Is brisket Cooking Too Fast?

Colorado Jim

I just started cooking a 6lb brisket (first one i have done). I planned cooking time for about 8-9 hours. It has only been cooking for about 1 hour, 15 mins and it is already and the meat temp is already 109. The egg is holding steady at 240 degrees; using the plate setter with the legs down and the brisket in a rack inside of a aluminum pan.

Is the brisket cooking too fast? Do i have the right set-up? Is it ok to open the lid to add hickory chunks to keep the smoke going?

Appreciate any help.

Jim

Village Idiot

No.  It will reach the stall and remain there a few hours (around 160-170 degrees).

You can open the dome to put in chunks, but don't do it often.

Colorado Jim

Appreciate the help - will keep pushing.

do you know if it is  better to have the place setter legs up or down?

Again - thanks for your help! Hopefully this first brisket for me turns out.....

Cullum

I do plate setter with legs up, grate on top of that and a drip pan underneath the grate. You figure 1.5 hrs per pound though that will vary. Your brisket will stall around the 155-160 mark for a while. As many have said on this forum, cook until internal temp is around 190. Pull it according to internal meat temperature, not according to how long it's cooked. You'll have to be patient.

It may be that the meat is too close to the plate setter since you have the legs down and that might be why it is cooking so fast?

Colorado Jim

Appreciate the help - defintely working my way through the learning curve.

I just flipped the plate setter over so it is now legs up - i had the same thought that the pan/meat was too close to the plate setter. Hopefully i did not ruin it by pulling the meat off and flipping the plate setter - it only took about a minute.

Thanks again for the help and input.

paulheels

You didn't ruin it. A friend of mine was over when I cooked a packer. He and my wife were picking fun at me because after an hour or so the temp was 111. 17 hrs later I picked fun on them.
Be patient!

Colorado Jim

Thanks for the help - hope my first brisket turns out ok

paulheels

NO NO NO NO!!!! You hope it turns our GREAT! Ok won't do!



Paul

Colorado Jim

Thanks - appreciate the enthusiasm. I think I am going to crack a few beers now  - that seems to make thinks taste better.

paulheels

NO NO NO! beers make you feel better. Your cooking makes it taste better!!



Paul

Colorado Jim

I knew I had it backwards - thanks again!