What Makes Costco's Signature Organic Salsa A Pantry Must-Have

Even a bad salsa still tastes good, but there's a large difference between mediocre and restaurant-worthy salsa blends. Compared to standard supermarket salsa brands, Costco's Kirkland Signature Organic Salsa deserves a spot in your pantry due to its ingredients, versatility, and value. It's a USDA-certified organic product that has a pleasant heat level and consistency somewhere between a chunky and a cantina-style blend.

Some store-bought brands limit themselves to using jalapeños in medium salsa, but the Kirkland brand uses a combination of jalapeño, ancho, and chipotle peppers, giving the salsa a more diverse flavor. Anchos are dried poblano peppers, and chipotles are dried jalapeños that you'll often see sold at Mexican grocery stores because of the unique smoky and earthy flavor they bring to food. In the Kirkland salsa, these peppers blend together nicely with the salt, onion, garlic, cayenne, and cumin. Those who want a spicier salsa blend (in terms of seasoning, not Scovilles) will enjoy this savory mix.

The Kirkland salsa would work well with starchy and sweet ingredients as part of a larger recipe. It can be used as a base for tortilla soup or to top off a fast-food burrito bowl. Ingredients such as quinoa, tortillas, corn, and rice would complement the seasonings in this recipe. However, the greatest use for Kirkland's salsa would be with blue corn tortillas and chips, which have a sweet, nutty, and bitter flavor that suits the salsa.

The biggest potential drawback to the Kirkland Signature Organic Salsa is a lack of — refreshment? Although it has lime and cilantro in its ingredient list, these elements struggle to come through on the palate. Kirkland's blend lacks the natural sweet and sour notes that make certain salsas (such as a classic pico de gallo) come alive by providing a cool and hydrating sensation, regardless of actual temperature. This could also be an issue of whichever tomatoes are used in the recipe, as some varieties can lean more sour or umami at base.

It comes down to personal preference, but for people seeking those sorts of bright flavors, adding fresh ingredients could improve this store-bought salsa. Lime or pineapple would add the sweet and sourness that the Kirkland salsa is missing. Adding more peppers will kick up the heat, but doing so may provide richer flavor if combined with a small amount of honey or agave syrup.

One of the biggest upsides of Kirkland salsa is its value. Many of the best salsas on grocery store shelves come from smaller specialty brands that prioritize high-quality ingredients, but they can be pricey and often lack bulk-size options. Costco's Kirkland Signature Organic Salsa is a quality product sold at a reasonable price: $11.49 for a two-pack of 38-ounce jars. This value makes it a worthy addition to your pantry for the next cookout.