Brisket "Fake News"

[ynot2k]

There is so much mis-information about smoking brisket on the www.

Cooking temperature.

Rubs.

Marinades/injections.

Style of smoker to use.

Finished internal temperature.  

Wrap or no wrap?  Foil or butcher paper?

Rest method and time.

Wood.

I would like to thank the senior members of SMF for giving very good advise.  I see newbies to smoking brisket asking questions, bringing with them the ideas they have read about on other sites, and usually the members here take the time to point them in the right direction.

And what is the right direction?

It varies.  BBQ is not a science, it's an art.

Here are my recommendations.

Use what you have available (smoker, wood, seasoning, etc).

Don't try to be so precise.

Know what the result is you are looking for before starting.

Work hard against all of the variables thrown at you during a cook (basically everything in the equation is a variable) to get the best results that day.

Don't rush it.

Relax and enjoy the time spent smoking a brisket.  It's supposed to be fun.

Learn from your failures and be more diligent the next time.

The best advice I can offer is this - it's just food.  Delicious food, yes, but just food.  Have fun with it.

Jeff

Jeff's Texas Style BBQ

Marysville, WA

 

[bmudd14474]

Amen Jeff. KISS IS THE best policy

 

[tropics]

I agree with that simple is also the easiest 

Richie

 

[GaryHibbert]

That's great advice Jeff. Yep--KISS.

Gary

 

[shyzabrau]

I guess I am reading Jeff's post different from everyone else. I don't see that he's recommending to keep it simple, but rather to not stress. One may lead to the other, but sometimes complications are fun if they don't cause you stress...

 

[gary s]

Hit the nail on the head, Briskets are not hard at all if you keep it simple,

Amen Brother

Gary

 

[sauced]

Right on the money.....simple wins every time!

 

[crankybuzzard]

Amen!

Keep it simple, and HAVE FUN doing it!

Smoking to me is therapeutic. When it becomes stressful, I'll start ordering pizza.

 

[SmokinAl]

The only thing I would add for the new guys is to keep a journal of your smoke.

Time, temp, rub, etc.

Write everything down that you do, so you can look back & fix any mistakes you may have made.

Or just be able to duplicate a good result.

Al

 

[ab canuck]

Hear hear....... I agree as well, It's for enjoyment and for eating the creation at that time, Simple straight forward and enjoyable...

 

[remsr]

Good advic

 

[Bearcarver]

 
The only thing I would add for the new guys is to keep a journal of your smoke.

Time, temp, rub, etc.

Write everything down that you do, so you can look back & fix any mistakes you may have made.

Or just be able to duplicate a good result.

Al

Here-Here!!!  Exactly!!

Also good for doing a follow-up Step by Step to post for your Buddies!!

With Pics of course!!

Bear

 

[remsr]

I was about to say good advice when my finger touched the reply, that sucker is not in a good place.
Anyway, there is a lot of confusing information out there not to mention the scare that beef brisket is a difficult hunk of meat that takes time to master. All my briskest come out the same, tender, juicy and tasty the only difference being the rub I choose to use. Other then that I smoke them the same way every time and never have a problem. I would like to take credit for that but the truth is that I simply followed the directions of someone on the forms 3 years ago and about 10 briskets later it's still working great.

Randy,

 

[gary s]

Good advice, Keeping a journal is a good thing, especially  starting out and for thing you don't smoke on a regular basis.

Gary