Brisket is a tough cut of meat that begs to be cooked low and slow on a pellet grill. The result is a juicy, tender slice of beef that will wow your friends and family.
You can follow rough time estimates to know when the brisket is done, but it’s best to cook it to temperature rather than by time. This prevents the dreaded stall that can ruin an otherwise great brisket.
Tender and Juicy
One of the key factors to a delicious brisket is cooking it low and slow. The process can take upwards of 16 hours, but it is well worth the wait. The resulting meat is melt-in-your mouth tender and flavorful. Smoked brisket is the perfect centerpiece for any barbecue or family meal.
Whether you use a pellet grill or smoker, it is important to understand how to prepare your brisket correctly. The first step is to trim and season the brisket with a rub of your choice. Then, wrap the brisket in butcher paper and foil tightly. Make sure that the fat side is down and all excess butcher paper is underneath. Then, place the brisket in a cooler (no ice) for 2 hours to rest. Resting the brisket helps to ensure that the juices are evenly redistributed throughout the entire piece of meat.
While you are smoking the brisket, it is important to check the internal temperature regularly. This is especially important if you are experiencing the dreaded stall, which happens when the brisket’s internal temperature stops rising. This is a normal part of the cooking process, and it will resolve itself.
To help combat the stall, you can spritz the brisket with water or beef broth. To avoid steaming, it is best to spritz the brisket every hour until you reach your desired internal temperature.
Easy to Prepare
Pellet grills and smokers allow for low and slow cooking that allows foods to cook to their proper tenderness without requiring constant monitoring. This can be a great relief to Pit Bosses that are busy with work or other obligations and don’t have the time to babysit their foods.
Smoked brisket is deliciously tender, melt in your mouth good and requires only simple ingredients to prepare. A brisket can be easily made for a BBQ party, family meal or even to impress a date!
You will need a few basic tools like a sharp knife and a large cutting board. You’ll also want to have a thermometer probe for monitoring the internal temperature of the meat as it cooks. You can purchase a probe meat thermometer from your local grocery store or online.
Some seasoned Pitmasters use a technique called “spritzing” after the initial smoking period to help build that beautiful coveted bark. A light spritzing with water, apple juice, beef stock or beer helps to keep the meat moist and adds richness and flavor to the meat.
Spritzing will also prevent your meat from drying out and can be done up to 2 hours before the brisket is finished cooking. You can wrap the brisket in butcher paper or foil as you prefer, but wrapping in butcher paper will allow the meat to continue to develop that gorgeous bark. Once the brisket is cooked to your preferred tenderness, you will need to let it rest for at least 2 hours to give all those juices a chance to redistribute and settle back into the meat.
Easy to Smoke
The juiciest, melt-in-your-mouth brisket with a gorgeous smoke ring can be surprisingly easy to prepare on your pellet grill or smoker. It’s a perfect meal for summer cookouts, family gatherings, and holidays. And it’s a great way to impress your guests and show off your barbecue skills.
First, trim the brisket to remove any hard fat and silver skin, which will burn during the long smoking process. Then apply a rub of Cow Cover, salt and black pepper. For added flavor, try adding a little garlic powder and onion powder to your seasoning mix. Use fresh ground black pepper, as the pre-ground variety has lost a lot of the essential oils that add a punch of flavor.
While there are many different methods for wrapping brisket, we like Aaron Franklin’s popular butcher paper wrap technique best for pellet grills. It helps prevent the brisket from drying out, as well as keeps it at a consistent temperature during the long cooking time. We also recommend using a probe meat thermometer to monitor the internal temperature throughout the smoking process.
Once your brisket reaches an internal temperature of 165-175oF, it’s time to wrap and let it rest. This step is very important because it allows the juices to redistribute and reabsorb back into the meat. If you slice the brisket too soon, all that delicious juice will escape and your brisket will be dry and tough.
Easy to Store
If you’re a fan of BBQ, smoked beef brisket is one of the best meats you can serve to your family and friends. It’s tender and juicy with a mouth-watering flavor that will leave everyone asking for more. And it’s easy to make on a pellet grill or smoker.
The first step to making great brisket is to trim it well. There is a specific technique to trimming a brisket for your pellet smoker that will help you get competition-quality results. And it’s important to use the right gloves during this process to avoid contamination from a variety of germs and bacteria.
You can find a wide range of quality grilling gloves for both hands at your local grocery store. It’s a good idea to buy a pair that is food safe, reusable, and powder free. And it’s also important to choose a pair that fits your hand well. If you have large hands, it may be helpful to get a pair of extra-large cooking gloves.
Once your brisket is cooked, it’s essential to let it rest for two hours in a cooler or draft-free oven before you cut it. This will allow the juices to redistribute and help your brisket stay moist and tender. And don’t forget to slice against the grain. This will make for clean, delicious slices that are perfect for a brisket plate, a bbq sandwich, or tacos.
