Not a stupic quesiton at all. Here's a long explaniation...
http://www.virtualweberbullet.com/brisketselect.html
The inportant part in all that is this...
[font=Arial,Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif]The flat is just that: Sort of a flat, rectangular piece of meat that makes up the majority of the whole brisket. This is the portion that is
sliced across the grain and served on a plate or in a sandwich. You've probably seen the flat in the meat case at the supermarket, separated from the point and with most fat removed, ready for braising in the oven.[/font]
[font=Arial,Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif]The point is a lump of meat that partially overlaps one end of the flat. It is quite fatty on its surface as well as within the meat. It also contains a lot of connective tissue between the meat fibers. It can be sliced, but its loose texture after cooking makes it a better choice for
chopped brisket sandwiches or
burnt ends.[/font]
[font=Arial,Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif]The flat and point are separated by a very thick vein of fat running between them. This fat extends over the entire surface of the flat, becoming thinner at the end opposite the point. This layer of fat is sometimes referred to as the "fat cap". Thick fat may also wrap around one edge of the brisket flat, especially near the point.[/font]
[font=Arial,Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif]From an anatomical perspective, the brisket flat is the "deepest" portion of meat and is attached to the rib cage, while the brisket point sits on top of the flat and is nearest the surface.[/font]
[font=Arial,Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif]Still confused about what's the flat and what's the point? Here's an easy way to orient yourself to a whole brisket: One side of the brisket has a large area with essentially no fat on it. With the fat-free side facing down, the flat is on the bottom and the point is facing up at the high end of the brisket.[/font]
