When picking out a brisket do any of y'all take in the shape of the brisket as a deciding factor.
Reason I ask is I smoked up 2 briskets yesterday. Both where roughly 18 lbs before trimming. One was long and narrow width wise.
The other was much more compact. Shorter length, much wider and had a much thicker flat then the other one.
The compact one took about a hour or so longer to probe tender then the other one.
Served up both of them last night for a party we had yesterday down on the river.
The long,narrow one was good but with a side by side comparision the compact brisket kicked its butt as far as moist and tender. Both got rave reviews from the crowd but I could tell there was a big difference between the two of them.
Both the briskets where Costco primes.
I'm still just a rookie when it comes to smoking brisket. Did I just get lucky with the more compact brisket or do I need to start taking in the shape of the brisket when choosing
Oh btw...this was to be my entry in the throw down but....for reasons beyond my control a good photo never happened. That's for another thread...maybe
Bill
Shape of Brisket ?
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Re: Shape of Brisket ?
A good question indeed! The muscle groups will be the same on all briskets, but the animal and butchery of that animal also play a large factor to the end cut.
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Re: Shape of Brisket ?
I do as far as thickness goes. If the brisket is average size but the thickness is off the charts, I tend to not choose it. I try and get the same or close to same thickness when comparing the flat to the point. I try and look at the amount of fat as well since i'm most likely trimming some off. Other than that, smoke it, Q it and pass the napkins it's time to take a nap.
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Re: Shape of Brisket ?
If I could get bark like that, even I might try a brisket again - - - sorry bout the photo phail but you've still got time to get entered in the TD
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Re: Shape of Brisket ?
The shape doesn't concern me near as much as the thickness of the flat. I look for as thick and well marbled as possible and try to picture in my head what shape it will retain after trimming. If the edges of the flat are tapering down to less than an 1 1/2" or so I know I'll have to trim away quite a bit away to have a flat that wont burn up. Shaping so it is as aerodynamic as possible makes for an even'er (is that a word) cook. I don't throw the trimmings away, I smoke them too for a little snack along the way.
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Re: Shape of Brisket ?
I look for uniform thickness in the flat. The only time the shape concerns me, is at a comp. Then I use my knife to make it the shape I want it to be.
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Re: Shape of Brisket ?
outlaw wrote:The shape doesn't concern me near as much as the thickness of the flat. I look for as thick and well marbled as possible and try to picture in my head what shape it will retain after trimming. If the edges of the flat are tapering down to less than an 1 1/2" or so I know I'll have to trim away quite a bit away to have a flat that wont burn up. Shaping so it is as aerodynamic as possible makes for an even'er (is that a word) cook. I don't throw the trimmings away, I smoke them too for a little snack along the way.
What he said.
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Re: Shape of Brisket ?
Just because it is labeled prime doesn't mean it has the marbling a prime should have. I have seen choice briskets that should have been labeled prime and I have seen primes that should have been marked choice. The shape of the brisket has never really played a part in my selection unless I am choosing a competition brisket then I am looking at the marbling and how thick the flat is where I get my pieces from I do not worry about the whole flat too much just what I need.
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Re: Shape of Brisket ?
k.a.m. wrote:Just because it is labeled prime doesn't mean it has the marbling a prime should have.
The reasoning for this very notion is because the carcass grading is done in just a couple seconds, looking at a cut section between ribs 12 and 13. If it grades as prime here, the whole animal is stamped as such. Pretty lame if ya ask me..
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Re: Shape of Brisket ?
Whether I'm cooking at home or at a comp. I prefer a thicker flat. In both cases I trim fairly aggressive. And since I cook comps every now and then every brisket is sort of a practice brisket. The really nice briskets I find get put in the freezer.. for comps.
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Re: Shape of Brisket ?
Thanks all for replying
Instead of picking one up when I need one, from now on every time I go to Costco I'll look thru the briskets and if I find one or more with nice marbling and a thick even flat I'll grab it and start a stock pile in the freezer.
Bill
BTW
This is what was left of my was to be throw down entry after the dogs got to it.
A buddy dropped my first tray of sliced brisket in the dirt. It "was" a thing of beauty.
All I could do at that point was laugh.
Instead of picking one up when I need one, from now on every time I go to Costco I'll look thru the briskets and if I find one or more with nice marbling and a thick even flat I'll grab it and start a stock pile in the freezer.
Bill
BTW
This is what was left of my was to be throw down entry after the dogs got to it.
A buddy dropped my first tray of sliced brisket in the dirt. It "was" a thing of beauty.
All I could do at that point was laugh.
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Re: Shape of Brisket ?
I like a brisket that’s uniform. Some folks like a big point. I make sure and leave enough fat on the flat. It needs the protection.
Also I tend go for a smaller brisket. I will go as high as 12 and typically trim and shape if need to about 10.. There is always plenty of fat left. I never over trim. And pieces that get removed are nice bits to eat after cooking for a few hours and wrapping in foil.
I left extra fat on this one on the flat purposely. It wasn’t a bad thing.. the flat was nice and tender....
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