This Popular Costco Product Is Stirring up Controversy Online

Over the years, Costco shoppers have formed a community on social media, especially Reddit. The members regularly share their favorite prepared meals, product reviews, and helpful hacks that make the shopping experience even better. For instance, when customers found mold in their bottles of Costco maple syrup, many chimed in to reference the product’s recommended storage instructions. And when people had questions about the quality of Kirkland-branded bacon, members filled the comment section with similar experiences and advice on how to handle the issue.

Recently, one Redditor noticed a surprising detail about the heating instructions on one of the store’s fully cooked meat products, and users didn’t hold back their thoughts.

Kirkland Signature Smoked Pork Back Ribs

In a recent Reddit thread, users discussed Kirkland Signature Smoked Pork Back Ribs. While typically you might expect the conversation to focus on the product’s flavor, this time, it centered around the package’s heating instructions.

Under the recommended cooking instructions it reads “Keep product in packaging and place on an oven-safe tray.” You read that right—you can put the entire package, plastic included, in the oven. Given the recent spotlight on microplastics in the food industry, it’s no surprise that shoppers have strong feelings about this.

“I don’t care what they say, I’m not cooking food in plastic,” wrote one Reddit user. 

Many chimed in to share the alternative methods they use to prepare the smoked ribs. “They are delicious. Just take them out and cook in foil. Steams just the same. After [the ribs are] heated through, open foil and top with barbecue sauce and throw in broiler or on grill to finish off,” suggested one user.

While some prefer to remove the ribs from the plastic before cooking, others don’t mind using Costco’s suggested method. “I tried them following the directions and they came out great,” one commenter wrote.

And don’t worry, the plastic won’t melt in your oven. Similar to sous vide cooking, the ribs are likely packaged in a specific type of plastic that’s oven-safe and designed to withstand the designated cooking temperatures.

Even though members are torn over how to cook Costco’s ribs, one thing they can agree on is that they’re pretty darn tasty. So, be sure to try them for yourself to see if this product lives up to the hype.