Costco Lobster Tails: Price, Size and How to Cook!

I am so freaking happy that there is a Costco in Baton Rouge!  It is great to have someplace where you can always find high quality meat and seafood.

Costco sells lobster tails and I have wanted to try some for months.  I finally bought and cooked some this week and loved them!

How Much Do Lobster Tails Cost at Costco?

These tails cost $25.99 per pound.  This package weighed 1.45 pounds for a total cost of $37.69.

There were five tails in the package so each one cost us $7.53 and had an average weight of 4.46 oz (0.29 lbs).

One reason I wanted to get these tails was that last week I bought the King Crab legs at Costco and, while they were amazing, the package cost me almost $70.  These tails cost the same as King Crab on a per pound basis but come in a smaller package so the overall cost is lower.

Let me show you how I cooked these lobster tails (which I Loved by the way!) and then I will share the reasons that many people do not like this product.

I Enjoyed the Lobster Tails from Costco

I grilled these lobster tails on my Weber Q1200 gas grill and it could not have been easier.

I cranked the Q1200 up to high and let it preheat for 15 minutes while I prepped the tails and melted some butter.  To prepare the tails all I did was use a pair of scissors to cut open the top of the shell.  I wanted the shells to be open so I could baste the meat with butter as it cooked.

I placed the tails on the hot grill, closed the lid and let them cook for about five minutes.  After five minutes I gave them a flip and let them cook for another three minutes.

After three minutes I flipped the tails to “Shell Side Up” and started basting with melted butter.  I basted the tails about once a minute and it smelled amazing the whole time!

The tails are finished when they hit an internal temperature of 140F.

We took the meat from the shells, dipped them in butter and devoured!  We thought that these were delicious. 

Warm vs Cold Water Lobster

These were warm water lobsters from Brazil and many people claim that they are inferior to cold water lobster from Maine. I will qualify this by saying that I did not grow up in Maine eating cold water lobster that was cooked right off the boat. 

If you are a hardcore lobster fanatic then these tails might not live up to your standards but they sure made me happy!

Negatives About Lobster Tails From Costco

There are three main complaints I heard about the lobster tails from Costco and they are all visible on the product packaging.

• Warm Water
• Previously Frozen
• Sodium Bisulfite Preservative

Let’s look at each of these issues in a little more detail.

Warm Water vs Cold Water Lobster Tails

Apparently there is a large difference in quality between lobsters that grow in warm water and those that grow in cold water.  Warm water lobsters come from Brazil, the Caribbean, Florida, etc.  Cold water lobsters come from Maine, South Africa, etc.

Cold water lobsters grow slower than those in warm water which results in firmer meat with a cleaner, sweet taste.  Many people think warm water lobster tails taste a little fishy and have a soft texture.

The lobster tails at Costco are Warm Water tails that were caught in Brazil.

Previously Frozen

Lobster purists will tell you that there is no comparison between a fresh lobster and one that was previously frozen.  They say that the process of freezing and thawing creates a mushy product that is inferior to the firm, tender meat of a fresh lobster.

These purists might be right but a study by the Main Lobster Promotion Council showed that, in a blind taste test among experienced lobster eaters, there is almost no discernible difference.

Sodium Bisulfite Preservative

Sodium bisulfite is a commonly used preservative and is generally acknowledged as being safe to eat.  While the use of sodium bisulfite is not a concern for me it should be for some people.

Many people have a very real allergy to sodium bisulfite.  Apparently 5-10% of people with asthma are also allergic to sulfites.