It’s important to know the difference in cost and quality when choosing a beef brisket from the store or butcher. After all, we want to get the best bang for the buck while still choosing a good cut of beef.
Knowing the differences between USDA Select, Choice, and Prime grades will help decide which quality to use for which cooking style and occasion.
After all, it doesn’t make sense to marinade high-quality beef, such as wagyu beef, whereas it makes more sense to marinade lower quality beef that may dry out.
So what is the difference in cost and quality between USDA Select, Choice, and Prime?
Generally, beef briskets cost between $3 to $10 per pound. The price fluctuates based on the grade (USDA Select vs Choice vs Prime) and the cut (Flat vs Point vs Untrimmed). USDA Prime is the most expensive grade followed by USDA Choice while USDA Select is the least expensive grade.
This article will explain the differences in beef quality and the prices associated with each cut. By the end of this article, you will be able to select the best beef brisket for your budget and cooking style.
Keep in mind that “pork brisket” is becoming a more popular option, however, this article will focus on just beef brisket.
See this article to learn how to identify a beef brisket vs a pork brisket.
USDA Beef Grading System (Explained)
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service developed a grading system that outlines the measurable characteristics for evaluating beef. Meat graders at USDA use this grading system to classify beef according to yield and quality characteristics:
| Yield | Grades beef by the amount of usable lean meat from a carcass. |
| Quality | Grades beef by the degree of flavor, juiciness, and tenderness. There are three main quality classifications: 1. Prime 2. Choice 3. Select |
USDA Select
USDA Select is the lowest grade of beef. This grade of beef is a lean cut with a minimal amount of marbling as seen in the photo.
The little amount of marbling makes this meat tough and prone to drying out. This makes USDA Select beef unsuitable for smoking or any other form of dry-heat cooking.
USDA Select is the least expensive cut of beef when it comes to steaks or briskets.
Generally, USDA Select beef is more suitable for making corned beef or stews. Other ways of cooking or grilling USDA Select beef involve marinades or braising in order to add moisture into the meat.
USDA Choice
USDA Choice is the middle grade of beef. This grade of beef has more marbling than Select but less than Prime.
USDA Choice is a more common and higher quality beef that is suitable for smoking and dry-heat cooking. This grade of beef usually has a moderate amount of marbling which will provide the fat and moisture needed for smoking.
USDA Choice will be more expensive than Select since the meat is higher quality with more marbling.
Although not as flavorful and juicy as USDA Prime, Choice quality beef is great for beginner Pitmasters.
USDA Prime
USDA Prime is the highest grade of beef from the USDA and is usually sourced from young, well-fed beef cattle.
The beef’s high amount of marbling (fat content) produces flavorful, tender, and juicy meat. These qualities make USDA Prime the best beef for grilling, roasting, and other dry-cooking methods.
USDA Prime is the most expensive beef and is highly sought after by high-end restaurants and Pitmasters. This is the rarest cut of beef to find which also drives the price up even more.
Price Differences between USDA Select, Choice, and Prime Brisket
I sampled 5 stores to find out the prices of their USDA Select, Choice, and Prime graded brisket. These are early 2021 prices and may fluctuate based on the market.
It’s worth noting that none of the online stores sold all three grades of brisket. Most stores only sold one or two grades of packer-cut or untrimmed beef brisket.
| Store | USA Select | USDA Choice | USDA Prime |
|---|---|---|---|
| Costco | – | – | $5.29 per pound |
| Super 1 Foods | $3.98 per pound | – | – |
| H.E.B | – | – | $4.83 per pound |
| Snake River Farms | – | $12.90 per pound | $13.90 per pound |
| Sam’s Club | – | $4.68 per pound | $4.78 per pound |
I also carried out further research using 2020 retail price data from the USDA’s National Beef Retail Report. The goal was to spot price differences across regions for USDA Choice briskets.
| Location | Average price per pound Jan-June 2020 | Average price per pound Jul-Dec 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| Northeast (CT, DE, MA, MD, ME, NJ, NH, PA, RI, VT) | $5.99 | $6.34 |
| Southeast (AL, FL, GA, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA, WV) | $4.60 | $4.33 |
| Midwest (IA, IL, IN, KY, MN, ND, NE, OH, SD, WI) | $4.71 | $4.10 |
| South Central (AR, CO, KS, LA, MO, NM, OK, TX) | $3.35 | $3.50 |
| Southwest (AZ, CA, NV, UT) | $3.94 | $3.51 |
| Northwest (ID, MT, OR, WA, WY) | $4.88 | $4.94 |
| Alaska | $4.54 | $4.98 |
| Hawaii | $4.68 | $3.16 |
| National Averages | $4.96 | $4.73 |
Source: USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, Livestock, Poultry, and Grain Market News
It is evident from the table and chart that the Northeast has the highest retail price for USDA Choice beef brisket across the board. While the South Central region had the lowest retail prices for USDA Choice beef brisket.
Generally, the average price per pound of USDA Choice beef brisket was about $5 per pound in the US in 2020.
Prime vs. Choice Brisket: Which One Should You Buy?
Both USDA Prime and Choice graded briskets are made of good quality meat. You can use either USDA Prime or Choice for your BBQ weekend especially if you’re planning on using a pellet grill or smoker.
Here are the pros and cons for purchasing USDA Prime vs Choice
Why you should buy USDA Prime:
- Highest quality beef according to USDA grading scale.
- Has the most marbling, which means it is tastier than Choice or Select beef. The marbling indicates a higher fat content, which keeps the meat moist as it renders.
The challenge with USDA Prime:
- Can be hard to find at your local supermarket. You’ll have to purchase from larger stores (such as Costco, Sam’s Club, or Whole Foods) and suppliers like Snake River Farms.
- Very few farmers raise their beef cattle to this grade.
- Most expensive of the three USDA grades.
Why you should buy USDA Choice:
- Easier to find at local supermarkets, butchers, and online.
- Contains a decent amount of marbling for tastier meat.
- Cheaper than USDA Prime brisket
- Better than USDA Select
Pitmasters like Aaron Franklin prefer USDA Prime brisket since Prime has more marbling which makes it tastier than Choice brisket. However, Pitmasters like Aaron been known to use Choice brisket when Prime is unavailable.
A Texas Monthly review of top 50 BBQ joints reveals that the top 9 winners use USDA Prime Brisket.
However, a big challenge with sourcing USDA Prime brisket is that only 5% of the meat processed is graded at prime. This makes finding a prime brisket difficult on top of having to compete with high-end restaurants and steakhouses to find and purchase this quality of beef.
So chances of finding your Prime flat cut or point cut brisket at your local store are rare.
Choice brisket is the most available beef that can produce almost the same flavors as Prime brisket when cooked corretly. Plus, you can achieve almost the same tenderness and juiciness of the Prime brisket if you follow the right smoking techniques and buy the right cut.
So I would recommend purchasing USDA Choice brisket over USDA Prime or Select due to the availability, amount of marbling, and bang for the buck.
What Determines the Price of Beef Brisket?
1. Grade
The grade or quality of the beef is one of the biggest drivers of price. Prime brisket is the most expensive while Select is the least expensive of USDA graded beef.
For example, Snake River Farm charges $129 for 10 pound USDA Choice-graded beef brisket and $139 for 10 pound USDA Prime grade brisket.
2. Type of Cut
A flat cut or point cut will cost you more than a packer cut or untrimmed brisket.
At H.E.B, a trimmed flat cut costs $5.14 per pound while a trimmed point cut is $4.93 per pound. This is more expensive than the untrimmed beef brisket that costs $3.36 per pound or the packer style USDA prime brisket at $4.62 per pound.
So the type of cut will affect the price of brisket.
3. Weight
The weight of your cut will determine the total amount the brisket will cost.
On average, a 4 pound point cut at H.E.B will cost you $20.41 or $4.93 per pound while a 2.62 pound flat cut will cost you $13.47 or $5.14 per pound. These smaller cuts are more affordable than an entire brisket which will range from 8 to 16 pounds and can cost anywhere from $50 to $130.
So the weight of the brisket will affect the total price.
4. The Store and Source of Meat
Generally, dedicated meat suppliers charge higher for their USDA graded brisket than a local store or butchery. This is because they source their graded beef from specific meat processors and beef cattle ranches, have special rating systems, or incorporate value-added services into the selling price.
For instance, Whole Foods Market would charge more for their USDA Prime beef brisket because they run an extensive Animal Welfare Rating System to validate the treatment and welfare of the beef cattle.
Likewise, Snake River Farms charges a premium on its Double R Ranch USDA Prime Brisket because they age the beef for 21 days for intense flavor and tenderness.
5 Tips for Getting the Best Price for Brisket
- Choose the right cut of brisket, whether it’s a point, flat, or untrimmed brisket. I would opt for the untrimmed cut because it would give me more leeway to trim the fat to my specifications.
- Perform a ‘bend test’ on the beef to confirm its flexibility prior to buying. The more flexible it is, the better it will cook.
- Look out for online and offline sales from your local stores like H.E.B and Super 1 Foods. Their sales normally coincide with seasons. You can find brisket for as low as $2.00 per pound during summer.
- Buy in bulk, especially when there is a sale. You spend more when you buy brisket in smaller quantities. Buy heavy, large brisket and freeze the extra briskets for later use.
- Ask your local specialty butcher for discounts, especially if you’ve been a long-time customer.
- Join clubs like Costco and Sam’s Club. You’ll be in the know when they have member-only discounts, bulk-buying, or special offers on USDA beef brisket. Plus, you’ll have access to heavy briskets weighing 12-20 pounds at a discounted price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is USDA grade brisket worth the money?
USDA graded beef brisket costs more than non-labeled brisket because it must go through a voluntary, paid-for meat certification and grading program. Through this program, USDA meat graders certify the quality of beef from the meat processors.
So USDA grade brisket is worth the money since this certification represents the government’s standards have been met or surpassed by this meat.
Not to mention, USDA grading is a worthy investment for meat packers and processors since it gives them more leeway to fetch more money for graded beef than non-labeled beef.
Q: Which grade gives the best value for money?
USDA Choice tends to provide the best value for the money. However, USDA Prime will lead to the best tasting meat when cooked rare to medium-rare.
If you prefer your meat well-done or medium-done then USDA Prime-grade beef will be a waste of money. You’d have cooked away all the buttery succulence. The more affordable USDA Choice brisket would have been a better value for your money.
Overall, USDA Choice is a higher quality of beef that is still affordable for most end consumers. USDA Prime can be a bit pricey for the everyday home cook.
Final Thoughts
USDA graded beef brisket is an assurance of value for your money and a mark of quality.
USDA Choice or Prime briskets are good-quality beef for your BBQ needs. USDA Prime is the best if you have a heavy wallet. Otherwise, USDA Choice remains the most popular and available graded-brisket for your dry-cooking needs.
Watch out for unscrupulous meat processors who package their beef with terms such as, ‘Choice’, ‘Top Choice, ‘Prime Cut’, ‘Best Cut’, or ‘Special’. Ensure that the label has the USDA symbol.
Make sure to take advantage of any sales and purchase USDA Prime or Choice briskets in bulk. Heavier briskets tend to offer the best per pound price and the extra brisket can be frozen until its needed.
See this guide for selecting the right brisket size for ideal flavor which also covers how to cut a brisket in half to separate the flat vs the point. That way a larger brisket can be cut down to size so the excess can be stored for later.
Finally see this guide for trimming a brisket that leads to perfect juicy slices.
Sources:
- Costco Business Center. (2021). USDA Prime Commodity Beef Brisket, 14lb avg wt. Retrieved from https://www.costcobusinessdelivery.com/*usda-prime-commodity-beef-brisket%2C-14-lb-avg-wt.product.100082810.html
- H.E.B. (2021). USDA Beef Brisket. Retrieved from https://www.heb.com/category/brisket/3052/ 338579
- Meadows, L. (2019). What’s Your Beef- Prime, Choice or Select? Retrieved from USDA AMS website https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2013/01/28/whats-your-beef-prime-choice-or-select
- Snake River Farms (2021). Double R Ranch USDA Prime Brisket. (2021). Retrieved from https://www.snakeriverfarms.com/doublerranch/northwest-beef-prime-brisket.html
- Sam’s Club. USDA Choice Angus Whole Beef Brisket. Retrieved from https://www.samsclub.com/p/cryovac-sale-whole-beef-brisket-choice/prod17170006
- Super 1 Foods & Discount Pharmacy. (2021). Fresh Beef Brisket USDA Select, 12-14 Lb Avg. Retrieved from https://www.super1foods.com/shop/product/meat-fresh-beef-brisket-usda-select-12-14-lb-avg/366615
- USDA Agricultural Marketing Service. (2021). National Retail Report– Beef: Advertised Prices for Beef at Major Retail Supermarket Outlets. Retrieved from https://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/lswbfrtl.pdf
- USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, Livestock, Poultry, and Grain Market News. (2021). Weekly Advertised Retail Prices for Livestock in 2020. Retrieved from https://www.marketnews.usda.gov/mnp/ls-report-retail?runReport=true&portal=ls&startIndex=1&category=Retail&repType=item&species=BEEF®ion=0&grade=0&cut=BRISKET&product=BRISKET&product=BRISKET%2C+FLAT&dataType=None+Selected&operator=%3c&dataValue=&repDate=01%25
