Snackable, sharable, and guaranteed to make you thirsty, chicken wings are thequintessential sports bar food.
And there’s arguably no better place to stock up on wings than Costco.
A hefty 3.2-pound tray set me back $20.77 at my local warehouse.
Chris Shott for Eat This, Not That!
The skin, in particular, looked soft and squishya condition likely worsened from steaming inside its plastic container.
The taste: Not bad but a bit too soggy for my liking.
I liked the balanced flavor of the seasoning.
Chris Shott for Eat This, Not That!
Both the garlic and red pepper made their presence felt but neither overpowered the other.
The meat was tender and moist, but that swampy skin spoiled everything for me.
Even reheating in the air fryer back home failed to crispen it up much.
Chris Shott for Eat This, Not That!
Yes, they’re essentially the same wings from the deli, just uncooked.
(Comparing the listed ingredients confirmed this.)
A whopping 5-pound package cost me $17.48 at the warehouse.
Chris Shott for Eat This, Not That!
The look: Big and bathed in garlic.
Cooked in the air fryer for about 25 minutes, the dressed wings took on a visibly bumpy crust.
The taste: Intensely garlicky.
Chris Shott for Eat This, Not That!
Though quite potent taste-wise, the texture left a lot to be desired.
Customers have beenraving about the Foster Farms brand, in particular.
One fan on Reddit boldly described these as the"best wings I ever bought.
Chris Shott for Eat This, Not That!
Not everyone loves the accompanyingClassic Buffalo-flavored sauce, however, so I was interested to try them for myself.
The taste: Bright, acidic, and spicy.
These wings had a nice crisp first bite and the tender meat pulled easily off the bone.
Chris Shott for Eat This, Not That!
Still, two other varieties impressed me more.
A 4-pound bag cost me $12.97 at my local warehouse.
The look: Super crispy.
Chris Shott for Eat This, Not That!
You notice the caramelization as soon as these wings come out of the air fryer.
They’re perfectly golden brown and just begging for you to take a bite.
The taste: Salty and pungent.
Chris Shott for Eat This, Not That!
But, beyond the taste, the best thing about these wings is the crunch factor.
They were by far the crispiest samples in this survey.
The crackle upon each bite proved immensely satisfying, both on the teeth and the ears.
Chris Shott for Eat This, Not That!
The only thing lacking with these wings was heat.
One fan on Reddit, in fact, called the barbecue flavor “top tier.”
The look: Small but mighty enticing.
Chris Shott for Eat This, Not That!
The taste: Tangy, smoky, and sweet with the perfect amount of heat.
