Costco- what to buy and what NOT to buy (rice)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Always wash Asian rice. It's NOT because of the dirt, it's because of the starchy flour that coats the grains. For the best tasting rice, you should rinse the rice until the water runs clear (usually 3-5 times).

Yes. I thought this was universal knowledge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Always wash Asian rice. It's NOT because of the dirt, it's because of the starchy flour that coats the grains. For the best tasting rice, you should rinse the rice until the water runs clear (usually 3-5 times).

RIGHT??? Who does not know this? Oh yea, Americans who cook THE shittiest rice in the world.

Excuse me?! I'm a wasp and I've always washed my rice until it runs clear, soaked it, dry it and then toast it before cooking it. My rice can go toe to toe with the best of them.

[Anonymous]

I don't wash my rice first because it's not on the directions...

[Anonymous]

Rinse rice until the water looks clear. Simple.

[Anonymous]

I am a connoisseur of jasmine rice having been born in Thailand. I know what authentic jasmine rice smells like, tastes like, and looks like. My wife just yesterday brought home a 25 lb of Costco Jasmine rice. Normally I have been very impressed with the quality of Costco products and food, but upon opening the bag of "Jasmine" rice my immediate response was, "It doesn't smell like Jasmine rice." I looked at it. It looked like regular long-grained white rice. We cooked up a batch. It wasn't jasmine rice at all - I no way! It was just regular, boring, lousy long grained rice.
We returned it and got the good stuff at our favorite thai grocery store where we knew we wouldn't be disappointed.
C'mon Costco! Get your act together! You're selling fake jasmine rice!

[Anonymous]

The things we buy regularly are cashews, maple syrup, fruit, milk, cheese, pizza, muffins, wine, diapers, wipes, apple sauce, shampoo/conditioner, allergy medicine, vitamins, napkins. Sometimes we also buy baby/children's clothes (those Snozu jackets are amazing when you can find them), books (they have good sets for kids, especially around the holiday time), socks/underwear for DH, and we have bought electronics there in the past.

Like one of the earlier PPs, I only buy rice from Indian or Asian stores.

[Anonymous]

Steaks. Not much else anymore.

[Anonymous]

Tires too.

[Anonymous]

There was a recent thread with a link to items requested for Afghani refugees, and there was a request for rice NOT from Costco. I guess this is why.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No arsenical pesticides are used in US grown rice.

I thought the arsenic that's causing the problem is already in the ground (like from 40 years ago)?

Correct. And rice is a variety of grass, so it soaks up the arsenic. But by saying that they are not using any fertilizer that has arsenic is actually an attempt to fool the consumer in thinking that the rice is arsenic-free - by assumption.

But...rinsing it would not remove the arsenic, either. Would it?

No. The rinsing just cleans the outside of the rice.

This is wrong. The studies that have reported the problem of arsenic in rice include the information that rinsing significantly reduces the amount of arsenic ingested. I think it's worth it.

Interesting. I did not know this.

Link with some summarized research, including for US area that has lower arsenic content in rice: http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-10-03/features/ct-food-1003-rice-arsenic-cooking-tips-20121003_1_arsenic-rice-consumption-cooked-rice

[Anonymous]

Fruit, especially berries, are excellent
Cheese
Frozen salmon and panko-breaded tilapia
Fresh seafood - shrimp is excellent when they have it, and sometimes you can buy by the pound so you don't need to get a huge package
Batteries - much cheaper than elsewhere
Nuts, especially pecans and almonds
Toothpaste, contact solution
Paper towels and toilet paper
Coffee - I like Mayorga whole bean

I don't buy sugar or flour, doesn't seem like it's any cheaper per pound than the grocery store
Also don't buy anything that comes in a flavor variety pack - there's always one have that nobody in my family likes so we waste 1/4 the case, eliminating any cost savings

[Anonymous]

What about car battery? Better than auto zone and the likes?

[Anonymous]

Something not mentioned in this thread yet are spices- much cheaper at Costco than the grocery store.

[Anonymous]

Due to arsenic and other contaminants in rice, you have to rinse it in water until the water runs clear.

That is what my Japanese father taught me to do.

[Anonymous]

I bought some awful Paleo pancake mix. It's just terrible. Can I return it even though I used a cup?