Why dry brisket?

watg? · 05-06-2009, 07:39 AM

I have a techno cook question, Alton Brown where are you?
What make a brisket come out dry, not moist, when sliced? Good flavor, tenderness, texture, just dry. Is it over cooked, under cooked, rested too long, not long enough? Is it something that can be avoided or is just the luck of the draw, win some, loose some, dependent on the cut you are working with.
Thoughts?

chad · 05-06-2009, 07:44 AM

Short answer: It's a brisket!

Are your brisket consistently dry or just now and then?

Dry is usually, but not always, a result of overcooking.

Back to the short answer: It's a brisket. They are probably the hardest of the BBQ meats to get right consistently.

Bbq Bubba · 05-06-2009, 07:53 AM

If your tenderness is good, then probably just a lean brisket, not much fat marbeling to give you that juiciness you'd expect.

blues_n_cues · 05-06-2009, 08:02 AM

what bubba said.

barbefunkoramaque · 05-06-2009, 08:11 AM

Don't worry buddy, it happens all the time. But it could be many things.

There should be a form for this.

QUESTIONS

Flat or Packer
Trimmed and How?
Average Temp you smoked at
Type of smoker (uds, offset, static diverter, tuned diverter, what?)
How did you Prep it (Marinades Injections)
Fat Up or down
Any pit temp problems arise
DID YOU PEEK AT THE BRISKET APPROXIMATELY 40 TIMES EVERY HOUR TO LOOL AT IT...
How did you determine its doneness (Temp or Feel, Look, sound, yes sound)
What was in the Rub
any extra rub applied at certain times
Foil, no foil, pan, plastic wrap, butcher paper, pan, box, paper bag
Separate the Point?
Rest, no rest, how'd you rest.

We need details and then there's the rare case that I see from time to time where you THINK its tender, and you THINK it had good texture because you just compare it to everybody else's or some winner at a competition and the truth be told its not Tender and does not have good texture.

fOR EXAMPLE - I have had SEVERAL people call me with this problem over the years and popping it in foil or a pan in the OVEN at 300 for 2 hours or so seemed to fix it. Guess why. The person cooking it swore up and down it was "dry."

Bull Run Smoke · 05-06-2009, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by watg?

I have a techno cook question, Alton Brown where are you?
What make a brisket come out dry, not moist, when sliced? Good flavor, tenderness, texture, just dry. Is it over cooked, under cooked, rested too long, not long enough? Is it something that can be avoided or is just the luck of the draw, win some, loose some, dependent on the cut you are working with.
Thoughts?

Are we talking about a brisket flats or whole packers? No one brisket is the same. Results are dependent on many factors such as: fat content, cooking temperatures, and knowing when a brisket is done, after all a brisket is done when it's done. If you pull it too soon, its going to be tuff. If you pull it too late its going to be dry. Resting times are important, but knowing when to rest the finished product is the challenge-after all a brisket is done when a brisket is done...

The Pickled Pig · 05-06-2009, 08:30 AM

If your brisket is tough and dry and isn't falling apart, it is undercooked.

watg? · 05-06-2009, 08:47 AM

The perplexing thing for me is, I cook 2 packers and a flat at a contest. I trim, prep and cook them all the same. I usually end up with one moist flat at turn in time.(for which, I am certainly not complaining) Sometimes it is from the packer, other times not. Seems like I should be able to at least get two and why not three to be right. Just trying for consistency. I just cant figure out why. I keep coming back to 'its just the cut', but that answer would be too easy.

barbefunkoramaque · 05-06-2009, 08:56 AM

It is NOT the Cut. Pm me if you want. I use cheap Select, sometimes petite little 8 pounders are put on the pit with mammoth 16 pounders.... mine all come out the same (or rather maybe one tough one out of 20 or 30 that were cooked that day and that gets turned into chopped.

QDoc · 05-06-2009, 08:58 AM

I agree. I can think of 20 or more varibles. If they were included on every thread we may not have enough band width.

Quote:

Originally Posted by barbefunkoramaque

Don't worry buddy, it happens all the time. But it could be many things.

There should be a form for this.

QUESTIONS

Flat or Packer
Trimmed and How?
Average Temp you smoked at
Type of smoker (uds, offset, static diverter, tuned diverter, what?)
How did you Prep it (Marinades Injections)
Fat Up or down
Any pit temp problems arise
DID YOU PEEK AT THE BRISKET APPROXIMATELY 40 TIMES EVERY HOUR TO LOOL AT IT...
How did you determine its doneness (Temp or Feel, Look, sound, yes sound)
What was in the Rub
any extra rub applied at certain times
Foil, no foil, pan, plastic wrap, butcher paper, pan, box, paper bag
Separate the Point?
Rest, no rest, how'd you rest.

We need details and then there's the rare case that I see from time to time where you THINK its tender, and you THINK it had good texture because you just compare it to everybody else's or some winner at a competition and the truth be told its not Tender and does not have good texture.

fOR EXAMPLE - I have had SEVERAL people call me with this problem over the years and popping it in foil or a pan in the OVEN at 300 for 2 hours or so seemed to fix it. Guess why. The person cooking it swore up and down it was "dry."

barbefunkoramaque · 05-06-2009, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QDoc

I agree. I can think of 20 or more varibles. If they were included on every thread we may not have enough band width.

Is that Band Width as in thiis?

Attachment 26764

Pitmaster "T" and his father's Radio Console. Frankenstein to the right (Collins 74 A)
Circa 1968

QDoc · 05-06-2009, 02:09 PM

Is that Band Width as in thiis?

radio.jpg
cool pic.

Smokin Mike · 05-06-2009, 04:37 PM

my last contest, I cooked 2 packers trimmed, both turned out tough, how in the HEdouble-hockey-sticks did that that happen. I injected it too,

05-06-2009, 07:39 AM	#1
watg? is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 09-04-07 Location: Street, MD	Why dry brisket? I have a techno cook question, Alton Brown where are you? What make a brisket come out dry, not moist, when sliced? Good flavor, tenderness, texture, just dry. Is it over cooked, under cooked, rested too long, not long enough? Is it something that can be avoided or is just the luck of the draw, win some, loose some, dependent on the cut you are working with. Thoughts? __________________ george who are those guys? BBQ Team www.watgbbq.com Startin the Fire-(a book) Everything you need to know about starting a competition BBQ team. (except the recipes) www.startinthefire.com "Let me have a diablo sandwich and a Dr. Pepper, make it fast, I'm in a ---damn hurry". Sheriff Buford T.Justice

05-06-2009, 07:44 AM	#2
chad somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 08-13-03 Location: Clearwater, FL	Short answer: It's a brisket! Are your brisket consistently dry or just now and then? Dry is usually, but not always, a result of overcooking. Back to the short answer: It's a brisket. They are probably the hardest of the BBQ meats to get right consistently. __________________ Dave Southern Brethren BBQ Competition Team "It's all about getting paid!" - Myron Mixon "I love being hated in my hometown!" - David Hair KingFisher Gator Rotisserie cooker (RIP), WSM (RIP), Stainless 5 burner with IR gas grill (RIP), Turkey Fryer, Weber JD Commemorative grill (RIP), Masterbuilt 40" insulated ELECTRIC smoker (new heating element), Pit Boss Tailgater pellet pooper.

05-06-2009, 07:53 AM	#3
Bbq Bubba somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 05-03-07 Location: New Baltimore, Mi.	If your tenderness is good, then probably just a lean brisket, not much fat marbeling to give you that juiciness you'd expect. __________________ Owner of Bubba's BBQ & Catering L.L.C. Beer Snob I cook the #bestbrisketnorthoftexas. Get over it. #detroitporkmafia BBQ Person of the Year 2013

05-06-2009, 08:02 AM	#4
blues_n_cues is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 12-16-07 Location: south central,ky.	what bubba said. __________________ Blues_n_Cues BBQ Concessions & Catering

05-06-2009, 08:11 AM	#5
barbefunkoramaque Babbling Farker Join Date: 11-11-07 Location: Gone	Don't worry buddy, it happens all the time. But it could be many things. There should be a form for this. QUESTIONS Flat or Packer Trimmed and How? Average Temp you smoked at Type of smoker (uds, offset, static diverter, tuned diverter, what?) How did you Prep it (Marinades Injections) Fat Up or down Any pit temp problems arise DID YOU PEEK AT THE BRISKET APPROXIMATELY 40 TIMES EVERY HOUR TO LOOL AT IT... How did you determine its doneness (Temp or Feel, Look, sound, yes sound) What was in the Rub any extra rub applied at certain times Foil, no foil, pan, plastic wrap, butcher paper, pan, box, paper bag Separate the Point? Rest, no rest, how'd you rest. We need details and then there's the rare case that I see from time to time where you THINK its tender, and you THINK it had good texture because you just compare it to everybody else's or some winner at a competition and the truth be told its not Tender and does not have good texture. fOR EXAMPLE - I have had SEVERAL people call me with this problem over the years and popping it in foil or a pan in the OVEN at 300 for 2 hours or so seemed to fix it. Guess why. The person cooking it swore up and down it was "dry." __________________ Popdaddy is Dead - 1933-2011 - Pitmaster T is a free agent

05-06-2009, 08:30 AM	#7
The Pickled Pig is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 06-21-07 Location: Overland Park, KS	If your brisket is tough and dry and isn't falling apart, it is undercooked. __________________ Paul Ostrom The Pickled Pig Twitter - @ThePickledPig CBJ, WSM, UDS Cookers, Weber Gasser, Weber One Touch Gold Kettle,

05-06-2009, 08:47 AM	#8
watg? is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 09-04-07 Location: Street, MD	The perplexing thing for me is, I cook 2 packers and a flat at a contest. I trim, prep and cook them all the same. I usually end up with one moist flat at turn in time.(for which, I am certainly not complaining) Sometimes it is from the packer, other times not. Seems like I should be able to at least get two and why not three to be right. Just trying for consistency. I just cant figure out why. I keep coming back to 'its just the cut', but that answer would be too easy. __________________ george who are those guys? BBQ Team www.watgbbq.com Startin the Fire-(a book) Everything you need to know about starting a competition BBQ team. (except the recipes) www.startinthefire.com "Let me have a diablo sandwich and a Dr. Pepper, make it fast, I'm in a ---damn hurry". Sheriff Buford T.Justice

05-06-2009, 08:56 AM	#9
barbefunkoramaque Babbling Farker Join Date: 11-11-07 Location: Gone	It is NOT the Cut. Pm me if you want. I use cheap Select, sometimes petite little 8 pounders are put on the pit with mammoth 16 pounders.... mine all come out the same (or rather maybe one tough one out of 20 or 30 that were cooked that day and that gets turned into chopped. __________________ Popdaddy is Dead - 1933-2011 - Pitmaster T is a free agent

05-06-2009, 02:09 PM	#12
QDoc is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 03-02-07 Location: Pine Bluff, Arkansas	Is that Band Width as in thiis? radio.jpg cool pic.

05-06-2009, 04:37 PM	#13
Smokin Mike is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 09-06-07 Location: St. Johns, FL	my last contest, I cooked 2 packers trimmed, both turned out tough, how in the HEdouble-hockey-sticks did that that happen. I injected it too, __________________ Disco Pigs competition team Gateway drums Yoder 640 and 1500 FEC-100's KCBS, FBA Judge

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