Brisket is beloved, and not just by Jewish grandmas and Texas pitmasters. Almost every meat eater appreciates the savor of a juicy, tender, well-cooked brisket, whether it’s braised or barbecued. And May 28 happens to be National Brisket Day—sure, it’s a little silly, but why not celebrate something so delicious with its own holiday? We rounded up our best brisket recipes, tips, and tricks to pay homage.
- Brisket vs Texas Brisket
- How to Smoke Brisket Like a Pro
- How to Make Brisket Better Than Your Bubbe’s
- What to Do with Brisket Leftovers
- What About Corned Beef and Pastrami?
Brisket vs Texas Brisket: What’s the Difference?
The first step to making perfect brisket, whether you’re barbecuing or braising it, is knowing which cut is best for the job. There are flats, points, and full packers (aka Texas brisket), and they all have their pros and cons. Find out all you need to know about Different Cuts of Brisket.
Snake River Farms American Wagyu Gold Grade Packer Brisket, $189 and up
Practice on something cheaper, perhaps, but when you’re pro level, this packer is a fine choice for BBQ.
How to Make the Best Smoked Brisket Ever
BBQ brisket inspires rhapsodic devotion, and if you’ve had really good smoked brisket, you know why. If you’re interested in trying to make it yourself, you’re in luck: we spoke with a pitmaster (though he would never call himself that) to get all the details on the perfect BBQ brisket.
Aaron Franklin Teaches Texas-Style BBQ, $90 on MasterClass
Take a 16-part lesson from a BBQ guru.
Make Brisket Better Than Bubbe’s
Besides BBQ, the other best way to cook brisket is to braise it, but it’s still a low and slow road to perfection. You can cheat with a slow cooker. See our 7 Brisket Recipes Better Than Bubbe’s.
What to Do with BBQ Brisket Leftovers
If you’re lucky enough to have leftover barbecue brisket, there are a lot of delicious things you can do with it besides simply slapping it between two slices of bread (though that’s fantastic too). See 11 Things to Do with BBQ Brisket Leftovers.
What’s the Difference Between Corned Beef and Pastrami?
Besides barbecue and braises, brisket can be cured for corned beef or pastrami (which, like BBQ brisket, is also smoked). You might not give it much thought until Saint Patrick’s Day, but find out The Difference Between Corned Beef and Pastrami.
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