Frozen Foods to Buy and Not to Buy

I have written several posts about frozen items at Costco. Although Costco sells a wide range of fresh food, it can be very helpful to keep options for meals and desserts in the freezer. They are convenient and often healthy and tasty. In this post, I will discuss some items that are suggested to buy and other that are not suggested to buy. I have written about some of these items before but several I have never heard or or seen at my local Costcos.

Frozen Items to Buy

1. Kirkland Signature Frozen Berries

Costco sells multiple varieties of frozen berries (sliced strawberry halves; wild blueberries;  mixed berries). These frozen berries can be used in smoothies, baked goods, on yogurt or cottage cheese, or for homemade popsicles.

I have written about the frozen berries at Costco multiple times, as the mixed berries often appear on the list of best frozen items (Nutritionist Recommended Items to Buy at Costco). 

2. Sabatasso’s Pizza Singles

According to the article, these individual pizzas can be cooked quickly in the oven, air fryer, or microwave. They come in pepperoni and four-cheese, and the author suggests adding  additional toppings.

Not for me but it is always helpful to have frozen pizza in the house for a quick dinner paired with salad.

3. Nature’s Touch Frozen Broccoli

This broccoli is praised for the large sized bag (4.4 pounds) that contains four individual bags, the high quality vegetable that remain crunchy even when cooking, its nutrition benefits, and its price. It is good in cooking or plain and can be cooked in the microwave.

I love broccoli and if it did not present such a kosher issue, I would buy this all the time. It goes so well as a side dish for pasta or fish or mixed into eggs.

4. Kirkland Signature Frozen Chicken Breasts

According to the article, these raw chicken breasts are individually frozen, enabling people to cook a specific amount without waste. They can be cooked by grilling, pan-frying, or tossing them into the slow cooker.

Another item not for me but definitely an item helpful for people to have on hand. 

5. Kirkland Signature Ice Cream Bars

The author compares these ice cream bars to Magnum but likes their lower price. They consist of vanilla ice cream inside a chocolate shell that contains pieces of nuts. They contain high-quality ingredients and come individually wrapped.

I have mentioned several times that I don’t eat many ice cream novelties. However, I am aware of the different brands and how expensive they can be. I have seen boxes of three small bars for high prices and I know the Costco ones are much less expensive. If I liked bars more, I would definitely buy them. 

6. Dom Smoked Salmon

This smoked salmon is sold in one-pound  packages that are less extra Costco than at other stores. It comes thinly sliced and can be eaten on its own, on bagels, in salads, or in pasta. The salmon is very nutritious, containing omega 3 fatty acids and protein.

I have written about some of the varieties of smoked salmon sold at Costco (Product Review: ACME Smoked Salmon); (Product Review:Kirkland Signature Smoked Salmon)). My family tends to buy the Kirkland variety. It is not the “fanciest” variety but we really like the taste as well as the value. I have never noticed the Dom brand but I tend not to look at the varieties beyond those which I would consider buying. It may also only be sold in certain stores.

Frozen Foods on Which to Pass

1. Nature’s Touch Frozen Avocado Halves

The author suggests passing on the frozen avocado halves. She criticizes this item for the unpleasant taste after defrosting the halves, saying that they require added spices. She also writes that the texture does not match that of a fresh avocado. The only people for whom she recommends these avocado halves are those who require a huge amount of avocados. For everyone else, she suggests buying the fresh ones. 

I used to eat a lot of avocados. It was hard to go to the store often enough to stagger them to my liking. In addition, sometimes the stores only had either very ripe or very unripe ones. When I saw a refrigerated package of two avocado halves, I gave them a try. They were okay but definitely less creamy or flavorful than fresh avocados. I have never tried frozen avocados and have actually never seen them at Costco. In the past, I probably would have tried them. However, I rarely eat avocados these days, so I will take a pass on these.

2. Morey’s Marinated Wild Pink Salmon

Although she recommends most seafood at Costco, the author doesn’t suggest this  marinated wild pink salmon. She acknowledges that it may be better grilled but she found it too dry when baked, cooked in the air fryer, or microwaved. In addition to the texture, she criticizes the flavor, finding it too spicy.

I obviously really enjoy salmon. However, the only frozen salmon I buy at Costco is the Kirkland variety (Product Review: Kirkland frozen Atlantic salmon). I actually don’t care too much about the texture and probably would not mind slightly fish. However, I prefer my salmon to be lightly flavored so that the pure salmon taste is the primary taste.

3. Olivia Marinated Butterfly Shrimp

The author expresses her disappointment in this shrimp, claiming that it does not have a good texture or flavor. Instead, she recommends grilling the raw shrimp. 

Not for me but she certainly does not make it sound appealing!

4. Dom Salmon or Tuna Poke Singles

According to the article, these individual, ready-to-eat poke bowls are not a hit. Apparently, the flavor is overwhelming, taking away from the flavor of the fish. Furthermore, the size is not ideal, as one bowl is too small for a satisfying meal. 

I have been tempted to try these bowls so this information is helpful. I have never had a poke bowl but I like the idea of a bowl with rice, fish, and sauce. However, it would be frustrating to eat a “single serve” meal and still want something else (similar to those small frozen dinners from years ago…I realize they were geared towards people cutting calories, but they were a better snack than meal). These bowls also seem like they would be relatively easy to make at home using the smoked salmon (Product Review:Kirkland Signature Smoked Salmon).

5. Bibigo Steamed Dumplings

Another item not recommended are these dumplings. The author complains that the micro results in soggy wrappers. In addition, she does not like that the filling (chicken; cabbage; onions, mushrooms) is blander than traditional Korean food. As an alternative, she recommends pan frying the beef dumplings made by this brand.

Neither are for me but I have mentioned the positive reviews of the beef dumplings before (December Deals at Costco).

6. Nature’s Touch Chocolate Dipped Strawberries

A frozen dessert that the author does not suggest are these chocolate-dipped strawberries. She was disappointed in both the chocolate (stale with weak chocolate flavor) and the strawberries (watery and lacking flavor). 

I have mentioned before that I do not like chocolate and fruit together. Therefore, even if the chocolate and the strawberries were high quality, I would not buy them. Given this review, I wouldn’t recommend them to those who love this treat. I am not surprised that the strawberries are not very good, as frozen strawberries tend to be best when blended into smoothies because they are not sturdy enough for the taste and texture to stand up to freezing. 

7. Kirkland Signature Frozen Salmon

Another frozen seafood item that the author does not recommend is the Kirkland frozen Atlantic salmon. She does not recommend it for several reasons. First, it is the same price as the fresh salmon, making the latter a better purchase. Second, the individual portions create excess waste in wrapping. Third, the texture can be inconsistent, often either too soft or too dry. Fourth, the freezing results in the fish tasting bland and “fishy.”

Although I have not had this salmon in years, I really liked it (Product Review: Kirkland frozen Atlantic salmon). In response to the author’s criticisms, I agree that the frozen salmon is quite pricey and that fresh salmon is preferable. However, frozen salmon is certainly more convenient and does not require planning. Second, despite the packaging, the individual wrapping is very helpful for keeping the fish portions separate and therefore easy to cook one at a time. Third, I did not find a problem with the texture, even from the microwave. I am certainly not too picky when it comes to texture but would definitely notice if it was extremely dry. Fourth, I really enjoyed the light flavor that had hints of salt and lemon (despite being plain). I have never understood what it means for fish to taste “too fishy” because I want it to taste like fish!

Do you buy these frozen items? Do you agree with the recommendations of what to buy and what to skip?