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Brisket flats are the primo cut of brisket and you pay for it. Thanks for posting that pic and price.
We were talking a USDA Prime packer brisket, 12-15% waste, coming in at $2 a pound less at Costco and Choice at Sams for $2.89lb, down from $3.09 days ago. The same item selling in Chicago for $7.50lb.
I pay out the ass (I admit it) from my butcher but those in the know say I get a good price. I have few outlets for primo meat without going to the farm and there's a timing issue. Plus it is dry aged, high grade prime and trimmed for free. For what I get I pay above Chicago prices.
Your flat was just over 8lbs for $45 and I would say still has some serious trimming(>1/2lb) to get it to where the smoke gets to the meat.
Doing the Costco math or lets say flat to a 18 lb packer will deliver your 8.25 flat plus about 7lbs of burnt ends or burger meat. Someone said the roasted it off and through it in chili.
Flat: $5.49 X 8.25 = $45.40? less $4 trim or $41 for 7.50 lbs
Packer: $2.89 X 18 =$52.10? less $6 trim or $46 for
16 15lbs
You get a lot more for an hours trimming time, less when you've done it a while. And for a few bucks more FMB found that Costco was selling prime for 25% more. I'd be all over that if I had a Costco nearby.
That said, Sam's just sent me a 3 month trial membership so I am going to do 2 of their choice packers and see what I get. They, unlike Costco, do not sell Prime. Some sources on the BBQ boards actually thought USDA prime plus (high marbled) was better than the prime. Then there are those who can make select melt in your mouth. I'm going to take a stab at dry aging the briskets. More on that later.
I am waiting to hear what FMB thinks of the prime brisket vs. choice.