Tip #1: Whole Uncut Beef Tenderloin (Subprimal)
Buying whole, vacuum-sealed subprimal cuts represents the single greatest money-saving secret in the entire warehouse meat department. When you purchase an un-trimmed, whole beef tenderloin in Cryovac packaging, you completely bypass the extra labor fees that Costco builds into their pre-sliced, tray-packaged steaks.
Trimming a whole tenderloin at home takes less than ten minutes with a sharp knife; you simply strip away the silver skin, trim off the side chain meat, and slice the center roast into perfectly uniform filet mignon medallions.
By performing this basic butchery yourself, you consistently save between $2.00 and $5.00 or more per pound compared to buying pre-cut filet steaks. On a whole eight-pound tenderloin, that translates to an immediate savings of $20.00 to $40.00 on a single purchase.
This simple habit quickly offsets the cost of your annual Costco membership, which sits at $65 for Gold Star and $130 for Executive memberships.
You end up with premium steakhouse-grade filet mignon cut precisely to your preferred thickness, plus tender meat trimmings ideal for beef stroganoff, kebabs, or homemade ground beef.
