Flat Brisket vs. Whole Brisket

[thirtydaZe]

Well, finally starting to contemplate doing my first brisket, but doing some shopping around it seems a flat brisket is pretty much the norm in the places i've been shopping.

They all seem to be cut in and around the 9-10lb mark ($50), and i see a lot of guys doing brisket that size in the whole variety.

What will be the difference cooking wise?  I know they have a tendency to get drier, but are cooking time greatly altered just due to the thickness overall?

[FLBentRider]

The flats that still have a fat cap should be fine.

Cooking time - such a variable! - I cook them to ~180F internal, I put the probe in the middle.

It's the "market trimmed" ones that you want to pass on. No fat cap = dry brisket.

[SoCalBuilder]

I'm no real authority as I've only done one, but my take on it is that on an untrimmed or packer, the fat cap is generally thicker which allows your to trim it yourself. Mine got trimmed to about 1/4" and it was extremely juicy. I followed someones lead, Pachanga's I think and placed the trimmed fat on the rack above for a little self basting.  The $50 bit looks a little scary also. I think I paid $1.99 lb.

Good luck and someone with more experience will be along in a bit.

See I told you someone would be along. FLBR isn't as long winded as I am :P

[DTAggie]

As FLBR said, you will be fine as long as it has a fat cap.  That price is scary!

[thirtydaZe]

the ones i looked at were trimmed, but a lot less than i expected.

can't even remember where i was when i looked right now, but i have to say, i thought the $50+ tag was high as well.  certain, that's what kept me from jumping in and buying at the time.

[FLBentRider]

As FLBR said, you will be fine as long as it has a fat cap.  That price is scary!

That is a scary price - for that kind of money I'd try to stretch a little farther and get a Snake River Farms.

[KyNola]

That is a scary price - for that kind of money I'd try to stretch a little farther and get a Snake River Farms.

There you go FLBR!  Got one of those big boys in my freezer as we speak.  Customer service from SRF is about the same as Bradley's.  Seriously, a Wagyu brisket from SRF is not much higher than that $50.00 flat you're considering.

[ArnieM]

That is a scary price - for that kind of money I'd try to stretch a little farther and get a Snake River Farms.

There you go FLBR!  Got one of those big boys in my freezer as we speak.  Customer service from SRF is about the same as Bradley's.  Seriously, a Wagyu brisket from SRF is not much higher than that $50.00 flat you're considering.

It's $59 plus shipping. 

It's hard to find brisket around herre unless it's "on sale".  They show up for a week and then disappear.  The usual sale price is $3.99/Lb for a whole brisket.  I'd guess the price would be higher for just a flat.

[squirtthecat]

Our Sam's Club has whole packers for around $1.90/lb - give or take.  Sometimes you have to ring the little bell and ask for them.....