6+ Types of Brisket: Differences, Taste & Examples

Types of Brisket vary, including Flat Cut & Point Cut; each offers unique flavors & cooking methods. Brisket is popular in BBQ but also used in various cuisines like Vietnamese pho.

Types of Brisket

Brisket is not your everyday cut of beef. In America, smoked brisket is most known for its association with southern BBQ (especially Texas barbecue).

However, brisket is often the main ingredient in several other cuisines. One great example is pho, a specialized Vietnamese soup that blends broth, noodles, rice, vegetables and herbs, and meat – including brisket. 

Like filet mignon, sirloin, chuck, bavette, or ribeye, brisket is a particular portion of beef, a beef cut from the pectoral area of a cow.

Scheme of Beef cuts for steak and roast. Vector

However, cuts of brisket can also be found on pigs, lamb, bison, and even elk/deer.

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Flat Cut Brisket

Cooked Brisket Flat

Flat cut briskets are generally the most common type of cut, easy to slice, and juicier than the point cut. The flat cut is usually the larger end of the brisket, but they’re known to be lean and thin, usually with a cushion of fat to help keep the brisket moist.

Flat in shape as its name would suggest, the flat cut had origins in the Jewish community long before it made its home in Texas barbeque.

Historically, Jewish celebrations like Rosh Hashanah, Passover, Hanukkah, and Shabbat all included beef or veal brisket as a part of the holiday meal, excluding pork brisket as the Jewish community does not consume pork. 

The flat-cut trend originated in Europe, in the Ashkenazi Jewish community. In Jewish cuisine, you cook the brisket by smoking it.

Nowadays, you can cook flat-cut briskets with grills, ovens, smokers, and slow cookers

Point Cut Brisket

Brisket Point Burnt Ends

Opposite the flat cut, the brisket point is the smaller piece of meat. The point contains more fatty tissue and also holds more flavor than the thinner flat cut. A point will always be the second cut of brisket after trimming

Because of their high-fat content (really more of a fat cap), people will tend to reserve point-cut briskets for sandwiches by grinding or pulling the meat.

However, like the flat cut, you can prepare a point-cut brisket by roasting, smoking, grilling, or barbecuing the meat. The optimal temperature for slow cooking a point brisket is about 275 degrees. Pitmasters will often make “burnt ends” with the point cut in a plate of BBQ brisket.

Beef Brisket 

Raw Brisket

When most people think of brisket, beef is the first thing that comes to mind. There are several different recipes for beef brisket, including barbeque, smoked, slow-cooked, and so on. 

As previously mentioned, beef briskets are often cut in two. When the flat cut and point cut are left together, it is referred to as a full packer brisket.

A full packer can constitute between eight and twenty pounds of beef. A cut of full-packer beef brisket will often be roasted or slow-cooked, since it’s naturally a tough cut (unless it’s from a cow breed with more marbling).

BBQ Beef Brisket Recipe

For this recipe, be sure you have a working barbecue with a lid.

Ingredients:

  • Your choice of flat or point cut brisket 
  • One tablespoon of Kosher salt
  • One tablespoon of brown sugar
  • One tablespoon of dried shallots
  • Two teaspoons of garlic powder
  • Two teaspoons of smoked paprika
  • One teaspoon of cayenne pepper

Recipe:

  • Start with room temperature brisket
  • Turn on one side of the barbecue grill to low heat between 250 and 300 degrees Fahrenheit
  • Mix the kosher salt, brown sugar, shallots, garlic powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper in a bowl
  • Rub the mixture into the brisket cut 
  • Move the raw brisket onto a sheet pan with the fattier side facing up
  • Lay the brisket on the cool side of the grill to start cooking the brisket
  • Close the grill and cook for up to 4 hours or until the brisket is tender 
  • Check and flip occasionally until done
  • Let brisket cut sit for up to 10 minutes 
  • Serve!

You can add to this recipe by mixing additional flavors and sauces. If you want to smoke the beef brisket, the type of wood you use will have a heavy influence on the flavor. The more common wood varieties used to smoke brisket include hickory, apple, and oak. 

Pork Brisket

Pork Brisket

Pork brisket has two cuts similar to beef brisket. The difference between beef and pork brisket is where the cuts reside. 

Beef brisket allows for the flat cut or leaner and thinner cut to be the first cut. Pork brisket is the opposite. The first cut becomes the point cut or fattier cut.

In contrast, the second cut is the flat cut or the leaner cut of brisket. 

Pork brisket can be cooked similarly to beef brisket, but it’s also wonderful when braised. 

Oven Roasted Pork Brisket Recipe

Ingredients:

  • Your choice of pork brisket cut 
  • One cup of broth or water 
  • Two onions
  • One teaspoon smoked paprika
  • One teaspoon onion powder
  • One teaspoon Kosher salt
  • Half a teaspoon ground black pepper

Recipe:

  • Preheat the oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit 
  • Allow pork brisket cut to come to room temperature
  • Combine the smoked paprika, onion powder, kosher salt, and ground pepper in a bowl 
  • Apply the mixture to the pork brisket cut 
  • Place pork brisket cut in an oven-safe pan
  • Add onions and broth or water to the pan 
  • Place foil over the pan
  • Roast the pork brisket for up to two hours
  • Let it sit up to five minutes
  • Serve

Lamb Brisket 

Lamb brisket is derived from the ribs. Unlike beef and pork brisket, lamb brisket is a single cut like a full packer beef brisket. Lamb brisket can also be referred to as the lamb breast. 

Similar to other cuts of lamb, lamb brisket has a very strong, distinct flavor. Often, people will consider it “gamey,” so it may not be the first choice if you’re just trying brisket for the first time. 

Lamb also takes on the flavor of whatever you season it with very well. Act with caution when seasoning your brisket so that you end up with the flavor you prefer, and not something overpowering.

Braised Lamb Brisket Recipe 

Because lamb takes on other flavors well, this recipe allows you to add as much or as little seasoning as you prefer.

Ingredients:

  • Your choice of lamb brisket cut 
  • Two onions 
  • Two to three cups of chicken broth 
  • Salt, as needed 
  • Pepper, as needed

Recipe:

  • Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit 
  • Remove excess fat from your lamb brisket cut
  • Add salt and pepper to the lamb brisket cut, to taste 
  • Slice both large onions 
  • Add sliced onions to an oven-safe dish 
  • Place the lamb brisket cut directly above the sliced onions
  • Pour in the chicken broth, covering all the onions and at least half of the lamb brisket 
  • Cover with foil
  • Cook up to two and a half hours
  • Remove foil
  • Cook an additional 30 minutes 
  • Serve hot

Veal Brisket

Veal brisket is very similar to beef brisket for obvious reasons: beef comes from an adult cow whereas the veal comes from the calf. The main difference between beef and veal is that a veal brisket is much thinner than a beef one.

The veal brisket comes from the breast of the calf and contains bones, although you can buy a deboned one or debone it yourself. 

A full-sized veal brisket is roughly half the size of a full beef brisket.

Venison Brisket 

Venison Cuts 6+ Types of Brisket: Differences, Taste & Examples

Venison brisket from a deer or elk (or reindeer!) also comes from the breast area of the animal. Like flat-cut beef brisket, venison brisket is a thin cut of meat. It’s also smaller and leaner than beef brisket. 

Although venison brisket is harder to get cuts from, it has some great advantages. Fajitas, burgers, and even sausages are some of the best dishes where venison brisket is used.

Venison brisket differs from other types of brisket in that you can cook it with a higher heat of about 300 to 250 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Like lamb brisket, venison brisket has a strong, gamey taste. It will also take on the flavor of any seasonings you use, so be careful when adding large portions of spices.

Slow Cooker Venison Brisket Recipe 

This version of slow-cooked venison brisket does not include other vegetables, but you can certainly throw in some to your liking. 

Ingredients:

  • Venison brisket flat cut 
  • Salt, to taste
  • Pepper, to taste
  • Any additional seasoning, to taste 
  • Two tablespoons of butter
  • Two onions

Recipe:

  • Remove the layer of fat from your brisket
  • Season the brisket with your desired spices 
  • Let the brisket sit for ten minutes to soak in the flavor
  • Place the brisket in your slow cooker
  • Add in the butter
  • Slice the onions and add them to the slow cooker
  • Cook for four to six hours on high
  • Remove and serve 

Brisket vs. Corned Beef

Corned beef is a common sandwich filling made from beef brisket. Historically, beef brisket would undergo tenderization from a salt solution (or with a meat tenderizer) to help break down tough fat and make the meat easier to cook and slice. 

Though this method is no longer as popular as it once was, corned beef undergoes a similar treatment.

In today’s market, corned beef begins as beef brisket before then being placed in a salt solution to brine. After brining, a butcher slices the brisket into what is known as corned beef.

The primary requirement for corned beef is that it comes from a cut of beef cured in salt, as the cure will provide the corned beef with its signature flavor.

Though you do not need to use brisket to make corned beef, it is the traditional method, especially among Jewish cuisine.

Often, Jewish delis will sell both beef brisket and corned beef made from beef brisket. It’s cook to buy it since it’s easy to overcook and can be tough like brisket.

FAQs about Brisket

Below are some frequently asked questions about brisket.

What cut of brisket is best?

Though both the flat cut and the point cut can give you some tasty meals, people generally prefer the flat cut of brisket. The flat cut is often juicier than the point cut due to the layer of fat that accompanies it. It’s also easier to prepare and slice. 

In contrast, the point cut tends to be more flavorful but has more fat throughout the meat, which can be difficult to chew. Often, people prefer a point cut of brisket for ground meat, choosing the flat cut as the main course of a full meal.

What kind of meat do you use for brisket?

To obtain a brisket, choose meat from the lower chest or breast of the animal. You can use meat from several animals, including beef, veal, lamb, and venison. Though generally, briskets will taste similar from animal to animal, lamb and venison tend to be leaner meats with a gamier taste.

What are the three grades of brisket?

The three grades of brisket from lowest to highest are Select, Choice, and Prime. Each grade has three sub-categories called Lower, Middle, and Upper. The higher grades of brisket will have more fat marbling, which will contribute to flavor and moisture for a tastier and juicier brisket.

Is a corned beef brisket the same as a beef brisket?

Corned beef briskets are not the same as beef briskets. Simple beef briskets are slabs of meat taken from the breast area of a cow. Corned beef briskets are also taken from that area of a cow, but they then undergo a soaking in brine or a salt solution to create the distinct flavor of corned beef.

Is chuck the same as brisket?

No, a chuck is not the same as a brisket. Though they are both cuts of meat taken from an animal, they are not the same cuts. A chuck roast comes from the shoulder of the cow, whereas the brisket comes from the breast or lower chest area. The brisket will also have much more fat than the chuck, affecting the taste and moisture.

Is brisket a cow or a pig?

Brisket can be from either a cow or a pig, as it is a cut of meat. The brisket is from the breast or lower chest of a cow, pig, sheep, or any animal used for eating.

Which is tender brisket or tri-tip?

Tri-tip is more tender than brisket, so it does not require the same low and slow cooking method. Instead, it can be cooked quickly over high heat to retain its moisture. Unlike brisket, tri-tip requires less time for preparation and resting.

What is whole vs packer brisket?

Whole vs packer brisket refers to the classification of a full brisket. A packer brisket is a type of whole brisket that includes both the point and the flat muscles. It is uncommon to smoke only the point, but the flat can be found at grocery stores and is often used for pickling and making corned beef.

Why is it called packer brisket?

The term “packer brisket” is used to describe this cut of meat because it is how it is packaged and shipped from the packing house. Weighing between 12 to 18 pounds, a whole packer brisket is the largest cut of meat that many individuals will ever attempt to cook at home.

What is a whole brisket called?

The term used to refer to a whole brisket is a “packer’s brisket” or a “full packer.” A full “Packer” brisket is the complete cut of the brisket muscle, packaged whole without the bone and without any trimming, typically done in a meat processing or packing facility.

Why is brisket so cheap?

Brisket is considered cheap because it used to be regarded as a tough cut that needed slow, low temperature cooking to become tender. As a result, it was generally more affordable. However, with advancements in barbecuing techniques, we have now mastered the art of cooking brisket to perfection, making it a highly sought-after cut in barbecue circles.

Is brisket medium rare?

Brisket is typically cooked to a higher temperature than medium rare, around 200-205°F (93°C). This is because the connective tissue in brisket needs to reach a temperature range of 160-170°F (71-77°C) in order to unwind and dissolve properly.

Which cut of brisket is best?

The best cut of brisket depends on your preference. If you enjoy sliced brisket, then the flat is ideal. Its shape and lean texture make it easy to cut uniform slices, and the meat is not overly fatty and has a delicious taste. However, if you prefer shredded meat for sandwiches or BBQ, then the point cut is the better choice.

What is the difference between brisket and bottom round flat?

The difference between brisket and bottom round flat lies in their muscle composition. While both cuts have large, tough fibers, the bottom round flat consists mainly of lean muscle with minimal fat and collagen. To retain juiciness in the bottom round flat, it is important to ensure proper moisture retention.

What are the different types of brisket to order?

The different types of brisket to order include the point (or deckle) and the flat. The point is a thicker cut with dense meat and large chunks of fat, attached directly to the rib cage. On the other hand, the flat has some fat but is primarily composed of meat and connective tissue.

What is the highest grade of brisket?

The highest grade of brisket is Prime. As per the USDA grading system and Canadian grading scale, Prime is considered the top grade of beef. It is known for its abundant marbling and natural tenderness. However, it is important to be cautious as Prime cuts can sometimes be mistaken for Choice grades at stores like Costco or Sam’s.

What is the difference between flat cut brisket and whole brisket?

The difference between flat cut brisket and whole brisket lies in the composition of the meat. The whole brisket is comprised of two distinct sections of meat, separated by a substantial layer of fat. Positioned above the middle layer of fat is the brisket point, also known as the deckle or second cut. On the other hand, the flat cut, alternatively referred to as the first cut, is situated below the layer of fat.

Is brisket less tender or tough?

Brisket is a tough cut of meat, so the most effective cooking method is low-and-slow: Extended, slow cooking helps to make it tender. There are two options for cuts of brisket.

Is prime brisket better than choice?

Prime brisket is superior to choice because the main distinction lies in their fat content. Choice brisket is typically lean due to moderate intramuscular fats, whereas prime brisket is specifically bred to have higher fat content. The latter offers a perfect balance of meat and fats that will tantalize your taste buds.

Is tri tip or brisket better?

Tri-tip and brisket both offer delicious BBQ experiences and taste profiles. Tri-tip is ideal for a casual dinner due to its quick cooking time and lean, beefy flavor. On the other hand, brisket requires more time and patience but rewards with a deep, smoky flavor that is unbeatable for larger gatherings and traditional BBQs.

Does the grade of brisket matter?

The grade of brisket does matter because lower-graded choice briskets require different cooking methods due to their lower fat content. Slow and low cooking is ideal for choice-grade briskets, while highly marbled briskets with more fat can be cooked at hot and fast temperatures.

Which cut of brisket is more tender?

The more tender cut of brisket is the brisket point, which is the section of the whole beef brisket that contains a bit more internal marbling than the flat. This additional marbling makes the brisket point more juicy when cooked.

Is brisket softer than tri tip?

Brisket is not as soft as tri-tip. It requires a low and slow cooking method to achieve tenderness, unlike tri-tip which can be cooked quickly over high heat to seal in moisture. Tri-tip also requires less time for preparation and resting.

What is brisket called in the grocery store?

Brisket is typically referred to as a “full-packer” when found at the grocery store, indicating that it includes both the point and the flat. Alternatively, it may be labeled as a “flat” or “half,” which usually only includes the flat. Occasionally, you may come across packages labeled simply as “brisket” without any additional details.

Is chuck tender or brisket better?

Chuck roast tends to be more tender and flavorful when smoked compared to brisket due to its higher fat content. At the butcher shop, chuck roast stands out with its abundant fat marbling, while brisket is distinguished by its generous fat cap.

Does brisket get more tender the longer you cook it?

The longer you cook brisket, the more tender it becomes due to its tough nature. Therefore, the recommended cooking method for brisket is low-and-slow, as the extended duration of cooking helps to achieve a tender texture.

Final Thoughts

The brisket can be a time-consuming and difficult piece of meat to cook. However, the high fat content makes it a flavorful and juicy cut of meat, making it a favorite all across North America.

Although it began as a traditional Jewish dish, the brisket has evolved into a classic family meal and barbecue staple.

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