How to Choose a Brisket

Brisket Basics

A well-cooked low-and-slow brisket, rich and smoky, is a showstopper at any cookout. But half the battle in cooking a good brisket is knowing how to choose a brisket to buy. Not all briskets are the same, and brisket doesn't give you the wiggle room for error you have with pork butts and ribs.

Don't make the mistake of buying a small flat like they sell in the supermarket. Those are only good for the crock pot. Instead, go to Sam’s, Costco, or for a really good cut, go to your local butcher. What you want is a whole brisket, also known as a packer’s cut.

Whole briskets are bigger (10 pounds and up) and come from older cattle with more fat mixed into the muscle than younger, leaner cattle.

The whole brisket consists of two muscles—the flat (A) and the Point (B).

The grades found in the store are Select (junk), Choice (fine for most of us), and Prime (amazing if you know what you're doing and have a bigger budget).

To choose a quality brisket, follow these guidelines:

If you want to “blow your guests’ minds,” order a Waygu, the American equivalent to Japanese Kobe beef. We carry these and prime briskets in our barbecue supply store (availability varies).

What to Look for When You Choose a Brisket

You don't have to settle for what's displayed at the counter. If you don't like what you see there, ask the butcher to bring out a few more options. If a butcher isn't willing to do this, leave the store and find one that will. It's normal to need to look at a handful of briskets to find the right one.

Now you know how to choose a brisket! It's not that hard, and once you've done it a few times, you'll be able to do it automatically.

Impress your family and friends with meat that beats what you can get in the grocery stores. Here at Grillbillies BBQ, our freezers are packed with premium selections of popular cuts such as brisket, pork butts, ribeyes, hot dogs, bratwurst, bacon, and so much more.

Visit our store for carefully-sourced, high-grade meats you can cook with confidence. Your family and guests will thank you!