Costco is already known for the deals it offers its customers by selling groceries in bulk. When customers buy their groceries in bulk, they can save money because the costs of packaging and distribution are reduced. In this model, customers pay the cheaper wholesale price instead of the regular retail price.
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While many already know what bargains they can get when buying their staples from the warehouse brand – things people use a lot of, like eggs, milk, flour and anything else you can find in the maze of aisles – there are some secrets that only the most loyal Costco members know. One secret in particular is hidden in the meat department and can save you a lot of money if you know how to ask for it.
If you need cheap ground beef, all you have to do is flag down a butcher and ask for a piece of meat and you’ll get it. The pieces are 10-pound tubes of ground beef and cost significantly less per pound than the regular ground beef packages.
How to order a piece of minced meat
After strolling past the snacks, fruits and vegetables, and pantry items that are often located in the front of the store—and of course, all the great deals on hot dog combos and $1.50 pizza in Costco’s food court—this trick requires you to head to the meat section in the back of the store.
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There are already dozens of packages of ground beef, portioned and sealed, with price tags that usually show that they are divided into portions of about five pounds, give or take. But you’ll get a better deal if you ask the butcher for a “chub,” which is just a fun word for a large, tube-shaped package of meat that resembles a giant sausage. If you ask for a “chub,” you’ll get a 10-pound container of ground beef, which you can then take home, portion, and store in your freezer until you need it.
Why you should buy a piece of minced meat
Prices vary by location, but buying a cut of meat will always save you money in the long run. For example, my local Costco typically sells ground beef for around $3.99 per pound. However, chunks range from $2.99 to $3.29 per pound, which is a savings of anywhere from $0.70 to a full dollar per pound.
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If you prefer a leaner meat to fat ratio in your ground beef, sausages are certainly a better choice for you. Commercial ground beef usually has an 80/20 meat to fat ratio, while sausages are usually 92-95% lean, so you’ll also save money and calories.
Once you’ve purchased a chunk of meat, you can easily weigh it at home into one-pound portions, which you can then put in bags and store in the freezer until it’s time to eat ground beef for dinner. Chunks are also a great option if you’re hosting a party or barbecue where you want to serve up a ton of juicy grilled burgers. However you use it, be sure to ask for a chunk when you buy ground beef at Costco.
