First full brisket poll

How would you cook a 12 lb brisket to be ready around 6 pm?

  • C. Start at 10 pm at 225, don't wrap at all (since have the time to get through the stall)

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    13

RyGuy671

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I'm planning on doing my first packer brisket (12 lbs) this weekend for a little holiday get together, planning on eating about 6 pm. I'm debating about the best way to do it, overnight or faster during the day. Curious how others on here would approach it.

In my experience, everything takes a bit longer to cook than you'd think, and we end up waiting for the meat to be done. And with the ability to hold brisket up to 4 hours, I think I know what I'm going to go with.
 
Voted E (something else). I have nasty insomnia so I would start it at 10:00, and check on it whenever I woke up, which would probably every hour. Wrap at 165, so I could maximize rest time.
 
I voted E as well. I would start it at 4AM should take around 12 hours if stall is not to bad and then wrap at 165 cook till 200-205. Place in ice chest wrapped in towels for 1-2 hours. Then serve. If your worried about eating late if prolonged stall then start @ 2AM.
 
I agree with Mike, throw away the clock. Also I wouldn't let your smoker go unattended all night, bad things can happen.
Yeah, I'd be worried about the pellets not feeding if they get low. God knows I have to push them down enough already, they really should've made the sides of the hopper steeper.

I think I'll just pretend the brisket is a baby (I mean, it kinda is), and get up in the middle of the night/early morning and start it. I'd rather have it done early than late. I also got a wireless thermometer so I can monitor the temp from bed.

I can always judge whether to wrap it or not depending on how early I start it and how quickly it gets to 165. I've read you can get the best bark by not wrapping but can add 20 mins per pound.

Thanks guys!
 
I leave my pellet cooker alone all the time. I've got a bluetooth thermometer that connects to my iPhone and it has alarms on it. I set my smoker to 225 and set one alarm on my phone at 180 and one alarm at 300. If either goes off in the middle of the night my phone will let me know to get up. It's only gone off twice and I've been smoking for years.

As for the brisket, I'd put it on at 10pm at 225, set an alarm for 165 to wrap it (I'd still wrap it putting it on early) and wait until it's done.

Looks like you were cooking it this past weekend. How'd it work out?
 
I voted E.

I’ve always started around 11 at night. Cook at 225 and wrap to colour, not temp. Could be anywhere from 155-170. Bump up the temp to 250 and go until it’s ready (somewhere over 200).
 
I leave my pellet cooker alone all the time. I've got a bluetooth thermometer that connects to my iPhone and it has alarms on it. I set my smoker to 225 and set one alarm on my phone at 180 and one alarm at 300. If either goes off in the middle of the night my phone will let me know to get up. It's only gone off twice and I've been smoking for years.

As for the brisket, I'd put it on at 10pm at 225, set an alarm for 165 to wrap it (I'd still wrap it putting it on early) and wait until it's done.

Looks like you were cooking it this past weekend. How'd it work out?
Yep had my horizontal for 3 or 4 years I think the hopper holds 20lbs I fill it up before I go to bed I vacuum it out before I lite it never had a issue. I cook butts all night into the pm
 
Yep had my horizontal for 3 or 4 years I think the hopper holds 20lbs I fill it up before I go to bed I vacuum it out before I lite it never had a issue. I cook butts all night into the pm
I'm glad you guys have not had any issues. I haven't either, I just won't take the chance. As much as we all want them to be "set and forget" that is not the case. Good luck to you.
 
Had stick burners for years, Pit cookers, ugly drums, etc. built them myself, Whole hogs, 2 giant hips at once, Lambs, Packer briskets, 40 lb. turkeys, etc. Always baby sat till done! Not worth the risk of ruining a hundred or more dollars of meat, let alone disappointing a bunch of hungry people! Would sometimes start at 10:00 pm, and finish 5:00 pm the next day! Of course, I was a puddle at dinner time, but always had rave reviews! Even now, with the pellet grills, love the things for making my life so much easier, but I will not set and forget! Buy the way, those ears were some of the best Cracklin" that I have ever had!!!
IMG_20150905_171829.jpg
 
Had stick burners for years, Pit cookers, ugly drums, etc. built them myself, Whole hogs, 2 giant hips at once, Lambs, Packer briskets, 40 lb. turkeys, etc. Always baby sat till done! Not worth the risk of ruining a hundred or more dollars of meat, let alone disappointing a bunch of hungry people! Would sometimes start at 10:00 pm, and finish 5:00 pm the next day! Of course, I was a puddle at dinner time, but always had rave reviews! Even now, with the pellet grills, love the things for making my life so much easier, but I will not set and forget! Buy the way, those ears were some of the best Cracklin" that I have ever had!!!View attachment 2081
Old stick burner myself. I’m always close by when smoking.
 

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