Costco Pork Disappointment

[Bkhuna]

Costco finally opened up a location about 15 minutes from my home. After a 30 minute wait in line to get my cards (and a bonus $20 dollar gift card for military) I made a bee line to the meat section. Impressed by the beef. Grabbed a few prime beef rib steaks and decided to check out the pork section.

Let's see butts, ribs, pork belly, all available. However, there were no pork roasts, rib chops, or blade chops, only center cut loin (the chicken breast of the pig) and those "t-bone" chops. I have nothing against bland, lean pork, I view it as an ingredient, but when I want a pork chop I want a nice thick rib chop.

I asked the guy in the back if he could slice up a couple of the pork butts but he said no, they don't do that. Then he went back to slicking up some large beef cut.

So I drowned my sorry with a couple of big hot dogs, dreaming of a nice steak this week.

[HawkerXP]

Get them nice thick lamb chops.....Lamb Loin Chops in Sheep Dip Recipe (amazingribs.com)

[Bkhuna]

When I need lamb I'll give 'em a try. Thanks for the recipe link.

[jfmorris]

Bkhuna All Costco sells are BONELESS butts, so slicing them yourself is not an issue. The issue (to me) is that deboned butts kinda want to fall apart if they are not tied, so they would be in chunks if you slice them, and not intact pork steaks.

Aside from the pork belly, which I can only get at Costco, I prefer the ribs and Boston butts I get at Sam's Club. About the only things I tend to buy at Costco are propane tank refills (costs me about $7 for a 20 pound tank refill), brisket, and belly. And I've not bought a brisket since they went to $5 per pound. Oh - I buy organic coffee there too, but that is about it. Wife and I just cannot stand the crowds at Costco either.

Also be aware that their pre-cut steaks are blade tenderized. I won't get into it more than that, but its something controversial that should never need to be done to USDA Prime beef.

[jfmorris]

Caffeine88 its on the fine print on the label for most of their pre-cut steaks, along with a warning to cook to a minimum safe temperature of 160F, just like you would ground meat. There was a thread a while back where one of our members visited a Costco meat processing operation, where they assure him their process for blade tendering does not shove microbes into the meat like other folks process, but I tend to shy away from it regardless, given the choice. I just buy the full cuts.

[Caffeine88]

Now I'm going to look more closely next time I'm in!

[bardsleyque]

around here (the grey north west) business costco have bone in pork shoulder.

[WillTravelForFood]

We find Sam's has a wider selection of meat cuts than Costco does (on a typical, day-by-day review).

Costco tends more to stocking popular cuts rather than things that Sams would carry (where we've seen tripe, oxtail, and other cuts that some would consider less mainstream)

We also tend to prefer Sam's normal/non-sale pricing for the same cuts over Costco's normal/non-sale pricing. And as others have pointed out, Costco likes to blade-tenderize their cuts as well, which may or may not be to your liking.

There's a lot to like about Costco's meat department, but variety and pricing may not be their strong point.

[Caffeine88]

Interesting experience. Mine has been the opposite. Our Sam's has a relatively poor selection of beef cuts, and they don't look good. Pork isn't bad. Most Costco's I've been to have a much better beef choice (didn't know about blade tenderizing - horrifying). They also have a pretty good selection of fish options, and while the pork doesn't have a wide selection - it's always looking good and prices are better. We've got a Costco coming to town locally in a few months. I'm excited.

[Draznnl]

Caffeine88, before passing judgment on Costco's blade tenderizing, you really should read the thread, https://pitmaster.amazingribs.com/fo...ons-for-costco . I found it eye opening.

[Caffeine88]

Draznnl
Thanks for the link! Interesting, indeed. I think I'm still a little horrified, but that is an eye-opening read. Pretty good for Costco to be that open.

[barelfly]

I can find really thick pork chops at Costco here, boneless, but these are thick! Probably close 2” thick. But I know Costcos vary as to what they may carry. And I also think I’ve picked up pork roasts in the past, but that has been a while. I usually just buy the big pack of chops and separate and vac seal them.

hopefully they stock a few more of those items you are looking for.

[Bkhuna]

barelfly - IMO, boneless pork loin isn't a chop. It's just porcine utility meat waiting to be made into something.

[radiodome21]

Costco is my go to for ribs when the pricing isn’t too crazy. I like that the membrane is removed already on the back ribs and I do enjoy St. Louis ribs and like they carry both. I have bought their pork butts and had no qualms about them. I didn’t mind that they were boneless. However I can usually find cheaper price per pound at my Kroger when there is a sale so I usually buy it locally. I’ve yet to try their pork chops and have little interest in the big pork loin they sell.

[bbqLuv]

True, but the prime beef is good, so is the pork they carry.
You might enjoy the wine.

[WillTravelForFood]

Razor been told PA's liquor/beer laws end up making PA the biggest liquor/beer purchaser in the country? Or something like that.

[Razor]

WillTravelForFood I love the sales they advertise on the radio. Like there’s competition. 🙄

Ad money keeps the station managers happy. Hush money more than anything else.

[bbqLuv]

Razor "Hush money more than anything else"
---- I have no comment . . . they maybe listening.

[Murdy]

I like the quality of Costco's meat; I do not like the way they cut.

The steaks are too big for normal uses. If I and a group of my buddies are eating, no problem. But, my wife, grandkids, and others can't come close to eating one. So, if I'm grilling steak for a mixed group, I usually don't buy from Costco. I do not like the idea, presentation-wise, of cutting a steak in half to make a realistic portion for some of my guests.

I bought a package of boneless country style spare ribs once, and they were uneven to the point that I had to trim them up myself. Some were unsalvageable as ribs and had to be cubed for pork stew or goulash.

On another occasion, I bought some chicken thighs that looked as if they had been cut with a butter knife.

So, I normally just buy full loins, racks of ribs, briskets, and such from Costco.

[rickgregory]

I'm a little confused. Loins are chop meat (you'd need the full subprimal to get the bone-in chops. And cutting a pork butt... why? I mean, they're not a sub for chops and since all they all are boneless butts, you can buy one and cut it yourself. Unless you want just a pound of pork but to kind of sub in as a chop but... again.. way different cut.

In any event, yeah, they mostly sell larger hunks of pork.

[jfmorris]

I think the original poster was wanting pork steaks, which are typically made from a sliced up bone-in pork butt. He didn't realize their butts were boneless I am sure when he asked them to do that.

[Bkhuna]

jfmorris Thanks Jeff. You hit the nail on the head.

[Bkhuna]

rickgregory I didn't realize all their butts were boneless. Had they been bone in and had they been able to slice them, it would have yielded blade chops which are wonderful when barbecued and such. One of the other big box store I belong to gladly slices (all you need is a bandsaw) butts into shoulder chops upon request if the don't have any already in the case.

Does this bone and musculature look familiar to anyone:

[jfmorris]

I love these pork steaks!

[rickgregory]

AHHHH... I see what you're doing. I think of chops as loin chops. Now I need to slice a butt. So to speak.

[jfmorris]

Caffeine88 here's some more discussion about the blade tendering practice at Costco:

https://pitmaster.amazingribs.com/forum/know-a-good-butcher/big-box-retailers-and-supermarkets/1065909-questions-for-costco#post1065909

[bbqLuv]

Here you are, how to butcher a pig . . . Bearded Butcher style. So now I think I know where all the cuts of dead pig come from. Well according to them.
How to Butcher a Pig | ENTIRE BREAKDOWN | Step by Step by the Bearded Butchers! - YouTube

[Bkhuna]

Watch at the moment at 17:52 when he shows you the butt after removal of the picnic. Those are the blade chops/butt steaks.

[bbqLuv]

Bkhuna did you enjoy the video? I found it fun to watch the breakdown of the pig into its different cuts. I noticed they did not cut blade steaks. Thanks for tip.

[captainlee]

I have been disappointed with the cuts of meat and pork at Costco for the same reasons mentioned previously. You buy a 3 pack of ribs and the first one that you see looks acceptable then the following two rapidly decline in quality. Don't like tenderized meats either. We don't buy any of it anymore there. But, we really like their fish department. Some fabulous tuna, cod, Dover Sole, wild salmon..........

[bbqLuv]

I can live with the tenderized meat, but not my first choice. Actually, I was quite happy with the tri-tip from Costco until on Amazing Ribs I found out about the tenderizing.
Go figure, ignorance is bliss. LOL