How long does it take to thaw a whole brisket?

baychilla

I have a brisket I was gifted for Christmas that's been sitting outside in the deep freeze.  I figured it needs to be cooked so I can make room for other things.  How long does it take a 15lb brisket to thaw?

stlcharcoal

Couple hours if you put it in the sink--you don't have to worry that much about the temp on it being the "danger zone".  But it's going to need to be good and thawed to trim it.

BTW, you don't need to freeze it.  It would be about perfect right now.  Leave them in that bag 30-45 days in the fridge.  It will be a little off and slimy when it comes out of the bag, just spray it off with cold water and trim away.  Then rub it.  A lot guys on the competition circuit shoot for 45 days, but they'll wash it off a few times and let it sit on the counter a few hours, then seal it back up several times during that 45 days.   

lousubcap

It will take every bit of around 5 days in a fridge (assuming it is rock-solid).  You can speed it up by going with a cold water bath and changing the water every 45 minutes or so until it starts to regain the floppiness.  Have not gone down the cold water route but I would guess at least 8-10 hours.  
Should it thaw early then it is fine wet-aging in the cryovac for at least a few weeks.
Some here have gone months and beyond with the wet-age deal, not me.  FWIW-

GATraveller

If you have it in the fridge to thaw I'd give it a week.

GrateEggspectations

@lousubcap: I’ve often wondered about the rationale for changing out the water. Wouldn’t the frozen brisket keep it sufficiently cold for the duration of the thaw? I may go through this exercise myself this weekend before sv’ing the thing.

baychilla

I think the point ODed on viagra.  The flats mostly floppy but I could use the point to play baseball.

Carolina Q

GrateEggspectations said:

@lousubcap: I’ve often wondered about the rationale for changing out the water. Wouldn’t the frozen brisket keep it sufficiently cold for the duration of the thaw? I may go through this exercise myself this weekend before sv’ing the thing.

If you're gonna SV, can't you just throw it in there frozen?

lousubcap

The deal with the water is that you get a fresh charge that is not nearly as close to equilibrium temperature-wise with the brisket.  Thus you get more heat transfer to help with the defrost.  FWIW-

DoubleEgger

3 days has been my experience in the fridge 

lousubcap

baychilla said:

I think the point ODed on viagra.  The flats mostly floppy but I could use the point to play baseball.

If your original post was somewhat close (time-wise)  to when you started the defrost then you nuked that protein  

GrateEggspectations

Carolina Q said:

GrateEggspectations said:

@lousubcap: I’ve often wondered about the rationale for changing out the water. Wouldn’t the frozen brisket keep it sufficiently cold for the duration of the thaw? I may go through this exercise myself this weekend before sv’ing the thing.

If you're gonna SV, can't you just throw it in there frozen?

Lol. Good point. 

baychilla

lousubcap said:

baychilla said:

I think the point ODed on viagra.  The flats mostly floppy but I could use the point to play baseball.

If your original post was somewhat close (time-wise)  to when you started the defrost then you nuked that protein  

I started the defrost yesterday morning and then switched to the sink this morning.  No Godzilla producing methods used.

Carolina Q

GrateEggspectations said:

Carolina Q said:

GrateEggspectations said:

@lousubcap: I’ve often wondered about the rationale for changing out the water. Wouldn’t the frozen brisket keep it sufficiently cold for the duration of the thaw? I may go through this exercise myself this weekend before sv’ing the thing.

If you're gonna SV, can't you just throw it in there frozen?

Lol. Good point. 

Is it? I don't know (from a food safety perspective). That's why I asked the question. People throw frozen butts on an egg all the time. The cook just takes a little longer. Probably fine.

thetrim

I usually will pull a frozen one out the weekend before I want to use it.