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ONCE CONSIDERED BBQ SCRAP, LEARN ALL ABOUT BBQ BURNT ENDS (AKA BBQ GOLD)
If you’ve ever prepared or eaten barbecue brisket, you have likely trimmed off the burnt ends. These meaty morsels are a delicacy that should not be scrapped.
Despite their name, burnt ends are not burnt. They are juicy, crispy cubes of BBQ meat that we can get enough of. Read on to learn why beautiful burnt ends are a delicious barbcue delicacy.
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What Are Burnt Ends?
Burnt ends, the charred ends of smoked brisket, are some of the most revered morsels of BBQ. What were once considered scraps and, like ribs, discarded by pitmasters, have become one of the most popular dishes at BBQ joints in the last 40 years.
Burnt ends are some of the most sought after BBQ bites. Their use as a standalone BBQ dish and as a component of BBQ sides like baked beans and stews are endless.
What Kind of Meat is Burnt Ends?
Burnt ends are the end trimmings from a smoked beef brisket. Brisket has two muscles, the flat and the deckle, or point. The point is where burnt ends come from thanks to its large concentration of fat. Brisket is rubbed with seasonings and cooked low and slow in a smoker. The crispy ends are cut off; hence, the name burnt ends.
Burnt ends can also be made with pork belly. Pork burnt ends have a similar thick bark that is created during the smoking process. Like brisket, pork burnt ends are slathered in BBQ sauce. Whether you prefer red meat brisket or white meat pork burnt ends, each tastes similar thanks to the smoking and the sauce.
These tiny pieces of meat should not be confused with rib tips, a squared off piece of heavily marbled and flavorful meat from the underside of spare ribs.
Why Are They Called Burnt Ends?
Despite the name, burnt ends are not actually burnt. The meat fat and the seasoning rubbed on the brisket react when smoked, caramelizing the outside of the meat and creating a dark-colored, flavorful “bark” or outer crust while the meat inside turns moist. These crispy pieces of oddly-shaped meat were trimmed off by pitmasters when they sliced the brisket.
At Arthur Bryant’s Barbecue, these crispy pieces of meat were placed on the counter, so customers could chew on them while they stood in line. This BBQ trash was later deemed BBQ treasure in the 1970s, so these bite-size bits were added to the menu and called burnt ends.
What Do Burnt Ends Taste Like?
Burnt ends are smoky, juicy, slightly fatty, crispy, a little greasy, and melt in your mouth. They should not be tough or chewy. A quality burnt end — the equivalent of a piece of BBQ gold — has a dark crust, visible smoke ring, and a layer of fat.
Why Are Burnt Ends So Good?
Burnt ends are so good because they taste like meat magic. Time, temperature, the pit and its wood determine if a burnt end will be magical or mediocre.
Each cubed piece has a crispy heavy char texture outside and juicy, pink interior plus a smoky aroma and taste. During the smoking process, the fat on the brisket mixes with the smoke. The best burnt ends are sweet, savory, and smoky.
Today, pitmasters largely recreate what original burnt ends were due to their popularity and short supply. A brisket doesn’t yield many ends, so pitmasters often use more than the brisket ends to create these ends. Some use other beef parts or pork, but true, classic burnt ends come from the end of the brisket point.
Who Invented Burnt Ends?
Burnt ends are a happy accident that started in Kansas City, Missouri. At legendary Arthur Bryant’s Barbecue, the burnt tips of the brisket were cut off and placed on the counter for customers to snack on while waiting in line.
Then, in 1972, Calvin Trillin wrote an article in Playboy magazine about the complimentary countertop charred bits, declaring “The main course at Bryant’s, as far as I’m concerned, is something that is given away free — the burned edges of the brisket.” This intrigued locals and BBQ aficionados and the rest is culinary history.
Where to Buy Brisket Burnt Ends
Brisket burnt ends can be found on BBQ restaurant menus in Kansas City, the birthplace, and on Goldbelly. These crunchy cubes are so popular that they often appear on the menus in other BBQ hotspots like Texas.
Most Famous Burnt Ends
The most smokin’ hot burnt ends are made by the top pitmasters in America, particularly Kansas City. Check out these smokin’ meats and BBQ samplers shipping nationwide.
Pecan Lodge: Brisket Burnt Ends
What started as a mobile catering business out of the back of a pickup truck has turned into a standalone restaurant in Dallas, Texas, serving some of the best BBQ in the US.
Featured on “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives,” Pecan Lodge’s burnt ends are double-smoked brisket bites basted with Pecan Lodge BBQ Sauce. Pecan’s Lodge’s Burnt Ends include 3 lbs. of burnt ends and a jar of Pecan Lodge BBQ Sauce.
4 Rivers Smokehouse: Burnt Ends
Pitmaster John Rivers spent 20 years in healthcare, traveling the country learning everything there is to know about barbecue. In 2009, he pursued his passion by opening the first 4 Rivers Smokehouse in Winter Park, Florida.
The smokehouse makes its burnt ends from a combo of chopped brisket and pulled pork that is oak smoked and slathered in 4R Signature Sauce.
Heim Barbecue: Signature Bacon Burnt Ends
Back in 2016, Travis and Emma Heim began smoking meats for backyard barbecues with friends, and, three years later, the couple opened Heim BBQ in Fort Worth, Texas.
The mom-and-pop BBQ restaurant makes its “farm to smoker” Bacon Burnt Ends with Niman Ranch pork belly that is cured for a day and then smoked for hours.
Feel the burn…burnt ends that is. The best BBQ, including beautiful burnt ends, is shipping nationwide on Goldbelly!
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