scorecardI'm a chef. Here are 13 things I always buy at Sam's Club for my family.
  1. Home
  2. life
  3. food
  4. news
  5. I'm a chef. Here are 13 things I always buy at Sam's Club for my family.

I'm a chef. Here are 13 things I always buy at Sam's Club for my family.

Lizzy Briskin   

I'm a chef. Here are 13 things I always buy at Sam's Club for my family.
I'm a chef and I enjoy shopping in bulk at Sam's Club for my family.Lizzy Briskin

I do most of my food shopping at the many grocery stores throughout New York City and stick to farmers markets for my produce as much as possible, but it makes sense for me to buy some items for my family in bigger quantities.

When I'm running low on certain kitchen staples, I make a trip to Sam's Club, where I always find supersized bags and family-sized packages of some of my favorite culinary must-haves.

Though most of what you'll find at Sam's Club looks like it couldn't possibly fit into a New York City-sized apartment, these are the items that I will squeeze in using any means possible.

I Use Blue Diamond almond flour for some of my favorite baking recipes.

I Use Blue Diamond almond flour for some of my favorite baking recipes.
I buy almond flour in bulk at Sam's Club.      Lizzy Briskin

My favorite biscotti recipe calls for a 50/50 mixture of all-purpose and almond flour — I love the richness and extra nutty flavor the latter adds.

Almond flour can be pricy, so I prefer to buy it in bulk and store it in the freezer to keep it fresh for longer.

I use Honey Smoked Fish Co. smoked salmon fillets to easily add protein to meals.

I use Honey Smoked Fish Co. smoked salmon fillets to easily add protein to meals.
Smoked salmon can elevate a lunch or breakfast.      Lizzy Briskin

I love adding smoked salmon to toast, pasta, and eggs. The fillets from Honey Smoked Fish Co. strike the ideal balance of salty, sweet, and tender.

They flake up nicely and instantly elevate even the most humdrum dish.

Bai antioxidant water is one of my favorite thirst-quenchers.

Bai antioxidant water is one of my favorite thirst-quenchers.
One section of the Sam's Club near me is packed with cases of bottled water.      Lizzy Briskin

Although I prefer my filtered NYC tap water, I like to treat myself to a Bai antioxidant water on occasion. My favorite flavor is blueberry.

Buying these flavorful waters in bulk saves me tons compared to picking up a bottle at the local bodega now and then.

I stock up on pistachios and cashews for snacking and cooking.

I stock up on pistachios and cashews for snacking and cooking.
I use nuts to make nut milk sometimes.      Lizzy Briskin

I love adding nuts to salads and baked goods and occasionally making homemade nut milk.

But nuts can get expensive so I try to buy them in bulk. I usually get Wonderful Pistachios, which I use for topping granola and sprinkling over roasted vegetables. I also buy Sam's Club Member's Mark unsalted raw cashews, which make the creamiest nut milk.

Francis Ford Coppola claret is a great red to serve with pasta.

Francis Ford Coppola claret is a great red to serve with pasta.
I pick up Francis Ford Coppola claret at my local Sam's Club.      Lizzy Briskin

A warehouse store like Sam's Club is a great place to stock up on your favorite booze on the cheap.

I always grab a few bottles of Francis Ford Coppola claret, which is delicious when paired with pasta and red sauce.

I keep Barilla pasta on hand for easy dinners.

I keep Barilla pasta on hand for easy dinners.
Barilla pasta comes in variety packs with different shapes.      Lizzy Briskin

Barilla is my go-to for a quick and easy weeknight dinner, and it's nice to get a slew of fun pasta shapes in one swoop with this variety pack. It includes short- and long-cut noodles for any sauce.

If I'm not making my own sauce, I'm drowning my pasta in Rao's Marinara.

If I
Rao's homemade sauce has an excellent flavor.      Lizzy Briskin

Rao's Homemade sauce is my go-to jarred tomato sauce. It's super savory and full of umami.

Sometimes I just top my pasta with Rao's, other times I dress up my dish with extra vegetables or protein.

I love Grillo's dill chips for snacks and sandwiches.

I love Grillo
Grillo's pickles are crisp and salty.      Lizzy Briskin

Grillo's is my favorite pickle brand, and no container is too big for my appetite. These dills are wonderfully crisp and not too salty. They're especially delicious in a sandwich.

I use Kerrygold unsalted butter for cooking almost daily.

I use Kerrygold unsalted butter for cooking almost daily.
Kerrygold butter has a great flavor.      Lizzy Briskin

Good butter is the foundation of many great dishes, and I personally love the rich, unctuous flavor of Kerrygold. The shimmery golden wrapper also makes preparing morning toast feel a touch fancier.

I love the sharp flavor of Cabot cheddar cheese.

I love the sharp flavor of Cabot cheddar cheese.
Cabot has a great sharp cheddar.      Lizzy Briskin

Yes, this is a massive block of cheddar. But at the rate that my family consumes grilled-cheese sandwiches, it won't last long. We love the sophisticated bite of Cabot's Extra Sharp.

Morton salt is a staple in my kitchen.

Morton salt is a staple in my kitchen.
Iodized salt is always in my pantry.      Lizzy Briskin

I reach for Morton salt whether I'm baking cookies or searing burgers. I'm constantly grabbing generous pinches from my always-full salt well and I keep at least one box in the pantry for backup.

I use pure vanilla extract for all of my baking.

I use pure vanilla extract for all of my baking.
A bottle of pure vanilla extract can last me a long time.      Lizzy Briskin

Good-quality vanilla extract is a must in many of my favorite baking recipes, but the tiniest bottle seems to cost a fortune at the average grocery store.

It lasts a long time, so I prefer to buy a bigger container that's much more economical, ounce-for-ounce.

Member's Mark flowers are a fun way to treat myself.

Member
Sam's Club usually has some pretty affordable bouquets.      Lizzy Briskin

While I'm piling my cart high with things I'll have to Tetris into my apartment somehow, I like to celebrate my finds by treating myself to a bouquet of Sam's Club flowers.

There's usually a good variety and I think they're a sleeper hit.

Advertisement