Smoked Brisket

What do you do on labor day weekend during a pandemic? Smoke some brisket of course. Never done this before, so I thought I would document if it turned out good, and I’m glad I did. It was great!

Ingredients:

  • 3 lb brisket
  • 1 tbsp coarse salt
  • 4 tbsp coarse black pepper
  • Mustard
  • Apple cider vinegar
  • Apple juice

Tools:

  • Electric smoker & wood chips
  • Smoke tube & pellets
  • Butcher paper
  • Meat thermometer
  • Sprayer

Directions:

  1. Start smoker at 225F.
  2. Rub mustard on brisket, both sides.
  3. Sprinkle rub, 1:4 mix of salt & pepper on brisket and pat it in, both sides.
  4. Put brisket in smoker, fat-side down with smoke tube.
  5. (Wait 2 hr)
  6. If rub has set, raise temperature to 250F. Otherwise, re-check every hour until it is set.
  7. (Wait 2 hr)
  8. Spritz with 1:1 mix of apple cider vinegar and apple juice if dry.
  9. If color is good and internal temperature is between 150-170F, spritz and wrap brisket. Otherwise, re-check every hour.
  10. (Wait 2 hr)
  11. Ideal internal temperature is 203F. Look for tenderness of a hot knife through butter with thermometer. If tenderness or temperature is not right, continue cooking and checking in 1 hr increments.
  12. Rest the brisket for 1-2 hr.
  13. Cut and serve.