Can I layer 2 briskets in my XL?

FarmerTom · July 2016

Our daughter is getting married here on the farm this fall. Doesn't want anything fancy, just have a good time. She wants me to cook brisket for after the wedding. I have an XL and I have a Weber grate to which I have added adjustable legs of square tubing. This will allow me to cook one brisket on my regular grate and another raised on the adjustable Weber grate.
But will this work? Will the top brisket drip too much onto the lower brisket? Will I need to somehow place foil in between to deflect the drippings from the top brisket away from the bottom brisket? I'm sure some of you have done this and I would appreciate your input. Thanks!!!

chadpsualum · July 2016

The only thing you may want to do is 'rotate' them periodically. The top grate will be warmer than the bottom. Alternatively if you have a larger one and a smaller one you could put the big one on top.

fishlessman · July 2016

no problem stacking, heres flats and butts in a large

hoosier_egger · July 2016

I do this with a Boston and brisket on an AR and it works great. I never rotate them and put the butt on top, brisket on bottom.

dldawes1 · July 2016

FarmerTom...Both should fit on the main grate. I cooked a 13 and 14 pounders and had plenty of room.

bettysnephew · July 2016

It works great, just monitor both for temp and as stated earlier, you may have to switch positions or pull and FTC the top and let the bottom finish. Be sure you have a deep enough drip pan so you don't have a fire from the renderings. Not near as bad as pork butts yet still can be an issue that gets out of control quickly and is dangerous dealing with scalding grease.

sumoconnell · July 2016

Awesome ! I've done this, no need to foil between them when I did it. I swapped the briskets halfway through, but I bet that may not be needed anyway. Of course, each will finish on it's own time.

Killit_and_Grillit · July 2016

Farm? Wedding? If there will be brisket and free drinks this Large Egg will travel. I'm just sayin.

avibug · July 2016

Congrats on the wedding.
I've done it on an XL using an Adjustable Rig. I didn't swap them, they came out great. But having two made the timing confusing -- total cook was about 20 hours. I believe that the two briskets hit the stall at different points and, as the stall often causes not only the brisket temp to fall but the temp in the Egg as well, I think when each brisket stalled, it slowed the cooking of the other brisket. I didn't plan for the impact of two separate stalls, and the brisket wasn't done for dinner as planned. So, plan for extra time. I'd aim to finish a few hours early and FTC.

WeberWho · July 2016

I like you daughters thoughts on the wedding. I can't believe how many people worry so much about their wedding. How are you supposed to enjoy it when you need everything to be perfect. My wife and I had our hometown barbecue restaurant come smoke a pig for us and even had a red and white checked tablecloths at the reception. We wanted everyone to enjoy themselves and not make the room feel stuffy and pretend we're something were not. Good food, family, and friends. That's all we wanted. We still have family and friends talk about how much fun our wedding was. It was low key, comfortable, and real. Non of this hoity-toity look how fancy my wedding is.

It sounds like your daughter has a good head on her shoulders and understands what it's all about. Good food, family, and friends. Congrats!

dldawes1 · July 2016

I agree with Killit_and_Grillit....I'll even come cook them for you if needed. The XLs are already on the trailer.

PS...I won't eat much !!!!

FarmerTom · July 2016

Killit_and_Grillit said:

Farm? Wedding? If there will be brisket and free drinks this Large Egg will travel. I'm just sayin.

Will have all of the above. We're about 4 hours away. You're welcome anytime.
WeberWho said:

I like you daughters thoughts on the wedding. I can't believe how many people worry so much about their wedding. How are you supposed to enjoy it when you need everything to be perfect. My wife and I had our hometown barbecue restaurant come smoke a pig for us and even had a red and white checked tablecloths at the reception. We wanted everyone to enjoy themselves and not make the room feel stuffy and pretend we're something were not. Good food, family, and friends. That's all we wanted. We still have family and friends talk about how much fun our wedding was. It was low key, comfortable, and real. Non of this hoity-toity look how fancy my wedding is.

It sounds like your daughter has a good head on her shoulders and understands what it's all about. Good food, family, and friends. Congrats!

Our son got married in a barn last year on the farm where we live. Had a bunch of fireworks set to go off as they came out. They loved it. My 90 year old uncle said "that's two things I've never done in my life, been to a wedding in a tobacco barn and seen fireworks set off at the end of the ceremony." He (and everyone else) loved it. Then had a reception under a big tent in our yard. A good friend cooked a pig. Wasn't any left over. Got lots of compliments for the fun time.
Our daughter is getting married on our other farm which is less than a mile from our house. But it's over a mile from the farm entrance to the back in the woods where she is getting married. Doesn't want anything fancy. A tent for the food, and people just to have fun afterwards eating, talking and playing games. Wants a bonfire and wienie roast. Also wants to cook a bunch of chili over an open fire using two big old cast iron kettles we have from the days when my grandparents killed hogs. Casual dress.
And she has asked me to cook a brisket. Well, out here in the country, one brisket doesn't go far. I cooked an 18 pounder for a gathering of 8 or 9 friends and had less than a pound to bring home. There will be lots of other food, but I'm thinking I need to load the XL with all the brisket it can hold. She seems to think one brisket will be enough, but I think she has been away from our community too long and forgotten how much folks around here like to eat. I have a Medium also and am considering getting a small brisket to cook on it as well. Hence my question regarding layering briskets on an egg. Sounds like it should work from what I'm hearing here.

dldawes1 said:

I agree with Killit_and_Grillit....I'll even come cook them for you if needed. The XLs are already on the trailer.

PS...I won't eat much !!!!

I had thought about you Donnie if I get in a bind, but I think I can cook enough. She really seems to think with all the other food she is planning, one brisket will be enough, but I don't want to run short. At our sons wedding, I didn't eat until after everyone else had eaten and some got seconds. I didn't get any of the hog. It was all gone, along with a lot of the other food. I don't want to run short.

nolaegghead · July 2016

Having not read all the 'tween posts, but that setup you described is fine. Even if they were side by side, each brisket is done when it's done. So check them for tenderness when it's about that time and you'll be fine. No need to rotate - if one finishes a couple hours before the other it's going to stay warm with a little help.

Congrats on the marriage.

NPHuskerFL · July 2016

I only read the title and your snippet. I'm thinking 3 to 4 would "fit" in a XL side by side, layered or otherwise. Drippings should really be a non issue. I've done 3 (tight) in my LBGE and 2 quite simple to fit. They will each finish when they finish. Likely each at different times and IT. Enjoy and I'm sure you'll make your daughter's wedding union perfectly with some brisket just as this Bride has asked.

MaskedMarvel · July 2016

dldawes1 · July 2016

FarmerTom...Just let me know the date and I will cook a brisket (or two) here and have them available for delivery....no problem.

I appreciate you and your friendship, nothing is too much trouble for you my friend !!!!!

FarmerTom · July 2016

nolaegghead, could you answer a question for me please. I believe I remember reading in another thread where you are a believer in "ramping up" the temperature as the cook progresses. Other than shortening the time required, how does this improve the brisket? What temperature do you like at the start and how do you proceed? I'm all for finishing as quickly as possible as long as it produces a great brisket. I'm not equipped for the "sous vide" process or however it's spelled. And keep in mind I intend to have my XL loaded to the max on two layers.

dldawes1 I really do appreciate your offer and know you would be glad to help. But unless I run into a problem, I am really wanting to do this myself for our daughter. Plus, they will be staying with us (she and her intended live in Houston), and our future SIL loves to BBQ, He has one of those big wood fired cookers and cooks quite a lot on it, so I'm sure he will be wanting to be involved with the egg.

YukonRon · July 2016

Tommy,if you need anything let me know. Glad to help.

tjv · July 2016

if going one above the other, top will drip on bottom, so better bark on top. also, never really now which gets done quicker, top or bottom.

t

westernbbq · July 2016

Yep no problem at all. Just monitor temps closely amd if u use a guru, i would make sure to monitor lower temp grate and use bge dome thermo as an upper temp guide. I learned this the hard way once because of some hot spots down below when dome thermo was low. A shoulder underneath got burned up pretty bad. FWIW....

Ladeback69 · July 2016

Shouldn't be a problem, like others above I have cooked pork butts over brisket a few times as well. I think it was mentioned but having more then one protein is always nice. I did this for my in-laws 50th this last weekend and it was a hit. Feed 30+ people, but could have feed more. http://eggheadforum.com/discussion/comment/2003806#Comment_2003806

I like having more then one protein for big parties, because not everyone like beef. One of our niece's didn't like ribs or beef so she ate the chicken I cooked. I know its a lot more work but it can be done if you plan it out right.

Congratulations on your daughter getting married by the way @FarmerTom.

Can I layer 2 briskets in my XL?

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