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Even if you are a novice behind the smoker, you can still master the art of cooking the perfect smoked brisket. It will take some time, but it isn’t as difficult as you might think. Check out these tips for tender smoked brisket.
Tips for Brisket Smoking Preparation
1. Find the right smoker
In order to make a tasty smoked brisket, it all starts with the right smoker. If you want an option that allows you to not have to do a lot of work, a plug-in smoker is a great choice. All you have to do is add pellets to it, set the temperature and add the meat.
For those that want to claim bragging rights to all of the work that they put into their brisket, they might want to choose a ceramic grill. This type of grill uses charcoal and is fairly efficient at maintaining its heat. This makes it a great choice for those that want to cook a piece of meat like brisket that takes a while to cook. They can be pricey, but they are well worth the expense if you like to barbecue a lot.
2. How to pick a high quality brisket cut
No matter what type of smoker you choose, you need to choose a brisket cut that’s of high quality. It’s almost impossible to make a decent brisket if the cut isn’t great. Make sure you get a whole brisket that contains both the top muscle and the leaner part of the flat. It’s not uncommon for grocery stores to only sell the leaner flat. You may have to put in a special request for the whole brisket. Make sure you also pay attention to how much fat is on the top. You basically want around a quarter inch of it. If there’s too much or too little, you won’t end up with a decent brisket. Another smoke brisket tip that you should consider is that you need to make sure that the meat is pliable. If it has a decent amount of fat, you should be able to fold it in half.
Tips for Cooking A Smoked Brisket
1. Properly trim the brisket
When you are preparing your brisket to be smoked, you need to trim it properly. This means that you may need to trim some of the fat off of it. Leave about a fourth of it on the top. Don’t worry about it being too fatty. It will cook down, and it will leave behind a bark that is rather tasty.
2. Make sure you coat the brisket with a generous amount of salt and pepper
Some people like to put different rubs on their brisket before they cook it. However, this really isn’t necessary. Salt and pepper is basically all that you need. They will bring out the natural flavor of the brisket. Make sure you are generous when you apply them. Cover all of the sides of the meat as well as the corners. This will ensure that you bring out all of the flavors throughout the brisket.
3. What you need to know about the grill’s temperature and the brisket’s internal temperature
You should cook your brisket at 250 ℉. This will allow you to produce a very juicy meat. If you have a little bit more time on your hands, you should consider cooking it at 225 ℉. It will take longer, but the result will be an even more flavorful meat. Some people do think that they need to baste their brisket throughout the cooking process. However, this isn’t the case. You will end up with a brisket that’s more moist if you keep your smoker closed during the time that the meat is cooking. Opening up your smoker will also drop the temperature inside of it with the guide of the cooking thermometer, and it will cause the brisket to need a longer cooking time.
4. How long you should cook it for
Many novice chefs don’t make a good brisket the first time around because they try to rush the cooking process. However, this isn’t a meat that can be cooked quickly. You need to allow an hour to an hour and fifteen minutes for every pound of meat. For example, if you plan on cooking a brisket that is 14 pounds, it will take at least 14 hours.
Bonus Tip: How to Check The Brisket’s Internal Temperature While Cooking It
It’s important that you check the internal temperature of your brisket. This will allow you to cook it for the correct length of time. The ThermoPro Meat Thermometer is a must-have tool. All you need to do is insert the probe of the thermometer into the thickest part of the meat to see the internal temperature. The brisket should reach an internal temperature of at least 200 °F. When it does, the meat is cooked thoroughly, and you should remove it from the smoker. Don’t try to cook a brisket without the ThermoPro Instant Read Meat Thermometer. If you do, you will most likely over-cook or under-cook the meat.
In conclusion, it isn’t that difficult to cook a brisket. You just need to have a little bit of patience when doing so. Once your brisket is fully cooked, you need to let it sit for about two hours. This will ensure that it is tender and juicy. When it comes time to slice it, you need to do so opposite of the meat’s grain. This will allow it to pull apart fairly easily. You really need to pay attention to the grain as it can move in a few different directions throughout the meat.
If you want your meat to be tender, you need to cut thin slices. If you don’t use all of your brisket, you can reheat it. Keep these tips for reheating smoked brisket in mind. It’s better to heat slices of your brisket in the oven than in the microwave. This is because microwaves can dry out the meat. Put slices of brisket in a pan and cover with foil. Put it in the oven, an let it heat for around 20 minutes at 350 °F. If for some reason you need to reheat a whole brisket, it will take about an hour to heat thoroughly. By utilizing all of the tips mentioned above, you will smoke the perfect brisket and be able to thoroughly reheat any pieces of meat that are left over.
