Costco food platters are a great option if you’re expecting company and need to provide a large amount of food. However, if you haven’t purchased a Costco platter before, you may have some reservations about the quality.
15 Things to Know Before Buying Costco Platters
1. Order Costco Platters as Part of the Company’s Catering Service
If you go into the store and ask about it at the deli, Costco has an entire catering menu. These platters form a popular part of the menu, which features many other items, including favorites from the food court.
2. There Are Six Costco Platters to Choose From
Costco platters come in six varieties, with something for everyone. The main platters are as follows:
- Croissant Sandwich Platter (choose from chicken, roast beef or ham)
- Chicken & Swiss Rollers
- Shrimp Platter
- Meat & Cheese Platter
- Sushi Platter
- Chicken Wing Platter
Mind you, depending on what market (or country) you’re in, the names might look a little different. For example, outside the U.S., shrimps are known as “prawns.”
3. Your Costco Platters Are Designed to Feed a Crowd
Let’s look at how much food you’re getting with each platter:
- Croissant Sandwich Platter: feeds 16-20 people
- Chicken & Swiss Rollers Platter: feeds 20-24 people
- Shrimp Platter: feeds 20-24 people
- Meat & Cheese Platter: feeds 16-20 people
- Sushi Platter: 50 pieces of sushi
- Chicken Wing Platter: feeds 15 people
4. Costco Platters Are Priced Right for Your Party
Costco wouldn’t be Costco if it didn’t impress you with both the vast quantities of food on each platter as well as the jaw-dropping cheap prices, such as the following:
- Croissant Sandwich Platter- $29.99
- Chicken & Swiss Rollers Platter- $29.99.
- The Shrimp Platter- $39.99.
- Meat & Cheese Platter- $26.99.
- Sushi Platter in the U.S.- $24.99
- Chicken Wing Platter- $12
When you compare the platter prices to other grocery stores, they make you wonder why anyone would order their party food anywhere else.
For example, the Cooked Sushi Favorites Tray from Wegmans, a popular mid-Atlantic chain, costs $60, compared to Costco’s $24.99.
The real kicker is that, while you do get more pieces in Wegmans’ platter, you only get eight more. The comparable Favorites Combo Tray, a sandwich platter from Wegmans, feeds 18-20 people and costs a whopping $74.
Additionally, the Chicken & Swiss Platter from Costco also feeds an extra four-person family yet costs $40 less.
5. Ordering Costco Platters Is Easy
To order a Costco platter, you must stop inside your local warehouse and pick up an order form (or speak to an associate).
To place an order, fill out the form and then drop it into the Party Platter Order box. If you have any questions, ask an associate for further assistance.
6. You Can’t Order Costco Platters Online
Like Costco sheet cakes, this company doesn’t take platter orders online. Rather, they can only be done via order form or speaking with an associate. I
n fact, there is very little indication on Costco’s website at all that catering services are offered.
7. Give Your Costco Platters At Least 24 Hours to Be Prepared
It’s considered good form to give Costco at least 24 hours to prepare your party platter, but even better if you give them two days’ notice.
Depending on how many platters you’re ordering, what type of platter(s), and the volume of orders that your store is handling, the extra time is appreciated.
This also ensures that your Costco platter(s) receive the care and attention they require.
8. Because Costco Platters Are Made Fresh
At Costco, you won’t receive any stale bread or expired meats, nor anything that was once frozen and has been thawed.
According to a commenter on an article addressing Costco platters, “Everything in the deli, bakery and food court are made fresh daily.”
Therefore, you can count on fresh bread, meats and cheeses, in addition to the great prices.
9. Costco Platters Featuring Fruits and Vegetables Are Available Without Ordering
If you’re serving a meal to vegetarian or vegan friends, or you just want to offer a healthier counterpoint to wings and sandwiches, you can also pick up fruit and veggie trays at Costco.
These trays are pre-cut and prepackaged in the deli section that come in four-pound (veggies) and three-pound (fruit) servings. The fruit platter costs $10.99 and the vegetable tray costs $10.79.
While you don’t have to order these trays ahead of time, you do have to count on availability, so it’s recommended to stop in and pick them up a day or two ahead.
10. The Best Deals on Costco Platters Are…
According to The Kitchn, there are two stand-out platters among the six. Those are the famous pinwheel platters (a.k.a. Chicken & Swiss Rollers) and the Meat & Cheese Platter.
In the author’s opinion, the pinwheel platter is the most delicious, while the Meat & Cheese platter is the best deal.
11. You Might Think Twice About These Costco Platters
That same Kitchn writer also thinks customers should think twice about the shrimp platter and the croissant platter, because for customers who love shrimp, that platter is worth it for the convenience and volume alone.
12. You Can Find Many Individual Items From Costco Platters in the Deli
What if you don’t think one platter is enough for your party, but you think a second platter would be too much?
All of the items sold in the Costco platters are also available individually, like croissant sandwiches, pinwheels and sushi.
You can simply supplement your trays with a few individual items as well.
13. There Is Some Nutritional Info for Costco Platters Available
If you’d like to know the nutritional value of these platters for reference, you can find some of the Costco platter nutritional information here.
The only nutritional information available at this time is for the wings platter, where a serving constitutes 1/14th of the tray and constitutes 210 calories per serving.
14. Customers Really Enjoy Costco Platters
Overwhelmingly, reviews of Costco platters are quite positive, with customers praising the sheer volume and low prices, as well as the quality and taste.
“They are amazingly delicious and will keep a large group fed pretty well,” one Redditor shared.
“The roll-up sandwiches are my favorite!” a commenter on The Kitchn gushed. “I love love love them…”
15. Pair Your Costco Platters With a Sheet Cake, and You’ve Got a Party!
Save yourself time and money and purchase an affordable Costco sheet cake while you’re ordering your platters.
Costco really has become a one-stop party-shop destination, where you can get your sandwiches and snacks, as well as the sweets, all in one building.
To find out more, you can also see our posts on whether or not Costco makes wedding cakes, if Costco offers a senior discount, and things to know before buying a Costco membership.
