The Costco Canned Fish Some Customers Can't Stop Buying

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One of the common mistakes customers make shopping at Costco is not checking out social media to get an idea of what ordinary-seeming products are actually major bangers. Take, for example, Genova canned tuna. These grayish-yellow cans at first look like nothing special ... and, to be fair, who actually thinks all that much about canned fish beyond the type(s) to which they are brand-loyal? Costco's Kirkland Signature albacore tuna, made by Bumble Bee, is right there on the shelf and is perfectly acceptable, right?

According to Reddit users, Genova canned tuna is actually a real catch. First of all, it's yellowfin tuna, which is the simple tuna salad substitute that Ina Garten herself swears by. Also, it's packed in oil instead of water, which apparently leads to a flavor sensation. "This is so much better than the tuna in water I grew up eating," one Redditor swore. 

"This tuna in oil is what canned tuna tasted like before they made it healthy by using water instead. Back to the future," another purchaser said, echoing the sentiment. "I've been using this exclusively for the past year or so," stated a third. "I'd previously only eaten tuna in water. I now eat the recommended 'safe' amount by my RD of two cans a week. It's really hard to limit myself to two cans a week because it's so freakin' good." Comparing Genova to chunk light tuna by a competitor, yet another commenter didn't mince words: "It's wildly better tasting! Hardly worth comparing the two."

Genova tuna is all wild-caught, as opposed to farm tuna, and each fish is hand-fileted. There are no GMOs or preservatives in the can: just real tuna, packed in olive oil for authentic Mediterranean flavor. Reading this and getting hungry, but not near a Costco warehouse? You can also find an eight-pack on Amazon. Because flavor is the defining characteristic of this tuna, you might not want to drown it in mayonnaise and serve it up on bread, which could mute the distinct taste. Instead, use it atop pasta or on a salad, where the briny savor of the fish can really shine.

Spaghetti al tonno has all the rich meatiness of a red sauce that you love but utilizes oil-packed tuna, along with minced anchovy filets, to bring a maritime flavor that's sure to become a mainstay of a new favorite weeknight meal. We can also get behind using Genova tuna in a croquette with a cornmeal crust or even accompanied by potatoes, Mexican style. It sounds offbeat, but don't discount adding canned tuna with some black beans in a quesadilla instead of more common proteins like steak or chicken, either. Given the exquisite, rich flavor of Genova tuna, you might just find yourself inspired to try new recipes for canned fish that you never considered before!