To wrap or not to Wrap

fusionhq

After watching the BBQ Pitmasters marathon last night, I'm not sure if I've been doing all this right.  They wrap EVERYTHING!!!   I have wrapped pork before on my offset smoker and had good results.  Same with Ribs, but I always get the fall off the bone, which I don't like. 

So which way is best?  Opinions?  I want to try a brisket again, and would like to hear wrap vs no wrap opinions!

GATABITES

I like to wrap to protect the color on certain cooks, but it kills the bark. I did a butt on Sunday, wrapped a little past 160. When it was almost done, I opened the foil so the bark could firm up some. I think i will try and not wrap on my next butt and see how chewy the bark gets. I like bark but not when its too tough to chew. 

fusionhq

I agree @gatabites, but Franklin wraps his brisket, or so they say!

Ladeback69

fusionhq said:

After watching the BBQ Pitmasters marathon last night, I'm not sure if I've been doing all this right.  They wrap EVERYTHING!!!   I have wrapped pork before on my offset smoker and had good results.  Same with Ribs, but I always get the fall off the bone, which I don't like. 

So which way is best?  Opinions?  I want to try a brisket again, and would like to hear wrap vs no wrap opinions!

I've been wrapping my ribs lately and they we're fall of the bone, but that's what my wife likes.  Now I had a slab left over and when reheated them they were a little firmer.  I may try one of each next time to see the difference.  I only foil my prom butts or Briskets if I need to hold them a while.

Mickey

I stopped wrapping and happily go on my way. I am very much into KISS method, that's why I Turbo. I will trade color for bark every time.

smokeyw

I wrap in competitions and at home. You will get a better, more moist product and it doesn't necessarily have to be falling off the bone. It is all about timing and it does take some practice. If it was easy everyone could do it!

Carolina Q

I'm with Mickey. I never wrap anything. 

Perfectly happy with the unwrapped food that comes off my egg (or kettle or stove for that matter). The less I have to do the happier I am!

MagicMike

fusionhq said:

I agree @gatabites, but Franklin wraps his brisket, or so they say!

I watched Franklin's brisket video on youtube awhile back and he did wrap it, but he wrapped it with some sort of paper. Not sure what the difference is between a foil and paper wrap.

r8rs4lf

Don't wrap or rap!  )

To me, keeping it simple is the best way. I've always been of the "less is more" camp.

NibbleMeThis

I wrap when using my stick burning pit but when I'm using my Eggs it depends on my bark color and time pressures.

For ribs at home, I prefer NOT to foil them but will if they start getting dark early or if I need to rush them a long.  For brisket, I foil about half the time at home and pretty much always for competitions.

badinfluence

Every competition I do I wrap everything but chicken. I do the same at home. Fall off the bone ribs is NOT what you want. There should be a little pull off the bone but still tender.

fusionhq

Thanks for all the opinions.  I agree withmost here.  I may go back to foiling my ribs for a half hour, or 45 minutes to avoid the falling off the bone.  I haven't done a brisket foiled yet, and may try it.  I am a huge fan of nice bark though.

nolaegghead

To wrap or not to wrap, that is the question—
Whether 'tis Nobler in the mind to suffer
The Slings and Arrows of outrageous anti-wrapites,
Or to take Arms against a Sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them? To die, to sleep—

JOJayhawk

Aaron Franklin does wrap. They wrap their briskets in untreated butcher paper, their pork butt in foil and ribs in foil. Went to Franklins on Fathers Day and La Barbecue the day before. Briskets at both places were fantastic. Best bark I've ever seen and so tender. 5 hr wait at Franklins.First people in line on Sunday were there at 4:45 a.m. We got there at 7:20 a.m and 45 people already in line.

nolaegghead

There's nothing wrong with wrapping.  The goal is the finished product.  However you get there is the right way to do it.

NPHuskerFL

nolaegghead said:

There's nothing wrong with wrapping.  The goal is the finished product.  However you get there is the right way to do it.

That's right brotha!

Run DMC At The AMA's Old School-Walk This Way: http://youtu.be/qwtDU7oT05E

hopmonster

I only wrap my butt and shoulder when I am early cooking to take it somewhere. It does make pulling the pork a breeze.