Although beef is more expensive than pork and chicken, would you buy a piece of beef for $400? This is a big question behind a viral post on the Costco Reddit forum.
Costco Reddit is a subforum on the social media platform Reddit that discusses topics related to the American members-only chain store Costco. Costco has always been favored by consumers for selling quality daily groceries at affordable prices. Discussions among Costco fans often revolve around how to save money while shopping at Costco, so the $400 beef undoubtedly sparked heated debates and curiosity among fans.
The incident started when a user shared a photo of high-end Japanese Wagyu beef along with the caption: “Does anyone really buy $400 beef?” The price of this 6.66-pound beef was $399.99. The comment section exploded with various reactions.
Some people were shocked that Costco, known for selling $1.50 hot dog combos, would offer such high-end beef. “I can afford it, but there’s no reasonable justification for buying it,” one user wrote.
“In this economic environment?” another user questioned.
Others were interested in the topic, pointing out that $400 beef could be a good purchase for restaurant owners or anyone hosting upscale dinners. “I can imagine someone buying it as ingredients for an event or gathering,” one user said. “I also think restaurants would buy it.”
Some Reddit users even mentioned that Costco’s Wagyu beef is much cheaper compared to other supermarkets. One user shared that they usually spend $100 per pound (Costco’s Wagyu beef is priced at $59.99 per pound). “Although it’s not cheap, $400 is really a good deal,” they wrote. “And, you should know that A5 (Wagyu beef) is much rarer than regular Wagyu beef. It’s incredibly marbled, but in scarcity.”
Wagyu beef is not your ordinary beef. It is considered the luxury “handbag” of meats. It comes from specific Japanese cattle breeds and is renowned for its marbling patterns, high-fat content, and melt-in-your-mouth tenderness. Wagyu beef is rare, expensive, and raised under extremely strict conditions, which explains its high price.
As Japan’s domestic Wagyu beef is considered the best in the world, the Overall Grade classification set by the Japan Meat Grading Association (JMGA) is the highest and most stringent beef grading system globally. Japanese Wagyu grading consists of two parts: breed grade (indicated by letters) and meat quality grade (indicated by numbers). There are a total of 15 grades from A5 (highest) to C1 (lowest). A5, often referred to as the highest grade beef, is praised as “snowflake beef”; C1 indicates standard beef.
To be graded as A, it must be one of the four Japanese domestic cattle breeds: Black, Brown, Short Leg, or Horn. It must also be purebred, not mixed. A4-A5 grade beef is difficult to raise (it’s not just about getting “fatty,” but mainly about fat deposition), which is why top-grade Wagyu beef is priced exorbitantly. Of course, the most important thing is the unparalleled taste of premium Wagyu beef, with its tender texture, melt-in-your-mouth fat, and unique milky aroma.
To be honest, this expensive Wagyu beef is not something that appears on an ordinary person’s table every day. As one Reddit user put it: “Wagyu beef is not a daily dish. It is the most expensive and popular meat in the world. Look at the marbling patterns and fat content on this ‘rare beef.’ It’s juicy and tender. This is what you would eat at a graduation ceremony – or as a wedding gift.”
So, while $400 may sound a bit crazy… for some people, it may also be worth it.
The debated Wagyu beef is not even the most expensive beef. Costco also sells a Japanese Kobe-style ribeye steak, one of the most expensive meat products on their website, a 12-pound piece of A5 grade beef with its own certificate of authenticity, priced at $1,099.99, currently on sale for $889.99.
(This article was referenced from the Delish food website)