Does Costco Have Lobster Claws? Everything You Need To Know

Lobster claws are a delicious and indulgent seafood treat. Their sweet, tender meat makes them a favorite for special occasions and holidays. I often get asked by readers – does Costco sell lobster claws? The answer is yes! Read on for everything you need to know about finding and buying lobster claws at Costco.

Overview of Lobster Claws at Costco

Costco does sell lobster claws, both in frozen and fresh formats. They are generally available year-round, though quantities increase around major holidays like Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter when demand goes up.

The lobster claws at Costco typically come pre-cooked so they just need to be briefly steamed or warmed to be ready to eat. The claws are wild-caught in cold northern waters off the Atlantic coasts of Canada and Maine.

At my local Costco warehouse in Los Angeles, they carry the Kirkland Signature frozen raw lobster tails but the cooked lobster claws tend to be from various third-party brands. I’ve seen bags of cooked claws from suppliers like East Coast Seafood, Seacore Seafood and Fresh Atlantic Canada.

Buying Fresh vs Frozen Lobster Claws at Costco

You can find both fresh and frozen lobster claws in the seafood department at Costco Here are the main differences

Fresh pre-cooked lobster claws

• Available in the refrigerated seafood section
• Packaged in clear plastic bags
• Weighs around 2 pounds per bag
• Contains 8-12 intact claws and arms
• Needs just brief steaming or warming before eating
• Defrosts quickly if frozen for storage
• Has shorter shelf life of 5-7 days from pack date

Frozen raw lobster claws:

• Sold in the freezer section
• Usually Kirkland Signature branded
• Needs to be cooked before eating
• Can be kept frozen for longer storage
• Maintains quality longer when thawed
• Can be hard to find in stock

I tend to prefer buying the fresh pre-cooked claws for convenience, but snap up the frozen ones when I see them since they store longer. Either way, inspect the pack date and only buy what you will use within a few days.

Lobster Claw Prices at Costco

Lobster claws are premium seafood so they are pricier than options like shrimp or tilapia. But Costco’s buying power keeps the prices as low as possible compared to other grocery stores.

Here are typical price ranges for lobster claws at Costco:

• Fresh cooked claws: $15.99 to $19.99 per pound
• Frozen raw claws: $14.99 to $17.99 per pound

The bags of fresh cooked claws are usually around 2 pounds each. So you’ll pay $30 to $40 for a good amount for multiple people.

Around major holidays and summer, the prices may be slightly higher when demand surges. But in general Costco lobster claw prices stay fairly stable.

Compared to high-end grocery stores where cooked lobster claws can be $25+ per pound, Costco saves you at least $5-10 per pound.

How to Pick the Best Lobster Claws at Costco

Follow these tips when selecting your bag of lobster claws at Costco:

• Check pack dates – Choose a bag with the latest sell by date possible so they are fresh.
• Inspect claws – Look for intact, solid claws without cracks or missing meat.
• See leg movement – Gently squeeze claws to see small leg movements which means they are alive.
• Avoid discoloration – Pick claws with bright red/orange color without dark spots.
• Feel bag weight – Heavier bags around 2 pounds signal more filled out claws.
• Review supplier – Recognizable suppliers like East Coast Seafood indicate quality.

Taking a minute to carefully choose your lobster claws ensures you get the best quality batch with sweet tender meat inside the shells.

How to Cook Lobster Claws from Costco

The pre-cooked fresh lobster claws from Costco just need reheating. It only takes 5-10 minutes to steam them until hot andtender.

Here are simple cooking instructions:

• Remove claws from packaging and rinse briefly.
• Fill a pot with 1-2 inches of water and bring to a boil.
• Place claws in a steaming basket or colander.
• Set basket over boiling water, cover, and steam 5-10 minutes.
• Serve claws hot with drawn butter, lemon wedges, etc.

If you want the claws cold, you can skip steaming and serve chilled with cocktail sauce for dipping instead.

For frozen raw lobster claws, you’ll need to fully cook them from frozen or after thawing using boiling, steaming, or broiling. They take 10-15 minutes until the shells turn bright red.

How to Eat Lobster Claws from Costco

Cracking and picking cooked lobster claws does take a bit of work. Make sure to have lobster crackers, small forks, and picks on hand.

Follow these tips for getting at the sweet claw meat:

• Twist and crack the shells using lobster crackers.
• Wiggle picks to pull out large chunks of meat.
• Use forks to scrape out remaining meat pieces.
• Watch for cartilage running through the meat.
• Discard empty cracked shells.

Take your time picking lobster claws to get all the tasty morsels out. The effort is well worth it for the tender, briny meat inside.

Lobster Claw Recipes and Serving Ideas

Beyond just cracking and eating lobster claws plain, there are so many delicious ways to use them:

• Lobster rolls – claw meat on toasted rolls with lemon aioli.
• Lobster mac and cheese – tossed with elbow pasta and cheese sauce.
• Lobster bisque – pureed into a creamy lobster soup.
• Lobster salad – chunks combined with veggies and citrus dressing.
• Lobster ravioli – stuffed into pasta pillows with garlic sauce.
• Lobster tacos – piled into corn tortillas with avocado.
• Lobster quesadillas – topped with cheese in grilled tortillas.
• Lobster pizza – sprinkled over white pizza with lemon zest.

Get creative with the sweet lobster meat pulled from Costco’s cooked claws in your favorite recipes!

Can You Freeze Costco Lobster Claws?

Yes, you can safely freeze either the fresh cooked or frozen raw lobster claws from Costco for longer storage.

Here are some freezing tips:

• Seal claws in airtight freezer bags or containers.
• Remove as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn.
• Freeze claws for up to 3 months for best quality.
• Thaw claws slowly overnight in the fridge before use.

Freezing allows you to buy and store lobster claws from Costco to use throughout the season. Just remember to eat within a few months for peak flavor and texture.

Are Costco Lobster Claws Worth It?

In my opinion, the lobster claws at Costco are absolutely worth buying if you see them! Here’s a quick pros vs. cons breakdown:

Pros:

• Very reasonable prices compared to elsewhere
• Good quality premium lobster claws
• Pre-cooked for quick easy preparation
• Available fresh or frozen year-round
• Sweet tender claw meat with great flavor
• Fun indulgent treat for special meals

Cons:

• Need to eat within 5 days of defrosting
• Still pricier than other Costco seafood
• Require work to extract the lobster meat
• Limited-time product not always in stock

Overall the convenience, freshness, great taste and fair pricing make Costco’s lobster claws a great purchase in my book. I watch for them anytime I’m browsing the seafood department!

The Bottom Line

At the end of the day, Costco does reliably carry both fresh pre-cooked and frozen raw lobster claws. They offer an affordable way to enjoy premium lobster compared to restaurants or seafood markets.

Hopefully this guide gives you all the details on what to expect, from price ranges to cooking methods and more. Now you’ll know exactly what to look for next time you’re seeking out those tasty lobster claws at your local Costco warehouse!