Contemplating Buying Steak from Costco? Evaluating Advantages and Disadvantages
Hitting up Costco for groceries is like stepping into a marvelous jumble sale,where you're often juggling giant carts filled with bulky goodies, courtesy of fellow shoppers.
Our household joined the Costco club once we finally moved into a pad big enough to store all our hoarded items, and now we mainly shop there for essentials like dog chow, rolls of gargantuan toilet paper, giant slabs of string cheese, and humongous tubs of delicious (and wallet-friendly) almond butter.
On the flip side, we usually dodge the pricey steaks since their enormous sizes don't usually sync with our moderate meat consumption. However, the praises heaped by pro chefs on the quality of Costco beef have our taste buds hovering around the meat department.
Buying steaks at Costco isn't just about considering cost and quantity - it also involves evaluating quality and the sheer size of the meat. You might want to look into your nearest Costco's inventory and think about whether a membership makes sense for your shopping habits. Animal welfare could even factor into your decision-making process.
Here's a breakdown:
Will you be saving money buying steaks at Costco?
A basic annual Costco membership will set you back $60, but whether it's worth it ultimately depends on what you intend to buy and how much you can consume.
While some Costco items aren't worth the expense, steak usually doesn't make the list. Costco meat prices are generally cheaper per pound than at specialty butcher shops and higher-end grocery stores like Whole Foods, but they can be pricey compared to budget grocery stores during sales.
To truly gauge the value, take a gander at the per-ounce cost, and before chasing the lowest price-per-weight ratio, pay attention to the quality of the meat. For instance, different cuts, like filet mignon, will naturally command a higher price. Properly assessing the quality will help make sure you're getting a good deal.
Prime vs. Choice cuts
When selecting your beef, look for truth in advertising. The USDA grades meat into Prime, Choice, and Select, with Prime being the top choice. Prime beef boasts the highest amount of marbling, indicating more tenderness and juiciness.
You can expect to find more Prime meat these days, with around 3-3.5% of US beef earning this label. Notably, Prime beef tends to be more expensive, but USDA Choice cuts are still high-quality, and often cost less.
In terms of cuts, you can generally rely on finding popular steaks like rib-eye and sirloin at Costco, although the specific options may vary by location.
Blade-tenderized steaks at Costco
Be aware that most Kirkland Signature steaks offered at Costco undergo blade-tenderizing, where the meat is mechanically punctured to improve tenderness. This process might drive surface bacteria deeper into the meat, so be cautious about cooking them to recommended temperatures (160°F/71°C) for food safety.
If you buy a whole roast or loin to carve into steaks yourself, you can avoid this concern by handling and storing the meat properly.
Animal welfare considerations
It's worth noting that Costco's animal welfare policies don't offer specific details on beef in comparison to other niche meat retailers. If animal welfare matters to you, you may wish to seek out suppliers with more transparent policies.
Making the most of bulk steak purchases
Buying steak at Costco inevitably means you’ll leave with a massive stash of beef. To maximize your bulk purchase, consider buying whole roasts or loins and cutting them into steaks yourself, or freezing portioned steaks for later use.
Preparing your meat in bulk and distributing it across multiple meals can be an effective way to manage large quantities. However, keep in mind that freezing may affect the quality of the meat, depending on the cut and how well it's wrapped. Vacuum sealing your meat is the ideal option for long-term storage.
So, should you purchase your steaks at Costco?
Ultimately, the decision is yours. If price is no object, and you live in an area where opportunities to buy from a knowledgeable local butcher are plentiful, it's likely worth investing in their expertise.
However, if you desire quality at a lower cost per pound, aren't put off by large quantities, and are unbothered by pre-packaged meat or blade tenderizing, then saddle up and head to Costco's meat department. Happy shopping and eating!
- Presented with a vast array of options at Costco, we've been pondering whether to finally try their top-quality steaks, although their large sizes don't always align with our moderate meat consumption.
- The cost-effectiveness of purchasing steaks from Costco should be evaluated by looking beyond the basic membership fee, taking into account the per-ounce cost, quality, and specific cuts.
- When shopping for steaks at Costco, it's crucial to be aware that most Kirkland Signature steaks are blade-tenderized, which may introduce surface bacteria deeper into the meat and necessitate careful handling and cooking practices.
- As thoughtful consumers, we might consider factors such as animal welfare in our decision-making process, since Costco's policies provide less detailed information about beef sourcing when compared to niche meat retailers.
