Costco

[OldMayfield]

My wife just signed us up for a Costco membership.

It seems many of the posters on this forum buy meat from Costco.

What is the consensus about Costco meat? Beef vs Prok vs Chicken/Turkey vs Fish?

I have a pretty good local butcher and fish market, but I'm open to suggestions about buying at Costco, either regularly or via special deals.

 

[BobbyQ]

I used to buy most meat from Costco. Then I found out that they use machanical tenderizers for the meat that they butcher like steaks. The fine print on their labels states it but how many read it? According to "experts" you are supposed to cook tenderized meat to near well done IT to avoid problems with bacteria contamination from the tenderizing. Nowadays, I just buy meat from Costco that's cryovac packaged by the processor like ribs and brisket and I stick with a local super market that has a good butcher deprtment. BTW, my local Costco's prices have jumped to where they aren't as economical as they once were.
Although I just picked up a prime packer at $4.99/ lb. That's one of their bargains but rib eyes and other steaks are quite expensive.

 

[RayClem]

I have been purchasing pork loin chops from Costco for many years. The price is good and the quality is excellent. The chops are over 1" thick which allow them to be cooked low and slow in the Traeger. Pull them off at an internal temp of 145F. They will be dry if you overcook as pork loin is a lean cut.

I like to marinate the chops before cooking. I use Stubbs Citrus and Onion Chicken marinade, but they also make a marinade for pork. I just like the flavor of the chicken marinade better. Place the pork chops in a couple of gallon size Ziplock bags, add marinade and allow to soak anywhere from 1 hour to overnight. When you pull them out, season them with your favorite pork rub.

Sometimes I boil the excess marinade in a sauce pan and use it to baste the chops during cooking. Boiling insures any bacteria are killed.

With your Pro 780, you can cook a pack of the pork chops at one time. Freeze any in vacuum sealed bags that you cannot eat right away.

 

[Parrothead1809]

Costco briskets are generally bigger than I need, but the price is right so I don’t mind an aggressive trim.
-PH

 

[BobbyQ]

Costco briskets are generally bigger than I need, but the price is right so I don’t mind an aggressive trim.
-PH

Agree. I lucked out this time. I found an 11.5 lb one among the 18+ pounders. I try to stay under 13. This one should come in at 9-10 when trimmed.

 

[Parrothead1809]

My last from Costco was a 13 pounder and I took nearly 3 lbs off of it.
-PH

 

[Propwashed]

I have bought Costco meat for their USDA Choice selection since 1987 it is always consistent verses smaller stores like Safeway and Albertsons that throw in no-roll graded meats into their case hoping you don't notice until you bite into that bubblegum. When I want Prime or better for the special gusts I use Blue Max Butcher shop, they even sell most of the exotic meats.

 

[Hogan]

Costco in Canada sell Grade AAA (in US: Prime) tho primarily from Canadian suppliers. In Alberta we are lucky to be home for some of the finest beef in the world, so I particularly watch for beef brisket from AB suppliers. (I like the fact they will have a number of cryovac briskets in the cooler so you can choose the one that is right for you, something you rarely find at the local butcher.) Costco pork ribs and full, uncut loin are still excellent buys. (Trimmed and cryovac-sealed at the packer.) I find most of their beef cuts (steaks) to be iffy, so generally avoid them and their larger, uncut brothers.
Costco Canada carry Aussie lamb at good prices, but personally I prefer NZ lamb (smaller animals and grass fed).
Agreed on Costco prices going up; the wholesale advantage is dwindling.
Some of their fresh seafood are good buys; just take it home, cut it to meal size portions and freeze.
And for lazy days, there are always roast chickens at an unbeatble price.

 

[Trae Bar IV]

My last from Costco was a 13 pounder and I took nearly 3 lbs off of it.
-PH

Costco brisket is cheap, they even sell prime. I also end up cutting off 3-4lbs of fat off a 16+ lb brisket.

The Costco Ribs are ok, the biggest attraction being there low price, but the bones are not really straight. They are very inconsistent. Good enough for the backyard but not a competition for sure.