Costco Frozen Normandy Vegetables Review
Author’s Note: These are my own frosty opinions. This is an unpaid and unbiased review. I have no affiliation with Costco. P.S., yes, that’s an empty bag in this picture. Less bulbous. You’re welcome.
No frumpy freezer food.
I eat these Kirkland frozen Organic Normandy Vegetables from Costco almost weekly. In fact, many of my “meal” pictures have included a serving of these veggies on the side. They’re not the cheapest way to get frozen vegetables (read my guide to shopping at Aldi for other veggie options), but they’re better. And sometimes better is just worth it.
What I like about Costco’s frozen veggies is how big and fresh the pieces are. There are large florets of broccoli and cauliflower, with neatly trimmed stems. And no crappy bits of orphaned stalks diluting the mix! Whole baby carrots and huge diagonal-sliced yellow carrots give a pop of color and sweetness.
When cooked, these veggies don’t resemble frumpy freezer food at all. It looks like scratch-made vegetables, or restaurant food. Very respectable. Personally, the yellow carrots are my favorites — they make the whole mix look much more sophisticated. Whereas some brands of frozen carrots have a weird texture, these do not. They cook up to taste a lot like fresh carrots.
How do I use my Kirkland Frozen Normandy Vegetables?
I typically eat these as a side dish with a protein, like fish or chicken. My preferred cooking method is to sauté in a little butter in a ceramic skillet on the stove.
This is pan-cooked Orca Bay Keta Salmon, also purchased at Costco, with some fresh basil from my garden. There’s a bed of curried Greek yogurt underneath.
I cook my veggies until they’re slightly seared/browned, and tender inside. This takes 6-10 minutes, depending on the volume. I salt and pepper them lightly, and add a sprinkled of garlic powder at the end (it burns if you add it too soon).
Alternatively, you can keep the lid on pan with a tablespoon (or two) of water inside, and just steam the vegetables, which will result in something like this (those are Amylu Cranberry Jalapeno Meatballs, FYI):
Ingredients in Costco Normandy Blend Frozen Vegetables
Here are the ingredients from the label:
- Organic Broccoli Florets
- Organic Cauliflower Florets
- Organic Baby Carrots
- Organic Yellow Carrots
Did you know baby carrots are made from deformed, unsalable “normal-sized” carrots? According to this article, they whittle down the ugly carrots until they look like smooth little baby carrots. And then sell them to us. I don’t think I’m mad, tho. Get in my belly, tasty infantile carrots!
More information from the label:
- Kosher
- No Preservatives
- USDA Organic / Certified Organic by Oregon Tilth
- “Excellent source of Vitamins A & C”
Nutrition Facts
A serving is 1 cup (122 grams) and contains a meager 35 calories. There are 0 grams of fat and 3 grams of protein. You also get 7 grams of carbohydrates, of which 3 are fiber and 3 are sugars. There are no added sugars. There’s a surprising 6% of your daily value of both iron and potassium, and only 2% of your daily sodium.
Price and Servings
Each 5.5 pound bag costs $10.89 at my local store. Per pound, this is $1.98. Since there are 20 servings per bag, each serving is about 55 cents.
Although this isn’t a HUGE savings (compared to other store-brand frozen vegetables), it’s a decent price for ORGANIC vegetables. And, a fair price for the unusually high quality.
This is a “Kirkland Signature” (Costco store-brand) product, and the item# is: 694466.
Cooking Instructions
I absolutely do not follow these official cooking instructions from the bag, but here they are:
- Stovetop: “Use 1/4 cup water for every cup of frozen vegetables. Bring water to a boil. Place frozen vegetables in boiling water. Bring to a second boil. Cover and simmer to preferred texture.”
- Microwave: “Put 2-4 cups of frozen vegetables in a covered microwave-safe casserole dish with 2 tablespoons water. Microwave on high or maximum power for 4 minutes (because of differences in microwave ovens, heating times may vary). Drain and season to taste.”
Dramatic Conclusion
I’ve bought these frozen Normandy Vegetables on repeat since joining Costco 3 years ago. They’re a good staple to have on hand. Although they aren’t an eye-popping savings (especially for how much you have to purchase at once), they’re overall very good quality. On my highly scientific “Awesome-o-Meter,” these score a “Yaaas.”
The End.
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