Brisket point question

[JeffJ]

I often see brisket flats at grocery stores. Some stores, like Costco, sell full packers. I never see brisket points though; just flats. So, if a bunch of flats are being separated from the points and are being sold separately, what happens to the points? It's a strange mystery.

[ecowper]

I believe the points end up in the ground beef

[Spinaker]

Yep, unfortunately, they grind them for 70/30. It is a crime. The USDA needs to step in.

[JeffJ]

Well, that's disappointing.

[Ace]

Yea, most people like the flats because they are leaner and slice up nice for sandwiches or plating, even though they cost a little more. Like ecowper said, points can end up the grind pile. About the only time I see points (as corned beef) are around St. Patrick's Day and those are pre-packaged from commercial companies such as Cooks brand.

[TripleB]

Me too. The only time I see brisket points is around St. Paddy's day as pre-packaged corned beef. And I buy those rather than flats.

[Oak Smoke]

There are times when you can find the points for sale as corned beef points. They make the best pastrami.

[Johnny Booth]

Walmart keeps corned beef points in stock around here. 👍

[Oak Smoke]

I like their corned beef. It normally doesn’t need desalinization before smoking it. Finding points there is hit or miss here.

[LA Pork Butt]

I find the at Aldi when St. Patrick's day approaches.

[ecowper]

If there was a point out at the meat counter, I'd buy one every grocery store trip. Which I've told the guy that runs the butcher counter at my local Safeway. He says he thinks I'm the only customer that would.

[mrichie1229]

I would love to buy a pile of brisket points.

[ecowper]

mrichie1229 Safeway has no problem selling full packers. I don't think they would have an issue selling points either. But they think they would, so they keep separating the flat, selling that, and grinding the points into burger :-(

[ecowper]

Also, it's a big change that I can now get a full packer at Safeway.

[Mosca]

I actually asked my butcher that question. The answer is what everyone else says: they become ground beef. Damn shame, innit.

[Oak Smoke]

Almost criminal!

[JeffJ]

I’d buy points up a storm if they were sold that way. I only smoke one brisket per year (it’s a lot of meat and a lot of trimming). Currently have a prime packer in the chest freezer. I’m smoking 2 chucks tomorrow for part of our Christmas party (30th annual) spread.

[ecowper]

yeah, but if I could get a 3-4 lb point, I'd buy that over chuck roast

[Duanessmokedmeats]

I just buy the full packer.
I can separate the point and the flat.

[ecowper]

Yes, but there’s plenty of times where I’d like to just go in Safeway, buy a point, bring it home :-)

[Duanessmokedmeats]

ecowper That's no fun...

[texastweeter]

Rather buy two points lol

[bardsleyque]

(sorry) It's pointless...