A heavily debated topic within the BBQ realm is whether to cook a brisket fat-side up or fat-side down. We are here to answer the question once and for all: cook brisket fat-side DOWN. Many believe the theory that when a brisket is cooked fat-side up, the fat renders and naturally braises the brisket. This is not true.
Do you cook a brisket fat side up or down?
If you are in a hurry and want just a quick and simple answer to your question, here it is: cook your brisket with the fat side down. For most smokers, the heat comes from the bottom of the cooker, so cooking brisket with the fat side down will protect the meat from exposure to direct heat.
Do you leave fat cap on brisket?
As a general rule, you can leave about a ¼ inch of fat on the brisket if you don’t want to trim it as close as the image shows. Remember that seasoning and smoke will never penetrate much farther than about ¼ inch, so if you want more flavor in your brisket, you are going to have to trim it pretty tight.
What do you do with the fat cap on a brisket?
One of the most productive things that you can do with your brisket fat trimmings is to turn it into tallow. Simply put, tallow is a form of beef fat that can be used for a variety of different products ranging from soaps to body butters.
Should I wrap my brisket in foil?
Because foil creates a very tight seal, it will speed up the cooking process. Again, make sure you are measuring the temperature of your brisket at least every 30 minutes. One drawback of this tight seal is that the bark you create will get a little moist and soft during this final stage of cooking.
How do you keep brisket moist?
How to Keep Your Brisket Moist. Keeping a water pan in the smoker is the best way to retain moisture. After the first 2-3 hours start spritzing your brisket with water, apple juice, hot sauce or apple cider vinegar every 30 minutes to an hour. This helps keep it moist and stops it from burning.
How long do you let brisket rest?
You can usually safely rest a brisket up to 4 hours foil-wrapped in a cooler with towels. In my book, the longer the better — no less than 2 hours and preferably 3 or longer.
Which side of brisket goes up?
Fat Side Down. Pro: Heat rising over the brisket is the primary source of drying. By using the fat cap of the brisket as a shield between the intense heat of the fire and the delicate meat, you’ll end up with a more tender brisket with a lot less surface drying. Con: There are two kinds of heat inside your smoker.
Is it OK to cut a brisket in half?
You can cut ANYTHING in half… It would be foolish and the end result off the smoker sure ain’t gonna be ideal. Cooking a flat will be difficult to get right, however it sounds like even that won’t fit. Brisket is best when cooked as a unit.
How do I make my brisket bark better?
Tips for Getting a Good Bark
- Use a nut wood vs a fruit wood. …
- Wrap AFTER a good bark has formed. …
- Trim off thick hunks of fat. …
- After two hours of smoking, spray or baste every 45 minutes. …
- Always put the meat directly on the grill grate. …
- Go easy on the amount of sugar you put in your rub.
Should you Season brisket overnight?
Seasoning your brisket the night before and letting it sit in the refrigerator or cooler for at least 6 hours yields the best tasting and juiciest results. What you are basically doing with this method is dry brining your brisket before cooking.
What should I inject my brisket with?
“I almost always inject briskets with beef broth. This meat takes so long to cook that the extra moisture helps keep it from dehydrating, and the salt helps the meat hold onto moisture and enhances flavor. Use broth only. No need to add spices, juices or other flavorings.
Why did my brisket turn out dry?
Sometimes, the brisket might come out too dry simply because there wasn’t enough fat on the meat. … Because the point section of the brisket is naturally fattier than the flat, this portion is more likely to retain the right amount of moisture during cooking.
Is it better to wrap a brisket or not?
Keep meat moist and tender – Brisket is a bit of a fickle beast; it needs to be smoked for a long period of time in order for the fat and collagen inside to break down, but if you cook it for too long it will begin to dry out. Wrapping it will help keep it moist and tender.
How do you keep brisket from drying out?
If you have just a chunk of brisket left on the block, another simple trick is to turn it so the cut side is down on the block. This allows the bark to perform its duty of protecting the brisket. In this position, you can keep the brisket edge from drying out until you need to continue slicing it.