99¢ choice brisket: How to choose brisket?

[Phil in Dallas]

Happy Independence Day from hot hot Dallas Texas, y'all.

What does everyone look for when selecting a cryo grocery store packer
brisket for backyard comsumption?

This afternoon, I stopped by a neighborhood grocery store (Tom
Thumb) and lo and behold, there was a bin full of Excel packer cut
briskets for 99¢ per lb. USDA Choice. Choice! ... Woo Hoo! On sale
through Tuesday.

I haven't seen that price in a while, especially Choice.

I snagged just one, a 10 pound one. And it's going to be my
contribution to the food festivities tomorrow. I looked at marbleing
in the flat, the thickness of the fat cap. The point curved to the
right. Held it in the middle to see if it would droop. And I think
Candy once said a thick end on the flat. This one passed.

I intend to cook it hot and fast, or low and slow, in my offset, or
WSM, with lump, or briquettes, if I can find the ones Merrill likes,
with or without foil, whole or separated. Can't find my Liquid Smoke,
so that is definately out. I'll report back with the results. < G >

Happy Birthday, America!


Phil in Dallas

[phil wingo]

happy 4th to all, great deal phil

--- On Fri, 7/3/09, Phil in Dallas <craw...@gmail.com> wrote:

[buzz]

for me bigger is better in briskets---and thick in the flat end---would buy
a 3rd freezer if I saw brisket that cheap!!

----- Original Message -----
From: "Phil in Dallas" <craw...@gmail.com>
To: "The Smoke Ring BBQ List" <SmokeR...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Friday, July 03, 2009 6:20 PM
Subject: [BBQ] 99¢ choice brisket: How to choose brisket?

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18:11:00

[Roy Kennedy]

Phil .99 thats a real bargin the only way youd see them in theses parts for
that price would be if they were a week past the code date and the bags
bloated up
10 ls is light for me I like them as heavy as I can get them also
Roy

[Phil]

Thanks for the replies. I usually go bigger too, but this one was
for an experiment. Plus it just looked good proportionately. Ended up
not cooking it yet.

I understand some of you competition guys buy "designer" briskets from
a butcher shop. Any Top Secret clues you would use to choose the best
ones if you're picking through a bin of grocery store packers?

TIA
Phil in Dallas

[Merrill]

Phil,
I'm not an expert, but I've received some good expert advice that has
worked well for us. I don't get "designer" briskets, but I do look for
the best I can find. If I'm being picky for a competition, I want:

-Choice or better.
-12 pounds and up. (untrimmed)
-Nice marbling
-Bends easily...hold it on one end and it doesn't droop, I don't buy it!
-Even as possible thickness on the flat, side to side and end to end.
-Fat cap...if buying from a butcher, they think they're doing you a
favor to trim it up. I will trim a lot off anyway, but I want to do it!

Only one store in the area that is overly helpful. The others get real
touchy when they bring me a case and I only find one I like.

Merrill

[Phil]

Thanks for the tips, Merrill.

I intend to snag some, and freeze what I don't cook next weekend.

I just can't pass up a Choice packer, especially at the 99¢ price.
Choice is hard to find here in grocery stores, occasionally one will
be mixed in with Select. Sam's and Restaurant Depot usually have
Select packers and Choice flats.

Phil in Dallas

[capta...@comcast.net]

Phil,

There are a couple of options for choice briskets when you get up to the city.  Excel Corned Beef on Lake Street and Chicago Meat Market on Cicero have excellent choice packers.  If you ever get up toward Hinsdale I can refer you to a custom butcher that carries prime.  Took our first call at a comp with his briskets. He was planning to sponsor us this year, but the economy has not been kind to pricy butcher shops.

 

Merrill

----- Original Message -----
From: "Phil" <craw...@gmail.com>
To: SmokeR...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Monday, July 6, 2009 7:30:21 AM GMT -06:00 US/Canada Central
Subject: [BBQ] Re: 99¢ choice brisket: How to choose brisket?

[Phil]

Merrill,
Since I'm in Dallas, not sure when I'll get up to the city. < G >.
But I sincerely appreciate your offer and advice!

Phil in Dallas

[Merrill]

Phil wrote:
> Merrill,
> Since I'm in Dallas, not sure when I'll get up to the city. < G >.
> But I sincerely appreciate your offer and advice!

OOPS...saw Phil and was thinking Wingo. If you ever want to make a drive
for some good meat, come on up and we'll make a day of it! :)

Merrill

[Phil]

> OOPS...saw Phil and was thinking Wingo. If you ever want to make a drive
> for some good meat, come on up and we'll make a day of it! :)
> Merrill

I kinda figured that! Thanks for the offer.

Phil in Dallas