First time shopping at Costco for meat. (2024)

I think it depends on your local Costco. The one I shop at sell pork butts (but they only sell boneless.) They sell brisket flats (but no full packers.) I buy the flats once in a while - the prices are decent. I buy all of my baby-back ribs at Costco. Their prices beat any others I've seen.

I also buy whole chickens there.

CarlWayne said:

Is it better to buy pork butts bone in?

Click to expand...

Most people say they can't taste the difference.

CarlWayne said:

Is it better to buy pork butts bone in?

Click to expand...

I prefer bone-in because many times the removal of the bone leaves the meat kind of torn up. Plus, when that bone slides out, you know the meat is done! As far as taste, I can't tell a difference.

As Terry said, it depends on your location. I've never been able to find full packers at any of the Costcos around here. I'm not a big fan of the BB ribs as I find them a bit too lean, but then again, it could be my locale.

What I do love Costco for meatwise is their beef - their skirt steak, ribeyes, and whole tenderloins are fantastic both in quality and price, and I usually have the option of going USDA prime with the ribeyes and tenderloins. Their tri-tips are pretty good.

If you like lamb, the lamb loin chops are incomparable, both for price and quality.

Terry The Toad said:

I prefer bone-in because many times the removal of the bone leaves the meat kind of torn up. Plus, when that bone slides out, you know the meat is done! As far as taste, I can't tell a difference.

Click to expand...

Jaskew82 said:

I prefer bone in. I don't know if I can taste the difference (never did a blind taste test) but I like using the bone as an indicator. I also love chunking up the meat around the bone.

Click to expand...

Bingo! I cant say there is a taste difference but there is nothing like pulling that butt or picnic bone out of the meat and it just slides out like a hot knife thru warm butta.

mbshop said:

my wife will only eat costco beef.

Click to expand...

Sorry Bro

They seem to be cheaper than my local Kroger on nearly everything...and I feel the quality is better...especially on the steaks.

Kroger's sale price is sometimes cheaper than Costco...especially on butts.

mbshop said:

my wife will only eat costco beef.

Click to expand...

There's just too many jokes available in that set up that aren't suitable for a family forum. I will just quietly see myself to the door.

In Hawaii, Costco is about the only place to buy decent meat... It's a LOT cheaper than local markets (e.g. ribeyes or strip loins sell for $9/lb, local markets about $13/lb). Local markets rarely sell U.S. Choice (only standard) and never U.S. Prime.

So sad...

In the DFW area, they typically have non-enhanced pork loins, tenderloins and ribs. They have USDA Choice and Prime steaks. Their chicken is un-enhanced (I love the whole birds they sell, which I brine and roast on my rotisserie). I've never looked at their briskets, but I believe they are USDA Choice.

They won't always have all of these at all times, but they do have most of them most of the time.

If you want to try smoking cheese this winter, they have good cheeses, too.

CD

IbrahimSS said:

Most people say they can't taste the difference.

Click to expand...

I can't tell any difference. I have cooked COSTCO butts, and they were great.

CD

caseydog said:

In the DFW area, they typically have non-enhanced pork loins, tenderloins and ribs. They have USDA Choice and Prime steaks. Their chicken is un-enhanced (I love the whole birds they sell, which I brine and roast on my rotisserie). I've never looked at their briskets, but I believe they are USDA Choice.

They won't always have all of these at all times, but they do have most of them most of the time.

If you want to try smoking cheese this winter, they have good cheeses, too.

CD

Click to expand...

I've only looked at Costco once for brisket (the one on Overton Ridge in Ft. Worth) but the only briskets they were carrying at the time were USDA Select flats. Sam's and Wally World seem to carry the same or similar stuff, but I rarely go to the big box stores so I can't say for sure - especially since I detest Wally World and don't set foot in the place unless I absolutely *HAVE* to.

Albertson's on the other hand carries pretty decent USDA-Choice briskets in my experience though. They typically only have a few out and they always seem to run 14-18lbs, but if you ask they normally have stuff in the 10-12lb range in the back. Prices aren't as good as Costco unless you catch 'em on sale though (Albertson's near me puts brisket on $1.88/lb sale sometimes).