In the American, English and German systems of primal beef cuts, the brisket (or rinderbrust) is a cut that comes from the breast or lower chest of the cow. The brisket is one of the nine primal cuts of beef and is particularly known for its size and for having a significant amount of connective tissue. This cut consists of two different muscles: the pectoralis major, known as the "flat," and the pectoralis minor, or the "point." The flat is leaner, while the point has more fat and marbling. Because of the high amount of connective tissue, brisket needs to be cooked slowly, over low heat, to allow the collagen in the meat to break down and become tender. This makes it a popular choice for slow cooking methods like smoking, braising, or slow roasting. Brisket is notably used in a variety of regional American barbecue traditions, particularly Texas-style barbecue, where it's often smoked for many hours. It's also traditionally used for making corned beef and pastrami.
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