You want to cook a really special dinner, and you’ve learned that a prime rib roast is juicy, tender, and extremely delicious. So you want to buy one but can’t remember seeing prime rib in Costco.
Does Costco sell prime rib?
Yes, Costco is one of the few retailers that sell prime rib roasts.
Keep reading to learn more about prime rib at Costco, how much prime rib costs per pound, and how to find the perfect piece for your dinner.
Is Costco Prime Beef Really Prime?
You may be a little suspicious about a retailer like Costco selling something as valuable and exquisite as prime rib roasts – but you can rest assured: if “prime beef” is printed on the label, it will be prime rib.
Costco can’t afford to label products wrongly, which can have serious consequences.
How Much Is Prime Rib Per Pound At Costco?
Prime rib is one of the more expensive meats on the market, and even Costco can’t put the prices much lower. Below, you will find two of the most popular prime rib roasts available at Costcos (prices are accurate as of December 2022).
| Product | Price per roast | Price per pound |
| Rastelli USDA Choice Boneless Black Angus Prime Rib Roast (7lbs) | $199.99 | $28.57 |
| Rastelli USDA Choice Black Angus Prime Rib Roast (12 lbs) | $299.99 | $24.99 |
If you order these online, you will often get discounts which will save you anything from $25 to $70 per roast.
Costco also offers some cheaper cuts of meat that are not prime but still of good quality and can be turned into fabulous meals if you know how to cook well.
Is Costco A Good Place To Buy Prime Rib?
Costco is one of the best places to buy prime rib.
This is because not many retailers actually sell prime rib. Only about 8% of all beef cuts are prime rib, so it is a rather rare cut (which is reflected by the price).
Where Does Costco’s Prime Rib Come From?
Unfortunately, exact information on this is not easy to find. Costco is a huge retailer with more than just one source for prime rib.
While much of Costco’s beef comes from American farmers in California, they also have overseas suppliers. One easy way to know whether the beef was produced in the USA is to check for the USDA label.
Beef imported from overseas will often be cheaper than USDA-certified prime rib.
Is Costco Prime Rib USDA Certified?
Yes, but not all prime rib sold at Costco bears the USDA certification.
If you want USDA-certified prime rib, check that there is a USDA label on the packaging. Otherwise, it might not be what you want. The USDA sticker or label is usually on the front of the packaging, so it should be easy to spot.
How Do I Find A Good Prime Rib At Costco?
If you aren’t very familiar with choosing good cuts of meat, e.g., if this is your first time making a prime rib roast, you need to know how to choose a good cut.
To select the right prime rib, you need to know the following
- How much do you need for how many people
- Whether to choose bone-in or boneless
- What beef quality grades mean
The first is fairly simple; you need to know how many people you cook for (generally, you’d go for one pound per person, which often translates as one rib per 2 people).
The second is a matter of preference. Boneless is easier to carve, but bone-in produces a more flavorful roast.
The third is a matter of how much money you can spend and how important the very best quality is to you.
Costco is one of the few retailers selling USDA prime rib – the best quality you can get and the most expensive.
This is followed by USDA choice – cheaper but still a nice piece of high-quality meat.
The cheapest beef cut you can buy is “select” which tends to be less juicy and not as tender as the other two options – but a good chef can also turn this into a lovely meal.
Final Thoughts
If you want to cook prime rib, Costco is one of the best places to look for it. Not only is Costco one of the few retailers that sell USDA prime rib, but they also offer fair prices.
While prime rib is never cheap, Costco’s prices are more affordable than other retailers.
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