How to Smoke Brisket? Step by Step Guide

Smoke brisket, not drugs! Isn’t that cool. Brisket is a Jewish dish, its origin was from the United States, and it is a Jewish cuisine. It is popular all around the globe. If you are wondering what is a brisket, then tell me tell you, it is a tough truncated part of the meat, which is cooked for a long time, will be tendered properly, and will become a juicy beef. Its popularity is increasing day by day; it is becoming the most demanded food in Texas restaurants.

As the prevalence is increasing, there is an increase in its prices as well. It was not easy to make a brisket but due to the innovation in technology and barbecue grills, smoked briskets have come into demand. Massive hunks of meat are now given a smoky taste, which makes it delicious in every bite. Not only at restaurants, due to the advanced grilling system at home, but people have also started grilling smoked briskets at home. They feel more contended by making themselves and enjoying it. The main element it requires is time. It takes time to tend perfectly.

How to Smoke Brisket?

1. Initially, the procedure needs to start a night before, in which you have to prepare the meat for a flavorsome taste.
2. While preparing meat, cut the excess fat, which is on top of the meat. Because of this, the brisket won’t be able to cook properly.
3. Now, you have to marinate the brisket with spices like onion, garlic mix, and various spices. Seasoning can be done according to you, like whatever flavor you prefer.
4. Then you have to refrigerate the brisket by covering it in plastic wrap and keep it in a baking dish and refrigerate overnight so that all the flavors are instilled in the meat perfectly.
5. This is a tip that, before cooking the brisket make sure you place out it, from the refrigerator a few hours before it has to cook. It’s important to bring the brisket at room temperature.
6. Now, make your smoker ready to smoke a brisket. While dealing with the smoking of brisket, you have been patient. A smoker takes more time in smoking any food item if used with the indirect smoking method.
7. Now, place the brisket in the smoker, 1 hour 15 minutes should be given to the brisket to smoke. Make sure to put the fat side of the brisket upwards. The lid of the smoker should be placed all the time when you are not seeing or rotating the brisket. This is done to make sure smoke is prevailing inside the smoker all the time.
8. If you are checking the internal temperature of the brisket. Then it should reach 185 and at that temperature, the brisket is completely done.
9. Remove the brisket from the smoker and serve it as you prefer to eat.

How Long to Smoke a Brisket Per Pound?

The cooking time of a brisket depends on the temperature of the smoker that is set to cook the brisket. The total weight of the brisket is 10-16 pounds. If you want to cook a pound of brisket, the initial factor to keep in mind is the temperature of the smoker to make the brisket succulent. If the temperature is 225-250⁰ F. then it will take one and a half hours to cook and tender.

The important tip while smoking the brisket is that not open the smoker unnecessarily to check whether it’s done or not because it will spoil the taste of the brisket due to the release of heat and precious smoke continuously. Moreover, if you want the best taste of the brisket, then do not exceed the limit of the smoker above 280⁰ F.

Smoked Brisket Internal Temperature

As I stated above, the most significant factor to smoke brisket is the temperature, and to have the consummate juicy taste of the brisket, the internal temperature is ideal. If your smoker does not have a gas gauge then you should buy a barbecue thermometer for an accurate temperature setting. 225⁰ F. is the ideal internal temperature for smoking brisket.

Brisket Temperature Graph

The brisket temperature graph displays the temperature on the Y-axis and the cooking time. On the X-axis through which the makers get an idea that after how much time, how much it has cooked, and what is the internal temperature. If there is a graphical representation of the cooking process of the brisket, then over burning or losing the brisket’s essentials like juices can be prevented.

How to Reheat Brisket?

Reheating the brisket depends on how long it is frozen and there are different reheating processes:

1. Reheating brisket in the oven

   It is one of the best and easiest ways to reheat a brisket. Start by preheating the oven approximately around 325⁰ After that check whether the brisket is completely defrosted. then cover the brisket with a foil, you can use a double foil to prevent holes. If there are holes in the foil, it will make the brisket dry. Then, put the covered brisket in the microwave oven and after an hour or so, it will be fully heated. Alternatively, until the inner temperature of the brisket reaches 160⁰ F. This has a risk of dried meat that after reheating the brisket can be dried, so make sure that the juices should be there at the bottom of the tray or add some moisture for ripe taste.

2. Reheating in the smoker

   reheating the brisket in the smoker is same as reheating it in a microwave oven, it just that it will take a longer time. Initially, you have to preheat the smoker at 225⁰ Make sure to use the 2 zone reheating cooking setup. Then keep the foil-wrapped brisket in the indirect zone until the internal temperature reaches 155⁰ F. Moreover, after that uncover the brisket and move it to the direct zone and cook until the internal temperature reaches 166⁰ F. There is a risk, when you change the movement from indirect to direct, in which the brisket can burn, so in this case make sure to keep an eye constantly.

3. Reheating your brisket through a Sous Vide method

   this method is one of the best, in which there is no risk of losing juices in the brisket nor over burning of the brisket. This method is usually not used outside commercial kitchens and if you are wondering, it might be difficult as its name is. So, don’t worry it’s just like a water bath for the brisket. Initially you have keep in mind that the brisket is completely sealed using an airtight and watertight plastic wrap. Then the temperature of the water will be 110-175⁰ . The brisket is left in the water until the meat’s internal temperature reaches to the same as the water’s temperature. This method is time taking because usually the brisket’s size is 4 inches thick. which will take 5 hours and if it’s 2 inches, then it will take 2 hours.

Conclusion

To sum up, it can be said that smoking briskets is not so difficult after the innovation in technology. A person can enjoy it at home. The meat slab is a little expensive, but you can serve it in front of a large crowd, it can be done when you have bought a massive meat hunk which is 10-16 pounds. The important elements to consider is the temperature, which is clearly stated. Moreover, the reheating ways are also mentioned, which are not so difficult as well. Last but not the least, the key to a mouth-watering, delectable brisket is patience.As it requires hours to get ripe.