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Recipes => Beef => Topic started by: Kutch98 on February 15, 2018, 08:04:39 PM

Title: Brisket for Tuesday
Post by: Kutch98 on February 15, 2018, 08:04:39 PM
Ive done a couple of 8lb briskets before and they have turned out pretty good, but cooking for a larger crowd so I bought a larger brisket. This will be to bring into work Tuesday morning, rewarm in a crock pot with some apple juice in the bottom. Wanted to run my timeline by the folks here to see if I have my numbers right, but first...a question....

I THOUGHT I read 2hrs/lb cooking time.  But thats more for pork butt I feel as this is about the same thickness as the 8lbs I bought, just larger in overall size. I figured at least 16 hours in my equation. If I do weight, 13.17lbs x 2hrs/lb thats 26.34 hours....that seems a bit long for a brisket. Cook temp will be 225. So what should I plan on for cooking time?

Here is my timeline:

   3pm Monday pull from smoker
  -16  hours cook time
= 11pm Sunday night going into smoker
 - 24 hours for mustard
= 11pm Saturday night applying mustard/rub
 - 6 hours brine
= 5pm into brine

Thank you in advanced!
Title: Re: Brisket for Tuesday
Post by: SuperDave on February 15, 2018, 08:27:06 PM
What time are you planning dinner? I like the 16 hours in general but suggest that you plan your timeline with 3 - 4 hours of float. Real easy to keep it warm that long and less fear of a late dinner.
Title: Re: Brisket for Tuesday
Post by: Kutch98 on February 15, 2018, 08:38:08 PM
We wont be eating it for dinner Monday when its done, will be for a lunch of Tuesday at work.  Of course, we will have to sample SOME of the goods the night before but dinner plans are not based around the brisket. 
Title: Re: Brisket for Tuesday
Post by: Walt on February 15, 2018, 09:13:11 PM
I brine brisket &  they consistently take 1.25 to 1.5 hrs /lb.
Title: Re: Brisket for Tuesday
Post by: SuperDave on February 15, 2018, 09:13:25 PM
Then no worries.
Title: Re: Brisket for Tuesday
Post by: Kutch98 on February 15, 2018, 10:39:39 PM
Thanks SD!
Title: Re: Brisket for Tuesday
Post by: DivotMaker on February 16, 2018, 07:52:58 PM
Depending on the size of the brisket, I will normally brine at least 12 hours, not 6.  Like Walt, I see around 1.25 hrs/lb in the "real world" of brisket.
Title: Re: Brisket for Tuesday
Post by: Kutch98 on February 16, 2018, 08:30:10 PM
Its big enough Ill have to cut it in half and use 2 racks, so Im guessing 1 part is going to finish before the other.  With that thought...should the skinnier piece go above or below the thicker piece? Ive also read where somebody (Suzie Q maybe?) puts the fat cap up on one side and fat cap down on the other, should I maybe do that? 
Title: Re: Brisket for Tuesday
Post by: Kutch98 on February 16, 2018, 08:40:28 PM
Here is a picture of the brisket.  Thats a SI2 rack for size comparison.  Thinking of slicing along the red line area. 
Title: Re: Brisket for Tuesday
Post by: DivotMaker on February 16, 2018, 09:17:22 PM
Jake, put the thinner half on the top, and the thicker half below.  That way, they cook evenly.  I've done a bunch of them in my #1 that way.  BTW, if you stick to about 11 lbs, and watch the length, you can cram it into a #2 uncut.  The ends hit, but will soon shrink to size!  Come to think of it, I might try to cram that one in there, too!
Title: Re: Brisket for Tuesday
Post by: Walt on February 16, 2018, 09:50:20 PM
Fold the thin side under itself and leave the knife in the drawer.
Title: Re: Brisket for Tuesday
Post by: Kutch98 on February 16, 2018, 10:12:42 PM
Jake, put the thinner half on the top, and the thicker half below.  That way, they cook evenly.  I've done a bunch of them in my #1 that way.  BTW, if you stick to about 11 lbs, and watch the length, you can cram it into a #2 uncut.  The ends hit, but will soon shrink to size!  Come to think of it, I might try to cram that one in there, too!

Thanks!  Thats what I was thinking I should do, just wanted to ask as a bit of a sanity check.  Glad to see you back on the boards as well! Hope all is well.
Title: Re: Brisket for Tuesday
Post by: SconnieQ on February 16, 2018, 10:18:12 PM
Its big enough Ill have to cut it in half and use 2 racks, so Im guessing 1 part is going to finish before the other.  With that thought...should the skinnier piece go above or below the thicker piece? Ive also read where somebody (Suzie Q maybe?) puts the fat cap up on one side and fat cap down on the other, should I maybe do that?

SconnieQ...not SuzieQ... ;D Put the flat fat-side-up on an upper rack, and put the point side fat-side-down on a rack below. If you have enough probes to temp both pieces, temp for 195 in the flat (top) and 200-205 in the point (bottom). Even though their individual temps will vary widely throughout the smoke, I'll bet they both achieve their desired final temps at the same time.
Title: Re: Brisket for Tuesday
Post by: SuperDave on February 17, 2018, 12:55:10 AM
My method of fat cap down with trimmed fat on other side up.
Title: Re: Brisket for Tuesday
Post by: Kutch98 on February 17, 2018, 01:25:16 AM
SconnieQ...not SuzieQ... ;D Put the flat fat-side-up on an upper rack, and put the point side fat-side-down on a rack below. If you have enough probes to temp both pieces, temp for 195 in the flat (top) and 200-205 in the point (bottom). Even though their individual temps will vary widely throughout the smoke, I'll bet they both achieve their desired final temps at the same time.

haha, my apologies!  I do have 2 probes, so this is a very doable, thank you!
Title: Re: Brisket for Tuesday
Post by: DivotMaker on February 18, 2018, 01:54:01 PM
Looks like you have a plan, Jake!  Let us know how it turns out!!
Title: Re: Brisket for Tuesday
Post by: Kutch98 on February 19, 2018, 05:12:01 PM
So question....the brisket has been in for around 18 hours now.  The Point (bottom) says 193 and the flat (top) says 187.  Im nervous that they have been in there so long.  Do I just ride it out? Was thinking of pulling once the top hits 190. 

Thought I should add this in: Its been in the 50's today with a cold wind blowing around 18-20 and gusting up to 25.  Dont know how much that has to do with the cook and temps. 
Title: Re: Brisket for Tuesday
Post by: old sarge on February 19, 2018, 05:22:16 PM
It won't hurt to check it.  It it jiggles, pull it.  Sometimes a probe will hit a fat pocket and as the fat melts it leaves a void.
Title: Re: Brisket for Tuesday
Post by: Kutch98 on February 19, 2018, 05:28:05 PM
Thanks for the quick reply, it jiggles!  Top was a bit stiff but had some jiggle to it.  About to eat a late lunch, will pull when done. 
Title: Re: Brisket for Tuesday
Post by: old sarge on February 19, 2018, 05:54:02 PM
When all else fails, jiggle always works. Enjoy!
Title: Re: Brisket for Tuesday
Post by: Kutch98 on February 19, 2018, 06:50:53 PM
Looks like they turned out pretty well!  Thank you everybody for your advice and help. I think next time Ill just stick one an 8lb! haha. 
Title: Re: Brisket for Tuesday
Post by: old sarge on February 19, 2018, 07:14:17 PM
Nothing wrong with those.  Looks like really tasty bark!
Title: Re: Brisket for Tuesday
Post by: DivotMaker on February 19, 2018, 07:36:27 PM
How big was that to start with, Jake?  18 hours is a really long time for 2 halves like that.  Also, what temp did you smoke it at? 
Title: Re: Brisket for Tuesday
Post by: Kutch98 on February 19, 2018, 11:29:32 PM
Was 13.11 ish.  I cut off a lot of fat so maybe 12.5 ish when it came time for cooking.  I was cooking it at 225 which I understood would take longer. 18 just seemed like a long time for it to not be done. I think I was just getting nervous that I was going to overcook it.

But, I pulled it, wrapped in tin foil and rested for about 3.5 hours. Sliced some, shredded some other...it all came out looking and tasting great.  2 sampler boxes went out to some of my wife's friends, one text her saying she didnt even make it back in the house before eating it. The other already finished her box AFTER she had already ate dinner. Looks like we will be having a brisket party soon at the house!
Title: Re: Brisket for Tuesday
Post by: Walt on February 20, 2018, 12:03:06 AM
Nice job! Don't be afraid of the big packers for the #2. I have cooked a 22lb one without cutting it and normally cook 15 to 18lb.. They fit, folded or twisted and always come out great.
Title: Re: Brisket for Tuesday
Post by: Kutch98 on February 20, 2018, 07:01:59 PM
Nice job! Don't be afraid of the big packers for the #2. I have cooked a 22lb one without cutting it and normally cook 15 to 18lb.. They fit, folded or twisted and always come out great.

You get a good even cook when folding it? How long does that take at what temp?
Title: Re: Brisket for Tuesday
Post by: Walt on February 20, 2018, 10:37:24 PM
They cook great. I brine first, 225 1.25- 1.5  hrs/ lb
Title: Re: Brisket for Tuesday
Post by: DivotMaker on February 21, 2018, 08:35:54 PM
Jake, when you "cram" one in there, it shrinks pretty fast.  One thing about brisket... it's one cut that shrinks a LOT!