One of the top Costco membership perks is the incredible selection of frozen foods, but not all of them live up to the hype.
Some options can have strange textures, sky-high sodium, or just lack flavor — turning what seemed like a bargain into wasted cash.
Here are 10 frozen meals at Costco worth skipping.
Editor's note: Prices and availability are subject to change and may vary by location.
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Jimmy Dean Delights English Muffin
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Price: $18.19
Jimmy Dean is known for their variety of breakfast protein options. Their turkey sausage, egg white, and cheese whole grain English muffins may be convenient, but people say no method of prep makes these taste good.
The bread is oddly soggy and the meat is rubbery, and it's just not good.
Foster Farms Jumbo Chicken Corn Dogs
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Price: $17.39
Corn dogs are universally loved for their nostalgic and playful existence at fairs, carnivals, and outdoor events, so a 28-pack of jumbo ones may sound like heaven — but you'd be wrong.
While the chicken dog itself is quite juicy, the cornbread outer coating is spongy and dry, and has an unappealing grittiness to it making this one box you won't want to finish.
Kirkland Signature Meatballs, Italian Style Beef
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Price: $20.19
While fans used to love Kirkland's Italian Style Beef Meatballs, they aren't singing its praises so loudly now. The frozen meat — which was already tough to chew unless you deviated from the printed cooking instructions — seems more oily and wet than it used to be.
Customers who used to soak them to cook them correctly say it's almost impossible to do so now.
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Ling Ling Potstickers
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Price: $14.29
Costco customers massively prefer the Bibigo potstickers over the Ling Ling brand. The chicken is super sugary, the filling's texture has been compared to wet styrofoam, and the recipe has been consistently horrible over the years.
While some shoppers insist on cooking them differently than the packaging suggests for better texture, you can't make up for the taste — or lack thereof.
Shopping pro tip: This month's best deals
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April brings not just warmer weather and sunnier days, but also excellent shopping opportunities. With Easter happening on April 20, retailers will offer significant discounts on seasonal items at the end of the month, while also preparing for graduations, weddings, and spring cleaning season.
Here are some of the best deals to watch out for:
- Cookware sets on sale for graduation and wedding season
- Winter clearance items like coats and sweaters at end-of-season prices
- Spring cleaning supplies with potential BOGO offers at stores like Target
- Air conditioners before peak summer demand drives prices higher
- Lawn care equipment as homeowners prepare for the growing season
- Post-Easter candy and ham at deeply discounted prices once the holiday has passed
- For groceries, consider seasonal produce like asparagus, broccoli, and spinach, which will be at their freshest and most affordable.
Remember that retailers are always thinking a season ahead. They're already preparing to get rid of spring merchandise while you're just getting ready to enjoy it. This makes April a great time to find budget-boosting deals of all kinds.
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Kirkland Signature Chicken Bakes
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Price: $15.49
Kirkland Signature's cheesy, herbed Chicken Bakes are a big-time fan favorite at the food court, but, sadly, the frozen version tastes nothing like those, and are void of the caesar and parmesan flavors fans love.
Unfortunately, the sodium content is also terrifying, with each chicken bake packing in a whopping 1,370 grams.
Kirkland Signature Cauliflower Crust Pizza
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Price: $13.59
Costco is working to provide affordable, gluten-free crust options that taste better than other brands, however, the saturated fat and sodium values are alarmingly high.
Plus, cauliflower takes a lot of manipulation to taste like a true pizza crust, and this one still falls flat and oddly chewy.
Ajinomoto Shoyu Ramen with Chicken
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Price: $21.99
While Ajinomoto Shoyu Ramen with Chicken was a bit of a fan favorite before, the recipe has since changed and left a bad taste in customers' mouths.
Where the chicken was sliced and tender before, it's now cut into cubes, feels rubbery, and is tougher to eat.
Stouffer's Macaroni and Cheese
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Price: $12.59
If you're eating Stouffer's macaroni and cheese, it's probably for nostalgia — not the taste or nutritional value. Sure, 76 ounces of prepared pasta is a budget-friendly dream, but this option is astronomically high in sodium and has a gritty, floury texture to it.
The internet also acknowledges the taste isn't what it once was.
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Quick tips: How to save on your grocery bill
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Grocery shopping doesn't have to break the bank when you use the right strategies. Here are some of our favorite tips for reducing food expenses that we personally put to use:
- Plan your meals around what's already in your pantry, then create a shopping list to prevent impulse purchases.
- Buy store brands instead of name brands whenever possible.
- Always make sure to compare unit prices, not just sticker prices.
- Stock up on staples when on sale, but don’t ever buy just because something comes in bulk.
- Shop the marked-down section for near-expiration bargains
- Join your store's loyalty program so you don’t miss out on member discounts.
Even though something like choosing coupons in your grocery store app can feel like an annoying task to handle every week, the savings can really add up. Double check in case your store also offers perks like gas rewards or any other discounts you might be able to take advantage of outside the grocery store.
El Monterey Burritos
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Price: $23.19
El Monterey Burritos are known for being protein-packed meal options on a budget. Unfortunately, their formerly beloved burritos shrank in size and are much less satisfying than they used to be.
Some customers even claim there is more tortilla than anything else — a massive downgrade on a once perfectly good product.
Smucker's Uncrustables
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Price: $15.79
Surely, this isn't the first time you have heard that Smucker's Uncrustables aren't a great option for regular consumption. It takes almost the same amount of time to make a fresh peanut butter and jelly with more organic ingredients.
The formula has improved over the years, but there are still tons of people who complain about the texture and way-to-sweet jelly taste.
Bottom line
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While it can be easy to save on groceries at Costco, be sure to do your research before adding something new to your cart so you aren't disappointed that you wasted money on something you won't even finish.
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