Why do people like Costco so much?

[Muse]

No, my Costco sells whole pork loins (not to be confused with tenderloin, which they also sell). Roughly the same size and shape as a beef tenderloin. Not the same as the pork roast pack you mentioned.

I have to check it out, I'm there in 6 days. Actually, I remembered a couple minutes ago that the pork roasts I get come in a pack of 4 individually wrapped (not 3, as I posted above a few hours ago). They are great. Lean, almost no fat. I used to cut up and make sweet and sour pork with them, in recent times I make home made sausage with them. It would be easy to make chops. Not sure I'd like as much as what I'm used to as pork chops.

 

[sactoking]

My main complaint is that Costco tends to mechanically tenderize steaks, so cooking anything below about medium well is at your risk. I don't understand this practice especially with rib / tenderloing etc that don't need this.

E.g. see https://www.mashed.com/164331/the-one-reason-you-might-want-to-skip-costcos-beef/

You could avoid that by buying a cryo-pac primal.

 

[iCyborg]

If this was really an issue I'm sure we would have already had the class action lawsuit against Costco considering how many steaks they sell.

They come with a clear label that they've been tenderized and a USDA recommendation to cook to 160F.
You're free to ignore it, but Costco is off the hook here.

 

[MrSquished]

They come with a clear label that they've been tenderized and a USDA recommendation to cook to 160F.
You're free to ignore it, but Costco is off the hook here.

They covered their asses, but still, if it was really a big deal we would know. The media would kill to be able to crucify a major retailer by saying they are poisoning people with their meat tenderizing methods.

I'll keep cooking my costco rib-eyes MR like I have been for over a decade and really not going to think twice.

 

[sactoking]

I may not be reading this correctly.

According to the FDA Food Code Chapter 3-401.11 a time/temp chart exists for cooking whole meat roasts.



I get that the mechanical tenderization process classifies a Costco steak as "ground meat" and not "whole meat" for FDA purposes. But if holding at 130* for 112 minutes kills surface bacteria and pathogens wouldn't holding at a core temp of 130* for 112 minutes also kill off the same bacteria and pathogens interspersed throughout the ground meat?

Like, you cook a steak to 135* for medium rare because the outer edge exceeds 160*, killing pathogens, and the inner core is untainted if handled properly. You cook a frozen burger patty to 160* all the way through because the pathogens are possibly interspersed throughout and you need to hit 160* for insta-kill.

But the FDA admits you don't need insta-kill, that's just the easiest method. It's hard to hold a frozen burger patty at 150* properly for 1 minute on a 600* grill or cast iron; most people would end up overcooking it. Same with a Costco steak, how are you going to hold it at 135* internal for an hour, even in a 350* oven doing reverse sear?

But what about everyone's favorite steak cooking method, sous vide? If I drop a Costco steak into a 135* bath for 3-4 hours I'm sure the core internal has held for the requisite time. In effect my sous vide Costco steak is "pasteurized" to safety without affecting flavor or texture. An I missing something?

 

[iCyborg]

They covered their asses, but still, if it was really a big deal we would know. The media would kill to be able to crucify a major retailer by saying they are poisoning people with their meat tenderizing methods.

I'll keep cooking my costco rib-eyes MR like I have been for over a decade and really not going to think twice.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/costco-steaks-linked-to-4-edmonton-e-coli-cases-1.1133667

Squarely blamed on tenderizing - it's rare, but it does happen.
Walmart is also known to do this, and no one would sell ground meat if you could just crucify seller for any poisoning whether buyer followed instructions or not.
Anyway, I love Costco in general, but something like rib steaks shouldn't need this in the first place, so why do it.

Besides what sacktoking said, I know people who buy that whole rib and cut it into steaks themselves, those are not tenderized.

 

[MrSquished]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/costco-steaks-linked-to-4-edmonton-e-coli-cases-1.1133667

Squarely blamed on tenderizing - it's rare, but it does happen.
Walmart is also known to do this, and no one would sell ground meat if you could just crucify seller for any poisoning whether buyer followed instructions or not.
Anyway, I love Costco in general, but something like rib steaks shouldn't need this in the first place, so why do it.

Besides what sacktoking said, I know people who buy that whole rib and cut it into steaks themselves, those are not tenderized.

I'm with you, overall they should change their methods. And I'll send them an email as a long time customer. I'm just saying on the flip side, it really doesn't seem to be a huge deal that should make most people pause about a MR Costco rib eye.

 

[Fritzo]

I bought pork chops at Costco for I think the first time last week. I didn't realize until I unpacked them that they were so incredibly thick! Something like 2 inches thick! I took a knife and cut them into 3 horizontal slabs. Not easy to do accurately, and of course it was a dangerous task. No blood from my fingers, however. I looked around for some way to freeze them conveniently and used some old paper I got from the butchers at my local indy supermarket when I bought bulk sausage there. Then I looked around and found that they sell freezer paper online. I ordered a roll of that at Amazon, it's coming in 4 days.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EME5KZ0/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Did you use your shank to cut them?

 

[manlymatt83]

If you join Costco, open Citi Costco Visa card.

https://www.citi.com/credit-cards/citi-costco-anywhere-visa-credit-card

It's one of the best no annual fee credit card you'll find. 4% gas rebate combined with Costco already low gas prices will save you a bundle. 3% restaurant & travel will also save you lot of money. And 2% cb at Costco. And no foreign transaction fee. It's great credit card to have in your wallet since there's no annual fee as long as you maintain Costco membership.

I never use my Citi Double Cash anymore (huge Amex fan) and am so tempted to convert my Citi Double Cash to the Costco card so that I can eventually close my Chase Sapphire Reserve when I'm done paying the huge fee and have a backup Visa in my wallet for International Travel.

 

[MtnMan]

I bought pork chops at Costco for I think the first time last week. I didn't realize until I unpacked them that they were so incredibly thick! Something like 2 inches thick! I took a knife and cut them into 3 horizontal slabs. Not easy to do accurately, and of course it was a dangerous task. No blood from my fingers, however. I looked around for some way to freeze them conveniently and used some old paper I got from the butchers at my local indy supermarket when I bought bulk sausage there. Then I looked around and found that they sell freezer paper online. I ordered a roll of that at Amazon, it's coming in 4 days.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EME5KZ0/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Sam's is much closer to me than Costco. There are things I like about both, but 4 miles vs. 60 miles, Sam's is where we do most of our shopping.

Sam's sells large trays of pork loin chops, and they also sell pork loin, at less per pound price. I pick out a pork loin, and go ring the bell and ask them to slice it into 1/2" chops, which they are willing to do.

Bottom line, I end up with chops cut to the thickness I want, at a lower price per pound than the ones they have already cut to a thickness they think I want.

 

[Muse]

Sam's is much closer to me than Costco. There are things I like about both, but 4 miles vs. 60 miles, Sam's is where we do most of our shopping.

Sam's sells large trays of pork loin chops, and they also sell pork loin, at less per pound price. I pick out a pork loin, and go ring the bell and ask them to slice it into 1/2" chops, which they are willing to do.

Bottom line, I end up with chops cut to the thickness I want, at a lower price per pound than the ones they have already cut to a thickness they think I want.

One of my uncles was a butcher at Safeway. He told me one day to never buy ground beef. He said if I saw what they put in that I'd be appalled. He said to buy stew meat and ask the butcher to grind it for me and I used to do that. Now, if I want ground beef, I take a cut of meat I buy (the leanest roast I can find), cut off fat, cut in pieces and grind at home with an attachment I have for my Oster blenders. Works great. I also grind pork that way when I make sausage. My home made sausage is way leaner than probably any you can buy in a store.

No Sam's Clubs around here, AFAIK (SF Bay Area), I'm in Berkeley. I'm going to do as you suggest, get pork loin and cut my own chops from now on! Won't be as precise as a butcher would make, but I can likely work out something where they are pretty uniform in thickness and I don't cut myself! I'm petty safe in my kitchen!!!

 

[Muse]

Did you use your shank to cut them?

I guess so. It's my go to knife, but I have lots of other blades, including a couple of German long blades that are pretty good. I cut my bread with a long German blade that I keep very very sharp. I have a very good looking paring knife that says Made in China on the steel that I keep real sharp too. Seems pretty good! I figure maybe not impossible.

 

[nakedfrog]

Finally made my first trip to Costco, we were a bit rushed because we had somewhere else to be, and it was a madhouse in there, but I'm definitely looking forward to going back when I can make a more leisurely trip. I found a couple items I already purchase fairly regularly at a nice discount, so it shouldn't be too hard to make up the cost of the membership.

 

[Fritzo]

Finally made my first trip to Costco, we were a bit rushed because we had somewhere else to be, and it was a madhouse in there, but I'm definitely looking forward to going back when I can make a more leisurely trip. I found a couple items I already purchase fairly regularly at a nice discount, so it shouldn't be too hard to make up the cost of the membership.

The speciality items (usually on the endcaps) are my favorites. It's a surprise every time you go in there

 

[nakedfrog]

I buy a lot of Tillamook cheese, and they had huge bags of their shredded sharp white cheddar, I've never even seen that in other stores! Got 3 pounds for $11, standard price on 8oz of sharp cheddar is $4.69, but goes on sale semi-regularly for $3, which is when I usually buy.

 

[MtnMan]

Finally made my first trip to Costco, we were a bit rushed because we had somewhere else to be, and it was a madhouse in there, but I'm definitely looking forward to going back when I can make a more leisurely trip. I found a couple items I already purchase fairly regularly at a nice discount, so it shouldn't be too hard to make up the cost of the membership.

I actually did the math for my Sam's membership. I can redeem my membership fee with the purchase of only one item throughout the year. Toilet paper, vs the grocery price per roll. Add in paper towels, and that is doubled.

I'm pretty sure a Costco membership math would work out the same.

 

[JEDI]

I actually did the math for my Sam's membership. I can redeem my membership fee with the purchase of only one item throughout the year. Toilet paper, vs the grocery price per roll. Add in paper towels, and that is doubled.

I'm pretty sure a Costco membership math would work out the same.

for me, it's cheap gas from costco.
that more than pays for the membership price.

a couple years later, the sams club a mile from costco opened their own gas station. (they never opened a gas station when they first opened and they were there before costco!)

same price for gas.
but i already have a costco membership.
nothing about sam's gives me incentive to switch.

surprised sam's didnt start building the gas station when the costco site was being built.
probably cost them lots of customers for being years late with the gas station

 

[MtnMan]

for me, it's cheap gas from costco.
that more than pays for the membership price.

a couple years later, the sams club a mile from costco opened their own gas station. (they never opened a gas station when they first opened and they were there before costco!)

same price for gas.
but i already have a costco membership.
nothing about sam's gives me incentive to switch.

surprised sam's didnt start building the gas station when the costco site was being built.
probably cost them lots of customers for being years late with the gas station

Best I recall the Sam's here put in gas when they opened, some time in the early 90s, too late to make a lot of difference for me on gas as I was no longer a road warrior by then. In the 70s and 80s I average 35 -40K miles a year and would have loved some cheaper gas.

Filled the wife's car up today at Sam's, about 12 - 15¢ cheaper than other nearby stations, 25¢ cheaper than near the interstate.

Plus, they don't have diesel, which limits us to one vehicle we can fill there. Plus I love the pump and go app on my phone at the pump. Scan the QR code on the screen, pump and go, app handles the rest. Similar to the scan-n-go app inside the store.

 

[nakedfrog]

Hm, it looks like the nearest one to my house doesn't have diesel, but the other one does. Only 3 miles further away, so it might be worth it.

 

[Muse]

What sausages do you favor at Costco????
- - - -
Discovered a new favorite chip at Costco yesterday: I've bought dozens and dozens of bags of Late July organic multigrain tortilla chips at Costco for years and years but they suddenly disappeared (I asked yesterday and they don't see them in inventory or indications of being ordered). I picked up a bag of Food Should Taste Good multigrain tortilla chips in the Costco chip aisle instead. Not organic but I think it's easily the equal of Late July for taste. Probably won't get to snag it on sale, but it is what it is... yesterday $5.99 for 28.8 ounce bag. No other chip at Costco looks to compete right now if you want healthy and tasty. Almost the equal to Late July for sodium (75mg/ounce-of-chips). Most chips have AT LEAST double that.

 

[nakedfrog]

I've only tried one variety of sausages from there, and I won't be buying it again. I'll be going back soon, it's plausible I'll try another variety. Shame they don't carry the variety of Chef Aidell's that I like.

 

[Muse]

Discovered a new favorite chip at Costco yesterday: I've bought dozens and dozens of bags of Late July organic multigrain tortilla chips at Costco for years and years but they suddenly disappeared (I asked yesterday and they don't see them in inventory or indications of being ordered). I picked up a bag of Food Should Taste Good multigrain tortilla chips in the Costco chip aisle instead. Not organic but I think it's easily the equal of Late July for taste. Probably won't get to snag it on sale, but it is what it is... yesterday $5.99 for 28.8 ounce bag. No other chip at Costco looks to compete right now if you want healthy and tasty. Almost the equal to Late July for sodium (75mg/ounce-of-chips). Most chips have AT LEAST double that.

Looking in my data I see Costco was selling this FSTG chips product back in 2018, had a $2 discount on it when it was selling for more (i.e. $6.00 before discount). I bought Late July instead. Now, LJ isn't available there. Still, Costco seems to have the best price on these by a mile.

I've only tried one variety of sausages from there, and I won't be buying it again. I'll be going back soon, it's plausible I'll try another variety. Shame they don't carry the variety of Chef Aidell's that I like.

Which variety is that?

 

[deadlyapp]

Looking in my data I see Costco was selling this FSTG chips product back in 2018, had a $2 discount on it when it was selling for more (i.e. $6.00 before discount). I bought Late July instead. Now, LJ isn't available there. Still, Costco seems to have the best price on these by a mile.
Which variety is that?

Aidell is the chicken sausages, but usually Costco only has the chicken and apple or the cracked pepper options (cracked pepper may actually be a different brand). I'm quite partial to the andoullie (sp?) "flavor" but don't think I've ever seen them at Costco.

 

[PingSpike]

Went to costco on sunday last week. I got there shortly after it opened and was kind of surprised how uncrowded it was. Not sure if was omicron scaring people away or just all the old people were in church still.

I know people keep posting empty shelves but everything looked fully stocked to me.

I should have bought one of those rotisserie chickens but my fridge was really way to full.

 

[JEDI]

What sausages do you favor at Costco????
- - - -
Discovered a new favorite chip at Costco yesterday: I've bought dozens and dozens of bags of Late July organic multigrain tortilla chips at Costco for years and years but they suddenly disappeared (I asked yesterday and they don't see them in inventory or indications of being ordered).

I picked up a bag of Food Should Taste Good multigrain tortilla chips in the Costco chip aisle instead.

Not organic but I think it's easily the equal of Late July for taste. Probably won't get to snag it on sale, but it is what it is... yesterday $5.99 for 28.8 ounce bag. No other chip at Costco looks to compete right now if you want healthy and tasty. Almost the equal to Late July for sodium (75mg/ounce-of-chips). Most chips have AT LEAST double that.

yeah, i bought those on sale and guac was on sale at same time.
that combo was tasty!

btw-what does chips have to do with your initial sentce of sausages?