In an era of high prices, living on a budget has become essential. Imagine fulfilling your gourmet dreams at a lower cost – it’s not a dream anymore with the American membership-based chain store Costco offering a variety of high-quality, affordable foods such as lobster, crab cakes, and salmon. You can now enjoy restaurant-quality dishes without having to spend money dining out at seafood restaurants, steakhouses, or other upscale eateries.
One way to make the most out of the annual $65 or $130 membership fee is by purchasing high-end meals like lobster and salmon at Costco. Simply bring them home and with minimal cooking, you can savor dishes that rival those in restaurants.
A publication on the “financebuzz” website introduces 8 cost-effective Costco foods ranging from lobster to Italian pasta, all of which are both high in quality and low in price, helping you save money on expensive dining out expenses. (Note: Prices may vary by location and time, images are for reference only.)
Price: $11.99 per pound
Buying seafood at Costco is cost-effective as it guarantees quality and is much cheaper compared to other supermarkets. While this salmon needs to be cooked at home, it comes pre-seasoned with restaurant-quality basil garlic sauce.
Fortunately, the preparation is simple. Just place the fish in a preheated oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately 200 degrees Celsius) for 25 to 30 minutes (or until the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees Fahrenheit – about 74 degrees Celsius).
A meal of Atlantic salmon at Mitchell’s Fish Market seafood chain restaurant is priced at $29.50. However, the quantity of salmon in the takeout meal is not as generous as the one from Costco.
Price: $12.99
Indulge in this herb-marinated fresh mozzarella salad bar at home to kickstart a delicious dinner. Each can of this fresh mozzarella salad contains 2.5 pounds, rich in olive oil, perfect for sharing with multiple people.
At the same price, you would only get a small portion of this appetizer at Bravo! restaurant, not to mention any additional charges for ingredients or delivery.
Price: $13.79
These “petit cakes” are not fancy French pastries. A box of 24 delicious appetizer petit cakes includes uniquely flavored pastries like three cheese quiche, garlic bread, Emmental cheese puffs, and Brie cheese.
Simply bake for about 8 minutes to satisfy your craving for delectable appetizers.
Price: $19.99 per pound
Take advantage of Costco’s discounted prices to enjoy almost unlimited crab legs every night. Simply steam for 5-8 minutes.
While the price of nearly $20 per pound may seem high, it is a great deal compared to restaurant prices. The Boiling Crab restaurant in California offers a variety of seafood choices, with their snow crab legs priced at $37 per pound – almost double that of Costco.
Price: $12.99
A cost-effective choice, purchasing a pack of 31 ounces of maple-glazed organic roasted rainbow carrots can be paired with braised tofu, chickpea noodles, or cheese tortellini.
Price: $26.99 per pound
If you desire a special and exquisite dinner, the cost of takeout food can easily exceed a hundred dollars.
Two servings of seven-ounce South African lobster tails at Eddie V’s Prime Seafood seafood restaurant are priced at $110. If that is beyond your budget, consider buying lobster tails at Costco and preparing them at home.
Price: $15.99
This Italian cuisine from Costco serves six people, costing less than $3 per person for a refined meal. Just bake in the oven at 175 degrees Celsius for 15 minutes, faster than waiting for delivery.
How do customers rate this high-end Italian dish? Reddit user “Reasonable-Word6729” wrote: “Paired with a fresh salad, it’s a perfect match… the beef tenderloin is delicious, much better than regular ground beef.”
Price: $14.59
For less than $15, enjoy 40 shrimp dumplings filled with wild calamari, farmed shrimp, and vegetables.
Costco forum user “lonelygalexy” points out: “This is much better than the typical Chinese takeout; around $9 for 4 dumplings at a regular Chinese takeout place.”
Price: $21.99 per pound
Costco’s deli section offers a limited-time delicious dish of tuna, a sushi-like treat not to be missed, especially when everyone knows how high Japanese takeout prices can be.
Reddit user “KeltarCentauri” mentioned: “This product has been selling for about three weeks in our store. It’s only available for a short time, so seize the opportunity to enjoy it while you can.”