Trimming Brisket

cbagby64 · 01-31-2010, 08:39 AM

Questions: Do you trim all the visible fat off or do you keep it on?

I have always kept most if not all of the fat on the brisket but in watching BBQ Pitmasters and looking at some other blogs I see that a lot of cooks trim all the visible fat off.

What are the pros/cons of taking all the visible fat off?

Rich Parker · 01-31-2010, 08:41 AM

What are you going to be cooking on?

I heard a discussion before that Myron Mixon does it because of the high amount of steam in his pit.

cbagby64 · 01-31-2010, 08:43 AM

I cook on a XL BGE and a 22.5 WSM

HeSmellsLikeSmoke · 01-31-2010, 08:44 AM

Here is a great video by Bigmista which should be helpful.
http://www.thesurvivalgourmet.com/?p=162

cbagby64 · 01-31-2010, 08:46 AM

Thanks Jim

Ron_L · 01-31-2010, 08:47 AM

The main heat source in my pit is from the bottom, and I cook my brisket fat cap down as a bit of a shield from the heat source, so I leave about 1/4" of fat on that side of the brisket. Otherwise I trim the hard fat and most of the fat between the plat and the point to make it easier to separate them later. On the other side of the brisket I do trim off as much as i can so i have more meat for the rub to adhere to.

Is all of this right? I don't know. Are there other ways to do it? Yep! But this has worked well for me.

Rich Parker · 01-31-2010, 08:48 AM

I take it down to about a 1/4 inch and then trim off whats left off after its done.

You will find many people doing it differently so you will just have to try and see what works best for you and your cooker.

Chipper · 01-31-2010, 08:50 AM

What he said.^^^^^

Captain Dave · 01-31-2010, 10:58 AM

What they said^^^^^. I trim all I can, except a thin layer at the fat cap. I too cook with fat cap down to protect from the direct heat. I think the fat cap also holds some of the juices in like a big cereal bowl. Now, that has been disproven by some side by side cooks, but it still works in my mind.

River City Smokehouse · 01-31-2010, 11:51 AM

The fat that you need on a brisket is on the inside. That's why a choice or better is best. They will have a lot more fat on the outside. Some folks like to keep fat on the bottom so to have a barrier and not burn the bottom while cooking. By trimming it, it allows the penetration of the rub and helps to form more bark surface. The rub will not penetrate the fat. Everyone does their own thing. You can expirement and see what you like best. I was in Huntsville, TX and visited with the owner at the Church of the Holy Smoke (New Zion BBQ restaurant). He doesn't trim anything off of the brisket there. I have tried that here at home and didn't like it so much, it seemed more fatty than juicy. One of the other things I have tried is to trim all the fat and place the fat bove the brisket in the cooker and cover the fat with rub. That's supposed to baste the brisket with rub flavored fat and keep it moist. I don't think that helped any. I have done better by trimming the fat outside and in.

h20loo · 01-31-2010, 12:19 PM

I'm going to buy a brisket to do on the egg. Anyone have thoughts on what is best for an egg? I have been cooking low and sslow on the UDS and prefer to cut all but a thin layer off for that. Same as RCS sez- I like the juice but not the greasy fat. The indirect egg should smoke a little different than the UDS.

greg of the BGE · 02-01-2010, 12:30 PM

I have tried all sorts of methods on my BGE and imo it is more the cut of meat than anything. If I get a good brisket, they are tender and juicy. If I get them from the local grocery store, they suck.

Fat side up, fat side down (I prefer fat side up with a place setter under it or fat side down with no place setter)
I do not trim anything from my briskets. I let the temp and time melt it all away. The 2 times I trimmed them, were the 2 driest briskets I have made so far.

If I took the fat off, I would want to cook it partially in foil or a pan to get some moisture back in.

kurtsara · 02-01-2010, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbagby64

Questions: Do you trim all the visible fat off or do you keep it on?

I have always kept most if not all of the fat on the brisket but in watching BBQ Pitmasters and looking at some other blogs I see that a lot of cooks trim all the visible fat off.

What are the pros/cons of taking all the visible fat off?

Some of them on tv are using Waygu beef also, maybe they can get away with trimming that much off

BRBBQ · 02-01-2010, 06:07 PM

Advantage of leaving some fat on it. Beef jerky otherwise, hehe!

ssbbqguy · 02-01-2010, 06:23 PM

It has always been my practice to trim all exterior fat and count on what was inside. Fat blocks smoke flavor and seasonings from reaching meat. Wrapping or panning keeps things nice and juicy. Steve.

01-31-2010, 08:39 AM	#1
cbagby64 Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 04-21-09 Location: Urbandale, IA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Trimming Brisket Questions: Do you trim all the visible fat off or do you keep it on? I have always kept most if not all of the fat on the brisket but in watching BBQ Pitmasters and looking at some other blogs I see that a lot of cooks trim all the visible fat off. What are the pros/cons of taking all the visible fat off? __________________ Albino Rhino BBQ

01-31-2010, 08:41 AM	#2
Rich Parker Babbling Farker Join Date: 06-20-09 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	What are you going to be cooking on? I heard a discussion before that Myron Mixon does it because of the high amount of steam in his pit. __________________ WSM and UDS - iBQ'n BBQ Team owner TheBBQSuperstore.com

01-31-2010, 08:43 AM	#3
cbagby64 Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 04-21-09 Location: Urbandale, IA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I cook on a XL BGE and a 22.5 WSM __________________ Albino Rhino BBQ

01-31-2010, 08:44 AM	#4
HeSmellsLikeSmoke somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 04-02-07 Location: Warren, Vermont Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Here is a great video by Bigmista which should be helpful. http://www.thesurvivalgourmet.com/?p=162 __________________ Jim - Another transplanted Texan Former KCBS CBJ Large and Medium Big Green Eggs , Black 18.5" WSM, Blue Weber Performer - Stainless, Green Weber OTG Kettle , Brinkmann SnP Pro, and a Stainless UDS. One retired Portable Kitchen grill. Red Thermapen, Maverick ET-73, EdgePro Apex Sharpener. Avatar is the original 1951 Weber Kettle

01-31-2010, 08:46 AM	#5
cbagby64 Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 04-21-09 Location: Urbandale, IA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Thanks Jim __________________ Albino Rhino BBQ

01-31-2010, 08:47 AM	#6
Ron_L Moderator Join Date: 12-09-04 Location: Chicago 'Burbs Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	The main heat source in my pit is from the bottom, and I cook my brisket fat cap down as a bit of a shield from the heat source, so I leave about 1/4" of fat on that side of the brisket. Otherwise I trim the hard fat and most of the fat between the plat and the point to make it easier to separate them later. On the other side of the brisket I do trim off as much as i can so i have more meat for the rub to adhere to. Is all of this right? I don't know. Are there other ways to do it? Yep! But this has worked well for me. __________________ "Ron Rico, Boss. You can call me Captain Ron..." Save The Fatty! FEC-100/BWS Party/Memphis Pro SS/PBC/LBGE X 2/SBGE/Mini BGE/Nomad Pellet-matic/Good-One Model 42/WSM X 2/Cookshack Smokette 008/Weber Performer/Weber Gasser/Weber Kettle X 2/Weber Smokey Joe/WGA/UDS/Coffee Roasting Gasser and a pickle Remembering a friend

01-31-2010, 08:48 AM	#7
Rich Parker Babbling Farker Join Date: 06-20-09 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I take it down to about a 1/4 inch and then trim off whats left off after its done. You will find many people doing it differently so you will just have to try and see what works best for you and your cooker. __________________ WSM and UDS - iBQ'n BBQ Team owner TheBBQSuperstore.com

01-31-2010, 08:50 AM	#8
Chipper is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 09-09-08 Location: Red Lion, PA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	What he said.^^^^^ __________________ Backwoods- Competitor Grill Dome- Super Dome "The Twins"- 2 Large Grill Domes Weber Performer Weber Smokey Mountain Kamado #7 [URL="http://www.redlionspicyfoods.com"]www.redlionspicyfoods.com[/URL] [IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/CHARLE%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.png[/IMG]

01-31-2010, 10:58 AM	#9
Captain Dave is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 07-29-09 Location: Beechgrove, Tn. 37018 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	What they said^^^^^. I trim all I can, except a thin layer at the fat cap. I too cook with fat cap down to protect from the direct heat. I think the fat cap also holds some of the juices in like a big cereal bowl. Now, that has been disproven by some side by side cooks, but it still works in my mind. __________________ Thanks for noticing

01-31-2010, 11:51 AM	#10
River City Smokehouse is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 09-25-05 Location: Jefferson City, Missouri Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	The fat that you need on a brisket is on the inside. That's why a choice or better is best. They will have a lot more fat on the outside. Some folks like to keep fat on the bottom so to have a barrier and not burn the bottom while cooking. By trimming it, it allows the penetration of the rub and helps to form more bark surface. The rub will not penetrate the fat. Everyone does their own thing. You can expirement and see what you like best. I was in Huntsville, TX and visited with the owner at the Church of the Holy Smoke (New Zion BBQ restaurant). He doesn't trim anything off of the brisket there. I have tried that here at home and didn't like it so much, it seemed more fatty than juicy. One of the other things I have tried is to trim all the fat and place the fat bove the brisket in the cooker and cover the fat with rub. That's supposed to baste the brisket with rub flavored fat and keep it moist. I don't think that helped any. I have done better by trimming the fat outside and in. __________________ "Please let me be the person my dog thinks I am." ~Author Unknown 8 x 18 Haulmark Trailer Fast Eddy FEC 100 Traeger Texas BBQ 075 UDS "Cool Hand Luke" 3 Weber Kettles and a Yellow Thermapen KCBS Certified BBQ Judge #8425

01-31-2010, 12:19 PM	#11
h20loo is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 01-22-08 Location: waterloo ontario Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I'm going to buy a brisket to do on the egg. Anyone have thoughts on what is best for an egg? I have been cooking low and sslow on the UDS and prefer to cut all but a thin layer off for that. Same as RCS sez- I like the juice but not the greasy fat. The indirect egg should smoke a little different than the UDS.

02-01-2010, 12:30 PM	#12
greg of the BGE On the road to being a farker Join Date: 07-09-09 Location: NW Detroit suburbs Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I have tried all sorts of methods on my BGE and imo it is more the cut of meat than anything. If I get a good brisket, they are tender and juicy. If I get them from the local grocery store, they suck. Fat side up, fat side down (I prefer fat side up with a place setter under it or fat side down with no place setter) I do not trim anything from my briskets. I let the temp and time melt it all away. The 2 times I trimmed them, were the 2 driest briskets I have made so far. If I took the fat off, I would want to cook it partially in foil or a pan to get some moisture back in.

02-01-2010, 06:07 PM	#14
BRBBQ is Blowin Smoke! Join Date: 06-05-08 Location: Council Bluffs, Iowa Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Advantage of leaving some fat on it. Beef jerky otherwise, hehe!

02-01-2010, 06:23 PM	#15
ssbbqguy is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 10-09-07 Location: carthage,mo. Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	It has always been my practice to trim all exterior fat and count on what was inside. Fat blocks smoke flavor and seasonings from reaching meat. Wrapping or panning keeps things nice and juicy. Steve.

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