Return of the CostCo canned beef

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I had been lamenting CostCo no longer carrying the Kirkland Roast Beef for a while now. There was a brief reprieve of sorts when they started carrying another brand of canned roast beef, which was pretty good, but even that brand seems to no longer be available in-store.

Today, while on my regularly schedules Co visits I happened across this:

It appears that, for whatever reason, my local CostCo has the Kirkland Roast Beef again. Hmm. No idea how long they’ll be carrying it but I made a point to pick some up. Here’s the interesting thing..I canned some beef the other week so i have the numbers fresh in my head: the meat I got at the CostCo meat counter was $6.99/#. These four cans are 12 oz each, which is three pounds. Since the cost is $18, thats about $6 per pound. What this means is that even without factoring in the cost of jars, lids, processing time and fuel, this product appears to be a better value than DIY. Granted, you may use a different cut, or a different type of animal, but for the most part it appears this is a case of it not being cheaper to do it yourself. And there’s the durability and storage ‘footprint’ of the cans versus the glass jars.

I actually kinda like the canning process and enjoy taking advantage of the infrequent sale on beef to get my costs down further but this is an excellent supplemental or turn-key choice for getting some dead animal flesh tucked away for the mid-term.

25 thoughts on “Return of the CostCo canned beef”

  1. It comes down the the origin of ones supply of beef. Buying canned is cheaper over supermarket prices but if you raise your own or purchase a animal directly from a farm then have it processed self canning is cheaper.

    • Have you checked butcher prices and lead time recently? Around here and on surrounding states, $5/lb is a great price for butchering. The only way to do better is to do it yourself.
      One reason canned meat is cheaper is that they can use tougher cuts or other parts they can’t sell directly, so their initial costs are lower.

      • Yep, Seth must be in cattle country. While I “can” get local beef it sure ain’t cheaper, even if I buy a whole cow. I’ve done it in the past but it’s been a few years and prices have gone up, back then it worked out to about $8-9/lb.

        • We purchased a whole beef, raised locally, grass fed. no hormones or steroids, $3.50 a lb, kill and wrap fees included.

  2. when the shtf that stuff will be gold. Can of roast beef over some rice or instant potato with diced onion, carrots, celery, yum. It will be a lot better than eating road kill.

    Speaking of instant potatoes, just got a shipment of this in and it is quite good. Shelf life not so hot but still like it.

    https://www.amazon.com/Idahoan-Mashed-Carton-Premium-Valuue/dp/B07SQG3DLV/ref=sr_1_5?crid=JPFCG0BDA55S&keywords=instant+potatoes&qid=1644712393&s=grocery&sprefix=instant+potato%2Cgrocery%2C164&sr=1-5

  3. But, like Cdr Z, if you’ve got the jars, lids and canner even after SHTF the critters that try to eat your garden can be cut up and canned, regardless of what the season. That’s how my grandparents made it through the depression. Gray Fox

  4. Heh, must be some realignment in their supply chain as it just showed up again up here for us and I’m at the very far end of everything. They also finally had canned pulled pork and chicken again. I’d be getting flats of it if the foreclosure I just bought didn’t have a busted up furnace (aka below freezing inside) as all my storage is more then maxed out. Oh well, as long as we don’t start tossing nukes before summer I should get it all fixed up and have about 3x the space I have now.

  5. Thanks for the heads-up I’ll have to go check and see if my Costco has it in stock. I am deep on their chicken and sk tuna packs. I really like the beef better though

  6. CZ a lot depends on country of origin(how was it raised/fed/medications/butchered/can quality/retort(sterilization)/warehousing/ shipping) also what cuts used(never going to be Prime quality/cuts-Utility quality/trim cuts) . You don’t want to use top grade/cuts as they lose texture(chuck for taste/round for texture) and flavor and control fat content(you Want fat). The upside may be storage life(home can 1-5 yrs/store date+?). You didn’t give us a taste test-did you try it?

  7. Actually, it is 16 ounces to a pound. A Troy pound is 12 ounces! So, it is only 2 pounds of beef in the 3 cans, making it $9.00 a pound.

    • Where did you get the idea its three cans and not the four that I mentioned?
      12 oz. x 4 cans is 48 oz. 48oz is 3#. (3 x 16oz =48) QED

  8. Nice, now I have an excuse to take a wander by my local Costco tomorrow. One cannot live on canned tuna alone. 😊

  10. Thanks for the heads-up. I’ll let you know if the canned cow has made it this far south. I hope so, as its absence has forced me to by pricier alternatives.

    If so, I’ll be adding to my storage quantities, as it forms about 3/7ths of the menu for bad times.
    It combines well with rice, noodles, etc., btw, and with a little teriyaki or worcestershire, it microwaves into a very palatable quick & easy meal. Or as crock pot meat. Shredded, it provides the carne in any number of Mexican dishes.
    I find 1 can is enough for two people, or dinner for one two nights in a row.

  12. Nothing at Costco.com, amazon has the 4 pack for just shy of $37, Heading to local Costco tomorrow. Fingers crossed.

  13. YOURE PUTTING CANNED MEAT INTO A BUNKER, YOU NEED TO RE-EVALUATE WHAT IS PURE IN YOUR LIFE, PLEASE REJECT SCIENCE AND EMBRACE RELIGION (CHRIST)

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