Rookie Brisket

[aaron315]

Attempting my first brisket in a few days. I have a 30" MES. Any tips/answers to my questions would be much appreciated. This forum helped me get my chicken recipe down to a point where my wife (who is insanely picky) wants me to smoke chickens when we have people over now!

Score or no score?
How much in advance do you rub?
220-225 smoker temp? 190-200 IT?
Wrap or no wrap?
Anything else other than water in the pan?
Best way to save juice for au jus?
How long do you let rest? Do you do the cooler/towel approach?
Any experience with burnt ends?

Thanks!

 

[gotalotgoingon]

core or no score?

No to both. I do very minimal trimming.

How much in advance do you rub?

I apply my rub when the smoker is warming.

220-225 smoker temp? 190-200 IT?

I start my MES at 250 to warm it up and back it down to 225 when I put the brisket in. It stays there during the entire smoke. I only use the IT to know when to start testing with a toothpick. I take it off the smoker once the toothpick slides in with no resistance.

Wrap or no wrap?

No wrap. 

Anything else other than water in the pan?

I don't use water in the pan. I use an AMPNS instead of chips.

Best way to save juice for au jus?

Put an aluminum pan on the rack below the brisket.

How long do you let rest? Do you do the cooler/towel approach?

This last brisket I let rest for 12hrs double wrapped in foil. The brisket reabsorbed all it's juice and it literally exploded with juice when I started slicing it.

Any experience with burnt ends?

None however I think the next time I will give it a try. The point is my favorite part of the brisket and I am not a huge sauce fan so I have been reluctant to make them up until now.

 

[bignick1984]

I'm looking at doing my first brisket as well, I'm thinking about injecting it with beef broth and throwing it on my pellet grill at a temp of 225? And letting it go until around 203ish temperature?As for the cooler wrap I understand to let it sit for an hour or so..

 

[dirtsailor2003]

I always recommend that beginner brisket smokers give this a read.

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/...ood-sliced-brisket-defies-conventional-wisdom

 

[SmokinAl]

This is a good one too.

http://www.smoking-meat.com/august-27-2015-brisket-smoking-tutorial-for-dummies

Al

 

[aaron315]

Thanks to everyone for the awesome advice! I'm doing my first one on Sunday. Can't wait!