Costco Brisket Question

WeberWho

I'm looking to do a brisket for the 4th of July. I'm a Sam's Club member and finding a Prime brisket is slim to none. They'll have Choice grade but pretty rare to find Prime available. I haven't been in a Costco for a few years. I remember reading that Costco was only carrying Choice a year or two ago during the pandemic. Has this since changed? What is the chance I'll find a Prime brisket if I swing in a Costco this afternoon? Anyone bought a Prime brisket from Costco in the last few months?  Thanks

Acn

I didn't buy one, but my Costco (MD) had 4 or 5 prime briskets last time I was there and checking out the meat case a couple of weeks ago.

lousubcap

Here in flyover country Costco is back to carrying prime grade briskets.  However, their butchering source has been doing a poor job of the initial trim out.  Weights are generally in the 15-19lb range with lots of hard fat. 

If you can find a good choice grade in the weight range you want I would go with that.  And you can always go to Costco and if you find one there, then just freeze one of 'em. 

Easy for me to spend your $$. 

Happy hunting. 

ColbyLang

Prime only as far as briskets in my store in Louisiana 

Ozzie_Isaac

We have a case full of prime @$3.99/lb.

You can go check before you sign up too.

WeberWho

Ozzie_Isaac said:

We have a case full of prime @$3.99/lb.

You can go check before you sign up too.

That's a great point. In the past I've had both memberships to Costco and Sam's Club. We are just a few miles down the road from Sam's Club. We found ourselves at Sam's Club 95% of the time with the Sam's location and the time allotted in our day. My parents are a few miles away from a Costco. So the few times I do need something from I'll just ask to borrow their membership but it has been a few years now. 

HeavyG

WeberWho said:

Ozzie_Isaac said:

We have a case full of prime @$3.99/lb.

You can go check before you sign up too.

That's a great point. In the past I've had both memberships to Costco and Sam's Club. We are just a few miles down the road from Sam's Club. We found ourselves at Sam's Club 95% of the time with the Sam's location and the time allotted in our day. My parents are a few miles away from a Costco. So the few times I do need something from I'll just ask to borrow their membership but it has been a few years now. 

Just an FYI:

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/28/business/costco-membership-sharing.html

WeberWho

HeavyG said:

WeberWho said:

Ozzie_Isaac said:

We have a case full of prime @$3.99/lb.

You can go check before you sign up too.

That's a great point. In the past I've had both memberships to Costco and Sam's Club. We are just a few miles down the road from Sam's Club. We found ourselves at Sam's Club 95% of the time with the Sam's location and the time allotted in our day. My parents are a few miles away from a Costco. So the few times I do need something from I'll just ask to borrow their membership but it has been a few years now. 

Just an FYI:

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/28/business/costco-membership-sharing.html

Hey thanks. I planned on meeting one of my parents over at Costco this afternoon if they have some extra time. (My Mom's last official day of work today before retirement) 

lkapigian

Choice can be as good as Prime and Prime not as good as Choice , look the brisket over , picture it trimmed , you’ll find something 

kl8ton

My local Costco switches back and forth between brisket grades. But as mentioned above sometimes the grade it doesn't matter.  Sometimes I think that's just the sticker roll that they have out at that time.

xfire_ATX

HeavyG said:

WeberWho said:

Ozzie_Isaac said:

We have a case full of prime @$3.99/lb.

You can go check before you sign up too.

That's a great point. In the past I've had both memberships to Costco and Sam's Club. We are just a few miles down the road from Sam's Club. We found ourselves at Sam's Club 95% of the time with the Sam's location and the time allotted in our day. My parents are a few miles away from a Costco. So the few times I do need something from I'll just ask to borrow their membership but it has been a few years now. 

Just an FYI:

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/28/business/costco-membership-sharing.html

My Daughter took my card ~1-2 weeks ago and at register they wouldnt let her buy.  My Family membership only allows one other person- which is SWMBO.

FrostyEgg

I'll be at the Coon Rapids location tomorrow morning, i'll take a peek and let you know what I find.

MaskedMarvel

Greensboro NC only had choice a few days ago..

WeberWho

lkapigian said:

Choice can be as good as Prime and Prime not as good as Choice , look the brisket over , picture it trimmed , you’ll find something 

For sure, thanks. That's the issue I have at Sam's. The few times they do have Prime briskets they were like picking up 2x4. 

WeberWho

I was late to the party. I overheard a guy ask the Costco employee about Prime briskets and he mentioned that they were sold out early this morning. I was talking to another Costco shopper and he mentioned he called 3-4 Costco's looking for Prime grade brisket with no luck. 

I was able to grab a really nice 12lb. floppy choice brisket. A little smaller then I was hoping for but it shall do. I'll add in a pork butt for the 4th just in case. 

lousubcap

I'm sure it will turn out great as the "prime" at Costco and a good floppy choice are tough to distinguish.  Have fun with the cook-what cooker(s) gets the call to action?

JohnInCarolina

xfire_ATX said:

HeavyG said:

WeberWho said:

Ozzie_Isaac said:

We have a case full of prime @$3.99/lb.

You can go check before you sign up too.

That's a great point. In the past I've had both memberships to Costco and Sam's Club. We are just a few miles down the road from Sam's Club. We found ourselves at Sam's Club 95% of the time with the Sam's location and the time allotted in our day. My parents are a few miles away from a Costco. So the few times I do need something from I'll just ask to borrow their membership but it has been a few years now. 

Just an FYI:

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/28/business/costco-membership-sharing.html

My Daughter took my card ~1-2 weeks ago and at register they wouldnt let her buy.  My Family membership only allows one other person- which is SWMBO.

That’s interesting.  Last time I was at Costco, the cashier noticed my card was one that did not have my photo on it.  She asked me to update it when I got a chance.  I gather they’ve started cracking down on people sharing their cards broadly.  

FrostyEgg

Plenty of choice briskets there this weekend, no prime. 

The Cen-Tex Smoker

lkapigian said:

Choice can be as good as Prime and Prime not as good as Choice , look the brisket over , picture it trimmed , you’ll find something 

100% this 

caliking

The prime briskets at Costco are cut weird. Someone explained it here a while back, but I don't remember the deets. The gist of it is that I've never seen any other place shave the point down so much. HEB spoils us down here, so Costco prime briskies are not so sought after ( I think). 

Different point - i've never had an issue with my membership card at Costco. Especially at the self-service tills. Scan the card, scan your stuff, and away you go.