Smoked Brisket

also called brisket · sliced brisket · lean · moist · fatty · flat · point · packer brisket · bbq brisket · barbeque brisket

Three ways to read this recipe

The table

Smoked Brisket: ingredients down the left, what to do with them across. Tap any cell to cross it off.
Bring the smoker to 250°F (120°C) over post oak and hold it there
12 lb(5.4 kg)whole packer briskettrim to a 1/4-in fat cap, seasonsmoke 250°F (120°C) 8 hr, to 165°F (74°C)wrap, back in 4 hr, to 203°F (95°C)rest 2 hr, slice pencil-thick
3 Tbskosher salt
3 Tbs(16 mesh)coarse black pepper
1 cup(240 mL)cider vinegarstir a spritz
1 cup(240 mL)water
2 Tbsbeef tallow
1 tspflaky salt
Tap anything to cross it off.

What to lay out

Everything the recipe asks for, sitting under the step that eats it. Tick each one as you measure it.10 things to get out.

Pans and tools

Before anything else

2trim to a 1/4-in fat cap, season

3stir a spritz

5wrap, back in 4 hr, to 203°F (95°C)

goes in with what step 4 made

6rest 2 hr, slice pencil-thick

goes in with what step 5 made

Cooking it

Tap a step when it is done; the next one lights up.

The clock

Start to finish
at least 14 hr2 of 5 steps give no time
Needs you
none given
If you get it wrong
Narrow — 203°F and a probe that slides through the flat, not the clock: pulled at 190°F the brisket is tough for good
  1. trim to a 1/4-in fat cap, season

    not timedfrom the start

  2. stir a spritz

    not timedfrom the start

  3. smoke 250°F (120°C) 8 hr, to 165°F (74°C)

    8 hrwalk awayfrom the start

  4. wrap, back in 4 hr, to 203°F (95°C)

    4 hrwalk away8 hr in

  5. rest 2 hr, slice pencil-thick

    2 hrwalk away12 hr in

You'll need butcher paper · smoker

Goes with

See how it is written
>> title: Smoked Brisket
>> category: Smoked & Grilled
>> tags: beef, brisket, barbecue, smoker, low and slow
>> counters: Smokehouse
>> aka: brisket, sliced brisket, lean, moist, fatty, flat, point, packer brisket, bbq brisket, barbeque brisket
>> servings: 12
>> time: 16 hr
>> slack: narrow — 203°F and a probe that slides through the flat, not the clock: pulled at 190°F the brisket is tough for good
>> pairs-with: barbecue-sauce, coleslaw

Bring the #smoker{} to 250°F (120°C) over post oak and hold it there.

>> step: trim to a 1/4-in fat cap, season
Trim @whole packer brisket{12%lb}(5.4 kg) to an even 1/4-in fat cap and season it all over with @kosher salt{3%Tbs} and @coarse black pepper{3%Tbs}(16 mesh), and nothing else.

>> step: stir a spritz
Stir @cider vinegar{1%cup}(240 mL) and @water{1%cup}(240 mL) together in a spray bottle.

>> step: smoke 250°F (120°C) 8 hr, to 165°F (74°C)
Smoke @&(~2)seasoned brisket{} fat side up, spritzing it hourly with @&(~1)spritz{}, for ~smoke{8%hr}, to 165°F (74°C) and a set bark that will not smudge under a thumb.

>> step: wrap, back in 4 hr, to 203°F (95°C)
Wrap @&(~1)smoked brisket{} tight in #butcher paper{} with @beef tallow{2%Tbs} and return it to the smoker for ~smoke{4%hr}, to 203°F (95°C), until a probe goes through the flat like warm butter.

>> step: rest 2 hr, slice pencil-thick
Rest @&(~1)wrapped brisket{} still wrapped for ~rest{2%hr}, then slice it pencil-thick across the grain — the flat for lean, the point for moist — and finish with @flaky salt{1%tsp}.