It’s easy to think of Sam’s Club as the home of bulk toilet paper and the basics for your fridge and pantry. But I’ve spent enough time in the aisles to know that they’re full of hidden gems—gourmet goods, stellar deals and just plain great products—as long as you know what to look for.

From ready-to-eat meals to snacks, condiments and even storage solutions, these are some of my favorite, if perhaps a bit unexpected, Sam’s Club finds.

1. Croissants

Member’s Mark All-Butter Sandwich Croissants are, as the name might imply, made with all real butter, and they’re baked fresh in the Club every day. That combo results in a perfectly flaky, crisp-but-soft pastry that’s good on its own, with a generous smear of jam or as a vehicle for a delicious sandwich.

2. Sushi

There’s nothing that works up my appetite quite like bulk shopping, and it’s entirely possible that I’ve eaten more sushi in the Sam’s Club parking lot than anywhere else. The Club’s sushi doesn’t come in on a truck; it’s made by sushi chefs right on site every day, so you know it’s fresh, and after a big shop, it really hits the spot.  

3. Olive Oil

Almost everything that comes out of my kitchen starts with a healthy fat, so I go through a whole lot of olive oil. Sam’s in-house brand, Member’s Mark, has an organic extra-virgin, first cold press olive oil that’s packed in Italy. (And when it comes to olive oil, I trust the Italians implicitly.) The best part: at just over 100 ounces, the bottle lasts at least until the next time I’m headed to the Club.

4. Shredded Parmesan

I subscribe pretty firmly to the culinary belief that there are few dishes—savory ones, anyway—that aren’t made just a bit better with a sprinkle of Parmesan on top. I keep this giant container of Member’s Mark Shredded Parmesan in stock, and whenever a dish needs just a bit more nuttiness or a dash more salt, I’ll add some. The price is right, and it goes a long way, which makes it a gem as far as I’m concerned.

5. Pantry Storage

I’m a food writer, home chef and busy working mom with a truly tiny pantry. You can imagine that things get pretty cluttered pretty fast, and for a long time it was a major source of frustration. The Member’s Mark 8-Piece Fliplock Pantry Storage containers are a total game-changer. I have four sets, and I use them for everything from baking ingredients to prepackaged snacks.

6. Chicken Taco Kit

Just about the last thing I want to do when I get home from a Sam’s Club trip is make dinner, and I know I’m not alone. The chicken taco kit is the perfect solution. It’s loaded with enough pulled, seasoned chicken, tortillas, salsa, slaw, cheese and sauces to feed an entire family (and we usually have enough left over for lunch the next day, too).

7. Maple Syrup

If there’s one ingredient I believe everyone should be splurging on, it’s real maple syrup. I live in a state that produces a good amount of syrup, and we often visit family in Vermont (which produces more than half of the U.S. syrup supply), so I’m a bit spoiled. And while the good stuff can get expensive, I guess Sam’s Club has some secret sap hookup. That’s the only explanation for how they can sell a 32-ounce bottle of organic maple syrup for under $15.

8. Canned Peaches

My husband is a canned peach connoisseur. He’s tried just about every brand—in light syrup, heavy syrup, fruit juice—and we’ve canned our own, refining the recipe again and again. But when we came across the Member’s Mark Yellow Clingstone Peach Halves in Light Syrup, he declared them the “perfect peaches.” They taste as if they just came off the tree yesterday, and it’s all he can do to keep from finishing the whole jar in one sitting.

9. Chicken Broth

I consider this one a hidden gem because it’s so much better than other brands. I go through a ton of chicken broth, especially in the cooler months when there’s a lot of soups and stews coming from my kitchen. I’ve tried a ton of different kinds, but nothing matches the flavor and value of the Member’s Mark version. I grab two six-packs on every Sam’s Club trip. Sometimes the broth is the central component of a dish, and sometimes I’m just adding a splash here or there. Either way, it’s my favorite broth and I stay stocked up on it.