Foil towel cooler. Can you use a warming drawer instead?

Janicehowell

Just learning how to smoke and have so many questions!  Any opinions on using a warming drawer instead of a cooler?

SciAggie

I’ll offer an answer just to help out. The point of foil/towel/cooler is just to maintain the temp of the brisket above 140 degrees and have a very slow extended cooling period. It’s just a tool to hold the food at a serve safe temp. So I would assume a warming oven that accomplishes the same end result would be fine. I’d think you would still want to wrap the brisket to slow evaporation and drying out. Others with actual experience will hopefully chime in soon for you. 

Good luck with your cook. 

The Cen-Tex Smoker

I use a warming drawer often but usually for shorter holds. Anything more than an hour I throw in the cooler. It works well but The downsides are the temps swing quite a bit so you have to be careful. They can also be very dry (electric heat always is) so you would want whatever you have in there to be wrapped up tightly. Mine has a vent you can open for dry heat and close for moist heat. If yours has that, always use the moist setting. 

lousubcap

@Janicehowell - Welcome aboard and enjoy the journey.  Above all, have fun.
@SciAggie hit on the reasons for FTC and the key issue to mitigate with a warming drawer.  
This place will readily answer any questions you have.  In most cases you will get a few different options to pursue and each one will work.  So, pick one and run with it.  Note the outcome and change it up one variable at a time for the next round if so inclined.  FWIW-