Chicago Wine Geek 
Chicago Western Suburbs
Wine Steward
Posts: 7122
 | | 07-21-2006 07:41 PM |
| I know this is being discussed somewhere, but I couldn't find it. Sorry if this is redundant.
The one thing that surprised me about the meat at Sam's Club was that it was all (that I saw) certified USDA Choice. Most of the meat at our everyday grocery store isn't. | | |
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Dave Tong
Santa Clara, CA
Barrel Filler
Posts: 1336
| | 07-21-2006 08:11 PM |
| Quote:
I know this is being discussed somewhere, but I couldn't find it. Sorry if this is redundant.
The one thing that surprised me about the meat at Sam's Club was that it was all (that I saw) certified USDA Choice. Most of the meat at our everyday grocery store isn't.
I've noticed that too, but I have no idea what it actually means. I can't imagine that a government official personally inspects each and every steak that Costco sells. | | | http://scmwine.blogspot.com - My wine blog.<br>http://scmwine.wikispaces.com - your guide to the Santa Cruz Mountains and Santa Clara Valley<br> | |
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ChangeMe
Barrel Filler
Posts: 1210
| | 07-21-2006 10:36 PM |
| they don't inspect each steak. I believe the inspect each side of beef or something like that. But yes, to be sold as choice or prime they have to be inspected at some level. | | | |
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Prospero
Redmond, WA
Grape Destemmer
Posts: 55
| | 07-22-2006 03:50 AM |
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| Temperance, like chastity, is its own punishment | |
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juggernt
Tampa, FL, USA
Wine Labeler
Posts: 3501
| | 07-22-2006 06:40 PM |
| We've been very, very happy with the quality of the fish as well. We keep getting wild caught sockeye at wonderful prices. | | | Visit The Butcher Block at http://www.butcherblocktampa.com/ | |
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BellaDonna
Barrel Racker
Posts: 1890
| | 08-03-2006 09:01 PM |
| I am admittedly was a regular Costcoer...every steak I've had from Costco has been superb. The ground beef is a little sketchy. I bought ground beef and the outsides turned brown in 2 days. I returned the browned beef and got another package. It was browned on the inside. I returned the second package and never have bought ground beef from them again. I don't think it was a serious issue but it looked disgusting and I didn't want to take any chances.
Costco gets wild sockeye a few weeks after Whole Foods and other stores but their prices are great at 7.99/pound when it's 16.99/pound at Whole Foods.
The first time I bought halibut was from Costco. It costly around 12.99/pound. I took it home and put it on the grill and since I didn't know what halibut was suppose to smell and taste like, I didn't know it had gone bad. I cooked the halibut the day after I bought it. It had this creamy liquid in the packaging and it smelled fishy but bad fishy smell. I have bought halibut a few other times from Costco after this experience and it has been fine...but be very careful to examine the fish and packaging closely.
Costco also has these single packaged breasts of chicken which are fairly priced. I bought a package of these once and it lasted months (I put them in the freezer and thaw when I need it). Very convinient for people who are single or cook in small quantities.
I've had the butterfly pork chops from Costco...ok in my opinion.
I've had the rack of lamb from Costco...ok in my experience.
Don't get me started on the organic salad mix...I've bought this salad mix from several different Costcos in different cities and the experience has been similar. The leaves don't look fresh and the salad goes bad within 2-3 days. Most of the Costco produce I try to avoid unless I am cooking/eating all of it that day or the next.
I've stopped buying so much food from Costco and decided fresh in small quantities is best. | | | |
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ChangeMe
Barrel Filler
Posts: 1371
| | 08-03-2006 09:34 PM |
| We don't buy meat at Costco (we only buy kosher meat) and I am always jealous about that and the rotisserie chickens that look good. We don't buy fish there (other than smoked salmon) after a couple bad episodes and due to the proximity of a kick-butt wholesaler from whom we get all our fish.
Bella - you are right about the salad. We never buy that anymore after numerous moldy overly damp packages. That brand has the same issues at Whole Foods. Yuck. | | | |
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Pool Boy
Laurl, MD (DC suburb)
Master of Wine
Posts: 13801
| | 08-03-2006 09:50 PM |
| I don't buy any meat or produce or anything that needs to be fresh from Costco. Too many bad experiences. | | | www.roguefood.com -- www.cellartracker.com | |
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BellaDonna
Barrel Racker
Posts: 1890
| | 08-03-2006 09:51 PM |
| Those rotisserie chickens do look good...but you are not missing anything. I've had rotisserie chickens from many stores and Costco's suck. The first few bites are ok...but every chicken I've had from them had these streaks of dark meat in the middle of the white meat...very unappetizing. | | | |
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Chicago Wine Geek
Chicago Western Suburbs
Wine Steward
Posts: 7122
| | 08-04-2006 02:59 PM |
| Quote:
Those rotisserie chickens do look good...but you are not missing anything. I've had rotisserie chickens from many stores and Costco's suck. The first few bites are ok...but every chicken I've had from them had these streaks of dark meat in the middle of the white meat...very unappetizing.
Ok, that made me feel ill....... | | | |
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Lakersguy
Orange County, CA
Barrel Filler
Posts: 1027
| | 08-04-2006 06:27 PM |
| On the other side, I have been buying meats from Costco as long as I can remember. I have never had a single problem with their pre cooked chickens or anything else. Their Rib eyes are hard to beat for the price per pound and choice cuts. | | | |
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Corkage
Grape Puncher
Posts: 975
| | 08-04-2006 07:15 PM |
| Quote:
On the other side, I have been buying meats from Costco as long as I can remember. I have never had a single problem with their pre cooked chickens or anything else. Their Rib eyes are hard to beat for the price per pound and choice cuts.
Yep, rib eyes rock,as do the whole tenderloins and strips. Just have to trim them down. In fact, I'm going tonight to pick up some ribeye to dry age a few 2" steaks | | | |
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Chicago Wine Geek
Chicago Western Suburbs
Wine Steward
Posts: 7122
| | 08-04-2006 07:22 PM |
| Quote:
Quote:
On the other side, I have been buying meats from Costco as long as I can remember. I have never had a single problem with their pre cooked chickens or anything else. Their Rib eyes are hard to beat for the price per pound and choice cuts.
Yep, rib eyes rock,as do the whole tenderloins and strips. Just have to trim them down. In fact, I'm going tonight to pick up some ribeye to dry age a few 2" steaks
Wow, dry age your own meat. That's ambitious.
I think.
Off to Google "dry age your own beef"
There are times I can't remember how I lived my life without Google..... | | | |
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rickym13
los angeles
Wine Thief
Posts: 2933
| | 08-04-2006 07:49 PM |
| Quote:
Quote:
On the other side, I have been buying meats from Costco as long as I can remember. I have never had a single problem with their pre cooked chickens or anything else. Their Rib eyes are hard to beat for the price per pound and choice cuts.
Yep, rib eyes rock,as do the whole tenderloins and strips. Just have to trim them down. In fact, I'm going tonight to pick up some ribeye to dry age a few 2" steaks
how long do you dry age your ribeye from costco? | | | |
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Paul Soals
Grape Sorter
Posts: 201
| | 08-04-2006 08:38 PM |
| Very often at the Costco near my house I can get Porterhouse steaks that are listed as T-bones. But I've yet to see t-bones with a 5 or 6 ounce filet.  One night I cooked up a filet from Costco side by side with one I got at Whole Paycheck..errr...Foods, and the Costco filet was by far the better piece of meat. | | | |
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NobleRot
Grape Puncher
Posts: 720
| | 08-07-2006 02:37 AM |
| Alton Brown has a foolproof "recipe" for dry-aging your own beef, pretty easy to follow. I assume the recipe is available on foodtv.com. If not, it's definitely in his recent book. | | | |
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Corkage
Grape Puncher
Posts: 975
| | 08-07-2006 01:21 PM |
| Quote:
Very often at the Costco near my house I can get Porterhouse steaks that are listed as T-bones. But I've yet to see t-bones with a 5 or 6 ounce filet.
One night I cooked up a filet from Costco side by side with one I got at Whole Paycheck..errr...Foods, and the Costco filet was by far the better piece of meat.
Dry age is not hard, but I do buy whole ribeyes, tenderloins and strips and cut my own steaks when I dry age.
Cut steaks, kosher salt each side about a pinch and stand them on end in a tray lined with paper towels, change daily and put in you fridge. I age from 3 to 5 days. You'll need to reseason for cooking. | | | |
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Chicago Wine Geek
Chicago Western Suburbs
Wine Steward
Posts: 7122
| | 08-07-2006 03:49 PM |
| I believe that you also have to cut off all the "crust" that forms from dry ageing. | | | |
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rjs3
NJ
Barrel Filler
Posts: 1124
| | 08-07-2006 04:54 PM |
| Quote:
We don't buy meat at Costco (we only buy kosher meat) and I am always jealous about that and the rotisserie chickens that look good. We don't buy fish there (other than smoked salmon) after a couple bad episodes and due to the proximity of a kick-butt wholesaler from whom we get all our fish.
Bella - you are right about the salad. We never buy that anymore after numerous moldy overly damp packages. That brand has the same issues at Whole Foods. Yuck.
JC - we only buy kosher meat too, and between Whole Foods, Trader Joe's and Costco, I've been very jealous! Not only by the selection and convenience, but the prices as well.  | | | |
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Corkage
Grape Puncher
Posts: 975
| | 08-07-2006 05:31 PM |
| Quote:
I believe that you also have to cut off all the "crust" that forms from dry ageing.
Not sure of what you meant by "crust" but if you mean the dried out part of the meat, you shouldn't have any of significance at 3 or 4 days, certainly not requiring any further trimming. | | | |
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