Why do people like Costco so much?

[SamQuint]

I tried some chicken melts that looked extremely similar to that... I'm glad mine wasn't a box of 15, as they weren't particularly good.

They are kind of dry those chicken melts. I always have Chic-fil-a sauces handy and those help.

I really like their Panko breaded shrimp. Those taste good.

 

[Zorba]

Depends on the size of the king crab legs. Price per pound goes up depending on how big the legs are. The largest sized legs I've seen at Costco are 4/7 size which means 10 lb box of crab legs will contain 4 to 7 legs. The smallest size legs I've seen at Costco are 16/20 size which means 10 lb box will contain 16 to 20 legs. 16/20 size legs are usually couple bucks cheaper per pound than 4/7 size legs. The smallest size I will buy are the 9/12 size. I won't buy anything smaller than that. But the size label is bogus and I've yet to buy a box that was accurate. The sizes are always smaller than what the box label indicates. I will buy 4/7 size box and it will contain like 12 or more legs. So that's really 9/12 size or 12/14 size but the box label will say 4/7. It's all a lie. It's not Costco that's lying about the size. It's the seafood processor who sells to Costco.

4/7 size king crab legs are around $33 /lb. So box will be $330 since a box is 10 lbs. Box used to be 20 lbs but they switched to 10 lb box like 8-10 years ago. I remember buying 20 lb box for like $260 or so. King crab used to be around $13-14 /lb back then. That was super nice. I used to get 20 lb box every month or every other month. But now I'm kind of sick of king crab legs and only buy a box every 6 months or so. Which works out fine because now 10 lb box is around $330. It's still worth it but it's not as good as deal as it used to be.

That's good info. I love king crab legs, but at 33/# I'd rather just get them at a restaurant.

Last year I was really hoping the prices would tank, but never saw it cheaper at the store.

 

[ponyo]

That's good info. I love king crab legs, but at 33/# I'd rather just get them at a restaurant.

Last year I was really hoping the prices would tank, but never saw it cheaper at the store.

$33 /lb is still much cheaper than ordering it at a restaurant. Plus, I never see big legs being served at restaurant. It's always the cheap tiny thin legs. Like I said, legs price per pound goes up the bigger the legs are. You're not going to get jumbo sized crab legs at restaurant.

This is 4/7 size labeled box I bought from Costco. Even this wasn't true 4/7 size as there were more than 7 legs in this 10 lb box. I think there were like 10 or 11 legs which would make it 9/12 size. But as I mentioned, size label is a lie and what you get will always be smaller than what's listed outside the box.

Banana for scale

Cooked leg can't fit on my plate

crab meat from just one upper portion of the leg

So I never order king crab legs at a restaurant. I see legs being served and it's always the tiny ones. That's not what I want. If it's not jumbo, I don't want it. If I crave crab legs, I go and buy a box at Costco and pig out at home. I will order king crab legs at a restaurant but only in Korea. That's because they have live king crab in the water tank and you pick out the exact live king crab you want to eat. They serve the whole crab there, not just reheated legs. And it's so hard to find live king crabs anywhere even from the source like Alaska and Russia. But you can find it in Korea which is why I love flying there to eat. South Korea is the ultimate foodie destination.

 

[Zorba]

$33 /lb is still much cheaper than ordering it at a restaurant. Plus, I never see big legs being served at restaurant. It's always the cheap tiny thin legs. Like I said, legs price per pound goes up the bigger the legs are. You're not going to get jumbo sized crab legs at restaurant.

This is 4/7 size labeled box I bought from Costco. Even this wasn't true 4/7 size as there were more than 7 legs in this 10 lb box. I think there were like 10 or 11 legs which would make it 9/12 size. But as I mentioned, size label is a lie and what you get will always be smaller than what's listed outside the box.

Banana for scale

Cooked leg can't fit on my plate

crab meat from just one upper portion of the leg

So I never order king crab legs at a restaurant. I see legs being served and it's always the tiny ones. That's not what I want. If it's not jumbo, I don't want it. If I crave crab legs, I go and buy a box at Costco and pig out at home. I will order king crab legs at a restaurant but only in Korea. That's because they have live king crab in the water tank and you pick out the exact live king crab you want to eat. They serve the whole crab there, not just reheated legs. And it's so hard to find live king crabs anywhere even from the source like Alaska and Russia. But you can find it in Korea which is why I love flying there to eat. South Korea is the ultimate foodie destination.

Yeah, that is massive compared to what I've gotten in restaurants. The ones I see at the grocery store are about like the restaurant ones, though. There's a local place that you get 1.5# and a couple sides for $55, the crabpot in Seattle is about the same.

I don't remember seeing any live king or snow crab when I was in Busan. If I ever go back, I'll have to look. When I was there I was by myself and ended up not being very adventurous, afraid I'd accidentally order a partially alive octopus.

 

[ponyo]

Yeah, that is massive compared to what I've gotten in restaurants. The ones I see at the grocery store are about like the restaurant ones, though. There's a local place that you get 1.5# and a couple sides for $55, the crabpot in Seattle is about the same.

I don't remember seeing any live king or snow crab when I was in Busan. If I ever go back, I'll have to look. When I was there I was by myself and ended up not being very adventurous, afraid I'd accidentally order a partially alive octopus.

My wife and I are going to Korea next month to eat. We're going to visit Seoul, Busan, and Jeju island. We're going to take the bullet train from Seoul to Busan. I will take some pics of the food. I plan to hit bunch of seafood restaurants so I'm sure we'll eat bunch of crabs. My mouth is already watering thinking about all the food.

 

[MrSquished]

I remember when big assed legs at Costco were under 20 a pound. Those were the days.

I personally can't wait to go back to the Mediterranean. It's truly where the best food in the world exists. The produce is so fresh and the soil and sun so perfect, when you eat the produce there you wonder what you've been eating in the states. The seafood bounty of the Mediterranean is plentiful, and the meat is locally raised and grazed. It's impossible to beat. Plus they appreciate things called cheese.

Fuck Covid. Was supposed to be heading there next week. Instead I'm going to North Carolina, what a shitty second place prize that is.

 

[Muse]

I thought crabs were an STD. I'd never consider buying crabs at Costco.

 

[Zorba]

I thought crabs were an STD. I'd never consider buying crabs at Costco.

Does anyone still get crabs? I thought the shaving revolution eliminated them.

 

[Muse]

Does anyone still get crabs? I thought the shaving revolution eliminated them.

you shave your pubes?

 

[Zorba]

you shave your pubes?

Buzz cut.

But the women fully shaving, men manscaping, not much for the crabbies to eat.

 

[JEDI]

$33 /lb is still much cheaper than ordering it at a restaurant. Plus, I never see big legs being served at restaurant. It's always the cheap tiny thin legs. Like I said, legs price per pound goes up the bigger the legs are. You're not going to get jumbo sized crab legs at restaurant.

This is 4/7 size labeled box I bought from Costco. Even this wasn't true 4/7 size as there were more than 7 legs in this 10 lb box. I think there were like 10 or 11 legs which would make it 9/12 size. But as I mentioned, size label is a lie and what you get will always be smaller than what's listed outside the box.

Banana for scale

Cooked leg can't fit on my plate

crab meat from just one upper portion of the leg

So I never order king crab legs at a restaurant. I see legs being served and it's always the tiny ones. That's not what I want. If it's not jumbo, I don't want it. If I crave crab legs, I go and buy a box at Costco and pig out at home. I will order king crab legs at a restaurant but only in Korea. That's because they have live king crab in the water tank and you pick out the exact live king crab you want to eat. They serve the whole crab there, not just reheated legs. And it's so hard to find live king crabs anywhere even from the source like Alaska and Russia. But you can find it in Korea which is why I love flying there to eat. South Korea is the ultimate foodie destination.

because of your post, i noticed this today.
$32/lb for 6/9 size.

and it's precooked!
just microwave and eat?

 

[MrSquished]

View attachment 48253

because of your post, i noticed this today.
$32/lb for 6/9 size.

and it's precooked!
just microwave and eat?

I steam them to reheat them. I'd guess the microwave has a good chance to mess up the texture.

 

[PingSpike]

Does anyone have a strategy for buying stuff that you always buy when Costco "features" it. By that I mean, they have relocated it so some end cap somewhere that I never go by and its missing from its original location. Then I can't find it. The most recent example was their kirkland natural peanut butter. No idea where it is but there's plenty of jiffy and "mixed nut" butter.

In the past I've looked all over the place and still failed to find it. And I've asked employees and they also have no idea where it ends up. So when something I like "goes on sale" or is being advertised, its like I can't even buy it until that stops.

 

[JujuFish]

I've never had crab. I look at these prices you all are talking about and thinking "these can't possibly be worth that much".

 

[JujuFish]

Does anyone have a strategy for buying stuff that you always buy when Costco "features" it. By that I mean, they have relocated it so some end cap somewhere that I never go by and its missing from its original location. Then I can't find it. The most recent example was their kirkland natural peanut butter. No idea where it is but there's plenty of jiffy and "mixed nut" butter.

In the past I've looked all over the place and still failed to find it. And I've asked employees and they also have no idea where it ends up. So when something I like "goes on sale" or is being advertised, its like I can't even buy it until that stops.

In a perfect world, I'd be able to go to a store's website/app, put in the item I want, and get an exact store location for it. I hate knowing the store has an item but I just can't find it. So aggravating.

 

[nakedfrog]

Cooked leg can't fit on my plate

Side note, I think we had that same plate set when I was a kid

 

[nakedfrog]

I've never had crab. I look at these prices you all are talking about and thinking "these can't possibly be worth that much".

I'm not big on seafood at all, but I try stuff. I thought the core flavor was similar to lobster. Between the two, if they were my only option, I'd eat the crab.

 

[JujuFish]

I'm not big on seafood at all, but I try stuff. I thought the core flavor was similar to lobster. Between the two, if they were my only option, I'd eat the crab.

I grew up poor, so I didn't eat much seafood at all as a kid. Canned tuna was about the extent of it. I've been trying to expand my palate in my 30s and find that I do enjoy a lot of seafood. But I'm absolutely horrendous at cooking and the prices for higher end seafood at restaurants is a bit of a turn off (also probably a symptom of growing up poor).

I look at the picutres of crab in this thread and honestly wouldn't even know how to eat that. But I think I'd try it.

 

[ponyo]

Just came back from Costco. I've a cousin I haven't seen in ages in town so I want to cook dinner for him. Picked up box of 6/9 king crab legs and prime NY strip. Another $500 donation to Costco. This is why I spend $30k a year at Costco.

 

[PingSpike]

I'm pretty take it or leave it on seafood to be honest. I find shell fish fine, but not really something I get excited about. And I'm lazy and it always seems like a lot of work. And god dammit they make rancid trash.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

you shave your pubes?

Who doesn't? If you've done it once then I guarantee you're going to keep doing doing it because it gets itchy as shit when you get used to not having a bush.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

Not sure if this has been mentioned but Costco's return policy is like no other. They don't give a shit what it is, they will usually always take a return on it even if it's 6 months old.

 

[Hans Gruber]

I should point out I am down wind from Alaska. We get the good seafood at our Costco. I can't speak for you in the midwest or east coast.

 

[Zorba]

In a perfect world, I'd be able to go to a store's website/app, put in the item I want, and get an exact store location for it. I hate knowing the store has an item but I just can't find it. So aggravating.

I do this at Lowe's and home depot all the time.

 

[Zorba]

I grew up poor, so I didn't eat much seafood at all as a kid. Canned tuna was about the extent of it. I've been trying to expand my palate in my 30s and find that I do enjoy a lot of seafood. But I'm absolutely horrendous at cooking and the prices for higher end seafood at restaurants is a bit of a turn off (also probably a symptom of growing up poor).

I look at the picutres of crab in this thread and honestly wouldn't even know how to eat that. But I think I'd try it.

Seafood is best at seafood market/counter ordering restaurants. It's cheaper, fresher, and just better.

Crab is really good, definitely worth a try, snow crab is much cheaper than King, although not as good.