Costco’s ubiquitous brand, Kirkland Foods, is definitely a dealsaver, but is it any good? Usually things that are less expensive and come in a 5lb. plastic tub suffers in other areas like actual taste.

Well, the folks over at Chow conducted a taste test comparing the Kirkland products at our very own SF Costco with comparable items procured at a fancy grocery store (my guess = Bi-Rite). And the results are pretty surprising.

First up, they compared Kirkland Signature Super Premium Vanilla Ice Cream, $8.79 for two half-gallons, vs. Häagen-Dazs Five Vanilla Bean, $4.39 for 14 ounces. Sounds like a no brainer, right? Haagen-Dazs is associated with creaminess and “classiness” and one would assume it would come out as the clear winner. Well, it lost to the Kirkland ice cream.

They also tested peanut butter, extra virgin olive oil, butter, green tea, frozen pizza, canned tuna, and chicken stock. Kirkland didn’t come out on top in every instance (the butter and tuna, for example) but it did win the taste test on many counts.

So, the next time you’re shopping at Costco (aren’t you running out of toilet paper soon?) pick up that vat of Kirkland green tea and don’t let the gourmand inside of you feel ashamed.

For more, go here.

Photo credit: Chow

• Tag: butter, Costco, green tea, ice cream, Kirkland, olive oil, peanut butter, taste test