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Not wrapping vs wrapping a brisket....

I have had a 13lbs brisket on for 12hrs at 235F dome temp and wanted some input weather to wrap the brisket or not to.

Comments

  • I did one about that size yesterday. I ended up wrapping it. I wanted it to be tender and didn't want to take my chances with it.
    NW IOWA
  • porta
    porta Posts: 88
    I would wrap, I produce a better product when I do. With a pork butt it really doesn't matter, I feel w/ a Brisket it makes a world of difference.
    68% of statistics are made up on the spot.
  • dlk7
    dlk7 Posts: 1,053
    I've done 9 or 10 full packer briskets over the last year and a half and have never wrapped.  I always do them at 225 grid.  My opinion is that if you pull the brisket at the exact right time, it will always be juicy and tender.  I start checking for "doneness" (probe goes in and out like butter) in the flat at 185 degrees.  I check it every 10 minutes after that in a differnt area of the flat until I get the probe in and out resistance I like.  I have reached the correct resistance as low as 192 and as high as 205.  1 or 2 degrees over or under the correct resistance will either make the brisket dry (over) or chewy (under).  Since I have started checking every 10 minutes after hitting 185, I have always had juicy and tender brisket. I don't think it is rocket science - just very close monitoring.

    Two XL BGEs - So Happy!!!!

    Waunakee, WI

  • I have cooked about 40 or so full packer briskets in the last year. I have not wrapped one. I used to wrap to speed up cooking and to help tenderize the brisket but I noticed my bark would tend to soften and would easily rub off. I decided to quit wrapping until after the cook (I use butcher paper because I think it keeps the bark crispy) and I also decided to start smoking at 300* dome. Those two changes gave me a great bark and a quicker cook time. I target around 196* in the flat but check from about 190* on for tenderness, when the probe goes in like butter, it is done. I don't think there is one way that is best, many competition cooks wrap briskets and take home checks. I personally like the bark and color I get when I let it go unwrapped the whole time and the higher dome temp lets me get a brisket done in as little as 6 hours many days. If you wrap this one, try cooking at a higher temp and not wrapping next time to see which suits your taste and the amount of time you have to smoke it.