I purchased my WSM 9 months ago and have missed only a few weekends since. So have a fair amount of experience, but have so far avoided brisket. I didn't like the high price of the large briskets offered at my local market and was not interested in an overnight smoke. While perusing the meat counter last week I came upon an 8.5 lb packer that wouldn't break the bank and decided to take the plunge. I have read about cooking brisket at much higher temps than the typical low and slow and decided to give it a try, my goal was to shoot for an average temp of 325.
I used a foiled terra cotta flower pot saucer in the water pan, so I could get and keep the higher temps. I used Ozark Oak Lump with hickory as a smoke wood.
Here's the brisket trimmed and rubbed down with Fiesta brand Brisket Rub. I did an aggressive trim to maximize rub penetration and cut the cook time. I injected with Low Sodium Beef Broth to which I added onion powder, garlic powder and soy sauce.
Going onto the smoker.
Had some problems with temp control started at 375 and gradually brought it down to 325. Didn't peek till 3 hours. when I did IT was 160 in the point so I decided to transfer to a pan and foil. Here it is at 3 hrs. I filled the pan with more low sodium beef broth and added some butter on top of the brisket before foiling and putting back on the smoker.
Pulled at 6 hrs IT 190 to 205, the thermometer probe went in like butter. I gradually lost some temps and finished around 300
I wanted to do some burnt ends so I split the flat and point.
Here's the burnt ends ready to go back on. I cubed the point, wet them down with the broth/drippings from the foil phase, added some rub, tossed, added a little BBQ sauce, tossed again and added a little more drippings. Started the burnt ends at about 250 and added some more hickory chunks. Then I put the flat into a cooler wrapped in aluminum foil and towels.
Here's the burnt ends after I pulled them. I planed to go 2 hours but I checked them at 1.5 hrs and they looked done, besides my fire was going out and my smoker was down to about 200. The burnt ends were fall apart tender but had too much smoke flavor. Next time I may try a milder wood or maybe even forgo adding smoke wood when I put the burnt ends back on.
Here's the sliced flat after 2 hrs. in the cooler. I was happy with the smoke ring and the meat was tender and juicy.The bark was a little gooey and too salty for my taste, In my experience a mop can decrease too much salty taste in the bark so I may try a mop next time. A final finish sans foil would help set the bark. All in all the high temp brisket was a success I will tweak and try again, thanks for looking.
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I used a foiled terra cotta flower pot saucer in the water pan, so I could get and keep the higher temps. I used Ozark Oak Lump with hickory as a smoke wood.
Here's the brisket trimmed and rubbed down with Fiesta brand Brisket Rub. I did an aggressive trim to maximize rub penetration and cut the cook time. I injected with Low Sodium Beef Broth to which I added onion powder, garlic powder and soy sauce.
Going onto the smoker.
Had some problems with temp control started at 375 and gradually brought it down to 325. Didn't peek till 3 hours. when I did IT was 160 in the point so I decided to transfer to a pan and foil. Here it is at 3 hrs. I filled the pan with more low sodium beef broth and added some butter on top of the brisket before foiling and putting back on the smoker.
Pulled at 6 hrs IT 190 to 205, the thermometer probe went in like butter. I gradually lost some temps and finished around 300
I wanted to do some burnt ends so I split the flat and point.
Here's the burnt ends ready to go back on. I cubed the point, wet them down with the broth/drippings from the foil phase, added some rub, tossed, added a little BBQ sauce, tossed again and added a little more drippings. Started the burnt ends at about 250 and added some more hickory chunks. Then I put the flat into a cooler wrapped in aluminum foil and towels.
Here's the burnt ends after I pulled them. I planed to go 2 hours but I checked them at 1.5 hrs and they looked done, besides my fire was going out and my smoker was down to about 200. The burnt ends were fall apart tender but had too much smoke flavor. Next time I may try a milder wood or maybe even forgo adding smoke wood when I put the burnt ends back on.
Here's the sliced flat after 2 hrs. in the cooler. I was happy with the smoke ring and the meat was tender and juicy.The bark was a little gooey and too salty for my taste, In my experience a mop can decrease too much salty taste in the bark so I may try a mop next time. A final finish sans foil would help set the bark. All in all the high temp brisket was a success I will tweak and try again, thanks for looking.
.
