Costco's Raw Sea Scallops Are A Total Steal For Seafood Fans - Daily Meal

What sets Costco's products apart from other big box and warehouse stores is that their store-brand products are reliably good. This is because the company spends a lot of time being choosy about the products that receive their signature label, and they curate that list of products to keep the number of items in the store down to around 4,000 — a fraction of the number usually sold at traditional grocery stores. If customers don't respond to a product, it gets discontinued to make way for a better-selling item, so the competition for shelf space is fierce.

The Kirkland sea scallops are on brand with Costco's commitment to quality for a couple of reasons. First, they are Grade A, which according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), means that they have good odor and color, and have an excellent appearance with no obvious blemishes or defects.

Second, the scallops are wild-caught, which NOAA says explains is a sustainable seafood choice because scallops aren't overfished. Plus, the scallops are responsibly caught thanks to regulations that protect their habitat and prevent bycatch. Farmed scallops are cheaper, but they also tend to have more contaminants and diseases, according to Colorado State University. Farmed fish are also often given antibiotics to prevent disease in their cramped quarters.