By CostcoFan | Updated May 2026
Lusamerica Seafood Boil | Wild Dungeness Crab, Shrimp, Mussels, Clams, Red Potatoes, Corn, Spice Packet | $11.99/lb | Pre-cooked, Ready in 6 Minutes
I posted a 10-second video about this seafood boil at Costco and it started a war. Hundreds of comments, thousands of shares, and one question that divided the internet: is $11.99/lb worth it for a pre-made seafood boil? Some people loved the convenience. Others did the math and walked away. Here’s everything you need to know to decide for yourself.
This article contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, CostcoFan earns from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.
What’s in the Bag
This isn’t a frozen bag of shrimp with a seasoning packet. It’s a complete seafood boil with everything you’d expect at a restaurant:
Wild Dungeness crab sections — This is the headliner and the most expensive component in the bag. Wild Dungeness crab alone runs $15-20/lb at most grocery stores and fish markets. The fact that it’s included at $11.99/lb total weight is what makes this product worth a closer look.
Cooked shrimp — Shell-on, ready to eat after reheating.
Cooked mussels — In shell, pre-cooked.
Cooked clams — In shell, pre-cooked.
Red potatoes — Small red potatoes, the standard for any seafood boil.
Corn on the cob — Cut sections, ready to boil.
Spice packet — Cajun-style seasoning for the boiling water and finishing dust.
Everything comes pre-cooked in a sealed bag. You’re not cooking raw seafood — you’re reheating it using a staged boiling method that takes 6 minutes total.
The Price: Is $11.99/lb Actually a Good Deal?
This is where it gets interesting. The packages typically weigh 4-5 lbs, putting your total at roughly $48-60 per bag. That number makes some people flinch. But the math tells a different story when you break it down.
Wild Dungeness crab alone costs $15-20/lb at most seafood counters. Shrimp (shell-on, cooked) runs $8-12/lb. Mussels are $4-6/lb. Clams are $6-9/lb. If you bought each component separately at your local grocery store, you’d spend significantly more per pound for just the seafood — before adding potatoes, corn, and seasoning.
The real value proposition isn’t price per pound of total weight — it’s price per pound compared to buying each seafood component separately and factoring in prep time.
That said, the corn and potatoes are included in the per-pound pricing, and they’re the cheapest components in the bag. A few ears of corn and some red potatoes add weight without adding much cost. The seafood is doing the heavy lifting on value. The vegetables are along for the ride.
The Convenience Factor
This is where this product separates from buying everything separately:
Total cook time: 6 minutes. That’s not an exaggeration. Everything is pre-cooked. You’re reheating using a staged boiling method — potatoes go in first, then crab and corn at the 2-minute mark, then shrimp, clams, and mussels at the 5-minute mark. Drain at 6 minutes. Done.
Zero prep required. No cleaning crab, no deveining shrimp, no scrubbing mussels, no shucking clams. Open the bag, separate the components, boil in stages, eat.
No grocery list. One product, one purchase, one trip to Costco. The alternative is visiting a seafood counter for crab, a different section for shrimp, finding mussels and clams (which many grocery stores don’t even carry consistently), buying potatoes and corn, and then buying seasoning. That’s a multi-stop, multi-department shopping experience versus grabbing one bag.
Minimal cleanup. One pot. That’s it.
Can you make a bigger, cheaper, more customized seafood boil from scratch? Absolutely. But it’ll take you an hour of shopping, 30-60 minutes of prep, and you’ll dirty up half your kitchen. This product exists for the nights when you want Dungeness crab, shrimp, mussels, and clams on the table in under 10 minutes.
How to Cook It
The cooking instructions come from Lusamerica, the company that produces the seafood boil. Follow these steps for the best results:
Pot setup: Fill a large pot with about 6 quarts of water. Add the spice packet (save 1-2 teaspoons for finishing). Add salt to taste. Bring to a full boil.
Staged cooking timeline:
- 0:00 — Add potatoes. Cook for 6 minutes total.
- 2:00 — Add corn and Dungeness crab sections. Cook for 4 more minutes.
- 5:00 — Add clams, mussels, and shrimp. Cook for 1 minute only.
- 6:00 — Drain immediately. Do not let the seafood sit in water.
Finishing: Dust with reserved spice packet. Drizzle with melted butter if desired. Toss and adjust salt.
The staged approach is important — if you throw everything in at once, the shrimp and mussels will overcook while the potatoes are still hard. Follow the timeline and everything comes out perfectly.
How Many Does It Feed?
A 4.5 lb bag comfortably feeds 2 adults as a full meal. If you add sides — garlic bread, cornbread, a simple salad, or extra corn — you can stretch it to 3-4 people.
Keep in mind that roughly 40-45% of the total weight is shells and inedible parts (crab shells, mussel shells, clam shells, corn cobs). So a 4.5 lb bag yields roughly 2 lbs of actual edible food. That’s generous for 2, adequate for 3 with sides, and light for 4 unless you’re supplementing.
Suggested sides to stretch the meal:
- Garlic bread or toasted baguette (essential for soaking up the seasoned broth)
- Cornbread
- Coleslaw or cucumber tomato salad
- Watermelon and feta salad (sweet-salty contrast with the spice)
The “I Can Make It Cheaper” Debate
Can you build your own seafood boil for less than $11.99/lb? Yes. Multiple experienced home cooks have confirmed they can assemble a larger batch for $60-75 by sourcing ingredients separately.
Here’s what that actually requires: a trip to a seafood counter (or multiple stores depending on availability), selecting and cleaning the crab, deveining shrimp if applicable, scrubbing mussels and clams, buying potatoes, corn, and seasoning separately, cooking everything from scratch with proper timing, and cleaning multiple prep surfaces and a large pot.
If you enjoy that process, do it. If you have the time, the knowledge, and access to a good seafood counter, you’ll get a bigger batch with more customization for roughly the same total cost.
But those are big “ifs.” This product exists for the person who wants Dungeness crab on a Tuesday night without a grocery list and a 2-hour cook. Different products for different situations. Both are valid.
The “Just Go to a Restaurant” Argument
A comparable seafood boil at a restaurant runs $80-120+ for 2 people. Add tip (20%), drinks ($10-20), parking, and gas — and you’re easily looking at $120-150 for the same amount of food. In sweats. At home. With no reservation and no wait.
Regional pricing varies. Some areas have affordable local spots that compete closely with this price point. But for most people in most markets, $48-60 for a restaurant-quality seafood boil at home is meaningfully cheaper than dining out.
Availability
This seafood boil is produced by Lusamerica, a seafood company based in San Jose, CA. It’s available at select Costco locations — primarily in California and western states. Availability varies by store and by season.
If your local Costco doesn’t carry it, check the seafood section on your next visit or ask the seafood counter. Costco rotates specialty items frequently, and what’s available one week may not be there the next.
Multiple shoppers from outside California have asked about availability in their region — Nashville, New York, Florida, Texas. As of May 2026, the product appears to be primarily distributed on the West Coast. If it shows up at your Costco, consider it a limited opportunity.
Calorie and Nutrition Breakdown (Estimated)
For the full 4.5 lb bag:
- Total calories: Roughly 1,200-1,600
- Edible seafood meat: ~500-700 calories (high protein, low fat)
- Potatoes: ~150-200 calories
- Corn: ~75-100 calories
- Spice packet/oil: ~100-200 calories
Per person (split 2 ways): ~600-800 calories Per person (split 3 ways): ~400-530 calories
The seafood itself is lean protein. Dungeness crab, shrimp, mussels, and clams are all low in fat and high in protein and omega-3s. The calorie count only jumps significantly if you add melted butter for dipping — 2 tablespoons of butter adds roughly 200 calories.
For a complete meal that includes crab, shrimp, and shellfish, this is a reasonable calorie range that fits most dietary approaches.
The Bottom Line
At $11.99/lb, the Costco Lusamerica Seafood Boil isn’t the cheapest way to eat seafood. You’re paying for convenience, pre-portioned ingredients, and 6-minute cook time. The corn and potatoes add weight to the price-per-pound calculation, and experienced home cooks can build a bigger batch for less money.
But for the person who wants wild Dungeness crab, shrimp, mussels, and clams on the table in under 10 minutes with zero prep and one pot to clean, this delivers. No grocery list, no seafood counter negotiations, no deveining shrimp at 7 PM on a weeknight. Open, boil, eat.
Is it worth $48-60 per bag? If you value your time and want restaurant-quality seafood at home without the work — yes. If you’d rather source everything yourself and cook from scratch — you’ll get more food for the same money.
Different products for different people. Both are valid.
Make Your Own Seafood Boil: Essential Gear on Amazon
If you want to build your own from scratch (and save some money doing it), here’s the gear you need:
Creole Feast 60 Qt. Seafood Boil Pot with Basket and Propane Burner on Amazon → The #1 best seller in outdoor fryers. 60 qt pot with strainer basket, 100,000 BTU propane burner, and 10 PSI regulator. Everything you need for a full-size outdoor boil.
20-Pack Crab Crackers and Tools Set,Seafood Boil Party Supplies Includes 6 Crab Crackers, 6 Lobster Shellers, 6 Crab Leg Forks/Picks and 2 Seafood Scissors & Black Storage Bag – Nut Cracker Set → Crab crackers, lobster forks, and picks. Essential for getting every piece of meat out of those Dungeness crab legs.
OLD BAY Seasoning, 16 oz → The classic seafood boil seasoning. 24 oz container lasts through multiple boils.
Crab Print Paper Table Cover 100 Ft. on Amazon → Cover your table, dump the boil, eat with your hands, roll it all up and throw it away. The authentic seafood boil experience.
(As an Amazon Associate, CostcoFan earns from qualifying purchases.)
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This article contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, CostcoFan earns from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. CostcoFan is not affiliated with Costco Wholesale Corporation or Lusamerica Foods.
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