How To Cut A Brisket: The Best Techniques [Step By Step]

If you make a juicy brisket, you need to make sure that you cut it right. There is no point in cooking your brisket well, but allow a small and straightforward task such as slicing it into tender strips to fade away your grilling efforts.

When it comes to perfectly cutting your briskets, there are four easy rules that you need to follow;

• Cut against the grain
• Avoid cutting the point and the flat together
• Use a sharp knife to remove the fats
• A serrated knife is preferable

Slicing a brisket should be a straightforward process. Read on to learn how to slice a brisket step-by-step.

What You Need To Perfectly Slice The Brisket

Before you embark on slicing the brisket, you must ensure that you have all the necessary tools. It is the best way to make your work easier. Here is what you need for a flawless process.

A Well-Rested Brisket

One of the common mistakes that people make is slicing the brisket once it is out of the grill. After you get your brisket out of the grill, cover it with foil and allow it to rest for some time. Letting it rest prevents the tasty juices from escaping.

A Serrated Brisket Slicing Knife

Investing in the right brisket slicing knife is another essential step you are not supposed to overlook. A sharp, serrated knife will give you a perfect cut.

A Large Butcher’s Block

The place where you will put your brisket while slicing it will influence the quality of the cut you will get. No doubt having the brisket slide as you try to cut it will give you a hectic time achieving a perfect cut.

Since a quality butcher block is an investment that can serve you for a long time, you should not shy away from investing in one. A cutting board may not be the best option for this task because the briskets will easily slide.

How To Cut A Whole Brisket

If you already have your well-rested brisket, a sharp and serrated knife, and a butcher’s block to cut it on, you are ready for the process. Remember that you only need to slice what you will eat in one sitting. Storing a brisket as a whole helps to keep it moist for a long time, and this explains why you should not slice even what you do not need. Here is how to go through the entire process.

1. Separate The Point From The Flat

To ensure that you retain the tender juiciness of the brisket, you need to slice it against the grain. Cutting through the muscle fibers makes the meat tender, hence easy to chew. The flat and the point of the brisket run in two different directions. Therefore, the first step to perfectly cutting your brisket is to separate the flat from the point.

2. Trim The Excess Fat

The next step is to trim the excess fat. However, if a professional perfectly trimmed your brisket, you will be free to skip this step. While fats add some flavor to the brisket, too much of it can make it greasy. Hence, removing any excess fat that you see on top of your brisket is a good idea after separating the point from the flat.

3. Cut The Tip

The tip is the smallest part of the brisket and, in most instances, comes out overcooked. The best way to deal with the tip is to chop it off and separate it from the main dish.

4. Slice The Flat

Proper slicing of your brisket starts here. Start with slicing the flat part of the brisket before proceeding to slice the point. Ensure that your slices have the thickness of a pencil to make them more manageable.

5. Slice The Point

Once you are done with the flat, you need to move to the point and ensure that you cut against the grain. Since the grain in the point runs in different directions, you need to take time to find it and make sure that you cut across it.

How To Cut A Brisket Against The Grain

The term grain in meat describes the direction of the muscle fiber. Whether you are dealing with cooked or raw meat, you can quickly identify the directions of the muscle fiber. They are simply the white lines on your meat.

Cutting against the grain reduces the length of the muscle fiber hence making it easy to chew the meat. Even though your teeth can easily cut through the fiber muscles, you do not want to spend much time chewing the meat. Here is how to go through the entire process;

• Set the brisket on your cutting board
• The brisket is made up of the flat and the point. Find the separation line between the flat and the point by feeling the tenderness of the brisket.
• The line where the flat and the point meet is the line that separates one grain from the other, and it is here where you should make your first cut. You need to separate the flat and the point and ensure that you cut the two parts individually.
• Cut the flat part first, ensuring that you maintain a size of 1/4 inch and maintain a balance of the juicy part.
• Once you are done with the flat, move to the point. To see the grains clearly, ensure that you cut against the grain.

How To Cut A Beef Brisket

How you cut your beef brisket matters, and this explains why you need to be careful when doing it. It is good that you take your time and come out with quality products. Learning how to cut a beef brisket is an excellent way to have a perfect smoked brisket experience. Here is a summary of how to effectively slice a beef brisket.

• Cut your beef brisket into two halves to help separate the point from the flat
• Slice the beef flat against the grain
• Do the same to the point

How To Cut A Corned Beef Brisket

The cornered beef brisket is made up of a variety of fibers attached. When cutting the beef brisket against the grain, you simply shorten these fibers to make the beef easy to chew. To perfectly cut your corned beef brisket, you will need a sharp knife and a cutting board. Follow these steps;

• Let the cornered beef brisket rest to prevent the tasty juices from seeping out of the cut beef.
• Place the corned beef brisket on the cutting board and look for the fibers.
• Position the meat in such a way that fibers of the meat lie diagonally to your body
• Use a sharp knife to trim the fat around the edges of the beef. Too much fat can lower the quality of your brisket. Moreover, consuming a lot of fats is unhealthy as that can increase the risk of heart problems.
• Slice beef brisket against the grain

Mistakes To Avoid When Cooking Corned Beef

Corned beef is a delicious meal as long as you cook it right. Whether you are experienced in making corned beef or this is your first time, here are some mistakes you must avoid during the process.

• Failing to rinse the meat before you start preparing it
• Cooking your beef over extremely high temperatures may render it tough
• Failing to fill the cooking pot with enough water
• Not cooking the beef for a long time
• Cutting the beef incorrectly

Final Thoughts

Slicing your beef brisket into perfection should not be the hardest task when it comes to grilling. Besides, after spending your time grilling your beef brisket, you do not want to spoil it by rushing to cut your beef incorrectly.

All you need is to invest in a quality serrated knife and a cutting board and ensure that you cut the beef brisket against the grain to keep it moist and delicious.