Confessions of a Sashimi Addict – How I Save Big with Costco

Grab some chopsticks and get ready to dive into the Japanese delicacy of sashimi!

Chefs make this tasty dish from thin slices of raw fish like salmon, tuna, and yellowtail.

The fish is so fresh that you can enjoy it without cooking it. Sashimi not only tastes amazing with its light flavors and soft textures, but it’s good for you too. The omega-3 oils in fish like salmon and tuna are super healthy and help your brain work right.

Instead of spending a lot for sashimi at a restaurant, you can get high-quality fish for sashimi at Costco for way cheaper. Costco has everything you need to make restaurant-worthy sashimi creations at home.

We’ll explore how to pick the freshest fish and slice it perfectly thin. You’ll also learn quick and easy recipes to put together sashimi bowls with rice and spicy sauces that will make your mouth water. With some simple tips, you can become a sashimi master chef with ingredients from Costco!

What is Sashimi?

Sashimi is a super yummy Japanese food made from fresh raw fish or shellfish cut into thin strips. Unlike sushi, sashimi doesn’t have any rice – it’s just pure fish showing off its texture and natural taste. Slicing the fish thin makes sashimi light and full of good stuff like protein, omega-3 oils, and vitamins. Sashimi highlights the star of the show – the fresh fish!

Origins Of Sashimi at Costco

Back in the early 2000s, Costco started seeing more and more customers asking for fresh raw fish to make sashimi at home. To meet the demand, Costco began selling tuna and salmon steaks perfect for slicing into thin sashimi strips.

The fresh fish was a big hit! Later, Costco expanded its sashimi selection to include even more varieties like yellowtail, surf clam, scallop, mackerel, and octopus. Costco makes sure all their sashimi seafood comes from trusted suppliers around the world.

Each Costco warehouse has strict rules for keeping the sashimi super fresh and safe as it comes into the store and sits on ice for customers to buy. Costco’s goal is for members to be able to make restaurant-quality sashimi at home for way lower prices.

So next time your family is craving some drool-worthy sashimi, head to Costco for the freshest fish and the best deals!

Costco’s Sashimi Selections

Salmon Sashimi

Get ready to slice up some salmon sashimi!

Costco has huge salmon steaks or packs of pre-sliced raw salmon, so making salmon sashimi is easy. The salmon is wild-caught from places like Alaska.

Tuna Sashimi

Costco tuna is top-notch – sashimi grade.

You can find thick tuna steaks or chunky blocks of tuna to slice into tender, melty tuna sashimi. Yum!

Yellowtail Sashimi

Check out the meaty fillets of yellowtail fish without any yucky discoloration or weird smells.

Yellowtail makes awesome, buttery, mild sashimi.

Sashimi Sampler Platters

The best part is Costco’s party platters piled high with a mix of different sashimi cuts like salmon, tuna, yellowtail, shrimp, and more, all arranged prettily with garnish. A little bit of everything!

The selection changes depending on what’s in season and location, but Costco hunts down the highest quality sashimi for way less money than a restaurant.

Buying and Preparing Sashimi from Costco

• Picking Fresh Fish

Choose a shiny, moist fish with clear eyes and bright red gills. Give the fish a sniff test for any weird smells.

• Storing Sashimi

Keep that fish cold below 40°F! Leave it in the original packaging or wrap it in parchment paper and eat it within 2 days.

• Slicing Sashimi

Use a super sharp knife to cut thin strips about 1/4 inch thick. Slice salmon with the grain and tuna against it.

• Sauces for Dipping

Mix up yummy sauces like soy sauce, wasabi, rice vinegar, sesame oil, or ginger. Yum!

• Side Dishes

Sashimi eaters traditionally pair pickled ginger, radish, seaweed salad, and sushi rice alongside the fish. Try edamame and cucumber salad too.

Follow the rules for keeping your sashimi safe, fresh, and tasty. Then dip it in tangy sauces and enjoy it with crunchy sides like seaweed salad. That’s how you become a sashimi master chef!

Cost Analysis of Costco Sashimi

• Prices Compared

Costco sashimi prices are significantly lower than dining out. For example, salmon sashimi costs $12.99/lb compared to $25+/lb at sushi restaurants. Tuna steaks run $14.99/lb versus $40/lb for saku tuna elsewhere.

• Bulk Savings

Buying large platters with assorted sashimi offers even more value. A 2.5lb platter serves 10-12 people for around $45. Getting that variety and quantity at a restaurant could easily top $200.

• Worth the Membership?

For sashimi lovers, a Costco membership can pay for itself quickly. Just two sashimi platter purchases per month would recoup the $60 basic annual fee. The savings continue with regular sashimi purchases.

The prices per pound and per piece on all of Costco’s sashimi, even for premium options like wild salmon and saku tuna, offer considerable savings over other retail options. Sashimi is one area where Costco clearly beats restaurant and fish market prices.

Is Costco’s Sashimi High Quality?

• Color

Fish should have vibrant, natural coloring with no darkening or dull spots. The tuna is deep red, salmon is a bright orange, and the yellowtail is a light pink.

• Smell

Fish should have a clean, mild scent, not a strong “fishy” odor. Give the fish a sniff to check for freshness.

• Texture

Fish flesh should be firm yet yield slightly to pressure. It should not feel overly soft or mushy.

• Proper Refrigeration

Costco keeps sashimi well-chilled on ice below 40°F per food safety requirements. This prevents spoilage.

• High Turnover

The high volume of customers at Costco ensures their sashimi sells quickly, so you can rest assured it was very recently out of the water.

By controlling quality from source to display case, Costco is able to offer sashimi fish that meets or exceeds the freshness standards of high-end sushi restaurants. The colors, scents, textures, and refrigeration practices ensure customers get incredibly fresh, sashimi-grade seafood.

 Food Safety Standards

• Costco’s Special Sashimi Rules

Costco has strict rules for sashimi suppliers and processes the fish at its own FDA-checked facilities. This keeps quality and safety in check at the source.

• Regulations and inspections

The processing follows all U.S. and international food safety regulations. Third parties, like the FDA, regularly check the facilities.

• Food handling practices 

Experts inspect the fish during processing, checking temperatures, appearance, texture, and more.

In the store, workers follow good refrigeration, cleaning, and hygiene practices to keep the sashimi safe until you buy it.

Between modern processing, inspections, regulations, and proper store handling, Costco makes sure its sashimi is top quality and safe from sea to a shopper. You can feel good about choosing Costco for fresh, delicious sashimi!

Easy Recipes to Make at Home

• Sashimi Bowls

Ingredients:

Thinly sliced sashimi grade salmon, tuna, and yellowtail, 1 avocado sliced, 1 cup sushi rice, 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, soy sauce, wasabi, and pickled ginger

Instructions:

Cook sushi rice per package directions. Slice the fish into thin sashimi pieces. Fan out sashimi over rice in a bowl. Top with avocado slices, sesame seeds, soy sauce, wasabi, and ginger.

• Sushi Hand Rolls

Ingredients:

Nori sheets, sashimi grade tuna, and salmon, sushi rice, cucumber strips, carrot strips, soy sauce

Instructions:

Place the nori sheet shiny side down. Spread rice thinly along the bottom third. Layer cucumber, carrot, and sashimi pieces on rice. Roll up and slice in half diagonally. Dip into soy sauce before eating.

• Tataki Style

Ingredients:

Sashimi-grade tuna, ponzu sauce, scallions, sesame oil, and minced ginger

Instructions:

Lightly sear tuna slices for 10 seconds per side. Arrange atop salad greens. Drizzle ponzu sauce, scallions, sesame oil, and ginger over top.

With Costco’s fresh sashimi-grade seafood, you can easily prepare restaurant-quality dishes at home. Have fun trying different flavor combinations and plate presentations.

Nutritional benefits of sashimi

Why Sashimi is Super Healthy

• Lots of Protein

Sashimi fish build strong muscles with high protein. A small serving has 21 grams!

• Omega-3 Oils

The fish oils fight inflammation and are good for your heart and brain. Salmon and tuna have the most

• Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 helps your nerves and blood cells, and tuna sashimi loads you up with abundant B12.

• Selenium

This mineral protects your cells from damage and helps your thyroid. It’s abundant in tuna and yellowtail sashimi.

• Niacin

A B vitamin that helps you turn food into energy. Salmon sashimi is a great source.

• Phosphorus

Found in fish, this mineral keeps your bones and kidneys healthy. Tuna sashimi has lots of it.

• Low in Calories

With no carbs or added oils, sashimi is a light, nutritious choice.

Because sashimi is raw, it retains all its natural nutrition. The combo of protein, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals makes it a nutritious choice!

Taste Tests and Reviews

• Yummy Reviews of Costco Sashimi

People say Costco’s sashimi tastes incredibly fresh and delicious – as good as restaurants!

In blind taste tests, many people can’t tell if the sashimi is from Costco or a sushi joint. The salmon and tuna are tender, smooth, and bright.

Salmon sashimi is a favorite for its velvety richness. Wild salmon is the best!

Customers also love the variety of combo platters.

Online reviews and taste tests give Costco sashimi rave reviews for its fresh flavors and silky textures. Even compared to expensive sushi restaurants, people find Costco sashimi is just as delicious! Costco fans agree – this quality sashimi at bargain prices is a total win.

Tips for Enjoying Sashimi from Costco

• Costco’s Pre-Made Platters

People love the Kaisen Platter piled high with salmon, tuna, yellowtail, and shrimp – a little of everything!

Their chirashi sushi bowls with fish over rice are a big hit too.

• Make Your Own Sashimi Masterpiece

Handpick your favorite fillets, like salmon or tuna, from the seafood case.

Get creative with fun toppings and garnishes! Try edamame, seaweed, carrots – anything colorful.

Arrange the fish and toppings nicely on a platter to show off your sashimi skills.

You can grab Costco’s ready-made platters for easy appetizers. Or make your own platter for a personalized combo and to look like a sashimi expert! Either way, Costco sashimi is sure to be a hit.

Pairing with Sides and Sauces

• Yummy Sauces for Dipping

The usual sashimi sauces are soy sauce, ginger, and wasabi – try them all!

Also taste tangy ponzu sauce, spicy Sriracha mayo, sesame dressing, or green goddess.

• Crunchy Sides Add Texture

Mix in sushi rice, seaweed salad, cucumbers, and creamy avocado chunks.

For extra crunch, top with sesame seeds, roasted nuts, or fish roe.

Costco sashimi is yummy on its own, but dips and crunchy sides make it even better! Experiment with different zingy sauces to liven up the flavor. And add textures like rice, salad, and avocado to keep each bite interesting. Play around until you find your favorite combos!

Final Thoughts

Eating yummy sashimi doesn’t have to break the bank, thanks to Costco. Their fresh salmon, tuna, yellowtail, and combo platters are totally delicious. The taste and texture rival those of pricey restaurants. With just a few easy tips for picking and preparing sashimi, you can make incredible sashimi meals at home. Way cheaper than dining out!

For sashimi fans, a Costco membership is a no-brainer. The savings on their high-quality fish mean you can enjoy affordable sashimi anytime. So grab some chopsticks and head to the seafood case at Costco.

Costco’s fresh and inexpensive sashimi options will hook you into making sashimi creations at home.

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