Costco Prime Beef

Went to Costco in Melrose Park today to pick up some King Crab Legs. The cooler where they usually keep the fish was half filled with Prime Beef cuts. The main one that caught my eye was the Prime Ribeye Tomahawk cut steaks that were $12.49/ lb. They were 2 to a package, running 3 to 4 lbs per package. Unfortunately when I saw them I was already over my Costco per trip budget.

I appreciate the heads up on this, because I've been really disappointed with the (lack of) flavor and (mushy, rag-like) texture of several cuts of beef I've bought at local grocery stores over the past few months, and I've started thinking Costco may be the only cost-effective way for me to test out whether some prime cuts solve the problem. JoelF suggested the other day that I check out the prime brisket at Costco. I'm going to look for the prime tomahawk ribeyes you mentioned at the Mettawa or Lake Zurich Costco.

Mariano's has their Tomahawks on sale for $10/lb at least at the Bannockburn store.

-Will

WillG
Curious, were the Mariano's Choice or Prime grade ?

Mariano's are choice, but often there are some that are as marbled as prime, you just have to be selective. Are the costco ones frenched? Marianos usually are, but I prefer untrimmed.....the meat along the bone is fantastic.

-Will

Beautiful prime boneless NY from Costco.

I don't typically but meat at Costco (I have a guy for that) but when I was there the other day, I noticed something I'd not seen there before: Prime ribeye cap steaks . . .


Ribeye Cap Steaks (foreground) & NY Strip (prime)

Honestly, I wasn't overly impressed with the quality of the meat or the butchering. Yeah, it's prime but not aged, so the marbling was ok but the depth of flavor was just not there. You can't see it in this picture but the strip was cut unevenly, with one end about twice the thickness of the other. The rolled cap steaks were ok but needed additional trussing to keep them intact and cooking evenly. Unless I was in a pinch, I wouldn't buy either of them again.

But I did think the cap steaks were notable in that I don't remember seeing them before in a retail setting.

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ronnie_suburban wrote:But I did think the cap steaks were notable in that I don't remember seeing them before in a retail setting.

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I may have seen them the rolled cap steaks once or twice in Mt Prospect (which tends to get less Prime meat than other stores due to MP's relatively blue-collar status). It may be a short-term thing -- years ago Costco MP carried a "flap steak" (not prime) which had the advantages of being (a) relatively inexpensive, (b) small enough for a meal for two without considering freezer space, and (c) delicious. Only saw them a half-dozen times (and always bought them), then they were gone.

costco in Mettawa has had the rolled caps pretty much every time I have been there in the last 2 years. Not a huge fan. They have recently had the prime strip steaks cut (not just the whole cryovaced loin) for $12.99/lb. You have to be very selective, but they can be great.

-Will

yeah, i've seen those rolled cap steaks almost every time i've been in the niles location, and i feel like they are fairly common in the lincoln park store. they rarely, if ever have just straight prime ribeyes, other than the tomahawks...which are much more common at LP than niles in my experience.

The Maywood Costco has had the rolled caps on a pretty consistent basis. They also usually have both Prime Ribeyes and Prime Strips cut and packaged in packages of 3-5 steaks, as well as the whole cryrovaced ones.

Unlike what Ronnie mentioned below, I usually find that the cuts are pretty well butchered. It must depend on whomever is cutting at the individual store. I think it also really depends on the store, as I find forays into different Costco's yield varying quantities of each. I think that the stores who turn the product over quicker offer better options. While looking thru what product they have cut and out, you can usually tell by the marbling whether they were all cut from the same larger piece or not. I have seen some that are marked prime with marbling that is not great, and others that are well marbled. I find that for the price point they are offering them, sometimes as low as $9.99/lb they are actually pretty good steaks. Not as nice as an aged one, but still quite tender and flavorful.

One other thing to look for is sometimes they have packages of "trimmings" that are labeled "Beef for Stew" or something like that. If you look closely, sometimes you find a pack that clearly contains prime cuts, and at 4 or 5 bucks a pound is great to use for Kabobs, stews, etc.

Costco has decided to stop selling the ribeye cap meat cut
https://www.latimes.com/food/story/2019 ... -caps-meat

Dave148 wrote:Costco has decided to stop selling the ribeye cap meat cut
https://www.latimes.com/food/story/2019 ... -caps-meat

Geez. The guy who wrote that piece needs to expand his universe. It just isn't that great.

latimes.com wrote:I searched each meat case for the USDA prime-grade steaks and panicked. I spotted a meat cutter.That’s when I heard 16 words no carnivore wants to hear: “We no longer sell that cut. It was a companywide decision made a few weeks ago.”

I was speechless. I grieved.

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ronnie_suburban wrote:

Dave148 wrote:Costco has decided to stop selling the ribeye cap meat cut
https://www.latimes.com/food/story/2019 ... -caps-meat

Geez. The guy who wrote that piece needs to expand his universe. It just isn't that great.

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Yeah, I don't get it either. I saw both the rolled caps and the ribeyes at Mount Prospect Costco the other day, and they were at the same price ($17.99/lb). Why would I pay as much for a reassembled rolled steak if I can get the whole ribeye?

I have to say I liked the Costco ribeye cap more in theory than in real life. I didn't think it was worth the $20/lb and grilling was somewhat problematic even with the direct/indirect method especially on the interior piece(s).

In terms of prime meat, our Sam's in Franklin, TN recently renovated and installed a butcher counter with a number of prime cuts. I really enjoyed the ribeye for $14/lb and there was plenty of cap on it. I think they must cut and store uncovered on trays because the individual steak are somewhat dry on the surface but I considered that a feature. They also regularly carry flap meat with about 4 per package which I buy in some bulk just in case they decide to discontinue. Very good on the grill with a little brush of pomegrante molasses, herbs, and EVOO.

JoelF wrote:

ronnie_suburban wrote:

Dave148 wrote:Costco has decided to stop selling the ribeye cap meat cut
https://www.latimes.com/food/story/2019 ... -caps-meat

Geez. The guy who wrote that piece needs to expand his universe. It just isn't that great.

Yeah, I don't get it either. I saw both the rolled caps and the ribeyes at Mount Prospect Costco the other day, and they were at the same price ($17.99/lb). Why would I pay as much for a reassembled rolled steak if I can get the whole ribeye?

Rick T. wrote:I have to say I liked the Costco ribeye cap more in theory than in real life. I didn't think it was worth the $20/lb and grilling was somewhat problematic even with the direct/indirect method especially on the interior piece(s).

Yeah, it would be more understandable if the guy was out in the middle of nowhere and Costco was his only option. But he's in L.A, a major metropolis, where high-quality beef is abundant.

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