Costco Ground Beef: Employees Reveal “Secret” Way to Buy It for a Lower Price

When buying ground beef at Costco, in addition to the pre-packaged items in the refrigerated display cases, shoppers can ask the meat department about other options. A user claiming to be a Costco meat department employee shared that some locations sell 10-pound “chubs”—long, cylindrical tubes of ground beef—that aren’t usually displayed on the shelves; members have to ask for them. A mother of four also shared her experience of buying this type of bulk packaging and portioning it out for freezing at home.

Lifestyle website Real Simple recently highlighted this purchasing tip, which originated from a Reddit post by a Costco employee. The employee explained that members can ask the meat department for the 10-pound “chub.” Their store typically doesn’t stock them on the sales floor—though they might occasionally appear in the refrigerated case near closing time—so customers should simply ask if they can’t find them.

The employee noted that, at the time, the price per pound for this bulk package was lower than that of the store’s standard ground beef. Another user commented that they successfully purchased the item after asking, though the price differed from the original poster’s location. The original poster explained that wholesale costs vary by store, so retail prices may differ as well.

The difference between the two types of ground beef may also lie in the fat content. The original poster stated that the meat department produces standard ground beef by adding fat trimmings left over from steak preparation, leading them to believe the 10-pound chubs might be leaner. However, another user claiming to be an employee pointed out that raw materials ordered by different stores vary, as do the resulting fat ratios. Consumers cannot assume the meat is leaner simply based on the package size.

The employee’s original comment dates back about nine years, so the price mentioned then does not reflect current rates. However, the recipe site Simply Recipes also featured this purchasing method earlier this year. Addison Jarman, a mother of four, shared on social media that after buying the 10-pound chub, one can divide the meat into smaller, meal-sized portions for freezing, ready to be used later for dishes like Bolognese or chili. For families that cook frequently, this method saves the trouble of portioning the meat before every meal.