How much brisket should you eat? (2024)

We know it’s extra-tasty, but is there something unusually healthy about brisket?

During the 62nd Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course a few months ago, Stephen Smith, a Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientist, sang the praises of brisket, which is the cut of meat that comes from the lower chest area of a cow.

"Brisket has higher oleic acid than the flank or plate, which are the trims typically used to produce ground beef," Smith said, as reported by AgriLife Today.

Oleic acid is a big deal when it comes to health. It’s a type of fatty acid known to decrease low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, also known as “bad” cholesterol. LDL causes plaque to build up in the arteries, which leads to heart disease.

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So, if brisket is high in oleic acid, we should eat a lot of it, right?

Well, no – at least not according to Jennifer Dalton, the Director of Didactic Program in Dietetics in the Department of Health and Sport Science at the University of Dayton.

“Red meat, particularly cuts that are high in saturated fat and cholesterol, should be limited throughout the week to reduce cardiovascular disease. Total animal protein sources of meat should be limited to 5 to 6 ounces per day. When consumption of animal products exceeds this amount, intake of fiber-rich, nutrient-dense foods such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains are often reduced,” Dalton said.

“Higher fat cuts and types of meat products include hot dogs, ground beef, rib eye, flat iron and fatty portions of brisket,” she said. “The underside (flat half) of brisket is the portion that has been studied to be higher in oleic acid in the study referenced.”

“Brisket is not the only source of oleic acid; olive oil is a good source,” Dalton added.

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