I'm a chef. Here are the 13 best things I bought at Costco this year.

Sunflower oil is a great alternative to olive oil for high-heat cooking.

It has a higher smoke point at 450 degrees Fahrenheit (compared to extra-virgin olive oil's at about 410), which means it's great for searing meat and stir-frying.

It also has a neutral flavor that won't affect your dish's taste.

Banza rotini, which is made from chickpeas, has become my hero for last-minute dinners.

The noodles are short, so they cook in a matter of minutes. All I have to do is top them with sauce, cheese, and maybe a Polish sausage.

I adore beets, which are full of antioxidants. But I hate how messy my kitchen gets after I cook, peel, and slice a bunch from the farmers market.

That's why I keep Love Beets, which are ready to eat at any moment, in my fridge. They add a touch of sweetness to salads that I can't get enough of.

Bachan's barbecue sauce is perfectly sweet and tomato-y.

It's full of umami and is a perfect sauce for meat, veggies, and seafood if I'm craving teriyaki.

Teton Waters Ranch 100% beef Polish sausage is a nitrate- and nitrite-free fully-cooked sausage that you can serve for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

It heats through in minutes and tastes great on a sheet-pan dinner with roasted veggies or alongside eggs and toast for a full breakfast.

I love eating big salads for lunch, and I'm always looking for new mix-ins that add flavor and crunch.

Without their shells, the sea-salt-and-vinegar pistachios from Wonderful are one of my favorite salad toppings.

I store the bag in the freezer to help the nuts stay fresh longer.

No barbecue or chicken-salad sandwich is complete without pickles, if you ask me.

My favorite brand is Grillo's, so I love getting a giant tub of dill spears at Costco.

I love the salty, creamy, rich taste of Kerrygold Irish butter.

Although I use the unsalted stuff for baking, the brand's salted butter is perfect for topping toast and other treats.

Tillamook cheese snacks are perfectly sharp and portable.

The individually packaged snacks hit the spot when I'm getting hangry on the go and don't want to buy anything out or succumb to sugary treats.

I'm constantly trying to keep my pantry organized and my ingredients as fresh as possible, and I've found that the OXO Pop container set is an excellent solution.

The containers don't take up too much space in my cabinets, and they keep food fresh, thanks to the suction technology in the lids.

This eight-piece set at Costco includes a variety of sizes that I use to store everything from bulk flour to dried fruit.

I go through soy sauce quickly, using it to upgrade stir-fries, make glazes for seafood and meat, and to season my eggs.

Kikkoman is my go-to brand, so I always grab a 2-quart jug at Costco.

You'll never catch me without a can of tomatoes in my pantry, and I especially love the San Marzano whole peeled tomatoes from Cento.

These 12-ounce cans are a reasonable size for home cooks compared to massive, restaurant-sized ones I've seen from other brands at Costco.

With these, I don't have to worry about wasting tomatoes after I open a can. They're gold for soups, sauces, and shakshuka.

I regularly crack open a can of Wild Planet tuna to top a salad or stuff into a pita for lunch at home.

I love pairing this light albacore tuna with a dollop of mayo and chopped pickles for a quick deli-style tuna salad.

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