Tilapia at Costco

What is Tilapia?

Tilapia sometimes gets a bad rap, because they’re commonly thought of as “bottom feeders.” According to thehealthyfish.com, tilapia actually feed around the mid-level of the water in the wild and occasionally feed on the bottom, if they can’t find food. In the case of the tilapia at Costco, where they feed isn’t really an issue, because they’re farm-raised.

After doing some research, I found out that farm raised tilapia were fed a vegetarian diet. However, many online articles mentioned the poor practices of some farms, particularly ones located in China. Healthline.com had a good summary of the good and bad of farmed tilapia.

It should be noted that the packaging for the Kirkland Costco Tilapia indicated that the fish was farm raised in Indonesia and “raised without antibiotics.”

I wanted to present this information, because I think it’s important for individual consumers to decide whether foods are right for them. Keep reading for the nutrition information, cooking instructions, and shopping details for the Kirkland Signature Farm Raised Tilapia Loins.

Nutrition Information for Tilapia at Costco

See below for the nutrition facts on the back of the packaging for the frozen tilapia loins:

Cooking Instructions

The package indicated that you should thaw your fish for 8 to 10 hours in the refrigerator, prior to cooking. You can bake, grill, or saute the fish.

I chose to fry 3 loins in a pan with a little olive oil, garlic, and onions. I also sprinkled Old Bay seasoning, salt, and pepper on the fish for added flavor.

The tilapia was extremely easy to cook. I cooked it on the stove top at medium heat. It took 6-7 minutes of cooking on each side of the fish. I could tell when it was done, because it started to flake when I poked my spatula with it.

I plated with with vegetables for a quick and easy dinner.

Shopping Information and Notes

• The package of frozen, farm-raised tilapia loins was $18.49. It came with 3 lbs of fish, individually wrapped.
• You must keep it in the freezer, until you’re ready to thaw and cook.
• Cooked fast, and preparation was easy.
• I liked the flavor. It didn’t have a “fishy” taste. You could probably add your own seasonings or flavors, and it would adapt really well.
• Good source of protein at 21 grams per serving.
• If you’re looking for other seafood proteins, check out Trident Salmon Burgers from Costco.