Cooking A Brisket - Some Questions

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Crotonmark

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Hello Everyone
I want to try to smoke a brisket using the snake method to setup the charcoal. I can only find a 5 or so pound brisket (I think this is called the point cut).
Is this too small to smoke using this method?
How long can I expect it to take to cook - this seems much smaller than what you guys smoke

thanks

Mark
 
Just because it is a 5lb brisket doesn't make it a point. I've never seen an uncorned point for sale by itself. Can you tell us more about it?
 
+1...only time I can get points...is to have the butcher cut them for me...and not all butchers will do it.

Makes me wonder...where do the points go?
 
It's a triangle shaped piece. It is thinner than the pictures on this site.
 
Never cooked one that small, but the snake method should work fine. Cook to an IT of about 170*-180*, mine usually takes 4 hours, your 5 pounder probably much less. Then wrap, preferably in butcher paper, foil if you must and continue cooking until it probes tender with an IT in the 200*-210* range, again mine usually takes a couple more hours. The IT's are just reference point, cook until it is probe tender. PS: I cook ate about 300*-310* at the cooking grate.

Edit: FYI here is my last one:
http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=173227
 
Last edited:
If it doesn't have much fat on it, you may want to put some strips of bacon on it to keep it from drying out.
We all like pics and they also help us to see what you've got to help you out more.

Good luck
 
I thought I was supposed to cook around 225.
What does pull when probe tender mean ?
 
Bludawg is rite on with his advise.
Pull when probe tender means don't go by temp, when a probe, like a meat thermometer, goes into the meat like a hot knife through butter it's done and time to pull.
Also don't forget to rest it for an hour or so before slicing
 
Really dumb. When you let it sit for an hour it must get cold.
What's best way to reheat ?

Also what is the correct cooking temp for brisket ? 225 or 300?
 
When you're resting it, wrap it in foil and then in a couple bath towels and put it in a cooler or the oven, off of course.
Either temp or in between is fine. Bludawg goes hot and fast, but I've found that smaller cuts seem to do better at the higher side of that temp range.
 
Crotonmark said:
Really dumb. When you let it sit for an hour it must get cold.
What's best way to reheat ?

Also what is the correct cooking temp for brisket ? 225 or 300?
Click to expand...
I rest mine wrapped in the the same Butcher paper I finished the cook in on the counter top in the kitchen it takes 3 hrs or so to drop to 150 deg. Your cooking in a Kettle it is easier to run 275 + than it is to fight it to 225. not to mention 275+ IMO produces way better BBQ In reality I usually cook closer to 325 than I do 300 75% of the time.
 
Bludawg - darn right. It has been REALLY hard to get the temps down to 225 - tho I bought a Maverick to help.
If I start the snake with hot coals burning at opposite ends - will this allow me to not have to add anything during the cook?
Again, and sorry, using the snake method - how do you not get the bad smell of the charcoal as it heats up? Also, you all use dry wood chunks - not soaked chips??
 
I start one end open the intake and exhaust WFO and let it rip. Don't add your starter coals until that are ashed over or yo can see no visible smoke from them. I use chunks I place 1 every 3-4 " on top of the snake. don't forget about every 3-4 hrs rotate the lid 90 deg so the exhaust port stays opposite the fire.
 
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