How much un-trimmed brisket per person?

[jjdbike]

Hello everyone,

As many here know, I am hosting a BBQ / pot luck for my local neighbors. It looks like we'll have between 12 and 15 people. People are asked to bring an appetizer, side dish or desert to share but honestly don't believe that everyone will. I smoking brisket, grilling chicken thighs, and making barbecue beans. I'd have to assume that most are not big eaters. It's a 55 & over community so all are seniors, most women. I'd like to have a little left over, but not much. I do not plan on providing neighbors w/ leftovers to leave with.

I'd prefer to not do more than one brisket, but two smaller ones will probably cook faster one monster one. I plan on hitting Costco Business for the meats. Looking to get prime brisket. How much untrimmed brisket (by weight) should I cook for this event (i.e. 12 - 15 people who aren't big eaters, also grilling chicken, w/ sides)?

Thanks in advance,
JD

[jjdbike]

Hello everyone,

As many here know, I am hosting a BBQ / pot luck for my local neighbors. It looks like we'll have between 12 and 15 people. People are asked to bring an appetizer, side dish or desert to share but honestly don't believe that everyone will. I smoking brisket, grilling chicken thighs, and making barbecue beans. I'd have to assume that most are not big eaters. It's a 55 & over community so all are seniors, most women. I'd like to have a little left over, but not much. I do not plan on providing neighbors w/ leftovers to leave with.

I'd prefer to not do more than one brisket, but two smaller ones will probably cook faster one monster one. I plan on hitting Costco Business for the meats. Looking to get prime brisket. How much untrimmed brisket (by weight) should I cook for this event (i.e. 12 - 15 people who aren't big eaters, also grilling chicken, w/ sides)?

Thanks in advance,
JD

To clarify, I do plan on trimming and I do trim aggressively. I'm just wondering how big of a brisket by weigh I should purchase for this event.
Thanks in advance!
JD

[Mosca]

I’d go with one decent sized. I mean, a 15 pounder will trim to 10-11, and cook to what, 7-8? Nobody is going to eat half a pound of brisket plus all the other stuff. You’ll have leftovers.

[jjdbike]

Thanks!

[bbqLuv]

15x6oz=90/16oz=5.62lbs I would start from there for the brisket and add in 2nds and leftovers. Hope that helps.
My WAG would be 12-15lb full packer brisket

[Mosca]

That’s what I was thinking, too. It’s enough that nobody is disappointed that there’s no more brisket, but not so much that you’re wondering what to do with the leftovers.

[jjdbike]

15x6oz=90/16oz=5.62lbs I would start from there for the brisket and add in 2nds and leftovers. Hope that helps.
My WAG would be 12-15lb full packer brisket

Thanks bbq,
I am math challenged. Are you able to please decipher that equation? I'd like to understand and be able to use it going forward.
Thanks!
JD

[RichardCullip]

6oz of cooked brisket for 15 guests works out to be 90oz or 5.62lbs of yummy brisket

[jjdbike]

Makes sense!
Thanks!!

[jfmorris]

Mosca gave the advice I was gonna give, so I will just second him. Trim and shrinkage during the cook will take it to about half the original weight. If you were ONLY having brisket, I would plan on a full pound per person, pre-trim and pre-cook weight. Since you also have chicken, I think 7-8 pounds cooked brisket along with some chicken will be plenty for 15 people, with some leftover.

I've frozen cooked brisket in vacuum sealer bags and resurrected it for meals quite successfully. Once I found a bag in the bottom of the deep freeze containing an entire smoked point, cubed up and frozen that way. Made great burnt ends with a couple hours in a couple of pans on the smoker.

Most folks expect the flat when you are slicing brisket, so I tend to slice the flat first for folks, and if there is leftovers its the point, which I want for myself...

[Donw]

With your crowd the above advice is solid. However, from experience, if you decide to host the local high school football team ever, double all your calculations. 🙂