Quick HELP!!! First Brisket!!!

gotwood

is one Smokin' Farker
Joined
Jan 1, 2008
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Homer...
Mopping?? how often??

Internal temp??

Wrapping??

anything to help make this not leather
 
I foil mine at about 160-165 and then take it to 190- 195. I usually inject my brisket with a beef broth and spices mixture and save a few ounces to put in the foil. Remember to let it rest in the foil when you pull it from the grill...about an hour should do it.
 
No need to mop
Start ckecking the tenderness with the probe about 185. Go by feel but most likely will be a little higher. Maybe even 200+. Needs to feel no resistance when probing with the thermometer.
Wrap if you want to speed up the cook time. Up to you.
Wrap in foil and into a blanket or crumbled up newspaper in a cooler for a couple hours.
Good luck and let us know how it comes out.
 
mopping, injecting, foiling are not needed...especially for your first brisket.. too many variables will make it more challenging than you need to and you won't know what impact each had..good or bad.

use a good rub & keep steady temps without opening the door or lid to keep checking.

temps will likely be in the 180-195 range but rely on the feel of the brisket which is your ability to slide a probe, fork, knife etc into the meat without resistance.
 
^Squatter's right: K-I-S-S (Keep It Simple...), especially your first. Most important thing is patience, they usually take longer than you think...and it ain't done til its done. I got jumpy on my first 'cause company was there and hungry. It was 185 and smokin for 8hrs...but it didn't meet (meat!) the resistance test and wasn't as tender as it shoulda been. Just keep drinkin beer and it'll be done in no time.
 
What are you cooking on, and at what temp? That makes a big difference. I'm thinking like Vinny, keep it simple for the first one, but It really depends on the cooker and the temp.
 
Spicewine medium.....215 degrees held there with digi Q II

just hit 165...double wrapped in foil and added my ribs

Sound like you're on the right track. Don't rely completely on temperature for final doneness. Check with a probe or tooth pick starting at 190. Usually will be done around 195-205 but as has been said many times before "it's done when it's done". Be sure to rest it for at least an hour before carving.
 
Spicewine medium.....215 degrees held there with digi Q II

just hit 165...double wrapped in foil and added my ribs

Sound good. The Spicewine hold moisture well, so you would have been fine with out the foil, but it won't hurt. Start checking it for feel at around 185 internal and pull it when it feels like the probe is going into warm butter. Give it a nice rest in a dry cooler with some towels or newspaper if you have time. Don't stress out one the internal temp. My birskets yesterday had to go to 200 before they felt right.
 
Would there be any problem with just taking it to 200/205 and dispensing with the probing?? or do they sometimes need go higher than that?

Im a caveman and really have no perception of difference between soft butter and granite
 
Would there be any problem with just taking it to 200/205 and dispensing with the probing?? or do they sometimes need go higher than that?

Im a caveman and really have no perception of difference between soft butter and granite

Briskets are all a little different. They'll sometimes be butter tender at 195 but you shouldn't need to go higher than 205. You don't want to overcook it either or it'll turn mushy.
 
One more thing to remember is to probe the flat.....if you probe the point it'll give you a false since of being done...
 
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Would there be any problem with just taking it to 200/205 and dispensing with the probing?? or do they sometimes need go higher than that?

Im a caveman and really have no perception of difference between soft butter and granite

The temperature is not the important variable here. The probe tenderness is the only thing that matters. Hope it all works out for you bro! Keep us posted.
 
couldnt wait any longer probe temp in point was 200, and went in really easy.....
probe temp in flat was about 196 and didnt go in as easy....
but i took it off wrapped in towel and put in cooker for hour and half anyway....came out really juicy and tender
Was pretty happy with the results

 
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