Chuck roast or beef brisket? That’s a hard choice to make.
Both cuts of meat are amazing in their own right, but which one is the better cut of beef.
Contents
What Is Beef Brisket?
Brisket is the meat carved from the chest portion of the cow. Brisket is positioned between the front legs on the steer.
Brisket is also an excellent source of collagen and gelatin, which are responsible for forming strong connective tissues in the body.
Brisket is synonymous with barbecue because it has a high-fat ratio and contains a lot of connective tissue.
When you make brisket in your offset smoker, the fat renders and turns into a flavorful cut of beef.
What Is Chuck Roast?
Chuck roast is also a cut of beef is that carved from the upper shoulder and neck region.
Chuck roast has a tough texture that must be cooked low and slow to yield tender meat.
Chuck roast consists of two muscles: the first rib and the shoulder or clod. Chuck roasts are used for slow-cooking and braising.
In addition to this, ground beef can also be made from chuck.
How Much Does Chuck Roast Cost?
Chuck roasts is relatively inexpensive. In fact, chuck roasts can cost about $5 per pound.
However, the pounds do add up. For example, if you are feeding a crowd, you need to know how much meat per person.
If you purchase a 6-8 pound chuck roast, you could spend as much as $30-$40.
Even though this may seem like a lot of money, a piece of meat this size should be able to feed 10-12 people.
How Much Does Brisket Cost?
Brisket is a little bit cheaper than chuck roast. Brisket costs about $3-$4 a pound. Brisket is a huge chunk of meat.
So if you end up paying $40 for a 10-pound brisket, there’s no need to sweat it. You can always reheat your leftover brisket.
Chuck Roast vs. Brisket
While there are similarities between chuck roast and brisket, there are also differences.
We must explore both categories in detail before deciding which cut of beef is better.
Both brisket and chuck roast can be served with similar sides, such as mashed potatoes or grilled eggplant.
You can also serve both cuts with BBQ coleslaw or BBQ baked beans if you smoked them in your propane smoker.
Lastly, both brisket and chuck roast have connective tissue, which is why both cuts contain so much collagen and gelatin.
Collagen is thought to aid muscle recovery after post-exercise and support healthy skin.
On the other hand, there are also differences between chuck and brisket. Yes, both cuts are tough and fatty, so it is easy to confuse them.
However, beef brisket comes from the chest area of the cow and contains a higher fat to meat ratio.
In addition to this, brisket is tougher than chuck roast and needs to be cooked a little longer than chuck roast.
Chuck roast is carved from the shoulder of the animal, has a smaller ratio of fat, and has more connective tissue than brisket.
There are also fat differences between brisket and chuck. Brisket has fat that comes from the abdominal area, which makes it richer.
Beef brisket is also said to have a stronger, somewhat tangy flavor. Chuck fat is less rich, but it is still flavorful.
Brisket must be slow-cooked in an oven, smoker, or slow cooker.
Brisket is best cooked at a low temperature between 8-10 hours in beer, chicken broth, or some other liquid to keep it moist.
Chuck roast should be seared on all sides before cooking it to create those browned crisp edges.
First, sear your chuck roast in a hot cast-iron skillet for 3-5 minutes per side.
Next, the chuck roast should be simmered for 2-4 hours until it is nice and tender.
In addition to this, chuck roast can also be cooked at higher temperatures.
For example, a 4-pound chuck roast can be cooked for 3- 31/2 hours, while an 8-pound brisket has to be cooked for 8-10 hours.
Even though many people allege that you can tell brisket or chuck roast is done by looking at it, the only way to tell if these cuts of beef are done is by using an infrared thermometer or smoker thermometer.
Both chuck roast and brisket should have a temperature between 195°F-205°F.
Can You Substitute Chuck Roast for Brisket?
Ironically, even though people have tried to pit brisket and chuck roast against each other, they are actually the best substitutes for one another.
Both cuts contain similar fat and connective tissue ratios.
How to Smoke Chuck Roast
Although chuck roast is usually cooked in a slow cooker or the oven, you can smoke it in your offset smoker.
Make sure you purchase a chuck roast that is at least 5 pounds.
To smoke your chuck roast, remove it from the fridge and let it come to room temperature.
It may take a little over an hour for the chuck roast to come to room temperature.
Tie the chuck roast with kitchen twine and in a grid pattern. Tying the chuck roast will give it a uniform look if it is misshapen.
In addition to this, tying the roast will also help it cook more evenly.
You season your chuck roast with your favorite BBQ rub, or you can make your own seasoning.
Simply combine salt, garlic, pepper, chili powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, and any herbs you desire to make your seasoning.
Cover the entire chuck roast with seasoning. Massage it into every nook and cranny.
Cover the chuck roast with plastic wrap and let it marinate in the fridge overnight or for at least 4 hours.
Load your smoker with charcoal and your preferred wood chips. Oak and hickory woods pair perfectly with a chuck roast.
Heat your smoker to 225°F. Once your smoker has the correct temperature, place your chuck roast onto your smoker cooking grates.
Smoke the chuck roast for 6-8 hours. However, you must check the chuck roast every 1-1 1/2 hours.
Your smoker’s ambient temperature should remain at 225°F throughout the entire duration of the smoke.
Remove the chuck roast from your smoker and double wrap it with foil. Return the chuck roast for another hour.
Increase your smoker’s temperature to 250°F to ensure the collagen breaks down in the required amount of time. Once the chuck roast has a temperature of 160°F, it is finished cooking.
Let the chuck roast rest for 30 minutes to an hour before slicing and serving.
How To Cook Brisket?
I cannot say enough brisket is the perfect candidate for smoking.
Smoking brisket gives it time for the tough connective tissues to break down and the fat to melt, leaving you with a tender cut of beef.
Remove your brisket from the fridge and let it come to room temperature.
It will take longer than an hour for the brisket to come to room temperature.
However, you should not leave the brisket at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
Bacteria can double in 20 minutes at room temperature.
Two hours later, the brisket will be contaminated with so much bacteria that it is unsafe to eat.
Although you may think smoking the brisket will neutralize the bacteria, if the bacteria has already released its toxins cooking, it will not kill them.
Therefore, you may be serving your loved ones contaminated food that could make them very sick.
Load your smoker up with charcoal and fruitwood such as cherry. This combination will create a balanced smoky, and slightly fruity flavor profile.
Heat your smoker to 250°F. Once your smoker comes up to temperature, add the brisket.
Whether you prefer brisket fat side up or down is totally up to you.
Either way, make sure you put a drip pan directly under it to catch those delicious juices if you are placing the brisket directly onto the cooking grates.
Let the brisket cook for 5 hours. Remove the brisket from the smoker.
Double wrap it with foil, return the brisket to your smoker, and cook it for a few more hours.
Remove the fully cooked brisket from the smoker and let it rest for 30 minutes to an hour.
Resting the brisket will help the juices remain in the meat instead of all over your butcher block. Next, slice your brisket using a sharp knife and serve it to your guests.
Final Thoughts
Beef brisket or chuck roast? I just can’t choose. Luckily, I don’t have to choose right at this very moment.
Whether you make beef brisket or chuck roast at your next family gathering is up to you.
I’d recommend pulling out your offset or electric smoker and smoking each cut at least once before making this difficult decision.
Alternatively, you can also make beef brisket and chuck roast for your event.
Your guest will love you even more since they can grab a few slices of each piece of meat.
You might also be interested in the following:
- Arm Roast Vs. Chuck Roast
- Rump Roast Vs. Chuck Roast
- Shoulder Roast Vs. Chuck Roast
- Chuck Steak Vs. Chuck Roast
I have been smoking and grilling meat from an early age and enjoy sharing my knowledge and expertise through the hundreds of articles I have written about BBQ. I hope to make everyone’s BBQ journey that little bit easier.