WSM-Brisket-cook time-advice please

syndicate559 · 06-26-2011, 01:17 PM

Wondering if you all can help me decide on a plan of attack for this.

Picked up my first brisket (a little over 11 pounds) and I'm planning to cook it for Tuesday night family dinner. It will only be my second cook in the 22.5 WSM so I'm just trying to figure out when I want to start cooking. Realistically, I need to have it done by about 5 PM Tuesday.

Here are my options. I have a hockey game at 10:30 Monday night, so I probably won't get home until about 12:30 A.M. Should I start my fire then, wait for the temp to stabilize, then sleep for a few hours before getting up to check it again?

The other option would be to have my wife wake me up a little before 5 when she leaves to swim and I can get started then. My only worry is that I wouldn't have enough time unless everything went perfectly, which isn't a great plan on your first brisket.

What do you guys think? If I start at around 1 AM, how long can I sleep before getting back up to check on it?

Brian in Maine · 06-26-2011, 02:13 PM

I would figure roughly 1.5 hrs per pound, so 16.5 hrs. plus or minus. plan to have it ready at least 2 hrs. ahead of time, then wrap it and let it rest. All of this is assuming that you are cooking between 225, and 250.

CenTech · 06-26-2011, 03:58 PM

I will say I just cooked my first brisket on a UDS, which I think is fairly similar to a WSM. I also cooked an 11 pounder. I got up at 5 to start and pulled it at 7:15 pm and wish I couldve let it cook a couple more hours. Next time I will start at night.

45fan · 06-26-2011, 04:55 PM

I have not had the guts yet to try the overnight thing yet. I just get up early and go from there. My UDS seems to creep up after about two hours in to the smoke, my guess is because the drum gets to temp?

If I were more comfortable with the smoker holding temp I would start it the night before. You can always rest the brisket but if it aint done....it aint done.

Good Luck and lets seem some pics when it is finished!

Jaskew82 · 06-26-2011, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 45fan

I have not had the guts yet to try the overnight thing yet. I just get up early and go from there.

I might suggest a DIGI, Stoker and Ique then. I just got mine and did my first overnight cook with a DIGIq and it was great. I got up 3x to check on it but every time it was at 225! I am very pleased thus far.

boogiesnap · 06-26-2011, 05:26 PM

well, here goes.

i would say you have 2 very good options with a WSM for cooking brisket.
1st, cook it high heat. it'll take @ 7 hours from lit chimney to plate.
2nd, lo n slo. fire it up after the game, minion method. once you have it locked in, it'll stay steady for a good 6 hours anyway.

Sunhutch · 06-26-2011, 06:39 PM

If it were me I would go with the high heat method being that its only you're second cook in the WSM. That way you can monitor your cook and get some sleep the night before.

I did my first brisket yesterday in my 22.5 WSM using the high heat method for a birthday party a couple days ago and it was a huge success. Started it that morning and it was good to go for dinner at 5pm.

bigabyte · 06-26-2011, 06:45 PM

Times vary, the one last night at 250 took just a little over 14 hours. Sometimes they are ready a few hours earlier, sometimes later. Just wait for them to get tender, where the probe slides in like a hot knife through butter.

As for timing, I plan for it to be done 6 hours early, and wrap and put in an empty cooler to maintain temp until it is time to eat. That way it is very hard to be late.

sandiegobbq · 06-26-2011, 09:13 PM

I have been cooking briskets at 300-350 sometimes even hotter.

Much quicker time.

Some like to cook it that hot until done others foil it at 160-170 and then take it out
until it 190-210.

I like to stick a fork in it when it is done.

Simple and reliable.

krandy21784 · 06-30-2011, 12:18 PM

I did two this week on an Old New Braunfels......started it at 11PM and finished it around noon the nest day with temps between 2225 and 250. Let it rest in a cooler until serving at 5Pm and it was hot and juicy.

Weston81 · 06-30-2011, 12:36 PM

Like Brian N Maine said, I would count on at least 1.5 hours per pound, but to be safe you mine as well plan a couple extra hours in there. I've had briskets that cook almost perfectly to the 1.5 hours per lb and others that have taken 3-4 extra hours to finish. When it's done you can always rest it but if it isn't you can either eat tough brisket or wait.

HTGGUY · 06-30-2011, 12:38 PM

Start it before the game, check on it when you get home, then let it go over night, should be dome around 2:00

Johnny_Crunch · 06-30-2011, 02:32 PM

I would start it early as I could and plan on pulling it around 12-2 in the afternoon. Put it in a cooler with towels for as long as you need to. It will stay hot for 6-8 hours in the cooler.

JS-TX · 06-30-2011, 04:30 PM

I also recommend getting started earlier, why risk the chance of an under cooked brisket?

BTW, does anybody notice a difference in cook times between select and choice/prime briskets? I do mostly choice briskets on my Bubba kegs and never had one go over 10 hours with temps averaging 275*.

caseydog · 06-30-2011, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaskew82

I might suggest a DIGI, Stoker and Ique then. I just got mine and did my first overnight cook with a DIGIq and it was great. I got up 3x to check on it but every time it was at 225! I am very pleased thus far.

+1

Now that I have an iQue, I'm not at all nervous about an overnight smoke.

CD

06-26-2011, 01:17 PM	#1
syndicate559 Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 06-04-11 Location: Fresno, CA	WSM-Brisket-cook time-advice please Wondering if you all can help me decide on a plan of attack for this. Picked up my first brisket (a little over 11 pounds) and I'm planning to cook it for Tuesday night family dinner. It will only be my second cook in the 22.5 WSM so I'm just trying to figure out when I want to start cooking. Realistically, I need to have it done by about 5 PM Tuesday. Here are my options. I have a hockey game at 10:30 Monday night, so I probably won't get home until about 12:30 A.M. Should I start my fire then, wait for the temp to stabilize, then sleep for a few hours before getting up to check it again? The other option would be to have my wife wake me up a little before 5 when she leaves to swim and I can get started then. My only worry is that I wouldn't have enough time unless everything went perfectly, which isn't a great plan on your first brisket. What do you guys think? If I start at around 1 AM, how long can I sleep before getting back up to check on it? __________________ Eddie G. - Smoke Bomb BBQ coming off a Lang 48 Hybrid Deluxe

06-26-2011, 02:13 PM	#2
Brian in Maine is Blowin Smoke! Join Date: 08-05-07 Location: Portland Me	I would figure roughly 1.5 hrs per pound, so 16.5 hrs. plus or minus. plan to have it ready at least 2 hrs. ahead of time, then wrap it and let it rest. All of this is assuming that you are cooking between 225, and 250. __________________ Brian 2 WSMs 2 OTG One red one black 22 1/2" black Bar-B-Kettle with rotisserie ring Brinkman dual zone charcoal grill Webber Silver Genises B 3 burner camp stove

06-26-2011, 05:26 PM	#6
boogiesnap Babbling Farker Join Date: 04-22-10 Location: NEW ENGLAND	well, here goes. i would say you have 2 very good options with a WSM for cooking brisket. 1st, cook it high heat. it'll take @ 7 hours from lit chimney to plate. 2nd, lo n slo. fire it up after the game, minion method. once you have it locked in, it'll stay steady for a good 6 hours anyway. __________________ [SIZE="3"][B][COLOR="Blue"][I][FONT="Lucida Sans Unicode"][/FONT]"YAWN"[/I][/COLOR][/B][/SIZE]-[COLOR="Red"][SIZE="2"]In memory of a friend.[/SIZE][/COLOR] avatar by grillman. patent pending. :mad2::becky:
	1 members found this post helpful.

06-26-2011, 06:45 PM	#8
bigabyte somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 05-10-06 Location: Overland Fark, KS	Times vary, the one last night at 250 took just a little over 14 hours. Sometimes they are ready a few hours earlier, sometimes later. Just wait for them to get tender, where the probe slides in like a hot knife through butter. As for timing, I plan for it to be done 6 hours early, and wrap and put in an empty cooler to maintain temp until it is time to eat. That way it is very hard to be late. __________________ Asshattatron Farkanaut, CGCFO Chief Galactic Crockpot Foil Officer *Certified MOINK Baller & IMBAS Certified MOINK Ball Judge #0003 - Are you MOINK Certified?* *Sole recipient of the Silverfinger and fingerlickin Awards!* Don't forget about the Throwdown Thingies! The Secret Squirrel Society doesn't exist - Zero Club Duh.

06-30-2011, 12:18 PM	#10
krandy21784 Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 05-20-08 Location: Greenville, SC	I did two this week on an Old New Braunfels......started it at 11PM and finished it around noon the nest day with temps between 2225 and 250. Let it rest in a cooler until serving at 5Pm and it was hot and juicy. __________________ "Always Buttin in" Primo XL, 2 Webber Kettles, WSM, 1 custom pig pit

06-26-2011, 03:58 PM	#3
CenTech On the road to being a farker Join Date: 06-20-11 Location: Frisco, Texas	I will say I just cooked my first brisket on a UDS, which I think is fairly similar to a WSM. I also cooked an 11 pounder. I got up at 5 to start and pulled it at 7:15 pm and wish I couldve let it cook a couple more hours. Next time I will start at night.

06-26-2011, 04:55 PM	#4
45fan Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 03-04-11 Location: Springfield, MO	I have not had the guts yet to try the overnight thing yet. I just get up early and go from there. My UDS seems to creep up after about two hours in to the smoke, my guess is because the drum gets to temp? If I were more comfortable with the smoker holding temp I would start it the night before. You can always rest the brisket but if it aint done....it aint done. Good Luck and lets seem some pics when it is finished!

06-26-2011, 06:39 PM	#7
Sunhutch Got rid of the matchlight. Join Date: 05-09-11 Location: Helotes, Tx	If it were me I would go with the high heat method being that its only you're second cook in the WSM. That way you can monitor your cook and get some sleep the night before. I did my first brisket yesterday in my 22.5 WSM using the high heat method for a birthday party a couple days ago and it was a huge success. Started it that morning and it was good to go for dinner at 5pm.

06-26-2011, 09:13 PM	#9
sandiegobbq is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 06-22-11 Location: chula vista, ca	I have been cooking briskets at 300-350 sometimes even hotter. Much quicker time. Some like to cook it that hot until done others foil it at 160-170 and then take it out until it 190-210. I like to stick a fork in it when it is done. Simple and reliable.

06-30-2011, 12:36 PM	#11
Weston81 Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 04-25-11 Location: Wentzville, Mo	Like Brian N Maine said, I would count on at least 1.5 hours per pound, but to be safe you mine as well plan a couple extra hours in there. I've had briskets that cook almost perfectly to the 1.5 hours per lb and others that have taken 3-4 extra hours to finish. When it's done you can always rest it but if it isn't you can either eat tough brisket or wait.

06-30-2011, 12:38 PM	#12
HTGGUY Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 09-27-10 Location: binghamton ny	Start it before the game, check on it when you get home, then let it go over night, should be dome around 2:00

06-30-2011, 02:32 PM	#13
Johnny_Crunch Babbling Farker Join Date: 04-03-10 Location: Cypress TX	I would start it early as I could and plan on pulling it around 12-2 in the afternoon. Put it in a cooler with towels for as long as you need to. It will stay hot for 6-8 hours in the cooler. __________________ J Crunch

06-30-2011, 04:30 PM	#14
JS-TX is Blowin Smoke! Join Date: 02-17-10 Location: San Antonio, TX	I also recommend getting started earlier, why risk the chance of an under cooked brisket? BTW, does anybody notice a difference in cook times between select and choice/prime briskets? I do mostly choice briskets on my Bubba kegs and never had one go over 10 hours with temps averaging 275*.

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