Brisket safe zone

[Ricardo's]

I smoked a pair of briskets last night and they finished at 203° internal temperature about 3:00 in the morning. I put them in an oven that was off to rest down to 150°, planning on turning the oven on at that point to keep them warm. Sometime in the night my wireless meat thermometer battery died and I didn't wake up until 7:00. At 7:00 the internal temperature was 128°. My question is is this safe sitting in the danger zone? We're having a house full of company tonight will it be okay?

 

[gmc2003]

I'd say yes they're safe to eat. The temp drop is gradual not a sudden drop.

 

[sandyut]

Safe, if you are unsure, I will happily quality control them for ya.

 

[SmokinEdge]

Well,,, the meat went to 203 IT on the smoker (no idea if wrapped or not) then went into the kitchen oven. The kitchen oven is most likely the most sterile surface or area in your whole kitchen. I would turn the oven on, and heat the brisket back up to 140-150 IT and hold for dinner. No worries.

 

[normanaj]

This is also learning moment,always check your charge status and have a backup if needed.

 

[Ricardo's]

Well,,, the meat went to 203 IT on the smoker (no idea if wrapped or not) then went into the kitchen oven. The kitchen oven is most likely the most sterile surface or area in your whole kitchen. I would turn the oven on, and heat the brisket back up to 140-150 IT and hold for dinner. No worries.

Yes these were wrapped. That's the plan, they're in the oven at 170. I think they'll be fine. Attached some obligatory pics

 

[civilsmoker]

128 is still in the pasteurization temp especially since it was smoked to 203, As SE noted get it back to 140 plus INT and hold there till you eat it. Next time just put it in the oven and turn it on....the warm up time to 150 will be plenty for the cooking to pause.

I will just note that in my state food service code would require a heat up to 165 on a "re-heat" which this would be considered, so if you are worried about it, warm it up to 165 and hold....

 

[schlotz]

You are fine to reheat it. Got to second what normanaj said, and can't stress enough the importance of ensuring all temp monitoring gear is sufficiently charged and tested before embarking on an overnight smoke. BTW: that includes a cell phone if used via an app. including setting it so the app will actually bypass the don't disturb period and activate the alarm if temps drop.