Do you want to get tuna at Costco but don’t know the best options among several brands over there?
The key to getting your hand on the best tuna depends on various factors. More than price, it depends on the type, quality, nutrients, and sustainability.
But how would you know which tuna suits your taste buds, health, and ethical values? That is a good question.
The answer lies in this article. A 15-minute read will help you get the best Costco tuna.
Why Should You Buy Tuna at Costco? A Few Reasons Other Than Money
Costco is your go-to place for affordable fresh and frozen tuna, and here is why!
You get quality products at the best prices at Costco.
While surfing at Costco, the one thing that you should not be worried about is the quality. What you see on their shelves is quality.
Despite the excellent quality, Costco’s prices won’t touch the sky. Instead, they offer terrific discounts compared to the market price.
You can find different types of tuna.
Costco has tuna from reliable brands like Chicken of the Sea, Bumble Bee, and Wild Planet.
Different brands use different techniques to store canned fish. Fresh or frozen, solid or chunky, canned in oil or water, there is something for every tuna junky you can find at Costco.
Costco sells sushi-grade tuna.
Tuna is considered the healthiest go-to snack in a can. However, not all tuna is safe to eat raw. Costco has many brands that offer sushi or sashimi-grade tuna.
If you don’t like cooking, your stock-up on tuna from Costco will be at the rescue. Mix it with mayo and add a salad for a quick and delicious lunch.
Best Costco Canned Tuna At Costco
After getting a few good reasons to get tuna at Costco, it’s time to know what can be the best canned and sashimi /sushi grade tuna at Costco. Let’s dive into the reviews section.
1. Wild Planet Albacore Wild Tuna (No Liquid) – Best Tuna But Pricey
First, the best tuna you can buy from Costco is Albacore Wild Tuna from Wild Planet. The brand is awarded the “sustainable option” by Greenpeace because of its outstanding sustainability policy.
Wild Planet only catches smaller albacore tuna that are low in mercury. Tuna has 23% more protein than other brands. It has a rich and firm texture with a fresh and fragmented taste.
It has no added liquid (water or oil), yet it doesn’t feel overdry in the can. It contains a minimal amount of sea salt.
Wild Planet albacore tuna is also the most expensive on our list, with a $3.33 price per can. Despite the high price, I still prefer it over other tuna brands because of its unmatchable quality.
This pristine tuna is perfect for steaks, sushi, or salad. The price for 6 packs of 5 oz tuna cans is $19.99 at Costco ($3.99 per can).
What I like
- Real, freshest, and cleanest taste every sold
- 100% Pole and Troll Caught
- Non-GMO
- Gluten-Free
- No liquid added
- Tested by a third party for mercury levels and contains only traces
- Kosher
- Halal, though it bears no certification
What I don’t like
- A little expensive
2. Chicken of the Sea Chunk Light Premium Tuna – Less Mercury, Tastier, and Cheaper
You can go for Chuck’s tuna if you like something other than a solid steak slice. Costco also sells Chicken of the Sea Chunk Light premium tuna. Price-wise, it’s affordable as well as a quality product.
It doesn’t taste fishy and has a mild flavor. Plus, It’s the largest tuna can you’ll ever see of any brand, perfect for making tuna casserole for the family.
A can of Chicken of the Sea chunk light contains tuna, water, vegetable broth, and salt and may have bones.
The biggest downside is the added soy. However, you can use it moderately instead of going overboard with the big can.
Get the Chicken of the Sea, Chunk Light Premium Tuna in Water from Costco for only $1.75 per can: the entire packaging comprises 12 counts for $19.99.
What I like
- Verified non-GMO
- Large quantity
- Most affordable choice
- No fishy smell
- Low in mercury: 0.12 parts per million of mercury
What I don’t like
- Unsustainable practices
- Leftover shredded pieces go into the drain with water.
3. Starkist Portofino Solid Yellowfin Tuna in Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Sea Salt
Another good option at Costco is Portofino by Starkist. Affiliated with the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF), Starkist uses both longline and poll and troll methods.
Portofino tastes just like Italian tuna, as claimed by many customers. Many Italian cuisine lovers use this to make classic Italian dishes that ask for yellowfin in their recipes.
It has a tender and mellow flaky flavor with a solid texture. The firm texture makes it perfect for steaks or sushi.
Yellowfin tuna is a great source of lean protein. It tastes mild and yields a firm and rich texture. Moreover, packed in extra virgin olive oil with sea salt makes it rich in omega-3.
Using yellowfin tuna on a regular diet improves health and lowers cholesterol levels. Moreover, it’s packed with a rich potassium source, which helps lower blood pressure levels.
Even though it contains a moderate amount of mercury, it’s better to use a tune only twice a week for better heart health.
Costco sells them in 8-can packaging costing no more than $1.3 per can, which is a pretty good deal considering the quality.
What I like:
- Packed with virgin olive oil
- Low in mercury
- Less salt
- 50% low price at Costco
What I don’t like:
- Stronger fishier taste
- The use of Italian imagery on the can is misleading.
- Non-transparency by brand
- The quantity is small.
Best Sushi and Sashimi Grade Ahi Tuna At Costco
4. Ahi Tuna (Individual 6oz Pack)
Two types of Ahi tuna are available in the market. One of them, also known as raw Yellowfin, is available at Costco online. It’s a premium wild boneless tuna by the brand Unomundo.
You can get 6oz of individually packed portions for easy use. It has a mild taste and comes frozen.
To some annoyance, it has added ingredients such as sodium citrate, salt, water, sodium ascorbate, beet extract, and annatto.
As it already has salt and other marinates, serving it raw or adding it to the salad is good. Another suggested way of preparing Ahi tuna is pan-searing, broiling, and grilling over an open fire.
The brand claims to follow sustainability regulations to ensure better marine life and provide excellent and ethical products to its customers.
The online price of Ahi Wild boneless 6 Oz tuna is $219.99. However, you can get a 6oz pack at Costco physical stores at a relatively low price to save you about $30-50 per purchase.
What I like
- GFSI certified
- Pristine steak texture
- Low price compared to market
- Firm texture
- No added water or broth
- Individually sealed packaging for easy use
What I don’t like
- Added beetroot color and other ingredients serve as pre-marinade.
- Contain too much salt, so you should avoid adding salt or other salty ingredients.
5. Ahi Tuna Saku Slices
The classic Japanese cut tuna Saku, “block,” is also available at Costco. They’re neatly cut block slices and are famous for their uniformity. Japanese restaurants use this cut to make sushi or delicate dishes requiring block cuts.
Ahi tuna Saku slices have skinless and boneless flesh with the bloodlines removed. It yields a mild flavor with a firm texture. This premium-cut, trimmed loin center is also perfect for appetizers and salads.
It contains yellowfin tuna, sodium ascorbate, water, sodium citrate, beet extract, annatto, and salt.
You can get this premium quality tuna from Costco at $289.99 for the entire packaging of 9.93 lb. What a fantastic deal!
What I like:
- MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) Certified
- Premium quality
- Premium cut
- Kosher
- Halal
What I don’t like:
- Not an ideal deal for a small family
How Should You Choose the Best Tuna for You? Buying Guide
Tuna is the most inexpensive way to add seafood to our diet. However, not all tuna available at Costco is good. Please ensure you pick the right tuna; it’s not rocket science.
Here’s a breakdown of what you must look at while purchasing your next tuna stock from Costco.
Sustainability
We know that human intervention has destroyed sea life over the decades. Luckily, in the past few years, awareness among brands and fishers has been a sign of relief.
While buying tuna from Costco, pick the brands that follow sustainable and protective fishing measures. Never go for vague terms like “line caught.” Pick brands that use trolling, hand-caught, or pole and line-caught measures.
Regular Vs. Sushi grade
You might have often heard the term sushi grade and wondered what it means. No, it doesn’t mean that you can only use it in sushi and can’t have it otherwise. Rather, sushi-grade is a term used to signify which tuna is safe to eat raw.
They’re preserved fresh to ensure customers receive high-quality fish when they open the can.
Light tuna vs. white tuna
“White tuna,” also known as albacore, is 100% obtained from (Thunnus alalunga). The white tuna is less tasty and a bit yellow. In comparison, “light” tuna comes from skipjack and yellowfin; its meat is pinkish or dark and more delicious.
Both types of tuna meat vary in texture as well. If you eat white tuna, it’s closer to chicken breast, while light tuna has a melting texture like chicken thighs.
What should you eat?
It depends entirely on your choice; both go well with salads, wraps, and appetizers.
Mercury Levels
The mercury level is equal to the size of tuna; the bigger the fish is, the more it has eaten other sea fishes, which inevitably increases its mercury level.
Brands like Wild Planet only catch small albacore tuna to ensure their products’ mercury levels are low.
Skipjacks have the lowest level of mercy, but you might need help finding them online at Costco stores. However, yellowfin and albacore are good choices containing low mercury content.
Liquid
Tuna oil creates an unbearable smell. Fishers remove the smell by removing oil. They steam the tuna after clearing the oil and then add water to it. Not only does this method help to remove bacteria, but it also increases its shelf life.
The best picks are those packed in water or olive oil. Avoid vegetable broth as it contains a high amount of soy, which is unhealthy.
Where water contains less fat than oil, oil-packed tuna is still better because it has more omega-3 acid. Likewise, water also dilutes other nutrients from the tuna. However, water-packed tuna is the best choice if you’re looking for a low-fat option.
FAQs
Does Costco sell its Signature Kirkland tuna?
Yes, Costco sells its brand Kirkland Signature. However, it’s not even close to what satisfies your state buds. Also, they’ve been using unsustainable factors to catch fish.
The brand claims to use longline fishing gear targeting large albacore fish. According to the following study, the mercury content is directly related to the size of the fish. The bigger the fish, the more mercury it contains.
Greenpeace has nothing good to say about Costco’s signature Kirkland brand. The price might seem attractive, but it’s not worth it given Kirkland’s high mercury and average taste.
If you’re a budget shopper, you can get eight packs of 7oz at a whopping price of $18.99. The biggest shortcoming is its high mercury level obtained through unsustainable measures.
Who gets tuna for Costco’s Signature Brand?
Bumble Bee supplies Costco with its signature Kirkland tuna. Surprisingly Kirkland products are sold at 20% less on Costco than other average brands.
Costco has given tough competition to other marketplaces by creating its product under Kirkland’s Signature, with lower prices and higher quality.
Can you get tuna salad at Costco?
Yes, you can find the Bumble Bee Snack on the Run Tuna Salad at a reasonable price at Costco.
Bumble Bee snacks on the run are packed with vitamins and minerals like B-complex, iron, phosphorus, and selenium; it’s a perfect quick meal solution when you don’t have time to cook.
Bumble Bee tuna undergo immaculate inspection and process from freezing to thawing to ensure safe preservation.
It contains tuna (light tuna, salt, vegetable broth, water), mayonnaise made with eggs, soybean oil, vinegar, and salt. Moreover, it has onion, sugar, celery, soy flour, carrots, and glucono delta lactone.
Along with the cracker, it provides a lot of protein fibers and fatty acids; if you don’t like dry tuna, you can mix some mayo or make a salad. This tastes so good that you’ll never pick anything else for snacking again.
Grab them from Costco because they run out of stock quickly.
Can you eat Costco tuna raw?
Yes, you can if the label says that the tuna is sashimi grade; that means it’s frozen after taking precautionary measures on fishing boats to kill the bacteria, which makes it safe to eat raw.
Does Costco albacore tuna have mercury?
All albacore tuna contains a moderate amount of mercury. The best brand at Costco, Wild Planet, contains 24 micrograms of mercury.
On the other hand, testing by a third-party lab showed Kirkland albacore tuna has about 38 mcg in one 5.4 oz can (153 g).
Is Costco fish wild caught?
Most or almost all tuna available at Costco online are wild-caught, and none are sourced through farmed techniques.
Is Costco tuna halal?
Among all the top brands at Costco, only Ahi Tuna Saku slices and Ahi Tuna by Unomundo are certified halal tuna.
Is Costco tuna kosher?
Besides Bumble Bee Snacks on the Run and Starkist Portofino Yellowfin tuna, Costco’s other tuna brands are certified Kosher.
Final Thoughts
Costco has a variety of tuna available, and there are multiple ways to prepare them. They’re different in taste and color. Some go well with salads, while others are perfect for steaks.
I hope this article will help you decide on the tuna you need to buy from Costco and the ones you need to avoid.
