Let's Talk BBQ

FORUM SPONSORS => Pit Barrel Cooker Co. => Topic started by: Ka Honu on October 17, 2013, 01:31:42 AM

Title: Save the brisket!
Post by: Ka Honu on October 17, 2013, 01:31:42 AM
I started with a 12 or 13 pound packer and sliced off the part of the flat not covered by the point to use in another recipe several weeks ago. I froze the rest and thawed it this week.  Today I trimmed it and (per Noah's instructions) rubbed it with olive oil and PBC Beef & Game Pit Rub.  I'm usually a salt & pepper guy with brisket (and maybe a little garlic) but I'm determined to use up this batch of rub before it clumps so it's figuring in most of my PBC cooks. The toothpick on the lower edge of the remaining flat marks the grain.

(http://i618.photobucket.com/albums/tt269/KaHonu/halfbrisket01.jpg) (http://s618.photobucket.com/user/KaHonu/media/halfbrisket01.jpg.html)

Sent it for a ride in the PBC and told my buddy, Maverick, it to let me know when it was ready to foil. About four hours in, it started to get ugly. The charcoal on the side under the brisket died out, apparently due to drippings. Maybe I should have banked the coals more to the other side or figured out how to hang the brisket horizontally so I could put a drip pan on the grill. 

(http://i618.photobucket.com/albums/tt269/KaHonu/halfbrisket02.jpg) (http://s618.photobucket.com/user/KaHonu/media/halfbrisket02.jpg.html)

Anyway, after about 4½ hours the IT started dropping (from a high of 154°) so I went to Plan B and foiled it with some beef broth and put it in the 300° house oven until finished (IT 200° - higher than my "normal" 185° but Noah said to do it so I'll give it a shot). Meanwhile, the charcoal reignited and burned off more or less as usual.

After resting (both the brisket and myself) I took off the point for burnt ends or chili at a later date and cut some slices from the flat for dinner. 

(http://i618.photobucket.com/albums/tt269/KaHonu/halfbrisket03.jpg) (http://s618.photobucket.com/user/KaHonu/media/halfbrisket03.jpg.html)

(http://i618.photobucket.com/albums/tt269/KaHonu/halfbrisket04.jpg) (http://s618.photobucket.com/user/KaHonu/media/halfbrisket04.jpg.html)

All's well that ends well - it was tasty, tender and moist.  What more can you ask from a brisket, especially on a new cooker?
Title: Re: Save the brisket!
Post by: pz on October 17, 2013, 02:03:57 AM
Looks tasty - the fun of cooking is almost as good as the eating... almost  ;)
Title: Re: Save the brisket!
Post by: sparky on October 17, 2013, 02:11:23 AM
looks good.  got potatoes to go w/ it? 
Title: Re: Save the brisket!
Post by: Wing Commander on October 17, 2013, 02:21:00 AM
Looks very moist and tasty.
Title: Re: Save the brisket!
Post by: sliding_billy on October 17, 2013, 03:54:25 AM
Nice work.
Title: Re: Save the brisket!
Post by: RAD on October 17, 2013, 06:19:47 AM
great save on that one.
Title: Re: Save the brisket!
Post by: muebe on October 17, 2013, 07:19:01 AM
Turtle I think in this situation the rack might have worked better.

By hanging it the way you did you concentrated all the drippings into one small area of the coal bed.

All the juices running down the meat almost into a point.

Or using several hooks to move the brisket into a more horizontal position.

I would be interested in what Noah or Amber have to say.

Nice save and finished brisket ;)
Title: Re: Save the brisket!
Post by: PoppyBill on October 17, 2013, 07:29:51 AM
Good save Turtle! It looks delicious.
Title: Re: Save the brisket!
Post by: smokeasaurus on October 17, 2013, 08:17:58 AM
I use the rack way more than I hang. The rack is in the "Sweet Spot" where the food usually is when hanging.

Great Idea using the toothpick to mark the grain. I usually cut off a corner to mark the grain. Then of course the briskie shrinks and I am left guessing......
Title: Re: Save the brisket!
Post by: Smokin Don on October 17, 2013, 08:45:52 AM
Looks great, nice color!!! Don
Title: Re: Save the brisket!
Post by: Ka Honu on October 17, 2013, 09:22:36 AM
... the rack might have worked better...

I'm sure you're right but there's just something really cool about hanging the meat from the rebar.
Title: Re: Save the brisket!
Post by: Jaxon on October 17, 2013, 09:36:46 AM
... the rack might have worked better...

I'm sure you're right but there's just something really cool about hanging the meat from the rebar.

Nice save, turtle (sir)...that's where your experience really helps.  If that happened to me, I would have been stuck with a ruinated brisket - not knowing what to do when the fire went out.

The big question I have is:  it must be about 4:30 AM there on the Island...are you usually up and at 'em this early?
Title: Save the brisket!
Post by: Pappymn on October 17, 2013, 09:37:17 AM
Looks excellent Turtle.
Title: Re: Save the brisket!
Post by: Ka Honu on October 17, 2013, 09:50:34 AM
... it must be about 4:30 AM there on the Island...are you usually up and at 'em this early?

It's actually closer to 3:30. I've been known to wake up at odd hours and come downstairs to read or log on for a while before going back to sleep.  Old is not always better (but I'm on my way back to bed).
Title: Re: Save the brisket!
Post by: TentHunteR on October 17, 2013, 11:48:36 AM
Npthing wrong with how that turned out at all. I'd take a few slices and I normally don't go for the flat.
Title: Re: Save the brisket!
Post by: ACW3 on October 17, 2013, 02:13:11 PM
Great looking piece of meat!!  Ya done good, Turtle!!!

Art
Title: Re: Save the brisket!
Post by: Sweetbread on October 17, 2013, 11:22:42 PM
Good looking brisket!  Did you use just kingsford or did you add wood?
Title: Re: Save the brisket!
Post by: Ka Honu on October 18, 2013, 12:11:49 AM
I'm still climbing the learning curve on the PBC so I stuck with charcoal only.
Title: Re: Save the brisket!
Post by: IR2dum on October 18, 2013, 04:25:13 AM
Turtle, that brisket looks delicious.
Title: Re: Save the brisket!
Post by: HighOnSmoke on October 18, 2013, 06:58:34 AM
Nice save and delicious looking brisket Turtle!
Title: Save the brisket!
Post by: mikecorn.1 on October 18, 2013, 11:33:35 AM

Turtle, that brisket looks delicious.
x2


Mike
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