The Costco Kirkland Signature Meat That Shouldn't Be On Grocery Lists

We're generally pretty gung-ho about Costco's house label, Kirkland Signature. That's why it was such a surprise when, in the process of compiling our ranking of the best and worst meats to buy at Costco, Kirkland Signature Mild Italian Sausage scored such poor marks. As per reports on social media, this item hit shelves when Costco 86'd Tarantino Italian Sausage in lieu of a private-label contender. Our writer compiled reports on this meat that complained of a milquetoast flavor that was too boring for many, to an overwhelming abundance of whole fennel seeds that irritated the bellies of some who ate it.

While Costco's authentic Japanese Wagyu is considered worthy of a trip to the crowded warehouse to purchase — provided you have the deep pockets to handle what's typically a three-digit price tag — mild Italian sausage should be something that you pick up elsewhere. Some reviews claimed that, in a classic Italian dish, the sausage was drowned out by onions and peppers, while also wondering if Costco had purposely sourced a bland, inoffensive sausage to cater to folks with unadventurous tastes. Another taste-tester wondered whether the mild flavor was, well, too mild. Again, the taste level of the sausages' prospective audience was questioned. Nobody argues that a mild sausage should serve up as much of a kick as a hot sausage, obviously, but flavor is definitely important. And many have decided that the relatively one-note Kirkland Signature links simply do not deliver the goods.

There's a reason that sausages are a regular part of many a dinner rotation. They are a widely-available protein with a ton of variety and versatility. If you follow the best tips for cooking sausages, you could easily craft a menu for an entire month without preparing the same meal twice. We love mild sausage fried up in coins with pierogi and onions, grilled in a brat bun, in a skillet with broccoli and rice, or in pasta preparations. Even when mild sausage is incorporated with other foods, however, we want to taste it. The cardinal sin committed by the Kirkland Signature mild sausage is that it doesn't speak for itself. As soon as you pair it with other flavors, it's bound to get drowned out. For us, that's simply not an item worth your hard-earned money.

Some Costco devotees would call it blasphemy to compare notes with Sam's Club, but the fact of the matter is that Sam's offers Premio Sweet Italian Sausages, and they happen to be very highly-rated. Don't want to be a traitor to your favorite warehouse? Johnsonville's mild sausages are sold far and wide, including at most Costco locations, and they will get the job done. For that matter, Aldi — another of our retail obsessions — carries a house-brand mild Italian sausage as well. There's no need to settle for subpar sausage when there's almost definitely another grocer in your neighborhood with at least one better option.