The Real Reason Costco’s Pizza Is So Delicious

There’s nothing better than grabbing a $1.99 slice of pizza at Costco after stocking up on bulk items. After all, pushing around that giant cart while scouting the massive store for deals is hard work. While some of these Costco foods are only available in regional food courts, Costco pizza is a universal experience.  By the end of your journey, the perfectly browned cheese and crispy crust on every mouthwatering slice is a well-earned treat. And it very well should be—Costco works hard to make sure their pizza is practically perfect every time, and it’s all thanks to a secret pizza robot.

This magical machine evenly distributes their delicious sauce on the pizza dough, putting all of your at-home pizza experiments to shame. The gourmet gadget is actually pretty mesmerizing to watch in action. So much so, it’ll make you crave a slice (or two) in seconds. Maybe that’s why so many people try to order Costco pizza ahead––the trick to getting yours in a timely manner is one of the secrets Costco employees want you to know.

Thanks to the handy robot, Costco has streamlined its pizza process to make it as efficient (and irresistibly delicious) as possible. “We never shortcut the ingredients. Everything is measured to a standard. Every Costco pizza you get should have the same amount of sauce, cheese, and toppings,” says Kaiwen Zhao, Costco employee since 2013. (Want to eat for cheap after the Costco samples have run out? Check out the best all-you-can-eat buffet in your state.)

First, they make sure to give the pizza dough time to rise before they press it into pies. Next, it goes to the pizza robot for an even layer of sauce. After toppings are added they put it in the oven, which evenly heats the pizza from all angles (in only six minutes!). And, to ensure that it’s always fresh, any pizza that isn’t sold within an hour gets replaced with one straight out of the oven, says Zhao. If these foodie facts got you hungry, just wait till you find out the secret recipe behind Costco’s chicken bakes. Not a member yet? Weigh the benefits of Costco vs. Sam’s Club. 

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