{"id":11785,"date":"2021-07-17T09:31:37","date_gmt":"2021-07-17T14:31:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bbqdryrubs.com\/?p=11785"},"modified":"2023-09-27T11:51:49","modified_gmt":"2023-09-27T16:51:49","slug":"brisket-vs-pulled-pork","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bbqdryrubs.com\/brisket-vs-pulled-pork\/","title":{"rendered":"Brisket vs Pulled Pork: Which Is Better?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Choosing the right meat to cook for a barbecue can be a real challenge.\u00a0 You want to smoke something that will taste fantastic and feed a crowd.\u00a0 These two requirements often has people wondering about brisket vs pulled pork and which one should they cook on their smoker.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">If you are trying to decide between making a brisket and pulled pork then the primary considerations are:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Brisket is More Expensive than Pulled Pork<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Pulled Pork is Easier to Cook than Brisket<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Different Sauces and Sides for Each Meat<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>How to Deal with Leftovers<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Let&#8217;s look at each of these differences in more detail.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-11794 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/bbqdryrubs.com\/gnne\/2021\/07\/Brisket-vs-Pulled-Pork.jpg\" alt=\"Brisket vs Pulled Pork\" width=\"840\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bbqdryrubs.com\/gnne\/2021\/07\/Brisket-vs-Pulled-Pork.jpg 840w, https:\/\/bbqdryrubs.com\/gnne\/2021\/07\/Brisket-vs-Pulled-Pork-300x214.jpg 300w, https:\/\/bbqdryrubs.com\/gnne\/2021\/07\/Brisket-vs-Pulled-Pork-768x549.jpg 768w, https:\/\/bbqdryrubs.com\/gnne\/2021\/07\/Brisket-vs-Pulled-Pork-150x107.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 840px) 100vw, 840px\" \/><\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_65 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/bbqdryrubs.com\/brisket-vs-pulled-pork\/#Brisket_is_More_Expensive_than_Pulled_Pork\" title=\"Brisket is More Expensive than Pulled Pork\">Brisket is More Expensive than Pulled Pork<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/bbqdryrubs.com\/brisket-vs-pulled-pork\/#Pulled_Pork_is_Easier_to_Cook_than_Brisket\" title=\"Pulled Pork is Easier to Cook than Brisket\">Pulled Pork is Easier to Cook than Brisket<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/bbqdryrubs.com\/brisket-vs-pulled-pork\/#Different_Side_Dishes_and_Sauces_for_Each_Meat\" title=\"Different Side Dishes and Sauces for Each Meat\">Different Side Dishes and Sauces for Each Meat<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/bbqdryrubs.com\/brisket-vs-pulled-pork\/#Side_Dishes_for_Brisket\" title=\"Side Dishes for Brisket\">Side Dishes for Brisket<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/bbqdryrubs.com\/brisket-vs-pulled-pork\/#Side_Dishes_for_Pulled_Pork\" title=\"Side Dishes for Pulled Pork\">Side Dishes for Pulled Pork<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/bbqdryrubs.com\/brisket-vs-pulled-pork\/#How_to_Deal_with_Leftovers\" title=\"How to Deal with Leftovers\">How to Deal with Leftovers<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/bbqdryrubs.com\/brisket-vs-pulled-pork\/#Conclusion\" title=\"Conclusion\">Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Brisket_is_More_Expensive_than_Pulled_Pork\"><\/span>Brisket is More Expensive than Pulled Pork<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">It is hard to ignore the obvious price difference between beef and pork.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">The exact price difference is going to vary depending upon the grade of beef, where you are in the country, etc. but, in general, brisket will cost you 3-4 times as much as pork on a per pound basis.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Typically you will make pulled pork from a Boston Butt or <a href=\"https:\/\/bbqdryrubs.com\/do-you-smoke-a-pork-shoulder-at-225-or-250f\/\">Pork Shoulder<\/a> which has the same finished meat yield of 50-60% as a brisket.\u00a0 You can also <a href=\"https:\/\/bbqdryrubs.com\/how-to-smoke-a-pork-loin-for-pulled-pork\/\"><strong><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">make pulled pork from a pork loin<\/span><\/strong><\/a> and, while it will not be as good as that from a butt, the waste will be less so the cost difference vs brisket will be even greater.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">To get a better idea on costs and how much raw meat you will need for your barbecue you can check out the following two resources:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/bbqdryrubs.com\/much-brisket-per-person\/\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>How Much Brisket per Person<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/bbqdryrubs.com\/how-much-pulled-pork-per-person\/\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>How Much Pulled Pork per Person<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Pulled_Pork_is_Easier_to_Cook_than_Brisket\"><\/span>Pulled Pork is Easier to Cook than Brisket<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">It is, without a doubt, much easier to cook pulled pork than a brisket.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">To make pulled pork you just need to throw some rub on a pork butt, set your smoker to 250-275F and after about 5-6 hours wrap it tightly in aluminum foil.\u00a0 After the butt has been wrapped in foil you let it cook for another 5 hours until the meat is as tender as butter.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">A <a href=\"https:\/\/bbqdryrubs.com\/where-to-buy-brisket\/\">whole packer brisket<\/a> is much tougher to cook because it is composed of two very different muscles, the point and the flat.\u00a0 The &#8220;point&#8221; is extremely fatty while the &#8220;flat&#8221; is very lean.\u00a0 Trying to get the flat tender without it drying out is one of the greatest challenges in the world of barbecue.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">It is not uncommon to have to smoke a brisket for 15 hours and even after that much cook time it still needs to rest for at least an hour before slicing.\u00a0 See <a href=\"https:\/\/bbqdryrubs.com\/long-smoke-brisket\/\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>How Long to Smoke a Brisket<\/strong><\/span><\/a> for more detailed information.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">The one chance you have to level the playing field is if you <a href=\"https:\/\/bbqdryrubs.com\/when-to-wrap-a-brisket\/\">wrap the brisket<\/a> and cook it so long that it completely falls apart and you end up making <strong><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.extraordinarybbq.com\/smoked-pulled-brisket\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">pulled brisket<\/a><\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 Pulled and shredded brisket is great for sandwiches but isn&#8217;t exactly the barbecue experience that most people associate with brisket.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Different_Side_Dishes_and_Sauces_for_Each_Meat\"><\/span>Different Side Dishes and Sauces for Each Meat<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">The meat is only a portion of what you serve at a barbecue so take some time to consider what type of side dishes you enjoy.\u00a0 It turns out that the sides that work really well with brisket are quite different than what you should serve with pulled pork.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Side_Dishes_for_Brisket\"><\/span>Side Dishes for Brisket<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Brisket has a strong, earthy flavor profile and is complimented by sides that can stand up to the beef.\u00a0 Some of the classic side dishes for brisket include the following:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Pinto Beans<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Potato Salad (Mustard Based)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">White Bread (I don&#8217;t know why but it just works.)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Pickles and Onion Slices<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Spicy and Bold Barbecue Sauce<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Side_Dishes_for_Pulled_Pork\"><\/span>Side Dishes for Pulled Pork<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">In contrast to brisket, pulled pork has a rich sweetness that pairs well with sweet and creamy flavor profiles.\u00a0 Some of the classic side dishes for pulled pork include the following:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Cole slaw (often served on top of the pork as a sandwich)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Baked Beans Cooked with Sweet Baby Ray&#8217;s Barbecue Sauce<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Mac n Cheese<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Sweet Barbecue Sauce to compliment the pork<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Vinegar Based Barbecue Sauce to cut through the richness of the pork<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Deal_with_Leftovers\"><\/span>How to Deal with Leftovers<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">When you cook either brisket or pulled pork you will usually have some leftover meat.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">I like to divide the pulled pork into half pound portions, vacuum seal them and put them in the freezer.\u00a0 It is really easy to reheat the pork, either by simmering in a water bath or by using a microwave.\u00a0 The half pound portions are about the right size for feeding two people and are highly manageable.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Leftover brisket is a little harder to deal with.\u00a0 When I cook a brisket I tend to slice it as it is being served so I don&#8217;t have slices sitting around and drying out.\u00a0 This means any leftovers are typically in the form of a partially sliced brisket flat.\u00a0 It is really hard to <a href=\"https:\/\/bbqdryrubs.com\/how-to-reheat-brisket\/\">reheat brisket<\/a> slices without them drying out so I will vacuum seal and freeze the intact flat.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Leftover brisket is much more versatile than leftover pulled pork.\u00a0 I love using leftover brisket for chili, breakfast tacos, twice baked potatoes or even as a topping for a Caesar salad.\u00a0 The sweetness of pulled pork limits what types of dishes it will work with.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span>Conclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">There are a lot of differences between brisket and pulled pork. While a perfectly executed brisket is a true work of culinary art the reality is that it is a tough trick to pull off and pulled pork has a much better chance of success.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">For most folks the budgetary considerations as well as the ease of preparation make cooking pulled pork the preferred choice.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Choosing the right meat to cook for a barbecue can be a real challenge.\u00a0 You want to smoke something that will taste fantastic and feed a crowd.\u00a0 These two requirements&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":11794,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bbqdryrubs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11785"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bbqdryrubs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bbqdryrubs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bbqdryrubs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bbqdryrubs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11785"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/bbqdryrubs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11785\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13043,"href":"https:\/\/bbqdryrubs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11785\/revisions\/13043"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bbqdryrubs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11794"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bbqdryrubs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11785"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bbqdryrubs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11785"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bbqdryrubs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11785"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}