7 Best And 3 Worst Salmon Products You Can Buy At Costco

Salmon might be one of the most hotly debated items in your Costco haul. Some customers swear by the Kirkland Signature fresh farmed Altantic salmon fillet. Others won't touch anything that isn't wild-caught sockeye. Everyone has their reasons. Farmed is fattier and more forgiving to cook. Wild tastes more like actual salmon. Farmed is dyed. Wild is too fishy. Then there's the question of fresh vs. frozen — some Costco shoppers think the freezer case has the better deal.

Every trip to the warehouse means countless decisions, and Costco gives you plenty of salmon products to choose from. You'll find everything from skin-on whole sides and prepared, ready-to-bake fillets to canned salmon, smoked salmon, salmon burgers, and individually wrapped portions for busy weeknights. Whichever you pick, this rich pink-red fish deserves a regular spot in your meal plan. A 3.5-ounce serving of cooked salmon packs 22 to 25 grams of protein, along with heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA), vitamin B12, vitamin D, and selenium. 

The catch? Salmon prices keep going up, even at Costco. We combed through the customer reviews and social media chatter to discover Costco's best and worst salmon products.

Prices are as of the date of publication and may vary by warehouse location. 

Canned salmon doesn't get as much attention as those big, beautiful fillets, but this pantry staple still boasts a big fan base. On Costco's website, the Kirkland Signature Wild Alaskan Pink Salmon holds an impressive 4.7 stars from more than 1,500 reviews, with customers praising the product's versatility.

"The mild taste of this pink salmon make[s] it an excellent replacement for canned tuna," wrote one Costco member. "I like to mix one can with one egg, some finely diced onion and jalapeno to make salmon patties fried in olive oil. They are simply delicious." Others turned to the boneless, skinless flakes of salmon for tasty tacos, salads, and pasta bakes. "I now can easily include healthy salmon dishes on my menu on a regular basis," shared another 5-star reviewer.

Over on Reddit, users were just as eager to share their Costco canned salmon recipes. Several mentioned easy "sushi bowls" piled with rice, avocado, edamame, cucumber, and seaweed. Another mixed the salmon with cream cheese to make grown-up grilled cheese sandwiches. Fully cooked and ready to eat, you can also eat canned salmon straight out of the tin.

Kirkland Signature Wild Alaskan Pink Salmon provides 80 calories and 17 grams of protein per serving — along with less mercury than canned tuna if that's a concern. Get a 6-pack of 6-ounce cans for $16.99 in the warehouse or $19.99 with 2-day delivery.

If cooking salmon makes you nervous, Kirkland Signature Salmon Milano eliminates some of the guesswork. This prepared Costco offering features three hefty portions of farm-raised Atlantic salmon, each topped with a generous pat of basil pesto butter and a sprig of fresh dill. It also comes ready-to-bake in an aluminum tray — just take off the plastic lid and slide into a 400-degree oven for about 25-30 minutes. 

"If you follow the instructions and cook it at the specified temperature using a thermometer, it comes out great, and I am not a big fan of salmon," shared one Redditor. Fellow members offered plenty of additional ideas, such as adding lemon pepper seasoning, more pesto sauce, or slices of lemon and garlic between the fillets. For foolproof, perfectly cooked salmon, one Redditor suggests: "Get containers with pieces of similar thickness."

You'll find Kirkland Signature Salmon Milano in the refrigerated deli case alongside other bake-and-eat favorites, like Costco's chicken pot pie and stuffed bell peppers. It costs around $15.99 per pound in the warehouse and a little more through Costco same-day delivery provided by Instacart.

Frozen salmon burgers can be hit or miss. Some are overly dry, mushy, or loaded with breadcrumbs, but Trident's version keeps things simple. These patties are made from whole fillets of sustainable, ocean-caught, Alaskan salmon and no added fillers. According to the package, they're lightly seasoned with onion, garlic powder, white pepper, rosemary extract, lemon juice, and mesquite smoke flavor. They also go straight from the freezer to your air fryer, skillet, or grill, since "thawing is not recommended."

Between Costco and Amazon, Trident Seafoods Alaskan Salmon Burgers has a solid 4.5-star rating from thousands of customers who appreciate a healthy, easy-to-prepare product. "I've been living off these for years," shared one Costco reviewer, who turns them into a one-pan dinner with frozen veggies, yellow curry, black pepper, and parmesan: "Voilà, dinner fit for a king." They've even won over some kids and salmon skeptics. "I personally don't care for eating a Salmon fillet, so I'm glad I found these Salmon Patties," wrote another. "I love them."

Over on Reddit, fans dress them up with toppings like dill sauce and capers or Bachan's Japanese BBQ sauce and pineapple. Each 4-ounce patty contains 170 calories, 20 grams of protein, and 1190 milligrams of omega-3 fatty acids. As one fan put it: They're "easy, tasty, and not a nutritional disaster (see: most Costco convenience food)." A 12-count bag of Trident Seafoods Alaskan Salmon Burgers sells for $19.79. 

At Costco, Foppen Norwegian Smoked Salmon Slices come in a 12-ounce pack with three delicious varieties: Traditional, dill, and pepper. There's a history of quality behind the brand, too. The Dutch Foppen family has been sourcing and crafting cold-smoked salmon on oak and beechwood since 1918. According to the package, this time-honored tradition gives the fish "its fine flavor with a delicate smoky taste." And that makes it a perfect pick for entertaining.

On Reddit, Foppen came highly recommended to serve with a spread and crackers. "I have had the Foppen at every app-related event I've hosted or brought something to and it is always a crowd pleaser," wrote one fan. "People who love smoked salmon, people who barely want to try it — they all go back for more."

Each pack of Foppen conveniently comes with a small packet of honey mustard dill sauce for serving the kosher, ready-to-eat smoked salmon on croissants, bagels, or baguettes. For a more elegant party platter, the back of the package also includes a simple recipe for "salmon carpaccio" with baby arugula leaves. Reviewers say the sauce is flavorful but sweet, so drizzle it on top with care. Find Foppen Norwegian Smoked Salmon in Costco's refrigerated deli case for $13.99. 

For wild salmon fans, Copper River season is the most wonderful time of the year. Featured in The Takeout's salmon expert buying guide, these coveted Alaskan fish swim about 300 miles up the icy Copper River to spawn, so they've evolved to carry extra fat for the journey. That result is deep red flesh, a thick, meaty texture, and a rich buttery flavor you won't find in an everyday Costco salmon.

"Copper River is the bomb," wrote one Redditor. "I make and eat a lot of salmon ranging from Farmed Atlantic to Wild King and all sorts in between. Copper River is the best, hands down." Other Costco members agree, saying they grab the fillets whenever they're available. Over on Facebook, one Costco member encouraged another shopper to try it, noting, "It tastes VERY different," from Costco's other fresh salmon options.

Copper River salmon is a highly regulated wild fish with a short harvest window, so prices vary greatly by location and season. In past years, Kirkland Signature Copper River Sockeye Salmon has been spotted for $12.99 per pound on the low end and up to $18.99 or $19.99 per pound on the high end. Look for it in late May or June — it usually lands in Pacific Northwest warehouses first. As one enthusiastic Redditor suggested, "Just get it at Costco, it's such a great deal."

Fresh fish isn't always better than frozen, and this Costco freezer staple proves it. Kirkland Signature Farmed Atlantic Salmon has such a loyal following that one fan on Reddit went looking for a dupe closer to home: "ITS SO GOOD and I can't keep driving an hour+ just for this bag of salmon!"

Convenience is the key. The 6- to 8-ounce center-cut portions are individually wrapped so you can thaw just what you need — and some customers skip that step altogether. "If you want to pan sear it, then you will have to thaw it, otherwise you can just pop it in the oven," explained one Redditor. "I ... make a mayonnaise based topping ... then pop it in the oven at 425f for 25ish minutes. Comes out amazing."

The mild flavor has won over families and picky eaters, too. "These are the only ones I find don't have an awful fish taste," shared one fan on Facebook. Another customer raved, "I find it to be great quality. Never had an issue with bones ... the best price for quantity and our kids love it!" She even ends up with leftovers for lunches.

With 41 grams of protein per serving, Kirkland Signature Farm Raised Atlantic Salmon can help you get a healthy dinner on the table any night of the week. The 3-pound bag costs $33.49 at Costco. 

The Foppen variety pack is our party pick, but Kirkland Signature Smoked Salmon is the one to stock up on for everyday eating. You get two 12-ounce packs of plain farmed-raised salmon that are pre-sliced, boneless, skinless, and ready for your fixings. 

According to the back of the product package, this mild, delicate fish is raised in the cold waters of Norway, then crafted with a traditional, long-smoke process over a blend of European hardwoods. One Redditor suggests you "Freeze one, enjoy the second package over bagels with cream cheese, red onion, lettuce, tomato, and a sprinkle of capers every single day until it's gone." But bagels are just the beginning. Fold the slices into scrambled eggs, whip up a quick 2-ingredient dip, or add smoked salmon to your next homemade pizza with some creamy Boursin, ricotta, or brie.  

Kirkland Signature Smoked Salmon costs $21.99, reflecting an ongoing price increase. One Redditor insists "this is by far still the best smoked salmon for the price," adding that "it freezes and then thaws beautifully. Just as creamy, salty and buttery as it is when you open the package."

"Wild Alaskan" sounds promising, but this freezer-case salmon hasn't garnered many fans. On Costco's website, remorseful buyers have noted Morey's Seasoned Grill salmon is made from wild keta, a cheaper, leaner, milder species that doesn't have the rich flavor of sockeye or king. Each fillet also comes pre-seasoned in a coating of canola and olive oils, dehydrated spices, and smoke and grill flavor.

That "horrendous" and "overwhelming" marinade seems to be the source of most complaints. "I can't imagine why anyone would want their salmon to taste like this," wrote one Costco member. "Even after wiping as much of the marinade/sauce away, I could barely taste the salmon. Waay too salty." Other customers report poor packaging, different-sized pieces, and issues with bones. "Non stop bones," shared one disappointed customer. "I found about 10 bones in 1 small piece of salmon. Unacceptable!"

While Morey's Wild Alaskan Salmon Seasoned Grill boasts a seemingly respectable 3.4-star rating and a few shoutouts on Reddit, most reviewers seem to agree with one Costco shopper: "Skip this and buy a package of something you can see." A 36-ounce box of six fillets will cost you $28.99 at Costco stores.

Kinder's seasonings have a loyal following, so pairing the Buttery Steakhouse blend with salmon sounds like a surefire win. Sadly, this Inland Market product is one of Costco's most talked-about letdowns. The 33-ounce box holds six individually wrapped fillets of farm-raised mild coho salmon from Chile, each dusted with Kinder's seasoning and topped off with a pat of butter.

Costco shoppers haven't been impressed by the combination. In a viral Reddit thread, one user said the seasoning "left an aftertaste in my mouth all day and my house smells horrible. I don't think it qualifies as food." The post earned nearly 700 upvotes, with other members chiming in to complain about the artificial butter taste. One customer suspected the heavy seasoning was just an attempt to cover up the real issue: "Mediocre farmed fish."

Inland Market Kinder's Buttery Steakhouse Salmon does have a few defenders who like how quickly it cooks in the air fryer. Most shoppers would rather spend their $19.99 on plain salmon and season it themselves.

Kirkland Signature Wild Caught Alaskan Sockeye Salmon used to be a freezer favorite, but a closer look at recent reviews tells a different story. "This [is] my second time buying this in store and it's still extremely dry tasting no matter how much I try to marinate them," wrote one reviewer on Costco's website. "The positive reviews are from several years ago so perhaps something has changed within the last year via sourcing." 

Longtime buyers have noticed the drop in quality, too. "Been buying these for years for meal prep for work lunches but brought home a bag today where the portions are significantly skinnier than the past bags," lamented a customer. Others complained about bones and inconsistent portions with faded color and mushy texture. One particularly frustrated shopper tried broiling, pan-searing, baking, poaching, and grilling the fillets and nothing worked: "No amount of marinade or technique could overcome how bad this fish is."

No one wants to come home with three pounds of disappointment, especially at this price. A bag of Kirkland Signature Wild Alaskan Salmon currently costs $44.99 in the warehouse. It still carries an overall 4.2-star rating on Costco's website, but one reviewer went so far as to say this "Absolutely TASTELESS ... and Awful" salmon should be discontinued.

For this roundup of best and worst salmon products at Costco, we focused on what customers are actually saying. We started with ratings and reviews on Costco.com, giving more weight to products with large review counts and consistently high or low scores. Next we read through social media posts on Reddit and Facebook, where Costco regulars openly share their praise and disdain for recently purchased products. 

Costco sells many more salmon products than are featured here. We skipped attaching a best or worst label on the most divisive items (including the Kirkland Signature Wild Sockeye Salmon Fillet and Kirkland Signature Atlantic Blackened Salmon). Instead we looked for patterns. If a product kept getting compliments for flavor, texture, convenience, or value, it went on the best list. But, if shoppers repeatedly brought up the same complaints, the product ended up on the worst list. 

Keep in mind salmon availability and price may vary by store location, and at the end of your long Costco receipt, the best salmon product is the one you enjoy eating. On Reddit, one customer wrote: "It's wild in here seeing so many disparate responses. Wild tastes better; farm tastes better. Wild is too fishy smelling; farmed smells nasty. Wild has parasites; farmed has bad dyes/antibiotics/etc. I guess everyone kinda has to find out what they like best through trial and error on this one."