What Hot Dogs Does Costco Use?
For hot dogs, Costco uses its private label, Kirkland Signature Beef Wieners. These hot dogs are sold in warehouse stores and at the food court. Before 2009, Costco used hot dogs from Hebrew National before switching to its own Kirkland Signature brand manufactured in Costco’s plant in California.
What Brand of Hot Dogs Are Served at Costco?
If you find Costco’s hot dogs delicious, you should know that they are part of Kirkland Signature’s brand.
Kirkland Signature Beef Wieners from Costco Wholesale are the same ones served at the food court.
If you want to buy some to prepare at home, you can find them in the Cold & Frozen section. However, if you want a ready-to-go snack, you’ll find the same hot dog at the food court.
Are Costco Hot Dogs Kosher?
Costco used to sell Kosher hot dogs but stopped after some time.
When the warehouse club store opened in Oregon in 1983, Costco put up a Hebrew National stand and sourced kosher hot dogs from this company.
Up until 2008, Costco served and used kosher hot dogs from Hebrew National, but it had to switch after the supplier started running low on meat, which affected the prices.
In 2009, Costco started using Kirkland Signature hot dogs, which are non-kosher.
During this time, customers signed petitions to push Costco to bring back the kosher hot dogs; however, the retailer has stuck to its own brand.
Who Manufactures Costco Hot Dogs?
Although another company initially produced the Kirkland Signature dogs, Costco now handles the manufacturing.
Costco opened its own meat plant in California, where it makes hot dogs and other meat products for sale at the store and food court.
This switch to producing its hot dogs was introduced to reduce the cost of manufacturing. In addition, it has enabled Costco to keep the cost of hot dogs low for thirty years now.
How Does Costco Make Its Hot Dogs?
Costco prepares its hot dogs using the hot bath and steam method. These hot dogs are steamed to ensure you enjoy the flavors without any greasy coating.
In addition, the bun and beef are steamed to lock in moisture and keep your snack soft and warm.
Are Costco Hot Dogs 100% Beef?
Costco’s hot dogs are 100% beef and don’t contain ingredients such as syrup, phosphates, artificial flavors, colors, and fillers. Therefore, you can be sure of the ingredients in your hot dog.
Since Costco is in charge of the manufacturing process, the company ensures that its hot dogs don’t contain any other ingredients or forms of meat.
Therefore, they are affordable but still of higher quality than other competing brands.
Are Costco Hot Dogs Good?
Customers love Costco hot dogs for various reasons. Let’s take a look at some of them:
Costco Hot Dogs Are Huge
Since the introduction of the Costco hot dog, its size has never been reduced. Customers get a quarter pound of meat with the hot dog, making the snack feel like a meal.
This is huge compared to competitors like Oscar Meyer, who sells hot dogs at 1.58 ounces.
They Are Made In-House
Costco hot dogs are made in-house, which is good for quality assurance. The company can control the standards and ingredients used during production.
To maintain the quality, Costco opened its own production facility. In addition, the hot dogs are 100% beef and don’t contain harmful ingredients.
Costco Toppings Are Free
Once you order a hot dog at the Costco food court, you can add your choice of toppings, including ketchup, mustard, and relish.
However, according to most customers, you can also get extra toppings for free if you ask Costco employees.
Usually, Costco offers chopped onions or sauerkraut to add to your hot dog. These add-ons make the hot dogs more delicious and don’t come at an additional cost.
How Much Do Costco Hot Dogs Cost?
Costco hot dogs are popular with the hot dog soda combo deal at $1.50. Fortunately, the company hasn’t changed this price since 1985.
Despite the economic change, Costco has maintained this price, which has become iconic and memorable for the brand.
According to some reports, this snack is one of the reasons Costco food courts have a cult following.
Although Costco has maintained this price for years, the company makes no money from the hot dogs.
These products bring in losses for the company, but Costco still maintains the price as one of the defining features of its brand.
Do You Need a Costco Membership to Buy Costco Hot Dogs?
If you don’t have a Costco membership, you can still buy the hot dogs at the food court if they are located outside the store because they are accessible to anyone.
However, if the food court is inside the store, you might need a membership, though you can shop using other methods, like coming with a member or using a gift card.
Ian Colbeck is a writer for Costco Food Database. Born in Seattle and living in Salt Lake City. Ian enjoys everything outdoors.