The BBQ Thread

September 27, 2021, 01:46 PM

mark_a

The BBQ Thread

quote:
Originally posted by holdem:
My sister's birthday was over the weekend, so the family came over and after success with a 5lb and 6lb brisket I stepped up to a 10.5 lb piece.

Cooked it for just shy of 10 hours, up to 203 internal, never wrapped it. Wasn't quite as tender at the smaller ones that I cooked for 8ish hours, but was pretty close. The flavor might have been just a tad better though. And certainly the best smoke ring I have achieved.

I find the bigger the brisket the better for me. I tend to dry little ones out too much. I like to cook 15-16# versions

September 27, 2021, 01:52 PM

holdem

quote:
Originally posted by mark_a:

I find the bigger the brisket the better for me. I tend to dry little ones out too much. I like to cook 15-16# versions

How long do you cook them for? I was thinking of doing two smaller (5-7 lb each) ones next time I need more meat. I am scared of doing the overnight cook. Plus, I really, really like my sleep.

September 27, 2021, 02:45 PM

Tailhook 84

quote:
Originally posted by holdem: How long do you cook them for? I was thinking of doing two smaller (5-7 lb each) ones next time I need more meat. I am scared of doing the overnight cook. Plus, I really, really like my sleep.

I smoke to an internal temperature, not time. That said, on my Traeger at 225 degrees it's roughly 1 hr/lb for the 15-16lb packer cuts. I like to put mine on about 9:00 or 10:00pm and check them when I decide to get up the next morning, and only after I've had my first cup of coffee. That's plenty of time for me to get my much-needed beauty sleep. After you do it a few times you'll gain confidence in your smoker and sleep like a baby dreaming of the great brisket you'll be eating the next day.

September 27, 2021, 02:57 PM

frayedends

For smaller briskets the tenderness has a lot to do with which cut you have, the point or the flat. The flat is very lean and harder to keep moist. Usually when I see a brisket that’s not a whole packer it’s the flat. In any case I always cook an entire packer brisket. They are usually around 12 pounds after I trim them. If you are afraid of an overnight cook you can do it in the smoker for about six hours and then put it in the oven overnight to sleep for about another six. You can even go a little lower temperature in the oven to make sure it takes long enough for a good nights sleep. You can hold the brisket in a cooler wrapped in towels and foil for eight hours with no problem. So serving time is not an issue. The meat should probe like butter. I cook to feel not temp. My last brisket was only at about 195 and it was ready. Usually I’m closer to 205.

Holdem, as far as tenderness, it's hard to tell from the pic but you may have sliced in the wrong direction. Although the point and flat meat grain goes in opposite directions, so if you don't separate them you will always have some sliced in the wrong direction. I turn the meat at about the halfway point.

September 27, 2021, 03:26 PM

sig229-SAS

quote:
Originally posted by GT-40DOC:
quote:
Originally posted by IndianaMike:
My Wife found one of her Marinade Recipe's and wanted to try and Kroger's Had Chuck Roast on sale so we picked one that we thought had some good Marbling. And we made a side of Bacon wrapped Onion Rings. Onion rings were good. Meat marinade was good But next time i am buying a better cut of meat

I think they call that rest a Texas Crutch', whatever it's called it really works to get the juices flowing in the meat.

I love to smoke and eat chuck roasts, but to do one, think low and slow like a brisket. If you just tried to "grill it", it will be big time tough.

I smoke my seasoned chuck roast for 2-3 hours @ 225F with hickory. Then wrap in double layer of foil and add 1/2 bottle of a yeasty beer. Close up well and back on the smoker @ 225F for another 3-4 hours. Remove and let it rest 1-2 hours. They literally will fall apart.

September 27, 2021, 03:48 PM

mark_a

quote:
Originally posted by Tailhook 84:
quote:
Originally posted by holdem: How long do you cook them for? I was thinking of doing two smaller (5-7 lb each) ones next time I need more meat. I am scared of doing the overnight cook. Plus, I really, really like my sleep.

I smoke to an internal temperature, not time. That said, on my Traeger at 225 degrees it's roughly 1 hr/lb for the 15-16lb packer cuts. I like to put mine on about 9:00 or 10:00pm and check them when I decide to get up the next morning, and only after I've had my first cup of coffee. That's plenty of time for me to get my much-needed beauty sleep. After you do it a few times you'll gain confidence in your smoker and sleep like a baby dreaming of the great brisket you'll be eating the next day.

This...

September 27, 2021, 04:12 PM

maxxpower

I did a 4 pound flat brisket on my Yoder Saturday and it was good but could have been jucier.

The cut wasn't the best (thinner on one end) so I had a temperature conflict on the 2 sides. Ended up pulling it off at 205 on one side and 200 on the other. Left it in the cooler for an hour.

If I am going to let it rest in a cooler for an hour do I need to take it up to 203? I have read that you can pull it off sooner if you are wrapping and resting in cooler since the temperature will rise up to 10 degrees.

Any other suggestions or do you think the small uneven cut is to blame?

.

September 27, 2021, 04:19 PM

holdem

quote:
Originally posted by frayedends:
For smaller briskets the tenderness has a lot to do with which cut you have, the point or the flat. The flat is very lean and harder to keep moist.

If you are afraid of an overnight cook you can do it in the smoker for about six hours and then put it in the oven overnight to sleep for about another six.

Holdem, as far as tenderness, it's hard to tell from the pic but you may have sliced in the wrong direction.

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I have only cooked 4 briskets. The first was a whole. I did not cook long enough or to proper temp. The next three were flat. I prefer the flat as I prefer a leaner cut. But no problems with moistness, it has been leaking out when I cut them.

I need to just pony up and buy that overnight controller / fan thing and then I can do a big one and sleep like a baby. But I like the tip of cooking some, storing, cooking more later.

Hmmmm, I am not sure, I sliced it the same way I have the other three flats.

September 27, 2021, 06:08 PM

Tailhook 84

quote:
Originally posted by holdem: Hmmmm, I am not sure, I sliced it the same way I have the other three flats.

Just as a refresher, here's a good video on how to cut a brisket (skip to 6:45). While trimming the brisket before the smoke, that's a good time to determine how you're ultimately going to cut the brisket starting at the corner of the flat. I've had great success by always cutting 90 degrees off the grain which puts your knife blade approximately 45 degrees off the corner you've determined to be the starting point.

When I first got my smoker I probably watched all of Aaron Franklin's videos to get smarter on smoking. Lot's of other video options out there as well.

October 09, 2021, 06:51 PM

xantom

Restocked cherry and hickory today. Starting 3 briskets tomorrow morning at 3am.

October 12, 2021, 10:34 AM

SIG4EVA

Did another pork butt since they were $0.97/lb.

October 12, 2021, 11:10 AM

Georgeair

Also for brisket in particular, prevailing wisdom continues to evolve toward holding after cooking for a long time is not just possible, but preferable. I'm talking like 3-8 hours. Obviously you have to have something beyond just a simple cooler to maintain safe temps that long.

Also seen folks wrapping the still-paper wrapped brisket in plastic wrap for long holds to maintain moisture. May have to try that.

Finally, last brisket I cooked and one of our best ever I let temp drop to 180 before even starting any sort of controlled hold by putting in my cooler after reaching that temp. Let it rest another 2.5 hours from that point. Incredible. Theory is still get benefits of hold without the fibers continuing to break down at the higher temps straight off the cooker. I'm becoming a believer but not so much that I'm buying a commercial hold oven.

October 16, 2021, 06:43 PM

Jeff Yarchin

quote:
Originally posted by Jeff Yarchin:
Getting ready for a reverse sear.

I'm going to smoke it at 240F until internal temp hits 135F. I'll sear it at 500F for a couple of minutes on each side.

October 16, 2021, 06:45 PM

mbinky

Ooohhh with some broccoli...best side to a steak.

Looks friggin delicious.

October 17, 2021, 08:21 AM

DaveL

quote:
Originally posted by Georgeair:
Also for brisket in particular, prevailing wisdom continues to evolve toward holding after cooking for a long time is not just possible, but preferable. I'm talking like 3-8 hours. Obviously you have to have something beyond just a simple cooler to maintain safe temps that long.

Also seen folks wrapping the still-paper wrapped brisket in plastic wrap for long holds to maintain moisture. May have to try that.

Finally, last brisket I cooked and one of our best ever I let temp drop to 180 before even starting any sort of controlled hold by putting in my cooler after reaching that temp. Let it rest another 2.5 hours from that point. Incredible. Theory is still get benefits of hold without the fibers continuing to break down at the higher temps straight off the cooker. I'm becoming a believer but not so much that I'm buying a commercial hold oven.

Have you tried using a sous vide water bath for post-cook hold? I haven’t tried it yet but it seems like a good way to keep the meat at a consistent temperature for several hours.

October 17, 2021, 12:20 PM

frayedends

quote:
Originally posted by DaveL:
quote:
Originally posted by Georgeair:
Also for brisket in particular, prevailing wisdom continues to evolve toward holding after cooking for a long time is not just possible, but preferable. I'm talking like 3-8 hours. Obviously you have to have something beyond just a simple cooler to maintain safe temps that long.

Also seen folks wrapping the still-paper wrapped brisket in plastic wrap for long holds to maintain moisture. May have to try that.

Finally, last brisket I cooked and one of our best ever I let temp drop to 180 before even starting any sort of controlled hold by putting in my cooler after reaching that temp. Let it rest another 2.5 hours from that point. Incredible. Theory is still get benefits of hold without the fibers continuing to break down at the higher temps straight off the cooker. I'm becoming a believer but not so much that I'm buying a commercial hold oven.

Have you tried using a sous vide water bath for post-cook hold? I haven’t tried it yet but it seems like a good way to keep the meat at a consistent temperature for several hours.

I think if you wrap the brisket in plastic for sous vide you risk making the bark soggy.

I've held 8 hours in a cooler no problem. But i did put it in straight out of the smoker, so it was hot to start. If the meat is cooked you really don't have to worry so much about staying above 140. Everything is dead already anyhow and it's unlikely some nasty bacteria are gonna infect the cooked meat that you've wrapped and put in a cooler.

But the idea of bringing it to 180 first is maybe a great idea. My very first and very best brisket ever was done way early and I was concerned about holding it. I wrapped and put in the oven at 170 for about 4 hours before finally putting in a cooler for another 4. I can't say that's why it was the best ever but it was. I should probably try that again.

October 17, 2021, 03:00 PM

46and2

Have a 7lb Pork Shoulder on today.

The proverbial Before shot:

October 20, 2021, 07:43 AM

trapper189

^^^^That's the way the one I did on Sunday started out. Then, I took a nap and woke up to the smoker running 350. I'd kick myself if I could. The meat wound up moist, tender, and pulled beautifully, but it sorely lacked flavor. It didn't pickup any smoke, the rub lost all the brown sugar and most of the spices. Six pounds of bland pork.

What do you guys do with leftover pulled pork or leftover brisket?

October 20, 2021, 08:07 AM

xantom

quote:
What do you guys do with leftover pulled pork or leftover brisket?

We routinely cook more than we can eat. We seal and freeze our leftovers. I love using bacon grease in a cast iron pan to warm up pulled pork.

October 20, 2021, 08:38 AM

Jeff Yarchin

I vacuum pack and freeze leftover brisket and pulled pork in portions for two.

Our favorite leftover recipe for brisket are wraps. Low carbs for us so I use romaine.

I cube the brisket into very small pieces, no bigger than 1/4 inch. In a large pan I’ll sauté red onion, jalapeños, minced garlic and then add the meat and season. Add the brisket and to the pan last so it doesn’t dry out.

I use cumin, coriander, red pepper flake, fresh cilantro, salt and pepper.

When it’s all hot and seasoned throughout spoon into the wrap of you choice, top with shredded cheese, fresh cilantro, chopped tomatoes and salsa.