Fool-Proof How to Smoke a BBQ Beef Brisket

Beef brisket is known as one of the toughest meats you can put on your smoker. When cooked correctly brisket can be the best tasting and most tender meat you will ever eat! Living in an apartment with all the "rules", an on the 4th floor, no grills aloud. So, I decided to buy an electric smoker, the next best thing to grilling when you can't have a grill...

Step 1: Ingredients:

4 to 6-pound beef brisket

2 tsp. onion powder

2 tsp. garlic powder

2 tsp. BBQ seasoning

1 tbsp. paprika

2 tsp. coarse salt

1 tsp. pepper

Hickory wood chips (Hickory wood will add a hint of bacon to the brisket)

Step 2: Prepping the Brisket:

Trim off the excess top fat or “fat cap,” leaving a ¼"-thick layer of fat to keep the meat moist during the long cooking process.

Let meat sit at room temperature for 1 hour.

Step 3: How to Use the Control Panel and Remote Control:

Plug in your smoker preheat the smoker for 40 minutes.
When using an electric smoker, you don't want to begin smoking your meat until the correct temperature is obtained.

Step 4: For Those With an Electric Smoker:

Note: I crank the heat in the smoker in the beginning to 260°F. I do this because, once you open the smoker door (to put the rack with meat in), the temperature naturally drops inside the smoker. After meats in, I watch the temp. until it reaches 225°F, then I reduce the the temp from 260°F down to 250°F.

Note: Direct sunlight may interfere with ability to read LED display, block sunlight if needed.

* Use a probe thermometer in one of the vents to check temperature if your smoker is not equipped with one. Most grill thermometers are not accurate

Step 5: Set "SET TIMER" and Set "SET TEMP"

First turn on the smoker.

To control the cook time, adjust the SET TIME using the + and – buttons.

To control the smoker's temperature, adjust the SET TEMP using the + and – buttons.

Step 6:

Wait until smoker reaches desired temperature before adding meat(s), as well as wood chips.The time it takes to reach the desired temperature takes from 30-40 minutes, depending on smoker brands.

Step 7:

Fill the water pan with ginger ale (or water) in the smoker to the recommended level.

Step 8: Wood Chips:

Add the wood chips to the chip box. Use dry Wood chips right from the bag, or soak them for a few minutes.

Step 9: Vent's Purpose:

Vents are used for two purposes, to maintain ideal temperature, and to regulate the smoke, allowing smoke to leave the smoker so your food does not taste like soot. The shorter smoking time, the more the vents should stay closed. Fish smokes very quickly compared to other meats. To achieve the smoky flavor you want to shut vents

Step 10: Seasoning Brisket:

Mix onion powder, garlic powder, BBQ seasoning, paprika, salt, and pepper

in a small bowl and season on both sides of the brisket.

Step 11: Smoking the Beef Brisket:

Place the seasoned brisket fat side on smoker rack.

Step 12:

Place the rack into smoker insert meat prob into thicket part of meat, close smoker door and set the internal meat temperature of 190 °F.

Step 13: Smoking:

Smoke brisket bring the temperature up to 225°F. (2-4 hours), using the smoker's vent to regulate the temperature. Knowing the temp in your grill is crucial, so if your grill doesn’t have a temperature gauge, purchase a digital BBQ thermometer.

Step 14: Checking the Temperature/Chips While Smoking:

Check the temperature of the grill every hour, staying as close to 225°F as possible. Add more soaked wood chips every hour as needed, to maintain temperature and smoke.

Note: Resist the temptation to open the door.

Step 15:

The ideal temperature of a properly for smoked brisket is 195°F, but keep in mind that the internal temp of the brisket can increase by 10 degrees even after it’s been removed from the grill. Another way of testing brisket for doneness is the “feel” method: Stick a small fork in the brisket, and if it twists easily in the meat, it’s done.

Note: Electric smokers have different settings, so check your manual for cooking times. The key, however, is smoke the brisket to 190°F.

Step 16:

Unplug smoker and let rest 5 minutes before opening, allowing smoke to settle down. Stand back when opening the smoker's door, you don't want the smoke to sting your eyes!!

Remove the meat probe then remove the brisket from smoke, placing meat on a warm plate or serving platter. Cover the meat loosely with foil. Let rest for least 5-10 minutes.Resting time helps the juices, which migrate to the center of the meat, to be distributed more evenly throughout the brisket.

Step 17:

Properly cutting against the grain beef should be a very smooth process. With a sharp knife, push the knife down gently, rocking it back and forth slowly.

Step 18: Slicing the Brisket:

ALWAYS slice the brisket against the grain. Doing this will make the cuts of meet very tender. To do this, remove some fat from the top of the brisket to see the direction of the grain in the meat, and slice against it.