Costco choice steaks

[brokephibroke]

I’m done with choice steaks from Costco. The ribeyes are poorly marbled and tasteless. Won’t ever buy the choice strips or sirloin again.

However, their prime ribeyes are fine as are their flanks.

They also mechanically tenderize all their steaks.

[leftieNanner]

1. Agreed

I think they used to be better.

[dem4decades]

2. I'm a fan of the NY strip. Bought them a month ago for 7.50 a pound.

Find a better deal than that and they taste great.

[cyclonefence]

3. I don't have a Costco near me

but I've noticed over the past few years that choice sirloins, which once were tender and juicy--a real nice steak, have become more gristly and tough. And they're harder to find around here (SE PA).

Am I just imagining this--you know, "the good old days when steak was ten cents a pound"--or is this a real thing?

[captain queeg]

5. They've definitly lowered the standard for "Choice"

I used to be a meat cutter years ago and it’s very obvious to me.

[cyclonefence]

7. I can easily believe this

Even the filet mignons are tough! The only way I can get a decent piece of meat at the grocery store is at the small butcher's counter, where every cut costs three times as much--but it's worth it if you can afford it.

For a while my store carried what they labeled "prime" meats in the regular meat cases, but they were still not very good. The ones at the butcher counter are not labeled prime, but I'm going to ask the butcher next time I'm in the store.

BTW, if you can afford it, it's good to buy these meats from the butcher counter, even if it's only hamburger, because not only can you get better meat, but you develop a relationship with somebody who knows what he's talking about and is happy to help you. When I show up, he says, "second mortgage, huh?" which cracks me up.

[captain queeg]

8. I don't really pay attention but anyone can use the label "choice" or "prime".

Make sure it’s labeled USDA choice or prime. Then you know it was graded to some standard. Marbling is part of the rating but there are some other factors.

[Kali]

11. this was my question

USDA choice or "costco choice"

[captain queeg]

12. Yeah they can label it whatever they want

For USDA an inspector come out and graded them and stamps them. I’d assume you’d get a better cut of meat that way. They have a little rolling stamp that they run down the loins and ribs especially.

[applegrove]

4. I've had some COSTCO steak before. Yummy.

[Enter stage left]

6. It isn't just Costco...

all of the stores are raising prices and lowering standards on all of their meat products.

We wanted to buy a chicken to roast. It was over $14 for a 3+ pound chicken. We bought one of their rotisserie chickens for less than $10 instead.

Greed!

[Warpy]

9. Prime is always going to be better than choice

if it's steak you want to cook quickly on a grill. That's just the way grading works.

You're never get a melt in your mouth choice steak unless you cook it differently, preferably with moist heat.

[FarPoint]

10. I love Costco...

But....when I want the best meats......I go to Whole Foods..... Excellent Beef Tenderloin.