Park Street Deli Pork Burnt Ends

Last Updated on June 15, 2022

A few years ago, my family took a trip to Kansas City, Missouri. We did a lot while we were there, and tops on our priority list was to get some barbecue. KC has a big reputation in the BBQ scene, with a terrific assortment of local places serving some truly outstanding meats. (And yes, Kansas City style sauce is abundant.)

It was in Kansas City where we first sampled burnt ends. Everyone who lived in or visited KC had insisted we get them, and we were not disappointed. These little pieces of pork brisket are, as the name suggests, burned on one end, giving them a distinct taste and texture.

We sometimes run into them back home at a few select restaurants, but I don’t know that we’ve ever seen them in stores. Imagine my surprise, then, to not only spot them in my local Aldi, but in the everyday Regular Buy area.

I couldn’t pass that up.

Park Street Deli Pork Burnt Ends can be found in Aldi all the time. They come in a 16-ounce container and currently cost $5.99. That comes out to around 37 cents an ounce. You can find them in the store’s refrigerated section. These are sold alongside some other meats, including pulled pork, pulled beef brisket, and chicken fajitas.

The burnt ends container says it can be frozen. They also say, though, that it should be defrosted before cooking. To defrost, it says to place in the refrigerator for at least 12 hours and to use the product within 3 days of defrosting.

There are two ways to cook the burnt ends: microwave (recommended) and stovetop.

To cook in the microwave, remove the paper sleeve. Next, puncture the inner pouch; this will let steam escape during heating. Then, microwave on high for 3 minutes or until hot. Once hot, (carefully) open the bag and put the contents into your serving dish.

To cook on the stovetop, heat water to a soft boil. Then, place the bag in the water for 15 minutes. Using tongs, remove the package from the pot. Next, let the bag rest for 2 minutes before opening.

We cooked them in the microwave.

We liked them. They had a flavorful, KC-style taste and a pretty good texture. They might be softer than your average burnt ends (not surprising given that they’re microwaved in sauce), but on the other hand, they are easy to chew. One downside is that it isn’t a terribly large serving: the packaging says it serves three, but that might be a stretch. Two seems more accurate, and even then you’ll want to supplement it with side dishes.

Nutritionally, a 5-ounce serving has 290 calories, 11 grams of total fat (17% DV), 5 grams of saturated fat (27% DV), 790 mg of sodium (33% DV), 27 grams of total carbohydrates (9% DV), and 23 grams of sugars.

Nutrition, ingredients, and heating instructions. (Click to enlarge.)

The Verdict:

Park Street Deli Pork Burnt Ends are an easy way to get burnt ends. They have a good flavor, and our family liked the texture. If you need your burnt end fix and want to try something simple, these might be worth a look. Just keep in mind that it isn’t a large serving.