack that makes the best of all three worlds.
48:11One of the more reliable aspects of life is Costco's $5 rotisserie chicken, which remains
48:17the same price regardless of inflation or what's going on in the world around it.
48:21It's almost too easy to mindlessly throw a ready-made chicken in your cart for endless
48:25possible uses later, including updating food court items.
48:30Costco's food court pizza offerings have gotten pretty limited, especially after the
48:34retailer discontinued its popular combo pizza in recent years.
48:39If the regular cheese and pepperoni options are just too plain for your palate, the internet
48:44is full of creative ideas for updating the humble slice into something more flavorful.
48:50One easy hack is to shred a little bit of Costco's famous rotisserie chicken and put
48:54it on top of the pizza for a protein-packed slice.
48:57It's a hack best executed at home, but the rotisserie chicken isn't an odd item to whip
49:02out at the food court, especially among fellow Costco shoppers who know how great it is.
49:09Sometimes when you're shopping, you're in too much of a rush to spend some time leisurely
49:13enjoying a fresh slice of Costco pizza in the food court.
49:17Thankfully, it's not hard to take a slice to go to enjoy later, whether it be in your
49:21car or at home.
49:23Cold pizza is never a bad idea, but the best hack for making Costco pizza even better than
49:28it was the first time is to reheat it in the air fryer.
49:32It only needs a few minutes at a high temperature, around 375 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, and
49:38the resulting slice is hot, melty, and delectably crispy.
49:42One Reddit user even recommends buying a whole pizza, individually freezing slices, and then
49:47reheating them in the air fryer for a quick and satisfying meal that doesn't require you
49:51to make an outing to Costco to enjoy it.
49:55Food menu hacks are always going to be controversial, but making salad pizza from Costco's menu
50:00items may be one of the most divisive on the entire list so far.
50:04A few brave souls on the internet have shared their affinity for a piece of food court pizza
50:10topped with a little pre-made salad for added freshness.
50:13The sentiment isn't bad, as pizza and salad are often eated in tandem.
50:17It's even common to see a pie topped with fresh vegetables for added texture on pizza
50:22parlor menus.
50:23However, some people hold their pizza sacred, especially if it comes from the Costco food
50:28court, meaning that salad pizza is essentially sacrilege.
50:32Costco's food court sells a chicken Caesar salad that could easily be used in this hack,
50:36but some people prefer to buy a pre-made salad from inside the store and open it up at the
50:40food court.
50:41The Caesar might not be the most flavorful option, especially considering it's usually
50:45made with romaine lettuce.
50:47A salad with spinach or arugula as its base could be a better food court pizza topping
50:52from a flavor standpoint.
50:54The soft drink dispenser at the food court can be a saving grace for thirsty shoppers
50:58looking for a bit of refreshment.
51:00Costco's food court has exclusively been serving Pepsi products since 2013.
51:05At some of the stores, soft drink dispensers carry mug root beer.
51:09The fountain soda from Costco is always a treat, usually because of its low price and
51:14the fact that it typically comes alongside the hot dog deal, all for $1.50.
51:18For a quarter pound hot dog, ten to drink, three beer and rye.
51:24Ordering a soda from Costco can be even more special when you get creative, like combining
51:29root beer from the soft drink machine with vanilla ice cream to make your own root beer
51:33float.
51:34All you need to do is order a vanilla ice cream cup and a large drink and combine the
51:39two.
51:40If your machine doesn't have mug root beer, you can always make different soda floats
51:44with Pepsi, orange soda, or Dr. Pepper, depending on the store's selection.
51:49Costco brought churros back to its food court menu following a hiatus during the COVID-19
51:54pandemic.
51:55The revamped recipe features a twisted churro that is still just as massive as the old one
52:00and is coated with cinnamon sugar.
52:03Churros in general are always made even better when paired with other sugary dessert elements
52:07like ice cream.
52:09Churros are often served with sweet dipping sauces like caramel or hot fudge, but unfortunately
52:15those aren't available to buy at the Costco food court.
52:18The churros are too good to save until you get home to eat with your own pantry ingredients,
52:23so there is an easy way to make the pastry a little more special right in the food court.
52:27A simple Costco menu hack is to order your ice cream sundae of choice, preferably either
52:32topped with chocolate or strawberries, and dip the fresh churro right in it.
52:38To make the monster dessert a bit easier to eat, you can rip the churro up into pieces
52:42and throw it into the sundae cup to eat with a spoon.
52:45It's a particularly successful pairing because neither the ice cream nor the churro is especially
52:50sweet.
52:51So when paired together, the resulting loaded sundae is an indulgent dessert that isn't
52:57too rich to eat in its entirety after a long day of grocery shopping.
53:02One of the Costco food court's more recent additions is the Cold Brew Mocha Freeze, which
53:07is a combination of cold brew coffee for a caffeine boost with an icy chocolate slushy
53:13to make it more of an indulgent treat.
53:15Some people up the ante even more by combining the massive churro with the mocha freeze to
53:20add a cinnamon twist to the drink.
53:22The mocha freeze and churro combination is almost like a more indulgent version of a
53:26Starbucks Frappuccino, but it'll only cost you around $2.50, thanks to the food court's
53:32always low prices.
53:33As at Costco, you save money."
53:39The Costco food court is the gift that keeps on giving, in more ways than one.
53:43It's one of the reasons so many of us shell out $60 to $120 annually for membership to
53:48the wholesale superstore.
53:50The small food court even comes in handy in underappreciated ways, such as when you need
53:55to transport perishable food on a long drive and forgot to pack a cooler to keep it fresh
54:00in the car.
54:02An easy way to hack the food court is by utilizing the ice dispenser from the soft drink machine
54:08to keep meat, seafood, and other items cold during your long car ride home.
54:13Costco doesn't have an official policy on taking ice from the soft drink dispenser to
54:16keep food purchased at their stores cold on the ride home, and many shoppers have noted
54:21that employees do not seem to discourage people from taking a little ice in a bag for the
54:26ride home, especially on a hot day when they're loading their cars with perishable items or
54:31frozen goods that are at risk of going bad during the commute.
54:36Most Costco shoppers hit the food court as their last stop on their bulk shopping trip.
54:41It can sometimes feel like a reward after a long and exhausting journey that includes
54:45pushing a cart, navigating around fellow bulk shoppers, and waiting in long checkout lines.
54:52However, diehard Costco food court enthusiasts have learned that, contrary to popular opinion,
54:58the food court should actually be your first stop after you've flashed your membership
55:01card to a Costco worker.
55:03The main reason is that it's never a good idea to go grocery shopping while you're hungry.
55:08The food court snack will satisfy you enough so that you aren't making rash purchases in
55:13Costco on an empty stomach.
55:15Another perk is that you aren't bogged down with a full cart while trying to enjoy a hot
55:19dog or a slice of pizza, as the food court typically has pretty tight quarters.
55:23Additionally, you can really get a bang for your buck with a 69-cent refillable drink
55:28that you can sip on while you shop and go back for endless refills.