Burnt ends and brisket both come from the same cut of beef, and both are slow smoked. The difference is which part of the brisket is used and how it is finished.
What Brisket Is
A whole beef brisket, often called a packer brisket, is made up of two muscles. The flat is the long, lean section. The point sits on top of one end and has much more fat running through it. In Texas-style barbecue, the whole brisket is smoked low and slow for many hours and then sliced across the grain. Our brisket flat vs point guide covers the two sections in more detail.
What Burnt Ends Are
Burnt ends are cubes of brisket, usually cut from the fatty point. After the brisket is smoked, the point is cut into bite-sized pieces, tossed with sauce or more seasoning, and returned to the smoker. The extra time renders more of the fat and caramelizes the outside of each piece.
Despite the name, burnt ends are not burnt. The name comes from their dark, crisp edges. Burnt ends are closely tied to Kansas City barbecue, where they started as the trimmed ends of the brisket.
How They Compare
- Cut: Sliced brisket can come from the flat, the point or both. Burnt ends come mostly from the point.
- Texture: Sliced brisket is tender, with a peppery bark along the edge of each slice. Burnt ends are soft inside, with crust on every side.
- Flavor: Sliced brisket relies on salt, pepper and smoke. Burnt ends are richer and often sweeter because of the sauce and the extra rendered fat.
- Cooking time: Burnt ends take longer, because the point goes back into the smoker after the brisket is done.
Which One to Choose
Sliced brisket is the better choice if you want to taste the beef, the bark and the smoke on their own. Burnt ends are the better choice if you like rich, saucy bites. Many barbecue fans enjoy both.
Brisket at Stampede
We smoke Texas-style beef brisket over wood and sell it by the pound at our restaurant in Mohnton and our food truck in Glenmoore. It is also served on a meat plate with two sides and on several of our sandwiches. See the brisket page for the full list, or read what Texas-style barbecue is.