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.
Are these similar to rib tips?
The two are different. See the link for an explanation.
https://beardedbutchers.com/blogs/news/burnt-ends-vs-rib-tips/
I just bought this pork burnt ends for the first time they are very good I’m definitely going to get them again I like Aldi I go there live
They’re awful. They taste cheap and fake, semi-disgusting. I guess you get what you pay for. The texture is all wrong too. Mushy. Burnt ends NEED to have a crunchy bark to them, these are just fake processed microwaved meat cubes not far from dog food and slathered in chemically so-called BBQ sauce. It’s cheap for a reason.
I just found these at Aldi’s. It says to microwave. I used a small shallow pan with foil and I cooked it in my toaster oven till they were crispy. OMG lol.
i place them in top of tater tots with Durkee onions, sliced jalapenos and shredded cheese. I top them off with extra bbq and bake at 350 for about 40 minutes. They make excellent dirty tots!
Has anyone tried these in an airfryer?
Yes but set it to broil setting at a low temp. After it’s done (15-20min) shred it and mix with sauce. Serve on brioche bun or Hawaiian rolls.
I just spotted these at my local Aldi store yesterday. I rolled the dice and decided to give them a try. They were surprisingly very good. I prefer my sauce a bit caramelized. But, this is quick and delicious. I will definitely be getting them again. Next time, though, I think I’ll try placing them under the oven broiler and heating them using this method to see I can get some caramelization. Today, I decided to check if there were any reviews of this product and spotted yours. You were spot on with your review.
If you want the firmer texture of burnt ends, you might be disappointed but if you are okay with a softer texture, this works. It is really tasty over rice or mashed potatoes. The sauce has just the right amount of seasonings. One pkg easily fed two adults.
Amazing definitely buy again