No Costco store is complete without a deli counter. The big-box retailer offers a variety of pre-made foods through its in-house Kirkland Signature brand, and while some are popular with members, others aren’t as popular.
Its latest addition to the deli food selection seems to be causing a major buzz on the internet ever since shoppers spotted it. The new Kirkland Signature USDA Choice Vegetable Beef Stew is proving to be a particularly controversial item for shoppers, both in taste and price.
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A debate raged on the Costco subreddit, with hundreds of shoppers. What some call a “delicious” time-saving meal option, others criticize as “expensive” and “not worth the hassle.”
At $5.99/pound and around $33-$35 per package, one of the main points of contention among Redditors was the price of this ready-to-eat family meal. “Imagine paying $33 for a beef stew 😂 scam,” writes one user. “I can’t believe it’s $5.99 a pound and raw! The price seems poor for a prepared, ready-to-eat stew, but it still requires 6-8 hours in a slow cooker 💀”, add another user. The stew is, in effect, unfinished and requires the addition of water before being cooked over low, slow heat in a slow cooker or slow cooker. It also seems like a perfect meal prep item for preparing extra veggies and spices.
Someone else notes in that same comment thread that “most convenience foods are ridiculously expensive”, but another commenter quickly adds a different perspective, writing, “This is a godsend for me, a working mom with two kids under five.. Quick and easy meals my whole family will eat and not take away, yes please!”
“Legit saw this today and was shocked at the price. I had about two dozen shrimp cocktails for $15 and the beef stew was $30+. Insane,” one commenter says, but there are also many other comments expressing the opposite opinion. “I wouldn’t say it’s that expensive. It’s over 5 pounds of stew,” another user wrote.
Cost is a major concern, of course, but what about taste? Is stew worth that kind of price? As expected, reviews are mixed. “I tried this beef stew and it was not good at all. It’s a $35 life lesson there,” says a Redditor. “I added green beans and mushrooms it was good in my opinion,” wrote another.
“We found it so incredibly bland. Didn’t finish my bowl,” wrote one user, before continuing with “Husband added pepper and said it was better but not great. We’re trying always the deli options, but not getting this one again.”
“Who knew beef stew could be controversial? $6 a pound for prepared stew? Sounds awesome,” reads one user’s comment, but this Redditor probably sums up the debate best: “Two discussions same day – a totally different take that tastes and “value” are in the “eye of the beholder” SMH.”