Alternative to Brisket?

MattBTI · August 2017

After reading some posts recently about whether or not brisket is worth the time and energy, has anybody experimented with using a different cut, but cooking in the same manner. Brisket has seemingly followed a similar phenomenon as chicken wings and legs, what were once unwanted discards have become the most prized portion of the animal.

That being said, has anybody taken a cheaper cut of beef, such as a chuck roast or something similar and cooked it in a manner similar to brisket with good results?

Photo Egg · August 2017

Beef Brisket...there is no substitute...

DoubleEgger · August 2017

Dare I say Prime Rib?

buzd504 · August 2017

Chuck roast works, although it doesn't get quite as tender as brisket. Most people around here finish it with a braise and take it to about 210 and pull it.

nolaegghead · August 2017

Short ribs, chuck roast and clods all get cooked the same way, as they have plenty of tough connective tissue that needs to break down.

Most other cuts are grilled or roasted to medium rare.

saluki2007 · August 2017

Short ribs are like brisket on a stick and I've made burnt ends out of chuck roast.

stlcharcoal · August 2017

Pulled beef with Chuck roast is always good and half the time. There used to be a recipe here from Clay Q?

lousubcap · August 2017

Below is a link to the Clay Q pulled beef:
https://dizzypigbbq.com/recipe/clays-pulled-beef/ Another winner is pepper stout beef.
If all you want is a beef flavor then plate/short ribs get close with brisket on a stick. But those cooks are too easy

lkapigian · August 2017

Chuck Roll/Clod best bang for the buck, I do cook it to shredded and I usually feed an army..the ones I get average 25-30 pounds and they are as forgiving as a Butt...If you are only feeding a few, can't beat chuck roast pulled---Or by the whole roll, break it down and freeze it

SmokeyPitt · August 2017

Short ribs are great. They are not cheaper per lb, especially when you consider the bone. However, you can buy them in a smaller quantity. I have found the giant slabs of short ribs but you usually have to buy two slabs. I have also cooked the smaller "standard" short ribs and I think they are just as good. By standard I mean the ribs that look like these:

Image result for short ribs

I haven't been to Costco in a while but they used to sell boneless short ribs that looked good. I think those would be great for burnt ends.

As others mentioned, pulled beef from a chuck roast is great. This is my favorite recipe:
http://www.thewolfepit.com/2009/10/pepper-stout-beef.html

fishlessman · August 2017

im a fan of the huge beef back ribs, problem is finding them with good meat and no shiner bones showing thru. maybe 1 in a thousand

Foghorn · August 2017

fishlessman said:

im a fan of the huge beef back ribs, problem is finding them with good meat and no shiner bones showing thru. maybe 1 in a thousand

Like this? I actually had the butcher cut the ribs in half to get down to this size.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5017260/uploads/editor/46/8bwaw3f2m77f.jpg

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5017260/uploads/editor/4m/mlbpm4ni3lz6.jpg

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5017260/uploads/editor/my/pfm4ovunvukl.jpg

As opposed to this:

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5017260/uploads/editor/0u/ouutu5rrc6hi.jpg

lousubcap · August 2017

@fishlessman - I'm with you regarding beef back ribs. But as you note, finding a rack of meaty ones is quite a challenge. However, I do not let that stand in the way of throwing $$ at bones on occasion.

SmokeyPitt · August 2017

I agree the short ribs have more meat, but the back ribs are pretty good as well and they are usually cheap. That is definitely another alternative if you can't find shorties. In my area back ribs seem to be a little more common. I see them at most grocery stores and wal-mart. Short ribs are a little harder to find.

@Foghorn those short ribs are gorgeous.

fishlessman · August 2017

cant get to my back rib pics, pbucket hostage

gpsegg · August 2017

Stormbringer · August 2017

@Foghorn damn now I'm hungry again.

The Cen-Tex Smoker · August 2017

fishlessman said:

cant get to my back rib pics, pbucket hostage

Right there with you. #neveragain

Foghorn · August 2017

Thanks @SmokeyPitt and @Stormbringer.

One of these times I'm going to not have the ribs cut in half and cook giant dinosaur ribs. But I always feel compelled to cook at least one per person and they aren't cheap. Plus most people won't eat a whole rib, given that the ones in the picture are 1/2 size.

fishlessman · August 2017

first pic beef back ribs topped with baby backs, working around pbucket,

https://www.google.com/search?q=beef+ribs+fishlessman&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjtkdv0ks_VAhWG0iYKHSh2AEcQ_AUIDCgD&biw=1280&bih=660#imgrc=S27qr_oq7gS07M:

SSQUAL612 · August 2017

saluki2007 said:

Short ribs are like brisket on a stick and I've made burnt ends out of chuck roast.

How were the burnt ends? Will you make them again?

Alternative to Brisket?

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