The Official Brisket Thread

[Moliere]

Doing the brisket today. Got up at 5am and had it on the smoker by 5:30 and was back in bed and asleep by 6am. After just over 6 hours of cooking at 250 degrees the brisket is already at 185. This is the fastest one I've ever done....not sure why it cooked so fast. Looks like I'm going to do a 5 hour hold on this one.

[kccougar]

Not sure of the best place to put this, but this seems as good as any. Remember the old admonition about the importance of resting meat before you slice it? I am not talking about holding meat, I am talking about a short rest right before you slice it. Turns out that it isn't necessary.

http://amazingribs.com/tips_and_tech...ting_meat.html

My takeaway from his article - that awesome John Boos cutting board with juice pan. I hate cleaning up meat juices that always overflow the drip channel around my cutting board. I just bought my Father's Day gift for this year.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Not sure of the best place to put this, but this seems as good as any. Remember the old admonition about the importance of resting meat before you slice it? I am not talking about holding meat, I am talking about a short rest right before you slice it. Turns out that it isn't necessary.

http://amazingribs.com/tips_and_tech...ting_meat.html

[smokymountainrain]

Yes. They started doing it a few months ago. Maybe it is a nationwide thing now. Quality is outstanding.

mother's day dinner in the SMR household.

[Moliere]

Do you know what the price per pound is for choice? I wonder what the spread is.

I believe the local HEB typically has choice grade and a couple times a year you can find it for $1.99/lb but generally it's up around $2.99/lb. That's why I was shocked to find the prime grade priced where it was. It's been about a year since I've been to Costco but maybe I need to visit more often.

[Joe Public]

Yes. They started doing it a few months ago. Maybe it is a nationwide thing now. Quality is outstanding.

Do you know what the price per pound is for choice? I wonder what the spread is.

[Jeff Lebowski]

For prime grade?

Yes. They started doing it a few months ago. Maybe it is a nationwide thing now. Quality is outstanding.

[Joe Public]

That is the standard price at our Costco.

For prime grade?

[Jeff Lebowski]

Was at Costco today and didn't plan on buying a brisket but they had prime grade briskets for $2.69/lb. I usually buy from HEB when they are on sale but I've never seen a prime grade one at HEB. MJ wants me to save it until we have our old neighbors over for a pool party in early July. I should have bought two

That is the standard price at our Costco.

[Moliere]

Was at Costco today and didn't plan on buying a brisket but they had prime grade briskets for $2.69/lb. I usually buy from HEB when they are on sale but I've never seen a prime grade one at HEB. MJ wants me to save it until we have our old neighbors over for a pool party in early July. I should have bought two

[Jeff Lebowski]

Are you doing your whole cook in a steamer pan? I know a lot of folk who do that. I think next time I do a deep clean on the smoker I may go that route. Just depends on the quality im cooking. I'm still using the butcher paper since I have it. Even when I cook in a steamer pan. Lol.

Sometimes. I generally do the first four hours straight on the smoker to get a better smoke ring. Then I do the foil stage in a steamer pan on a rack.

[Drunk Tank]

I don't use it. I do the foil stage inside a disposable steamer pan on a drain rack, covered with foil. The meat doesn't get soggy and very easy to clean up.

Are you doing your whole cook in a steamer pan? I know a lot of folk who do that. I think next time I do a deep clean on the smoker I may go that route. Just depends on the quality im cooking. I'm still using the butcher paper since I have it. Even when I cook in a steamer pan. Lol.

[Pelado]

This one fits perfectly in the bottom of a full-size steamer pan:

http://www.amazon.com/Update-interna...rch_detailpage

This one works great in half-size pans (perfect for pork butts):

http://www.amazon.com/Goson-Heavy-Du...rch_detailpage

Thanks. Just ordered the ones for half-size pans.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Where did you get your drain rack(s)?

This one fits perfectly in the bottom of a full-size steamer pan:

http://www.amazon.com/Update-interna...rch_detailpage

This one works great in half-size pans (perfect for pork butts):

http://www.amazon.com/Goson-Heavy-Du...rch_detailpage

[Pelado]

I don't use it. I do the foil stage inside a disposable steamer pan on a drain rack, covered with foil. The meat doesn't get soggy and very easy to clean up.

Where did you get your drain rack(s)?