Everything You Need to Know Before Buying Costco’s (Stellar) Prime Rib

My family are long-time, proud Costco members. We buy a lot of our staples at the bulk warehouse — pantry items, trash bags, and, yes, even produce (like mushrooms, cucumbers, you name it). We don’t only get our everyday items there; Costco is also our retailer-of-choice for special occasion meals, including one of my favorite dinner mains: prime rib.

While prime rib doesn’t have to exclusively be served for the holidays, it is a striking (and often expensive) cut that is often served during the holidays. The warehouse has an impressive meat department and stellar prime rib cuts. Before you drop some serious cash and pick up one of these roasts, here’s what you need to know about buying a Costco prime rib.

Costco sells both raw, unseasoned bone-in prime ribs and boneless prime ribs, as well as pre-seasoned prime ribs that require very little prep before going into the oven. 

• Bone-In Prime Rib: A bone-in prime rib is the traditional cut of prime rib (and the one my dad always gets). The bone adds extra flavor during cooking and helps it stand up in the oven (and is why it’s called a rib roast). It also “enhances the overall texture of the meat and presentation of the dish,” according to my dad.
• Boneless Prime Rib: Boneless prime ribs are the same cut, just with the ribs already carved out. This is a convenient option for those intimidated by carving, that will still remain incredibly tender and flavorful. 
• Seasoned Prime Rib: Costco also sells pre-seasoned boneless and bone-in prime ribs for those that prefer a more hands-off approach entirely. These roasts are seasoned with salt, pepper, and a medley of herbs, and even come with cooking instructions.

If you don’t see a cut or size that fits your needs, the deli department is always there to answer questions and even package a fresh one for you personally; just ask!

Roasts vary in price depending on location. You can expect to pay between $11 and $14 a pound for a raw, unseasoned roast and around $20 a pound for a seasoned one. In comparison to other butcher shops, where prime rib can cost significantly more (upwards of $25 to $30 a pound!), Costco is an excellent option for high-quality meat at a lower pricepoint.

• Bone-In Prime Rib: A bone-in roast will typically cost more overall because it includes the weight of the bones. My local Costco in North Carolina sells them for $12.59 a pound in roughly 8- to 10-pound packages.
• Boneless Prime Rib: I spotted this cut for $12.79 a pound in 5- to 8-pound packages (they end up being cheaper overall without the weight of the bones).
• Seasoned Prime Rib: Although a pre-seasoned roast will save you time on prepwork, it does cost slightly more at $19 to $22 dollars a pound.

Like most other Costco items, it’s hard to tell exactly when (or if) prime rib will go on sale. In all our years of shopping at the warehouse, though, we’ve noticed that this particular cut hasn’t been discounted. That being said, it is relatively affordable compared to what you’ll find at other national and specialty stores.

TLDR; yes. My family looks forward to cooking a Costco prime rib roast each and every year because it’s really just that good. During the holidays, there are dozens of options to choose from in all sorts of sizes, so it’s easy to find something that suits your dinner party plans. The meat is incredibly tender, juicy, and overall a stunning centerpiece for any celebratory spread. 

Prime rib roast size is dependent on how many people you are feeding. The Kitchn’s rule of thumb: one bone for every two diners, or about 1 pound of bone-in meat per person. This means that a bone-in rib roast with about five bones will feed at least 10 guests, whereas a 5-pound roast is suitable for a group of five or six.

OK, you’ve got the roast, and now it’s time to cook it. The process is actually a lot easier than you might think (really!). The Kitchn’s outlined everything single little thing you need to know about roasting the perfect prime rib, including seasonings, sauces, cook times, and even what to serve it with. It’s way more than a recipe, and would probably be better suited to be called a guide. 

Have you bought a Costco Prime Rib before? Tell us about it in the comments.