Brisket Prices?

So while the cats away, the mice will play! Or pay in this case!

John

Yeah, Tom, I thought you had a LIST to work on...

FYI, just bought my "contest" fridge from my winnings. Now I have a little extra room for aging.

I gave a similar lesson at my meat supplier. Now they are going to go through the cases before they smoke them and give me some of the better ones.

I'll take them some leftovers and that will seal the deal.

I find the meat managers carry all the expensive steaks and good loinbacks home with them.

They don't do butts at home,though.

That and a bottle of vinegar sauce and a little rub is my usual bribe.

Wow that's some good prices you're paying for brisket. Winn-Dixie had em on SALE last week for $2.99 lb. When I got to the store they were sold out, one person had bought em all the butcher said. I got a raincheck but that's still twice as much as you're paying.

I saw W/D had come select flats out for $3.99.

They even had a huge fat nose on them.

The manager and I laughed.

He'd give the public a quick shot at them and then grind to hamburger.

Try your Sam's in Daytona or the closest Superwally.

It would be unusual to find them in your area except at a box store,or maybe Albertson's.

I've seen some posts from time to time comparing choice, select, etc.

No packers when I went to buy yesterday at Sam's here in N Cal. The flats in stock were split between Choice and Miller Beef. Any huge difference between Choice and branded beef such as Miller?

Any insights greatly appreciated....Looks like I'll have to depend on my lone meat shop in the area that consistently has choice packers...Thanks, IBSPY

I've been stocking up on shoulders for the 3rd of july party, I'm up to 140 lbs so far and still shopping. {all are invited} been paying no more than .79 a lb for fresh hams and picinics , was down to .59 at Publix. I can't find a good packer brisket to save my BUTT around here.

I'm going to be doing about 200 lb in my CS 50, so any ideas would be most appreciated.
May own a CS 150 by then if I can get him down a couple $$$ more.......

Not living in BBQ country the briskets don't sell fast around here. So on the "sell by" date (the last day they'll offer them), they reduce the price to $0.90 per pound. I've been buying all I can of those and freezing them.

Do you forsee any problems with this? Smokin', how are you aging yours? In the cryovac or dry aging? I'm just trying to connect the dots here, stay safe, and take advantage of low prices.

Dennis,

Where are you buying your briskets? I've tried Costco with not much luck.

You'd want to read the specifics of what Miller beef is.

Google showed a Montanta producer by that name ,producing 69% choice carcass.

Choice is choice.[The CAB program is a little different]

Briskets freeze just fine.

Raiderbill,packers are a problem in your area.

drbbq used to go to Orlando and get his.

Dennis, the stores may put 30 days as their move time on packers.

The kill/pack date is on the packing box.

You might be lucky and they are still boxed.

We leave them in cryovac.

If they have been kept down below about 34�-36�,they should keep twice that long in the refrig.

Tom....Many, many thanks for your reply and insights! Bottom line as you've noted...Can't go wrong with Choice!

Hope all on the forum have a great weekend! IBSPY

Tom: Thanks for the info. I'll have to look into buying them by the case, but I doubt I could beat $0.90 per pound. After reading this thread this morning I ran to the local Super Wal-Mart and checked the briskets. They were all marked 'Select' on the cryovac--I'll keep looking for Choice.

Hook: I buy my packer briskets and pork butts at the American Fork Super Wal-Mart. Costco only sells boneless butts (for more than Wal-Mart) and Sams only sells brisket flats (even the ones in Salt Lake). It seems the closer you get to Utah County (including the Sandy Costco), the more you find butts cut into "country style ribs". I figure if Super Wal-Mart has what I need, then I'll reward them with my patronage. But I still buy spare ribs at Costco since they're the cheapest and best looking ribs (I bought some at the 53rd S. Costco this afternoon).

Where do you buy your meats?

You guys are too far from Texas. You can get all the brisket you want. Cryovac,flat, trimmed-whatever you want at the grocery store or Sam's.
I would definetly get choice over select.

Chef....I hear ya'! Out here, the alfalfa sprouts and tofu are takin' up all the grocery store space that could be filled with briskets and butts...With a little work and effort, am still finding what I need though...

Got two choice brisket flats (didn't get over to my butcher/meat shop for the packer this time) going right now....