sontavas
Newbie
I just found USDA Prime Packers at Costco for $3.99/lb, which is fantastic for here in Maryland. I usually pay around $5/lb for Choice Packers from a butcher.
Ditto. We prefer tri itp, which has been $3.50-$4.00 per pound this summer at our local restaurant supply.
I rarely buy brisket anymore, its an "over-glorified" piece of meat that isn't worth my hard earned money or time IMHO anyway. Unless I can get it real cheap![]()
I have had people check all those members stores near me here downriver. The prices at Costco here seem to be higher than what people in other areas claim to be. Here in metro Detroit.. like smokenAl said his were $1.99 one day.. in his part of Florida.. I had people check here.. it was $3.69 at our costco or Wal-Mart.. it's not same everywhereI've seen more smoking in the last few years than ever...I used to be the only guy in our little town 10 years ago, now there are several...however at least three were influenced by me.
That being said the Silver Lake Sand Dunes has an apple festival every fall and this will be about the 5th year it has hosted an official KCBA BBQ contest.
It is billed as one of the premiere KCBA events of the mid west.
I go every year and am leaving tomorrow am. to attend the event.
One of these years I'll get my stuff together well enough to enter the amature bracket.
Walt.
Yeah, of that I'm sure...
I'm more curious about the "prime" grade and availability.
The only grade I can have ever found locally is choice and after having a prime brisket at the fatty contest this year that was one of, it not the best "back yard" smoked briskets I've ever eaten I'm very interested in smoking prime grade meats.
Rock star said the only real difference in that one (which he agreed was great) and many others he or friends had smoked was the quality of the meat...
So my primary interest is "is it really prime" and is it regularly available.
The one I ate was clearly enough better in flavor to warrant even two bucks a pound more than GFS once in awhile.
Walt.
Exactly what I'm thinking...
Rock star said the one he smoked was almost a hundred bucks...
Don't remember how big it was but it wasn't a small one...if I had to guess I'd say 15lb minimum, so your $6.99/lb is right in there.
I just want a source in case I'm feeling particularly rich some weekend (or win the lotto...lol)
Walt.
I'm not sure...I always judge my meat by tenderness instead of temp with those cuts anyway. Not to say I ignore IT but when they get close it's all about probing for tenderness...if it ain't tender it ain't done regardless of temp...on the other hand when it's tender it's done regardless of temperature.
I had one brisket that was perfect at 185° and some that had to go to 205 or a little more.
The one at the contest was smoked at 220° for almost 30 hours and was still oozing juice.
Not sure, that's the price at my 2 local stores.