Brisket - select vs. choice

[yukoff]

Every time i do brisket, it comes out dry, not sure if it's because of the way i cook it or if it's the quality of meat. Since I'm still practicing, i buy the cheap stuff - basically grocery store brisket, which is select. I follow all the directions by the book when cooking it.

My question is - how much of a diffference in the finished product will there be between using select and choice grade of brisket meat?
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Greg

[Jarhead]

I've never cooked a select grade. I don't even know if you can find 'em around here.
I have read that the choice has better marbling and more fat content.
This being the case, choice will give you a more tender and better tasting brisket.
I like to give them the bend test before I buy them. Grab ahold of the point end and flop it around. If it is stiff, put it back and get another one. They should droop to about the 7 o'clock position.
Never had a bad one with this trick.
Good luck and take pics.
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[thsmoker]

My first briskets were select. The result was rarely good. Since I have gone to choice, it is rarely bad. It is worth paying more for choice. It is a pretty lean cut of meat to start out with.

Jarhead -- Does the bend test still work well with cryovac? Seems like the bend depends a lot on how tightly they package it?

[darylb]

We used to use select and splurged for the choice the last contest we did. The difference was night and day I thought. I dont know if it matters with all bbq meats but I really think it matters with brisket.

[BluDawg]

I prefer Choice however sometimes they are sold out and Ihave no choice but to go with a select. You can get a Select grade to turn out moist you just have to be smarter than a cow. The key is to inject it with a mixture of beef broth and canolla oil and Adolph's and use lower salt content in your rub.
I don't know where you buy your meat but I can get Choice in the local market most of the time, pork butt is a different matter in these parts.
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[PhilQ]

I've had the exact same problem and at this point will never by select beef period. I've wasted several large briskets and chuck rolls. Never had a bad choice product.

Sam's club carries choice brisket packers for a good price and other than that the only other place I've found in the Seattle area is Costco Biz center in Lynnwood.

[yukoff]

I was getting my brisket from Safeway, i'll try Sam's Club next. I didn't know they sell Choice, i thought it was Select too.
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Greg

[PhilQ]

Walmart carries select and probably even worse but Sam's I believe only carries choice. You'll notice a big difference.

While your at Sams check out the species made by Tones. I use the SW chipotle and goes really well on chicken and pork lion/tenderlion.

[roxy]

Briskets are not part of the grading process of beef so it is a toss up if the brisket will really be what the grade states..

I have not had that problem with brisket. I got to ask, are the crumbly when you cut them..?? If not, maybe they have not been cooked enough. Try wrapping in foil with a bit of liquid and letting them steam for an hour or two in a cooler.
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[Jarhead]

[BluDawg]

[yukoff]

Just got back from Issaquah Costco, they actually had 6# brisket flats for ~$3.40/lb. May give that a shot next time, while I trust Costco's meat more than C&C, they carry only the flat while C&C has the flat + point.
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Greg

[tipsforBBQ]

Not all Costco's sell brisket, but the ones that do have choice. From my experience their flats are usually quite good.
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Rusty from TipsforBBQ.com

[yukoff]

WOW what a world of a difference! I will never waste my time/money again on grocery store brisket. Did a 6# brisket yesterday from costco (stamped with USDA Choice) and it was amazing still today. And all this time i thought it was me that was the problem, changed the meat and turns out I'm actually dang good
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Greg

[Pit Boss]

[roxy]

[yukoff]

[Tom C]

I have posted on this topic before when I finally was able to have success with a brisket.

Out here in California (at least in my part of the state) anything but select is hard to find. I had just about given up on brisket because they always came out dry!
I finally was able to find a store that gets some Choice brisket flats from time to time. To date I have cooked three that I was able to get there. All of them came out great! One day I hope to be able to get my hands on a choice whole packer so I can try my hand at some burnt ends but for know I'm happy just to be able to get a good flat. Anyway, I can attest to the difference in grades of meat.
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[Johnds]

For a good whole packer brisket in Northern CA, go to Smart and Final. You'll probably find select, so pass it by and come back later. You'll eventually find choice in stock, so buy up all you can and freeze what you have to.

If your S&F doesn't cough up a choice brisket once in a while, find another S&F location.

Works for me, you have to be patient.

John

[Tom C]