Big Packages Don’t Always Bring Big Savings
Costco’s meat department can make an ordinary grocery trip feel like legitimate meal planning. There’s nothing better than spotting the oversized roasts and multi-packs in the coolers...except for maybe the prices! But before you just stick anything into your cart, it’s worth remembering that the best purchases aren’t the biggest—you still need quality. That’s why we’re here to break down which meat cuts are the smartest Costco choices, and which ones are a shocking waste of money.
1. Kirkland Signature Rotisserie Chicken
Costco’s rotisserie chicken remains one of the easiest meats to justify. Just look at it! It arrives fully cooked with a generous size, and it’s immediately ready for dinner. You can also serve it with potatoes on the first night, then use the leftovers for whatever tickles your fancy, like chicken salad, tacos, soup, or quesadillas.
2. USDA Choice Beef Chuck Pot Roast
A boneless chuck roast? That’s pretty much one of the most sensible purchases when you’re planning a slow weekend. The marbling helps the beef get tender during a long braise, and since Costco’s packages can be substantial, cutting the roast into two portions before freezing gives you more than a few days’ worth.
3. Fresh Atlantic Salmon Fillets
You’d need a serious appetite to polish off one of Costco’s Atlantic salmon fillets! However, they work well for households that eat fish every week and don’t mind portioning it at home. You also get several uses out of one cut; the thicker sections are excellent for dinner, while the thinner tail pieces can be used in rice bowls or pasta.
Boys in Bristol Photography on Pexels
4. Boneless, Skinless Chicken Thighs
Chicken thighs are more forgiving than breasts, which makes Costco’s large packages an amazing choice for anyone who cooks in batches. Their richer flavor holds up in sheet-pan dinners and slow-cooker meals without drying out easily, which is worth the cost already. Even better, though, many packages are divided into sealed sections, so you may not need to repackage the entire thing before freezing it.
5. Kirkland Signature Thick-Sliced Bacon
The thick slices in Kirkland Signature bacon give breakfast a little more substance, and who can turn their back on that? If you don’t want all that bacon in the morning, all you need to do is cook several strips for burgers, chop some into baked beans, or render a few pieces to start a pot of soup. Costco typically sells it in separate packs, too, allowing you to freeze the unopened stuff.
6. Whole Beef Brisket
If you own a smoker at home, there’s nothing better than buying an entire brisket. Costco gives you more than enough bang for your buck, commonly carrying whole vacuum-packed briskets as well as trimmed flats. Once prepared, the leftovers can also become sandwiches, breakfast hash, nachos, or baked potato toppings.
José Ignacio Pompé on Unsplash
7. Pork Tenderloin
Pork tenderloin is lean, quick to cook, and mild enough to go with just about everything. And when it’s from Costco, you get several helpings that keep an entire family full! Medallions also cook quickly in a skillet, making this a practical cut for weeknights rather than something reserved for company.
8. Wild Alaskan Sockeye Salmon
If those giant fillets aren’t your thing, don’t worry. The frozen wild sockeye salmon portions are worth it, too, especially when you want fish without worrying about a fillet’s short refrigerator life. Don’t assume you’ll be up to your ears in the stuff, either—they’re convenient for smaller households that wouldn’t finish one of Costco’s larger packs.
9. Kirkland Signature Ground Beef
When it comes to Costco ground beef, you have options. We’re talking everything from fresh packages and frozen patties to individually wrapped portions that make meal prep easier. The meat can cover plenty of familiar dinners, too. Just divide a fresh package into proper amounts when you get home so you don’t end up thawing several pounds for one meal.
10. Oven-Roasted Sliced Turkey Breast
Turkey is one of the healthiest meats around, so if you need some, you might as well buy it in bulk! The oven-roasted stuff is a useful deli grab for households that pack plenty of lunches, and because Costco packages the turkey in two separate containers, the second one can stay sealed until you’re ready for it.
Costco’s meat department has earned plenty of loyal fans, but that doesn’t mean every enormous package deserves space in your cart. With the good stuff out of the way, let’s dive into a few options you really shouldn’t bother with.
1. Mechanically Tenderized Steaks
Some of Costco’s packaged steaks are actually blade-tenderized, and though that sounds good, it really isn’t. This process can push bacteria from the outside into the center, leaving you to cook the meat more thoroughly than you’d prefer for such an expensive steak. Anyone who enjoys a rare ribeye should look for an intact cut from a butcher instead.
David Foodphototasty on Unsplash
2. Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts
Though the chicken thighs are a steal, Costco’s breasts can weigh several pounds, which is more poultry than most need at once. They’re also commonly large, requiring pounding or careful cooking to prevent the outside from drying out before the center is done. A smaller grocery-store package gives you more control, and you’ll walk away with an appropriate amount.
3. Fresh Mussels
Fresh mussels have a short refrigerator life, so Costco’s large bags only make sense when you’re preparing for a dinner party. Buying six pounds for two people, though? That can leave you sorting through shellfish that must be cooked quickly and discarded if they don’t close when tapped before cooking.
4. Eye of Round Roast
Eye of round looks like an appealing bargain, and it’s easy to get swindled when it’s next to Costco’s pricier beef cuts. However, its leanness makes it easy to overcook. Unless you already have a plan, that hefty package may deliver more chewing than value.
5. Pre-Cut Beef Stew Meat
“Stewing beef” labels might save a few minutes of knife work, but you’ll pay for it in other ways—mainly without knowing which cuts are included. Uneven pieces can cook at different rates, leaving some cubes tender while others remain way too firm.
6. A Full Rack of Lamb
Costco’s Frenched lamb racks look impressive, but they’re still an expensive purchase for casual enjoyers. The small chops also have less meat than their bones suggest, and overcooking them can quickly undermine the money you spent. Trying two or three chops from a butcher is a safer introduction.
Diego Arenas de Rodrigo on Unsplash
7. Deli Antipasto Packs
In case you haven’t noticed, Costco carries substantial packages filled with prosciutto, soppressata, capocollo, and salami. Sounds good, right? Well, once opened, those delicate slices dry out, become slick, or absorb refrigerator odors. Unless you have 20 people on the way, individual packages from the deli counter are more enjoyable.
8. The Prepared Seafood Boil
Costco’s seasonal seafood boil combines all kinds of good stuff: Dungeness crab, shrimp, mussels, clams, potatoes, corn, and seasoning in one tray. But you really need to commit. The kit can weigh about five pounds and cost more than $50! You also can’t adjust the proportions, so you get what you get.
Wheeler Cowperthwaite on Wikimedia
9. Bulk Italian Sausages
Sausages can’t really stretch into as many meals as other meats, so buying this many in bulk is a gamble. Fresh links also need to be frozen immediately if you aren’t grilling for a group, and their strong seasoning makes them less adaptable than plain ground pork.
10. Japanese A5 Wagyu Beef
Gone are the days of falling for every store’s so-called wagyu beef. It’s a good thing, too, because Costco’s version comes with intense marbling that requires small portions and careful preparation. Treating it like an ordinary steak can leave dinner overwhelmingly rich or badly overcooked.
KEEP ON READING
The 10 Best Fried Chicken Sandwiches & The 10 Worst
