12 Types Of Seafood You Need To Avoid Buying At Costco
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There's no stopping Costco. This bulk-buy warehouse chain has been around since the 1980s when its first store opened in Seattle. In the space of just four decades, it has ballooned to over 850 warehouse locations worldwide and 123 million individual members. Each one of those members gets to enjoy the unique perks of Costco, with its famously low prices on an unbelievable selection of items available in each of its stores, including everything from bicycles to TVs to sheet-pan cakes. Plus, that's all before you get to Costco's food court.
If you've been to Costco, you'll be familiar with its frozen and fresh meat and seafood products, which are — like many of its other product selections — pretty extensive. When it comes to seafood in particular, Costco has a huge variety of items to choose from. And while some of them are pretty delectable, other Costco seafood products are best left on the shelf.
With such a large selection, it can be tricky to figure out what's worth buying and what isn't — and the last thing you want to do is take home a huge bulk buy of something that you're just going to throw out. That's why we put together our top list of seafood items to avoid at Costco.
1. Aqua Star Farmed Tilapia Fillets
Few fish have the success story that tilapia does. In the last ten years, tilapia production has boomed, with a fourfold increase in the scale of its farming, according to a study published in Annual Research & Review in Biology. As such, it makes sense that Costco — as one of the biggest retailers around — would jump on the tilapia bandwagon. But as it turns out, this famously cost-effective retailer stocks this fish at a not-so-cost-effective price.
Famed for being a fish that's serious value for money, the tilapia at Costco, namely its Aqua Star Farmed Tilapia Fillets, seems pretty cheap at first glance. At $59.99 for 10 pounds of fish, it feels like a good price. But that's before you look elsewhere, and realize that you can get almost an identical product at a much cheaper cost. Walmart, for example, retails its own tilapia product, a 2-pound bag of Great Value Frozen Tilapia Skinless & Boneless Fillets, at $9.42. Buying five of those bags would cost you just over $47, which is still around $12 cheaper than the Costco product. Costco may save you money on some things, but it certainly won't on this fish.
2. Costco's imported shrimp
Imported shrimp is a pretty contentious foodstuff. Over the years, the risk behind imported shrimp has become even more evident. Because of different production methods and standards in countries that shrimp is imported from, antibiotics can remain at notable levels in this type of seafood, which can then be ingested at the dinner table, according to a study published in Current Research in Food Science. To make matters worse, imported shrimp can often have a negative impact on the environment.
While certain retailers have made notable attempts to reduce the negative aspects of their seafood products, especially on an environmental scale, Costco's shrimp remains pretty problematic. The company has started to make efforts to improve its shrimp supply lines, but there doesn't seem to be any huge change in how it does things just yet. As the Environmental Defense Fund's Tim Fitzgerald, who's the senior policy analyst for oceans for the organization, says, "Costco gets credit for starting down the road ... but they are still very early on," (via CBS News). Instead, make sure you're looking for shrimp in other stores which proudly display its sustainable credentials.
3. Trident Seafoods Fish Sticks
For the people out there who love seafood (and there are a lot of them), fish sticks are one of the best ways to enjoy it. Let's be honest here, most things taste better when they're breaded and fried. Costco is well aware of this, as you can tell by its fish stick offering: a bag of 60 Panko Breaded Wild Caught Alaska Pollock Fish Sticks from Trident Seafoods.
But despite the good price of this product, once you look under the hood, you can start to see some problems. The first is that these fish sticks are pretty heavily processed, with some ingredients you might not expect. As well as containing flour and vegetable oil, Costco's fish sticks also have flavorings like maltodextrin. A highly processed carb that's even more potent than sugar, maltodextrin can cause spikes in blood sugar and may deplete your beneficial gut bacteria, according to Healthline.
Another way that these fish sticks get their flavor is through sodium — and there's a fair bit of it. Just three of Costco's fish sticks contain 310 milligrams of sodium, which is over an eighth of your daily intake in one go. While most folks understand that fish sticks are processed, it's best to take this product with a grain of salt (which it happens to have a lot of).
4. Orca Bay Keta Salmon Fillets
Salmon is a firm favorite for virtually anybody who eats seafood on the regular, and you might very reasonably expect Costco to have nailed its salmon offerings as a result. But perhaps surprisingly, some of its salmon items don't pass the quality test. Its Orca Bay Keta Salmon Fillets are perhaps the worst offender.
One disgruntled customer spoke of their experience buying these fillets via Reddit, where they pointed out just how bad it tasted. "It tasted nothing like normal Salmon. It was dry, fishy, and just off tasting," they said. Keta salmon, also known as chum salmon, is more traditionally used as dog food, the customer later discovered.
Additionally, this salmon product, like many of Costco's other salmon and fish items, is frozen when sold. This is something that chef Lizzy Briskin claims can ruin the quality of the fish, breaking its proteins down to something undesirably soft (per Insider). It's one of the reasons why Briskin avoids frozen salmon, like this one, at Costco, opting for the fresh seafood section instead.
5. Rastelli Market Filet Mignon & Maine Lobster Tails
Costco may be known as the big-box haven, stocking affordable items to the rafters in its warehouses, but it can get a little fancy sometimes. One area that it does that is in its seafood. Costco's Rastelli Market Fresh Angus Beef Prime Petite Filet Mignons & Wild Caught Maine Lobster Tails seem pretty indulgent at first glance. Four filet mignon steaks and four wild-caught lobster tails come together to make a sumptuous surf & surf meal for friends.
But here's the thing, people: For a product that costs almost two hundred dollars ($189.99, to be precise) when delivered, you're going to want something that is, quite frankly, unbelievably delicious. It doesn't quite look like this offering is totally there. Of the over 600 reviews on the Costco website, over 90 of them give this offering one or two stars. One of the main complaints about the product appears to be the size of the lobster tails, with one reviewer comparing them to crayfish tails, pointing out their lack of value for money. Another customer stated that "There was two of the lobster tails with the meat inside that was green. I would not buy it again." It doesn't sound worth the price to us, to be honest.
6. Trident Seafoods Alaskan Salmon Burgers
We're happy to make a case for fish burgers any day of the week. A lighter, fresher alternative to beef, a well-made fish patty can still provide flavor, and sustenance, and make a pretty boss burger.
Plus, given that beef consumption is projected to decline over the next few years, combined with fish consumption increasing (per the OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2022-2031), you'd think that Costco would be ahead of the trend with its beef patty alternatives, like its Trident Alaskan Salmon Burgers. Unfortunately, though, these burgers don't yet cut the mustard. Numerous purchasers have been very disappointed with the product's quality. "Disgusting old fish stink and taste. Horrible consistency, watery and over salted. I don't recall ever spitting out food. I did just in time before my stomach turned," said one particularly unhappy customer via Amazon. Another pointed out that its flavor was just too fishy, while a further buyer said that their burger tasted nothing like salmon. One more person put it in pretty plain terms, saying simply, "They taste terrible."
Another experience that a customer had with the Trident Alaskan Salmon Burgers really made our stomachs turn. The buyer described cooking the patty for their child and cutting it up, only to find a worm inside. Yep. A literal worm. Don't mind us, we'll just be thoroughly avoiding buying this product from now on.
7. Costco's Ahi Tuna
Even the most seafood-phobic of individuals out there may sometimes give tuna a second glance. As the "chicken of the sea," tuna's flavor is mild and meaty enough to act as a gateway fish for many folks getting into seafood for the first time. At Costco, though, the tuna may not be all that.
Its Ahi Tuna individual portions, which come in 6-ounce steaks in a bumper pack weighing 10 pounds in total, look good upon first inspection, with a deep pink flesh that looks just right for searing. But the taste and the texture of the steaks leave a little to be desired. More than one reviewer has pointed out the highly salty nature of this tuna product, and at 810 milligrams of sodium for just one steak, they're not wrong (per Costco).
As well as this, certain customers pointed out the slightly weird texture and end result after cooking. "This is salty, unnatural texture, completely pink after cooked and not a strong tuna flavor. It almost reminded me of a processed hunk of ham. I do not recommend and wish I could return," said one person. Another stated that the fish "tasted like medicine." You're far better off finding your tuna steaks elsewhere, it seems.
8. Rastelli Filet Mignon and Lump Crab Cake Surf & Turf
Sometimes, you just want to go all out. Costco has you covered, both in terms of its product sizes and the high-end nature of certain items. Costco's Rastelli Petite Filet Mignon and Jumbo Lump Crab Cake Surf & Turf is one such product. It's squarely aimed at those looking for deluxe seafood, and it has the price tag to match. At $249.99 (discounted from $349.99, at the time of publication) for 12 steaks and 12 crab cakes, you should rightly expect the best quality imaginable.
But maybe you shouldn't. For such an expensive product, this surf and turf combination has some scandalously bad reviews, leading us to question whether it's worth the price. The first gripe comes with the size of the portions, which appear to be tiny when considering how much they cost, according to reviews via the Costco website. But the main issue seems to be with the quality of the crab cakes, which are overstuffed with filling and lacking in actual crab. "The crab cakes are way more cake than crab. The crab cakes taste okay, but there is so little actual crab in them compounded with the poor, inaccurate cooking instructions, these are a miss," said one person. Another lamented the amount of breading in them. Now, for that price, you're going to want a lot of crab, in our opinion. You may not get it here.
9. Tsar Nicoulai Caviar Sturgeon Pate
There was a time when caviar was the reserve of the rich and famous, but nowadays, even humble folks like us can enjoy a taste of luxury. Costco is more than happy to oblige. The Tsar Nicoulai Caviar Sturgeon Pate, which is sold at Costco, puts all of the flavors of these famous fish eggs into paste form, and with a six-pack of 6-ounce containers for $59.99, it seems like good value. This product also boasts a 2020 Good Food Award. Everything about it screams good things. So, what's the catch?
Unfortunately, it's the fact that this seafood product doesn't seem to have much seafood in it at all. Reviewers on the Costco website have pointed out that while this pate is made from sturgeon, it doesn't taste that way, seeming more like basic cream cheese than a luxury foodstuff. The texture also seems to be a problem, with the item resembling a regular dip, instead of the thick, sturdy spread-like consistency of pate. While some people seem to like it, it seems like a big risk to buy six of these items in one go, when others are clearly less enthused.
10. Olivia Marinated Butterfly Shrimp
Butterfly shrimp can make an excellent alternative to meat products like chicken, as well as standing up as a delicious item in its own right. It's even better when it's marinated for you. So how does Costco's Olivia Marinated Butterfly Shrimp fall short of the mark? Unfortunately, it falls short in its nutritional aspects, which plummet this normally-healthy seafood to the bottom of your buy list.
The shrimp, which comes in a 2.5-pound pack, delivers a whopping 430 milligrams of sodium per four pieces. That is a significant amount for just 150 calories worth of food. Within those 150 calories is also a substantial amount of fat and cholesterol, seemingly thanks to the presence of soybean oil. Importantly, eating cholesterol is not strictly bad for you, despite the presence of it being a big worry for some people. But if you have diabetes or other health conditions, consuming more cholesterol can create an additional risk factor, according to cardiologist Steven Nissen via the Cleveland Clinic.
11. Kirkland Signature Smoked Salmon
The ultra-rich tastes of smoked salmon are a must-try for anyone and a must-have for seafood lovers across the globe. If you enjoy smoked salmon, how better to buy it than in bulk form? That's the bet that Costco's making with its Kirkland Signature Smoked Salmon, which gives you 24 ounces of the cured product for $24.99.
The problem, though, is that this smoked salmon also delivers a sensationally high amount of sodium per serving. Smoked salmon is, of course, salty by its very nature, as it's cured using salt, which is partly what gives it its strong taste. But at 620 milligrams of salt per single serving, eating a portion of Kirkland Signature Smoked Salmon delivers more than a quarter of your sodium allowance in one fell swoop — as adults should not consume more than 2,300 milligrams per day (via the U.S. Food and Drug Administration).
While it may taste delicious, it's vital to remember that eating too much sodium is one of the worst things you can do for your body. High sodium consumption is known for contributing to high blood pressure and raising the risk of cardiovascular conditions, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. You might be better off trying to find a lower-sodium smoked salmon product elsewhere.
12. Northern Chef Boom Boom Shrimp
While concerns about where shrimp can come from remain very real, it's also true that for many people, it's an attractive choice for seafood. When it's breaded, it can become the ultimate finger food or a great addition to stir-fried dishes.
Given its popularity and fairly neutral taste, you can expect Costco's Northern Chef Boom Boom Shrimp to be a winner in most people's eyes. Alas, friends, it is not. This shrimp product, which states that it contains "more than 85% whole shrimp," is seriously lacking in actual meat, according to reviews (via BJ's). One person pointed out that this shrimp was mainly comprised of its batter, with the actual shrimp content seriously lacking.
Now, that might not bother you that much if you're just looking for pure flavor, and with a name like Boom Boom Shrimp, you can expect something punchy. But this product is decried by customers as being basic and tasteless. "It has absolutely no boom boom flavor whatsoever, totally bland and boring, and it should be pulled from all shelves nationwide," said another reviewer. We think it's time to say bye-bye to Boom Boom.