When I had to move away from my treasured dumpling house, the frozen soup dumplings at Trader Joe’s quickly became a staple. The dumplings heat quickly in the microwave, making them a fast, easy option for a satisfying snack or small meal. I typically bought at least four packages at a time to have a steady supply. Then, about a year ago, I saw a much larger box of similar-looking soup dumplings at Costco. I was intrigued by the convenience and cost savings—and now they’re the only soup dumplings I buy.
Credit: Simply Recipes / Costco
Bibigo Steamed Soup Dumplings
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Price: $13.89 for 36 dumplings
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Why I Love It: I can pop the dumplings in the microwave for a two-minute meal with lots of savory beef flavor.
Why I Prefer Costco’s Soup Dumplings
Costco’s Bibigo Steamed Soup Dumplings are filled with beef, vegetables, and a Vietnamese pho-flavored broth. The filling is tender, and the broth itself is savory and aromatic. I love that the dumplings have that beef pho flavor, which is handy when I don’t have the time to make pho itself. When I need variety, I’ll swap out the beef pho soup dumplings for a similar package of frozen chicken and vegetable dumplings.
You can’t beat the convenience of Costco, either. Each box contains six individually packaged trays of six dumplings. Trader Joe’s soup dumplings also contain six dumplings apiece, but I’d have to buy six packages if I wanted 36 dumplings! To heat a mini-meal, I pop one tray in the microwave with the plastic wrapping still on (after cutting a small slit to vent), and heat for one to two minutes. I let them cool for about a minute, and they’re ready to eat, provided I’m cautious of the hot broth.
Because the dumplings are so quick to prepare, I usually have them right before running out the door when I know I need something more filling than a small snack, or on nights when I never got around to cooking dinner.
How Does the Cost Compare to Trader Joe’s?
The biggest reason I’ve turned to Costco’s soup dumplings is the significant savings. I still love the Trader Joe’s soup dumplings, but because I’m never going to buy just one package, the Costco option delivers better bang for my buck.
Costco’s steamed soup dumplings contain six individually packaged trays of six dumplings for about $15, which works out to $2.50 per tray. Just one tray of dumplings at Trader Joe’s costs about $3.50, so if I wanted to buy the same number of TJ’s dumplings, it’d cost me $6 more. Given how quickly my household goes through them, the savings add up!
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