Texas Smoked Brisket

Uncut Brisket
Brisket

Planning/Purchasing

  • Brisket -- Splurge. Get a high-quality point cut. In the DMV, The Organic Butcher sells them. (you will need at 60-90 minutes per pound to cook it so...)
  • A whole bag of Mesquite chunks, plus ideally some other wood that will be ok for smoking
  • Charcoal (duh), including briquets if you want to push towards more of a pink ring, see the science (but the pink ring is ornamental, doesn't impact flavor)
  • Mopping sauce (see below)
  • dry rub (see below)

The night before

  • Trim most of the fat off the brisket's exterior to improve smoke penetration. Leave some to render. Reserve fat to render in a separate pan
  • Pay dry, dust with smoked salt on all sides
  • Let air dry in fridge overnight

Prepare the spice rub and a mop

Spice rub: Salt (½ smoked salt better) and coarse ground pepper in a ~3:5 ratio, optionally with a few other spices like garlic powder and paprika to your preference.

Mop: I start with 1 bottle of Stubbs' Moppin' Sauce, adding ~1/2 cup Apple Cider Vinegar and 1/2 lager beer.

Morning of

  • Get the brisket out and let it start coming to room temperature, apply the rub, it should adhere to the surface like sand on wet skin.
  • Light the charcoal immediately to get the temps down by cooking time (much faster if using an offset smoker, but you'll still want a solid bed of charcoal to be the base for your wood fire. Adding charcoal briquets early in the cook provide the right gasses to support the development of the pink ring.

Preparing the grill

For an offset smoker, you will want a firebox with glowing embers which will catch wood being added to it, and you'll want to maintain that. You might need to add more charcoal and definitely more wood/chunk throughout the process. I strongly recommend a helper tool like the ThermoWorks Bellows to help maintain a constant temperature in the cooking chamber by controlling the fire.

Prepare a pan to put water in to add humidity into the chamber - put this on the side close to the firebox in offset. In offset setups, Prepare a separate drip pan to place under the grill under the brisket, and a separate pan to thrown the fat scraps in that's accessible, to brush onto the brisket during the cook.

For vertical setups, you're going to just want to merge all of this into one water+drip setup, placed underneath the brisket, start it off with lots of water and some beer, plus the fat trimmings. Rendered fat and mopping sauce will drip into this, causing a tasty steam to help maintain moisture and a dredge sauce for the meat.

Bring the cooking chamber up to 275F ambient temperature, and try to maintain it around there.

Drink beer, wait

When you first put the brisket on, add a lot of mesquite chunk (and optionally, briquets) to maximize smoke during the first 30 minutes.

You want the first round of the brisket to absorb a lot of smoke while it's just covered in salt and pepper and still a bit cold. This maximizes the smoke ring (though the colder it starts the longer it will take). You will however want to start mopping or spritzing early on, as a wet surface binds more smoke into the brisket.

Continue to maintain the grill's temperature around 275F, and make sure the steam pan doesn't dry out (empty your warming beer, get another cold one!). Otherwise try not to disturb the grill.

Foiling the Stall

At some point around 150-160°F internal, the meat will stall out and stop heating up quickly. Break out the Texas Crutch. (what? : http://www.amazingribs.com/tips_and_technique/texas_crutch.html). Wrap the brisket tightly in unwaxed butcher paper, with a bit of rendered fat brushed on top. Return to the offset grill.

Leave in the crutch until the internal temperature tops 200F.

Note- when you unwrap this, make sure you save the jus that is in the bottom of the foil at the end of this process; it is liquid brisket heaven.

Finally, at or above 200F, take it back out and place it on the grill. Smoke it again for a few more minutes to re-firm the bark and dry out the surface. Your target internal temp is 203, but once you remove it from the crutch it will cool through evaporation and probably go down in overall temperature!

If you need to hold the brisket (it amazingly comes off early?); try a "faux cambro" (basically put it in a pre-warmed cooler) to hold it at temperature.

More notes

Overall, AmazingRibs's Texas Brisket walkthrough provides some very solid tips with long, science-backed explanations. Franklin's Manifesto gets waaaay down into the weeds on specific details.
Bon Appetit provides a cliffs-notes version.

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2024 brisket notes: This brisket was amazing

This was the first brisket I've made that I would proudly serve in Texas. It was my best yet, by a mile.

Raw notes from the cook:

Got a pricey ($100 for 7 lbs) point cut brisket from The Organic Butcher - definitely better than previous
Used a mix of hardwood lump, briquits to start
Smashed a small grill pan to ensure smoke went under my char-griller's movable ash pan to evenly smoke the cooking chamber.
Added some ash wood once coals were in firebox (basically I used ash whenever I needed wood but the brisket was not there or wrapped)
added mesquite when brisket went on
used Bellows to maintain 275°
8:23 on grill
mopped with sauce and rendered fat frequently during early cook
at 12:16, temp is 151-5 and beginning to stall
fed with mesquite until almost out, switched to hickory
added more hickory throughout whenever smoke went down
1:20p Crutched (wrap tightly with unwaxed butcher paper, return to smoke/grill) with rendered fat brushed on top at 1:20p, 156•, added a bit more charcoal to firebox
1:35p Up to 166
330 removed from crutch -THIS WAS A MISTAKE - at 330/190 but re crutched because new probe locations were low and falling
Back up to 178 after re crunching
530 back to 190
600 off at 200, spent a few minutes bare to harden bark
Don’t un-crutch until it’s done
Trimmed off fat cap and some intra-point fat as well, rendered separately in a drip pan and used to baste occasionally (Would leave a bit of fat on edges for protection/rendering next time, but liked this approach)

Archived recipe / 2023

My current practice has wandered so far from the original recipe I recorded here, it's time to make some more serious edits, so archiving this version here as a comment:

Brisket (give at least 60 minutes per pound, though thicker or larger non-point cuts might take as much as 90 mins / pound) 4 Pounds is a good base point. You should bring the brisket up to room temperature before anything else

Prepare the spice rub and a mop

Spice rub: Salt (smoked salt better) and coarse ground pepper in a 3:5 ratio, with a few other spices like onion and garlic powder, a dash of cayenne, ground mustard seeds and even a few ground juniper berries to taste.

Mop: I start with 1 bottle of Stubbs' Moppin' Sauce, adding ~1/2 cup Apple Cider Vinegar and 1/2 Light Beer, along with a dash of stronger vinegar (malt), a spoonful of sorghum, a dash of liquid smoke, a dash of hot sauce and/or Worcestershire sauce.

Prepare the brisket

Let the brisket come up to room temperature, apply some salt by itself and then a bit of the spice rub to the room-temperature brisket. It should adhere like wet sand on skin, but not cake-y.

Preparing the grill

You should have about 3 cups worth of wood chips (mesquite) and a larger chunk of hardwood, well soaked.

You'll need at least two rounds of charcoal, estimate 1 round every 3 hours. Build the fire on the far side of the grill, away from the stovepipe exhaust. I usually only have two grates in my 4-grate grilltop, to provide ledges for the drip and steam pans, below, and allow easy access to add wood chips and charcoal.

Bring the grill up to 220F ambient temperature, and try to maintain it between that and 250F.

Getting down to business

Sear the fat side above the hot coals, then place the brisket itself, fat side up, on the "warming" rack, opposite from the coals.

Place the soaked hardwood chunk between the fire and the brisket to deflect some heat and smolder.

Underneath the brisket, place a disposable pie tin or rimmed baking sheet with a bit of leftover marinade and a beer. Rendered fat and, eventually, mopping sauce will also drip into this, causing a tasty steam to help maintain moisture and a dredge sauce for the meat.

Above the coals, place another disposable tin with beer, vinegar, mopping sauce, and some water from the soaking chips, this part really adds a lot of moisture to the smoke and dramatically improves the juiceiness of the end result.

Drink beer, apply mop, repeat

You want the first round of the brisket to absorb a lot of smoke while it's just covered in salt and pepper, so try and let this happen as long as you can wait before the first mopping.

Maintain the grill's temperature around 225F, adding soaked hickory chips and rosemary branches. Mop no more often than 45 minutes, and refill the steam pan (empty your warming beer, get another cold one!) every time. Otherwise try not to disturb the grill.

Foiling the Stall

At some point around 150-160°F internal, the meat will stall out and stop heating up quickly. This is a great time to break out the Texas Crutch. (what? : http://www.amazingribs.com/tips_and_technique/texas_crutch.html). Wrap the brisket tightly in heavy-duty tin foil with a splash of liquid inside it to steam/braise the brisket. Instead of apple juice, I recommend beer and mopping sauce.

Make sure you save the jus that is in the bottom of the foil at the end of this process; it is liquid brisket heaven. I don't do the fancy faux cambro step, just keep the brisket wrapped up for ~1 hour, then take it back out and place it back sans-foil for the last 30 minutes to 1 hr more to re-harden the bark.

More notes

Aim for 195F internally.

A 4 lb top cut took 8 hours to reach 190. The crutch method helps with the moisture. It's a bit messy, but the jus it creates is amazing.

http://www.amazingribs.com/recipes/beef/texas_brisket.html is a great guide and explains his choices of which tools and tricks to use.

Further tips here , especially regarding smoke, wood/fire usage, and timing:
Bon Appetit channels Austin's Franklin's BBQ pitmaster: http://www.bonappetit.com/blogsandforums/blogs/badaily/2013/06/texas-sty...

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/recipes/2010/05/26/classic-style-smok... , with backstory here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/a-texas-barbecue-party-requ...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/what-are-they-smoking-at-a-...

2024 archived recipe

Notes for next cook: review the smoke ring guidance here: https://amazingribs.com/more-technique-and-science/more-cooking-...

Planning/Purchasing

  • Brisket -- (give at least 60 minutes per pound, though thicker or larger non-point cuts might take as much as 90 mins / pound) 4 Pounds is a good base point.
  • Mesquite chunks and chips
  • Charcoal (duh)
  • Mopping sauce (see below)
  • Smoked salt
  • dry rub

The night before

  • Trim the fat off the brisket's exterior to improve smoke penetration
  • Pay dry, dust with smoked salt on all sides
  • Let air dry in fridge overnight

Prepare the spice rub and a mop

Spice rub: Salt (½ smoked salt better) and coarse ground pepper in a 3:5 ratio, with a few other spices like garlic powder and paprika to your preference.

Mop: I start with 1 bottle of Stubbs' Moppin' Sauce, adding ~1/2 cup Apple Cider Vinegar and 1/2 Light Beer, along with a dash of stronger vinegar (malt, apple), dash of liquid smoke, dry rub, and optionally a dash of hot sauce and/or Worcestershire sauce.

Morning of

  • Light the charcoal immediately to get the temps down by cooking time
  • Get the brisket out and let it start coming to room temperature
  • Apply the dry rub to the room-temperature brisket. It should adhere like sand on wet skin, but not cake-y.

Preparing the grill

You should have about 3 cups worth of wood chips (mesquite) and a larger chunk of hardwood.

Bring the grill up to 220F ambient temperature, and try to maintain it between that and 250F.

Getting down to business

Place the hardwood chunk between the fire and the brisket to deflect some heat and smolder.

Underneath the brisket, place a disposable pie tin or rimmed baking sheet with a bit of mop, water, fat trimmings, and a light beer. Rendered fat and, eventually, mopping sauce will also drip into this, causing a tasty steam to help maintain moisture and a dredge sauce for the meat.

Drink beer, wait

When you first put the brisket on, add a lot of mesquite chips to maximize smoke during the first 30 minutes.

You want the first round of the brisket to absorb a lot of smoke while it's just covered in salt and pepper, so try and let this happen as long as you can.

Maintain the grill's temperature around 225F, and refill the steam pan as needed (empty your warming beer, get another cold one!) every time. Otherwise try not to disturb the grill.

Foiling the Stall

At some point around 150-160°F internal, the meat will stall out and stop heating up quickly. This is a great time to break out the Texas Crutch. (what? : http://www.amazingribs.com/tips_and_technique/texas_crutch.html). Wrap the brisket tightly in heavy-duty tin foil with a splash of liquid inside it to steam/braise the brisket. Instead of apple juice, I recommend beer and mopping sauce.

Make sure you save the jus that is in the bottom of the foil at the end of this process; it is liquid brisket heaven. I don't do the fancy faux cambro step, just keep the brisket wrapped up for ~1 hour.

Finally, take it back out and place it back sans-foil. Apply a bit of mopping sauce and smoke it again for the last 30 minutes to 1 hr more to re-harden the bark.

More notes

Aim for 195F internally.

A 4 lb top cut took 8 hours to reach 190. The crutch method helps with the moisture. It's a bit messy, but the jus it creates is amazing.

http://www.amazingribs.com/recipes/beef/texas_brisket.html is a great guide and explains his choices of which tools and tricks to use.

Further tips here , especially regarding smoke, wood/fire usage, and timing:
Bon Appetit channels Austin's Franklin's BBQ pitmaster: http://www.bonappetit.com/blogsandforums/blogs/badaily/2013/06/t...

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/recipes/2010/05/26/classic-st... , with backstory here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/a-texas-barbecue-pa...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/what-are-they-smoki...

2020 / Kamado brisket

  • 6lbs point / fatty end
  • Salted air dried overnight
  • lit grill and let it stabilize at 250ish
  • On grill at 845, grill temp 230, brisket 60
  • Grill stayed in 250 range, mopped after 2 hours
  • 190 in most spots by 130 pm??
  • Kept it on grill at super low for ~1 hr longer to reach 190 across the whole brisket

Next time w/Kamado: don't over-charcoal it; and aim for even lower temp

2022 Kamado with fan controlled heat notes

Waited until grill cools to 400
Opened; added steaming liquid (leftover injection, water, beer, brisket fat trimmings and drops ) add smoking chips and lumps, added brisket

Set to 260, aimed for 250 avg

7.5 lb brisket on at 930a
Smoke salt 24 hrs in advance
Injected marinade 12 hrs in advance, beef bone broth/mesquite liquid smoke / salt

results: Good flavor, minimal smoke ring, a bit dry
next: Try mopping again, aim even lower and with more smoke

Brisket notes, 2016

I prepared a mop roughly following
http://amazingribs.com/recipes/BBQ_sauces/texas_BBQ_mop-sauce.html
(subbing beer for all the water, adding in last year's brisket butter and rendering some trimmed fat, and using both ketchup and kraft bbq; also adding way more apple cider vinegar and pepper, light on other spices, molasses instead of sugar, no onion or bell pepper, but added paprika)

I trimmed and pre-salted my brisket the night before with smoked and kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper.

put on at 9:15
crutched at ~noon, spiked it up to 195
removed crutch, dropped to 180
re-foiled, slow rise back up, 190 by 3p
maintaining fire at or under 300F

No smoke ring, a bit dry.

Brisket notes, 2017

6.55lb. Air-age/dried overnight

On at 9:15 with just dry rub

drip pan but no steam pan at start

grill temperature fighting to stay above 300

10:45 - meat got to 150, crutched in foil

12, meat in crutch got to 190, removed from crutch, drained liquid into drip pan, removed steam pan

By 12:30, meat dropped to 180, 12:45 => 175, continued to drop to 170 by 1p via evaporation.

fire registerin at 250

By 2 the meat had recovered back to 185 as the fire (re-stacked) moved back towards 300

3:30, 190

4:00 got up to 194, re-wrapped and cambro'd in place (coals were almost dead)

6p took off and carved, dry, not a lot of flavor, but a little smoke ring.

Notes for next year:
Salt the night before, don't air-dry though.

Get a "Point" ("second cut) cut of hoice or prime grade (Whole Foods?)

Faux cambro? http://amazingribs.com/tips_and_technique/faux_cambro.html

2018!

While the elusive pink ring of smoke continues to elude me, this was a tasty and juicy brisket:

7:30ish brisket out of fridge
9:20 - brisket on (~55F reading internal)
11:20 - crutch at 170f
12:45 - meat at 195-200F , removed from crutch
(Began applying mop after the cruch)
temp lowered to 180f
3p off heat

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