Brisket: Flat Cut vs Point Cut (2024)

First, let’s talk about what brisket is. Brisket is the chest muscle of a cow located near the front legs. As the cow stands and walks around, that chest muscle gets a good workout, making the meat tough, but also really flavorful. Because of the large size of a full brisket (8–16 pounds), it’s halved for commercial sale, creating the flat and point cut.

The flat cut makes up the majority of the brisket. It’s long and thin with a thick layer of fat on top that keeps the meat moist when cooked. This cut is best for slicing and most likely what you’ll find in your supermarket. It’s also the best cut of brisket to use for Homemade Corned Beef.

The point cut is thicker, smaller, and marbled with more fat and connective tissue than the flat cut. There’s a lot more flavor from the extra fat, but not as much meat, which is why it usually gets ground into hamburger meat or shredded for sandwiches.

Love Brisket? Check out our guide on Braising Brisket, and grab the recipe for Oven-Braised Brisket with celery root & carrots.

Tags: Q&A