So, I’ve been getting the Costco Caesar salad kit for ages. It’s just easy, you know? Tastes pretty decent for a quick meal. The other day, I finished one and got thinking about that dressing specifically. What exactly are they putting in there to make it taste like, well, Costco Caesar dressing?
My Little Ingredient Investigation
I happened to have a bottle of their Kirkland Signature Caesar dressing too, not just the packets from the kit. Figured the bottle would have the full rundown. So, I grabbed it from the fridge. Had to put on my reading glasses, the print is always tiny on these things.
First thing I noticed right at the top: Soybean oil. Okay, makes sense, lots of dressings use it as a base. Then water, expected. Then Parmesan and Romano cheese. Yep, gotta have the cheese in Caesar. They list ‘part skim milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes’ right after, typical cheese stuff.
Then I saw egg yolk – frozen, actually, on some lists I checked online later, but the bottle just said egg yolk. Essential for that creamy texture. Vinegars came next – red wine and distilled. That’s probably part of the tang.
What Stood Out
Here’s what jumped out at me:
- Anchovies: Yep, they’re in there. Not just ‘flavor’ but listed straight up. I always knew real Caesar had anchovies, but good to confirm Costco doesn’t skip it. Gives it that salty, umami kick I guess.
- Garlic and Mustard Seed: Staples, obviously. Dried garlic, specifically.
- The ‘Other Stuff’: Then you get into the usual suspects for bottled dressings. Salt, sugar, spices, natural flavor. But also things like Xanthan Gum (that’s a thickener), Yeast Extract, Molasses, Tamarind (interesting!), and preservatives to keep it shelf-stable. Saw Potassium Sorbate and Calcium Disodium EDTA on some lists online for the kit version maybe, the bottle had Xanthan Gum for sure.
Seeing all that laid out, it kinda clicked why it tastes so consistent and lasts a while. It’s not just oil, cheese, and garlic. There’s a whole bunch of things working together for that specific flavor and texture.
Honestly, looking at that long list, especially the Xanthan Gum and other bits, I get why trying to make an exact copy at home is tough. You can get close with the main things – garlic, lemon, parmesan, egg, anchovy, oil – but hitting that specific Kirkland taste? Probably need the exact formula they use.
So yeah, that was my little dive into the Costco Caesar dressing bottle. Satisfied my curiosity. Still gonna buy it? Probably. It’s just convenient. But now I know what I’m actually eating when I pour it on.
