Prepping Brisket for transport...

[jrmckinn]

Ok, need some guidance:
Extended family meets in the Outer Banks of NC every year. This year I'm smoking a brisket for everyone to devour that first night. The question is do you guys think it's a better plan to time (as best as possible) for the brisket to come of the smoker, get wrapped and put in a cooler and immediately leave for the 7 hour drive to OBX, or cook it the day before, refrigerate and transport in a "cooled" cooler. The intent to then reheat for dinner that evening. Thanks for any input!

j

 

[Ron_L]

If you can cook it so it is ready before you leave, it will be the best quality. Just preheat the cooler with hot water (dump out the water before putting the brisket in :-D) and toss some old towels in the dryer to warm them up and wrap the brisket in foil, the warm towels and put it in the preheated cooler. It will be too hot to touch when you want to eat.

 

[jrmckinn]

Those are my thoughts as well, but my Immediate Supervisor (aka "wife") is concerned it won't weather the trip well. It's going into a Pelican cooler, and I'm not worried about it maintaining temp, but thought I should err on the side of caution and do some due diligence.

 

[Ron_L]

Those are my thoughts as well, but my Immediate Supervisor (aka "wife") is concerned it won't weather the trip well. It's going into a Pelican cooler, and I'm not worried about it maintaining temp, but thought I should err on the side of caution and do some due diligence.

Can you do a test to satisfy her before hand? Stick a maverick or other wireless probe into a brisket in the cooler and see how far the temp drops.

I hold brisket in my Cambro at every competition for 4-5 hours without the preheating and warm towels and it is too hot to touch when I take it out.

 

[aawa]

Those are my thoughts as well, but my Immediate Supervisor (aka "wife") is concerned it won't weather the trip well. It's going into a Pelican cooler, and I'm not worried about it maintaining temp, but thought I should err on the side of caution and do some due diligence.

If you are preheating a pelican cooler, and filling the empty spaces with warm towels/blankets that brisket will stay over 140 degrees for 8hrs without issue.

If your supervisor is leary about it, you can always throw up the fact you are the bbq expert in the house! But be prepared to sleep on the couch. :loco:

 

[pjtexas1]

i am with ron on doing a test cook. and see how well it works. with that nice cooler it should not be an issue as long as long you pre-heat and use the hot towels. when i leave one on the counter just in a single layer of foil it takes 2-3 hours to get to 140 from 200 and that's after it rests uncovered for 15-20 minutes.

 

[jrmckinn]

I need all you guys to live near me. There would be much eye-rolling, but I'm a firm believer in "safety-in-numbers".

 

[aawa]

I need all you guys to live near me. There would be much eye-rolling, but I'm a firm believer in "safety-in-numbers".

We don't want to be taken out at the same time you are. We have your back..... way back here.

 

[jrmckinn]

We don't want to be taken out at the same time you are. We have your back..... way back here.

So, you've met my wife? Because that would be the appropriate course of action. It's the result of marrying someone willing to marry a Marine and teach high-school.

 

[aawa]

So, you've met my wife? Because that would be the appropriate course of action. It's the result of marrying someone willing to marry a Marine and teach high-school.

ound:ound:ound:ound:ound:ound:ound:

 

[JS-TX]

I would cook it to completion, let it vent for 5 minutes and put it in the cooler in foil and towels. It's going to be perfect when you get there! Do it your way but bet the supervisor while you are at it.. you got this!

 

[landarc]

Might be the best brisket you've ever cooked with a long hold like that. It'll weather the travel fine.

 

[bobthetomato]

You could always heat up some bricks and then wrap them in towels to keep some thermal mass in the cooler.

 

[2000milesofsmoke]

I've placed foil wrapped brisket then wrapped in towels in a cooler and left for 8 hours before. Still piping hot when I went to cut.... Proceed with confidence.

 

[nmeyer414]

So, you've met my wife? Because that would be the appropriate course of action. It's the result of marrying someone willing to marry a Marine and teach high-school.

well that answers it all right there......................(wheres the window licker emoji) :becky:

 

[VoodoChild]

Might be the best brisket you've ever cooked with a long hold like that. It'll weather the travel fine.

This is very true done it a bunch driving from Phoenix to San Diego.:grin:

 

[Crotonmark]

this is really helpful and timely for me too
taking a brisket for a half hour drive today

THANKS

 

[Crotonmark]

ALSO - Can I transport pork butts the same way?
I would like to wrap brisket and some pork butts in the cooler
Pull the pork and slice the brisket when I get to my destination
Will this work?
thanks

 

[CabinFever]

I have done 6 hours in a standard cooler that was not pre-heated. 4 butts and a brisket. Still to hot to touch when it got there. I did line the bottom of the cooler with some 1.5" foamboard and put some on top as well. Primary reason for underneath was not to melt my cheap cooler

 

[pjtexas1]

ALSO - Can I transport pork butts the same way?
I would like to wrap brisket and some pork butts in the cooler
Pull the pork and slice the brisket when I get to my destination
Will this work?
thanks

Absolutely