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Untrimmed brisket. How do you prep?

So today is a day of firsts.  I bought an untrimmed Prime brisket from Costco and then accidentally bought a Flame Boss.

I have never done a brisket.  I have done tons of shoulders and ribs.  I always trim the hard fat off my shoulders and most the cap.

My plan is to do a simple rub and use the pit controller with temp running around 225.  For that type of cook how should I trim it?  I am assuming there is a reason they charge another $7 for a trimmed brisket.
A bison’s level of aggressiveness, both physical and passive, is legendary. - NPS
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Comments

  • DoubleEgger
    DoubleEgger Posts: 17,125
    edited March 2015
    I you tubed some competition brisket trimming videos for my first brisket. I bet I trimmed 3 lbs off. The next time, It looked pretty good so I let it roll untrimmed. It was far better than the first so I go untrimmed now unless I see something excessive that needs trimming off. 
  • lousubcap
    lousubcap Posts: 32,162
    Just give the Aaron Franklin you tube video series a look.  While he doesn't give away the family jewels his trimming and follow-on how to slice a brisket turorial is "on the money".  Like I would refute:) 
    Louisville; Rolling smoke in the neighbourhood. # 38 for the win.  Life is too short for light/lite beer!  Seems I'm livin in a transitional period.
  • pgprescott
    pgprescott Posts: 14,544
    Looking forward to the results. I always trom mine down. Not as much the cap as the hard fat as you described. But I inject with butchers injection, so the extra fat content is not an issue for me. It'll be great. 
  • Durangler
    Durangler Posts: 1,122
    ~perks~
    Flame Boss? :bow: 
    Nice.....
    XL BGE, 22" Weber Red Head, Fiesta Gasser .... Peoria,AZ
  • Terrebandit
    Terrebandit Posts: 1,750
    I try to trim mine down to about 1/4" of fat remaining. Plus I hack off the hard fat. There is no reason to keep that on there. 
    Dave - Austin, TX
  • SmokeyPitt
    SmokeyPitt Posts: 10,490
    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VmTzdMHu5KU

    Don't be shy with the knife. You will end up with like 2 lbs of trimmins


    Which came first the chicken or the egg?  I egged the chicken and then I ate his leg. 

  • theyolksonyou
    theyolksonyou Posts: 18,458
    I can offer no real wisdom on the brisket, however, I'd hire an armed guard at Costco to keep those retail ninjas from sneaking stuff into your cart. 
  • Ozzie_Isaac
    Ozzie_Isaac Posts: 18,942
    edited March 2015
    Thanks guys.  I just finished two spatched chickens on the XL and a full load of ABTs on the medium.  Now on to the brisket.

    Time to start watching videos.  From the posts I think I'm planning on hard fat gone and I'll figure out the rest once I have the knife.
    A bison’s level of aggressiveness, both physical and passive, is legendary. - NPS
  • Ozzie_Isaac
    Ozzie_Isaac Posts: 18,942
    Here are ABT pics.  Chicken looked like, well chicken.  Plus the wife said food pics when kids are starving and have friends over is rude.
    A bison’s level of aggressiveness, both physical and passive, is legendary. - NPS
  • Ozzie_Isaac
    Ozzie_Isaac Posts: 18,942
    Wow, so BBQPitBoys hack everything off.  Franklin has a lot more finesse.  I'm going to try finesse.

    Wish me luck.
    A bison’s level of aggressiveness, both physical and passive, is legendary. - NPS
  • DMW
    DMW Posts: 13,832
    Wow, so BBQPitBoys hack everything off.  Franklin has a lot more finesse.  I'm going to try finesse.

    Wish me luck.
    Go Franklin style.
    They/Them
    Morgantown, PA

    XL BGE - S BGE - KJ Jr - HB Legacy - BS Pizza Oven - 30" Firepit - King Kooker Fryer -  PR72T - WSJ - BS 17" Griddle - XXL BGE  - BS SS36" Griddle - 2 Burner Gasser - Pellet Smoker
  • Ozzie_Isaac
    Ozzie_Isaac Posts: 18,942
    Here is my attempt at Franklin style.  Actually it is more a mockery of his style.


    A bison’s level of aggressiveness, both physical and passive, is legendary. - NPS
  • 4Runner
    4Runner Posts: 2,948
    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VmTzdMHu5KU

    Don't be shy with the knife. You will end up with like 2 lbs of trimmins
    Trim like a boss.....boss Franklin that is.  Watched this video at least 5 times.  
    Joe - I'm a reformed gasser-holic aka 4Runner Columbia, SC Wonderful BGE Resource Site: http://www.nakedwhiz.com/ceramicfaq.htm and http://www.nibblemethis.com/  and http://playingwithfireandsmoke.blogspot.com/2006/02/recipes.html
    What am I drinking now?   Woodford....neat
  • Ladeback69
    Ladeback69 Posts: 4,482
    I getting ready to trim a 11 pounder here soon for cooking tomorrow.   There is hard fat near the point that needs to get trim it won't render down.  I usually trim somextra more around the top and take the bottom down to about to a 1/4" if needed.  I like to place fat side down and a drip pan under it.  I like to tenderize mine too while putting the rub on.  I am smoking it around 250 - 275 with cherry wood.
    XL, WSM, Coleman Road Trip Gas Grill

    Kansas City, Mo.
  • Ozzie_Isaac
    Ozzie_Isaac Posts: 18,942
    @Ladeback69
    I put a few chunks of cherry in too.  I have the pit controller up and running.  I am tracking with my Maverick.  Figure what the hey.  Best time to use the new toy is 11 at night on something I have never cooked before.  You can never have to many firsts.
    A bison’s level of aggressiveness, both physical and passive, is legendary. - NPS
  • anton
    anton Posts: 1,813
    Well I first off want to congratulate you for doing some due dilligence, then approaching it the way you are. Wish you the best of luck, not that you need it, I'm pretty sure you got this, I will be back to see your$$$ shots.
     Using a MBGE,woo/w stone,livin' in  Hayward California," The Heart Of The Bay "
  • Ozzie_Isaac
    Ozzie_Isaac Posts: 18,942
    1:00 A.M.  just put the brisket on.  I way overshoot my planned 235.  Finally got it to level off at 300.  I've been working to cool it down for 2hrs.  Decided to throw the brisket on at 260.  I'll stay up and make sure temp settles then hit the hay.


    A bison’s level of aggressiveness, both physical and passive, is legendary. - NPS
  • lousubcap
    lousubcap Posts: 32,162
    Great eats at the end of this story.  Just slice against the grain (give the Franklin "payoff" video a look on the slice technique) when ready to enjoy.
    Louisville; Rolling smoke in the neighbourhood. # 38 for the win.  Life is too short for light/lite beer!  Seems I'm livin in a transitional period.
  • Ozzie_Isaac
    Ozzie_Isaac Posts: 18,942
    Will do.  Walking outside and smelling that brisket cooking this morning was its own reward.
    A bison’s level of aggressiveness, both physical and passive, is legendary. - NPS
  • DoubleEgger
    DoubleEgger Posts: 17,125
    You are going to hooked on brisket like crack.....
  • pgprescott
    pgprescott Posts: 14,544
    Hey @Ozzie_Isaac what did you do for rub? SP and cayenne? Plowboys? Looking forward to the slices. Im a " fatty" brisket guy. What about you? Fat or lean?
  • Ozzie_Isaac
    Ozzie_Isaac Posts: 18,942
    edited March 2015
    @pgprescott ;

    I used Oakridge competition beef and pork rub.

    Only brisket I have ever had was lean.  So not sure what I like best.  I better try both!
    A bison’s level of aggressiveness, both physical and passive, is legendary. - NPS
  • DoubleEgger
    DoubleEgger Posts: 17,125
    Love that Oakridge rub. Used it on some bison burgers last night...
  • lousubcap
    lousubcap Posts: 32,162
    @Ozzie_Isaac -Opinion here-don't go down the burnt ends road-the point is the best "fatty" part of the brisket.  Once you go over to the dark side (slice and eat the point) you will never go back:) .  Banquet awaits!
    Louisville; Rolling smoke in the neighbourhood. # 38 for the win.  Life is too short for light/lite beer!  Seems I'm livin in a transitional period.
  • MelSharples
    MelSharples Posts: 260
    Are they selling the Flame Boss at Costco? 
    LBGE 2015 - Atlanta
  • Ozzie_Isaac
    Ozzie_Isaac Posts: 18,942
    @MelSharples nope.  I made the mistake of stopping by my dealer and chatting.  I mentioned I was looking at a DigiQ and he pulled out the Flame Boss.  I said I had never heard of it so I needed to think about it.  Well long story short based on the few reviews and a quick talk with a super nice guy at Flame Boss I ran back and picked it up.

    @lousubcap I plan to slice and serve it all.  This is my first brisket rodeo so I have no idea what to expect.
    A bison’s level of aggressiveness, both physical and passive, is legendary. - NPS
  • Ozzie_Isaac
    Ozzie_Isaac Posts: 18,942
    I did tell my dealer I need to stop going to his store.  Two weeks ago my medium followed me home.
    A bison’s level of aggressiveness, both physical and passive, is legendary. - NPS
  • Jeepster47
    Jeepster47 Posts: 3,827
    Are they selling the Flame Boss at Costco? 
    @MelSharples ... drop a PM to @stlcharcoal ... he doesn't advertise it, but seems to carry all of the controllers. 

    Washington, IL  >  Queen Creek, AZ ... Two large eggs and an adopted Mini Max

  • SGH
    SGH Posts: 28,791
      I am assuming there is a reason they charge another $7 for a trimmed brisket.
    I want to add my opinion on the quoted question above. It's a money making tactic. Short of a real butcher, most supermarkets do a piss poor job of finess trimming. They gouge and hack like a wild man. The end results are usually sub par and look like Jason Voorhees was the one wielding the knife. I always pass on paying for trimming and just do it myself. I find that it is more economical in the long run to invest in a good boning knife and breaking knife and do the trimming myself. Also the end results are much better. Skip paying for the trimming my friend unless you have seen their work and know that it is acceptable. However it usually is not. 

    Location- Just "this side" of Biloxi, Ms.

    Status- Standing by.

    The greatest barrier against all wisdom, the stronghold against knowledge itself, is the single thought, in ones mind, that they already have it all figured out. 

  • SGH
    SGH Posts: 28,791
    Now let me offer my thoughts on trimming brisket. There are several end goals that one can be shooting for. I will only touch on a few due to time constraints. However I will be glad to delve in farther later if you would like. First the competition trim. This is usually a very aggressive trim that removes the majority of fat be it hard or soft. Also quite a bit of meat is usually removed to "square up" the meat. This is more for presentation than anything else. It does nothing for quality. This is just one mans opinion but the competition trim is a waste for home cooking. If you want a extreme example of a very aggressive competition trim, check out my friend brother Reeds comp trim video. For the record, he only trims like this for comps, not for home cooking or when cooking for general bbq gatherings. Next in the line up and the best way for home cooking is the General trim. I'm sure you have watched the Franklin video. This is a general trim. Toward the end he starts cutting danglers and hangers just because he is still talking and trying to fulfill a established time slot. For home trimming, his shown method is near perfect. There probably isn't many people on here cooking "select grade" brisket. But if you are, they usually require a little extra trimming due to the amount of excessive hard fat. All that said, for home and general brisket cooking, Franklins video is near ideal. 

    Location- Just "this side" of Biloxi, Ms.

    Status- Standing by.

    The greatest barrier against all wisdom, the stronghold against knowledge itself, is the single thought, in ones mind, that they already have it all figured out.