Buying Brisket

Look for a brisket with a little fat attached.

Whole briskets weigh upward of 10 pounds, so they’re typically butchered and sold as two separate cuts: point and flat. Point-cut brisket is fattier, irregularly shaped, and not readily available in most supermarkets. Even with access to both cuts, we prefer the flatter, leaner flat-cut brisket. Be sure to buy a brisket roast with some fat attached—the fat will render during cooking, resulting in moister meat.