Costco Briskets…What Should You Buy, Prime or Choice?
Ran across this video recently and thought I’d share it. It’s about 15 minutes long but pretty informative. In addition to his taste test comparison, he does a great job explaining what to look for in a brisket, trimming suggestions and an overall start to finish video of the cook. There’s also a couple of things he does which I never thought of. One of them involves his wrapping of the brisket with butcher paper…he sprays the butcher paper down with a little water before wrapping to make it more pliable, never thought of that! I also like the fact there’s not a lot of fluff in the video, he pretty much gets to the point without dragging it out. Pretty good watch for brisket veterans or newbies.
Last edited by Panhead John; July 3, 2024, 11:50 AM.
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Interesting and very informative - of course, we all know, no two briskets are the same regardless of grade. One technical question you may have spotted, but I didn't. What temp was he smoking at? Not a big deal, but OCD people want to know!
At best I do one brisket a year I always buy Costco Prime. Looks like he got a bit more yield out of the Prime which would lower the cost a bit. The Prime had a better point. Very interesting comparison and it appears that he also got a great Choice. Thanks for posting very informative.
I stopped the video when he first showed the briskets and he paid $4.49 lb for the Prime and $3.99 lb for the choice. Not much difference. In addition to Costco briskets, I think it shows that if you find a good choice brisket anywhere, it “can” be as good as a Prime.
Last edited by Panhead John; July 3, 2024, 02:47 PM.
The origins of BBQ were taking a tough cut and making it delicious. I have no problem in using better beef than they had. I’ve been in favor of choice briskets for some time. Just because I believe I can find briskets labeled choice that are outstanding and a better value. I’m picky I’ll go through a pile of briskets looking for marbling and limber muscling. I also buy select briskets when they are on sale. Our local United Supermarket had them on sale last week for $1.96 a pound. There again I’m picky, then they get wet aged for 60 to 75 days in my garage fridge. They are very good and some cheap protein. As I understand it a carcass is not graded at the brisket but over in the steak section. You could have a great brisket on an average carcass.
The spraying the butcher paper is a trick I picked up from one of Matt Pittman / Meat Church's videos. Just a light spray does the trick and it certainly makes the thing a whole lot less unwieldy!
As I have been told, when the USDA grades beef, they only grade the rib meat (roast). If the rib grades out to Prime - the whole steer is Prime. I think that is why I have seen some Choice primal cuts (like NY strip steaks or tri-tips) where they are more marbled than a Prime NY strip steak or tir-tip sitting right next to it.
With that in mind, I never buy Prime Filet Mignon, only Choice. No marbling in Filets.
I agree about the filet, I also just buy choice. The same with ribeyes from Costco….Their choice ribeyes have been great. Choice ribeyes already have plenty of fat in them, the Prime to me is just too much fat.
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I feel the only way to truly know if it matters is to buy two identical briskets, 1 Prime and 1 Choice, both equal weight, thickness, and floppiness, give them both the identical treatment in every way possible and have a couple people do a blind test with a slice of flat & point from each. My suspicion is there will be little if any discernible difference. And if there is, well that would be on that particular cook and not necessarily on the next. There just isn't enough of the marbling that matters in a brisket; points always have a TON and flats have nearly none, and fat cap is 100% fat, so IMO the difference between Prime & Choice here will be nearly null.
That’s almost exactly what he did in the video. He tried to make everything as equal as possible. The only thing he didn’t do that you mentioned was a blind taste test, but he wasn’t able to judge a clear winner, he thought both were equally delicious.
Panhead John I admit I didn't watch the video, I didn't even realize there was a video. I read the words and typed my comment. I have become the very person I have to deal with regularly.
I normally get left handed, choice briskets..... Bc my father's favorite pass time is to scour stores for briskets on sale.
So he'll buy them, wet age them and freeze them for me
Rarely does he spring for prime. But every once in a while.
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