Where to Buy Brisket
What do corned beef, pastrami, and Texas barbecue all have in common? They all derive from the brisket.
Where to buy brisket? You can have 100% grass fed, grass finished brisket delivered to your door from Thousand Hills Lifetime Grazed. This meat is full of flavor and made from cattle that consumed no grain and spent their entire lives on forage and pasture. Not only is that a much healthier way to live, but it is reflected in the quality of the meat. Grass fed beef contains more nutrients and vitamins than conventionally raised beef. It is also lower in cholesterol and full of healthy fats.
Alternatively, you could purchase brisket at your local butcher shop, but it is likely the meat came from cattle confined to a feedlot. These cattle were fed a great deal of corn and grains in order to boost their weight. They received hormones to increase weight gain and antibiotics to keep the diseases prevalent in feedlots at bay.
You are what you eat, and most people do not want to consume the residual hormones and antibiotics that end up in the food chain because of these practices.
At Thousand Hills Lifetime Grazed, we are proud to offer brisket from cattle raised using regenerative agriculture principles. Not only is the meat delicious, but you know it contains no growth hormones or antibiotics.
The Brisket
The flavorful brisket consists of the breast section of the cow beneath the first five ribs. Each cow has two briskets, one on each side. The brisket is below the chuck cut and above the front shanks cut. When both sides are used, it is referred to as a full brisket.
Because the brisket comes from an area used in movement, there is quite a bit of connective tissue. That connective tissue contains collagen, the protein playing a major role in the body’s building blocks. It can keep skin from sagging, aid in joint health, and promote healthy hair. As we age, collagen production slows down. Collagen from grass fed beef is one of the best ways of obtaining this vital nutrient for maintaining good health.
What to Look for in Brisket
There are two sections of brisket. The first cut, called the flat cut, is leaner and thinner, while the second cut contains more fat. This second cut is also known as the deckle cut or point cut.
The first cut is preferred for corned beef. It is also traditionally served on Jewish holidays. It’s a cut that slices well. The fat cap in the second cut makes it a good choice for stew. It is preferred for smoking, as it does not dry out due to its high fat content.
Cooking Brisket
Brisket is not a particularly tender cut of meat. In fact, it’s downright tough. All that connective tissue needs time to break down. When properly cooked, brisket is delicious. The collagen breaks down and turns into gelatin, melting into the meat.
For best results, cook brisket for a longer period of time over lower temperatures. Brisket does well in a crockpot, but it is fine in the oven or on the grill. In general, expect to cook the brisket between 3 and 3.5 hours. When cooking a whole brisket, add another hour to the cooking time.
Brisket is a favorite for smoking and barbecue. For these purposes, smoke the brisket between seven and 10 hours. Use a smoker or a charcoal or gas grill with wet wood chips. Maintain a temperature between 200 and 250° Fahrenheit. Rotate the meat every few hours.
Keep in mind that this large cut shrinks considerably after cooking. Buy a larger brisket than you think you’ll need. Each cooked serving runs around 1/3 of a pound, but purchase ½ pound of raw brisket for each person you intend to feed.
Always slice cooked brisket across the grain. Then enjoy a beefy, chewy, and robust meal.
Buy Tasty, 100% Grass Fed Brisket from Thousand Hills Lifetime Grazed
Brisket is one of the most economical cuts of beef. Tender cuts that require little cooking time tend to cost more, but you can save money on your beef meals if you’re willing to put the extra time in for cooking. Have 100% grass fed beef brisket from Thousand Hills Lifetime Grazed delivered to your door, and make sure to take advantage of our subscription meat bundle deals.