First Brisket with questions

herscht

Newbie

Original poster

May 28, 2011

16

10

Pittsburgh, PA

• Jun 14, 2011

• #1

I got about a 9 1/2 # brisket and trimmed the fat, which probably reduced it to @ 8#.  Rubbed it and put it in an aluminum pan at 240. I had planned for a 12 hr smoke, but realized the internal temp was at 190 at 6 hours.  I repositioned the probe several times thinking I was too close to the edge, but all readings were approx the same.

I called it quits at 9 hours with an internal temp slightly over 200.

I think the brisket looks good and comparable to other pics I have seen.

I was wondering if others experienced the same time frames with briskets.  Six hours seemed a bit soon, even to an inexperienced smoker like myself.

 

gotarace

Limited Mod

Jan 27, 2011

1,081

25

northern wisconsin

• Jun 14, 2011

• #2

I would really think your chamber temperatures were over 240*. Did you check your chamber temperatures with a good calibrated thermometer? I think you were right with your expected smoke times. More detailed smoking information would help to answer your question completely... The brisket sure looks good!!!

 

Last edited: Jun 14, 2011

adiochiro3

Master of the Pit

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Apr 19, 2010

2,088

42

Bay Area, CA

• Jun 15, 2011

• #3

gottarace is right -- Thermo is probably off by quite a bit. How did it taste? Where's the Money shot (sliced or pulled pix)?

 

SmokinAl

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Jun 22, 2009

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Central Florida (Sebring)

• Jun 15, 2011

• #4

If it was nice & juicy, then you just happened to get one that finished quickly. If on the other hand it's dried out then I think you may have been cooking at a higher temp than you thought.

 

africanmeat

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Mar 28, 2011

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Cape Town South Africa

• Jun 15, 2011

• #5

gotarace said:

I would really think your chamber temperatures were over 240*. Did you check your chamber temperatures with a good calibrated thermometer? I think you were right with your expected smoke times. More detailed smoking information would help to answer your question completely... The brisket sure looks good!!!

Click to expand...

adiochiro3 said:

gottarace is right -- Thermo is probably off by quite a bit. How did it taste? Where's the Money shot (sliced or pulled pix)?

Click to expand...

SmokinAl said:

If it was nice & juicy, then you just happened to get one that finished quickly. If on the other hand it's dried out then I think you may have been cooking at a higher temp than you thought.

Click to expand...

The guys nailed it spot on. the knowledge on this site is priceless

 

Bearcarver

Gone but not forgotten RIP

OTBS Member

Group Lead

Sep 12, 2009

45,279

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Macungie, PA

• Jun 15, 2011

• #6

SmokinAl said:

If it was nice & juicy, then you just happened to get one that finished quickly. If on the other hand it's dried out then I think you may have been cooking at a higher temp than you thought.

Click to expand...

What Al said!

Bear

 

eman

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OTBS Member

Feb 3, 2009

5,316

139

• Jun 15, 2011

• #7

Really can't say you were way over 240° as i have done some fairly quick foil pan briskets on my MES also.

 IMHO, The foil pan speeds up the process alot. Just make sure to flip it every so often to make sure that the smoke gets to all sides.

 

raptor700

Master of the Pit

OTBS Member

May 20, 2010

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Crestview, Florida

• Jun 15, 2011

• #8

All the above 

We would love to see the sliced pics.

 

ugaboz

Smoking Fanatic

Jan 1, 2010

518

10

Blue Springs MO

• Jun 15, 2011

• #9

cut it

 

herscht

Newbie

Original poster

Thread starter

May 28, 2011

16

10

Pittsburgh, PA

• Jun 20, 2011

• #10

Its a little late to cut it, it is long gone.  But I did get a good oven thermometer and ran a test on the smoker.  It was pretty consistent with the digital read out.  If anything, the internal temp was slightly cooler.

I did a lot of further reading and I think I may have messed up on the top damper.  Had it fully closed.

 

jlstout

Newbie

May 25, 2010

18

10

• Jun 20, 2011

• #11

Just did one this weekend that took 7 hours.  10.5 pounds before trimming.  My temp was running about 300 though.  First time I got one right finally.  Took it off when the probe went in like buttah!