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Choosing a good brisket

Discussion in 'Beef' started by robkoff, Jul 26, 2005.

  1. Jul 26, 2005 #1
    robkoff

    robkoff Newbie

    League City, Texas
    This may be a stupid question but what do you look for when choosing the right brisket to buy. Do you want a trimmed brisket or one that has alot of fat?
     
  3. Jul 27, 2005 #2
    TulsaJeff

    TulsaJeff Smoke Whisperer Staff Member Administrator OTBS Member

    Tulsa, OK
    When I am picking out a brisket I look for about a quarter inch of nice white fat and a weight of less than 10 pounds.

    That fat cap will keep the brisket moist during that long, long smoke.

    I also like to balance the brisket on the side of my hand and see how much it flexes.. the one with the most flex is my pick because it will end up the most tender.
     
  4. Jul 27, 2005 #3
    ranger72

    ranger72 Meat Mopper OTBS Member

    great tip tulsajeff!


    I never knew that about identifying the most tender brisket out of the bunch.

    Thanks,
    ranger72
     
  5. Jul 30, 2005 #4
    senor harv

    senor harv Newbie

    Aguanga, Calif
    Jeff, when you are choosing your brisket, most of the time here anyway it is wrapped and on the bottom there's a styrofoam plate. How then can you get it to flex? I bet you have your own favorite butcher, Huh? Most times I'm at Costco or Albertsons.
     
  6. Jul 30, 2005 #5
    TulsaJeff

    TulsaJeff Smoke Whisperer Staff Member Administrator OTBS Member

    Tulsa, OK
    The briskets I buy are vacuum wrapped only in thin plastic.. no foam plate below it. I buy them from a local beef company.
     
  7. Jul 30, 2005 #6
    senor harv

    senor harv Newbie

    Aguanga, Calif
    No, I won't move to Oklahoma just for that, Ha!.
     
  8. Nov 11, 2005 #7
    larry maddock

    larry maddock Master of the Pit OTBS Member

    BOURBON,MISSOURI
    yo boss jeff,
    is that what they call a packer trimmed brisket??

    i luv this place---
     
  9. Nov 11, 2005 #8
    TulsaJeff

    TulsaJeff Smoke Whisperer Staff Member Administrator OTBS Member

    Tulsa, OK
    Yes, that is a packer trimmed brisket..
     
  11. Nov 12, 2005 #9
    willkat98

    willkat98 Smoking Fanatic OTBS Member

    I like the flats from Costco.

    Since it is one cut ( I believe the packer is 2 cuts in one cryo) I get consistent results.

    But thats just cuz I don't know packers. There's a whole school of thought on removing the point from the flat at X time or temp, and point in chili or beans or overcooked for additional burnt ends.

    I just never learned any of this, so I don't know how to cook packers.

    But flats! Give me an 8 pound flat from Costco and I can turn it into heaven.

    I mentioned in another thread, but to reiterate: turbinado (sp) sugar I add to the rub.

    In your grocer "Sugar In The Raw" is what its called.

    Higher burn point than processed sugars, so you get sweet, without burn. Sweet barky goodness
     
  12. Nov 12, 2005 #10
    larry maddock

    larry maddock Master of the Pit OTBS Member

    BOURBON,MISSOURI
    i hope Dutch can explain to me what the 2 cuts in packer package are??

    does he mean point and flat before butcher seperates??

    thank you
     
  13. Nov 12, 2005 #11
    brianj517

    brianj517 Master of the Pit OTBS Member SMF Premier Member

    Northeast Ohio
    Hi Larry,

    In answer to your question, Yes, the packer cut refers to the flat and point together in one cryovac package. They can sometimes be difficult to locate. There is a local wholesale club called BJ's near me that carries packers, but here at least, the Sams Club and Wally-World stock flats only.

    Cheers,
    Brian
     
  14. Nov 13, 2005 #12
    Dutch

    Dutch Smoking Guru Staff Member Administrator Group Lead OTBS Member OTBS Admin SMF Premier Member

    Midvale, UT
    Yep, that's a Packer's brisket. Some come as trimmed and some are untrimmed. The untrimmed one may be cheaper pound wise but you are also paying for a lot of waste. The timmed Packer as had most of the waste fat trimmed away and you pay a little more for it.
     
  16. Nov 14, 2005 #13
    soflaquer

    soflaquer Smoking Fanatic OTBS Member

    Stuart and Palm Beach, Florida
    I always use Excel Packer Briskets and have excellent results. If your feeding a small group, it's probably too much and you should go with a Flat or Point. When looking for a Full Packet Brisket, pick it up and bend it in half, end to end. It should do this with relative ease, if it doesn't, leave in the Meat case.

    Fat Cap DOWN, people! :lol:

    Jeff