How To Rest A Brisket After Smoking—And Why You Should

How often do you smoke a brisket? If you don’t, then you might want to start now.

Want your brisket to taste like heaven? Check out our article on the 9 best grills for smoking brisket to get that smokey taste we all know and love!

Briskets are smoked meats that are usually served at holiday meals or special occasions. They are also very delicious.

Briskets are typically cooked over low heat for hours until they reach the desired tenderness.

The meat is rubbed with spices before being placed into a smoker. Smoking is done using wood chips, charcoal, or other materials.

You can cook briskets in the oven, grill them, or even braise them. There are several ways to prepare a brisket, depending on your preference.

You can choose from different types of brines and rubs to give your brisket flavor. Some people like to use dry rubs while others prefer wet ones.

Dry rubs are made up of salt, pepper, sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and other spices. Wet rubs contain ingredients such as molasses, brown sugar, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and liquid smoke.

What Is Smoking A Brisket?

Smoking is the process of cooking food by exposing it to smoke. It’s used to add flavor to foods.

The most common type of smoking is called indirect smoking. This method uses hot air to circulate around the food instead of directly heating it.

This allows the temperature to remain relatively constant. The result is a more evenly cooked product.

Indirect smoking is commonly used when smoking poultry and fish because these foods have high moisture content.

When smoking a brisket, you will need to place it inside a smoker. The smoker has an opening where you insert the brisket.

It should be inserted so that the fat side faces down. Smoke is circulated through the smoker by fans.

This keeps the meat moist and prevents it from drying out. A good way to test if the brisket is ready is to take a small piece off the end. If it falls apart easily, then it is done.

If you’re new to smoking, you may want to try a few different methods until you find one that works best for you. There are many types of smokers available.

The two main types are electric and gas-powered. Electric smokers tend to be cheaper than gas-powered models. Electric smokers come in various sizes and styles.

You’ll want to make sure that you get one that fits well within your kitchen space or outdoor cooking area.

Gas-powered smokers are generally larger and heavier than their electric counterparts. These units require regular maintenance. You’ll want to clean the unit regularly to keep it working properly.

Why Should You Rest A Brisket After Smoking?

Resting a brisket after smoking helps the meat retain its juices. During this time, the meat continues to cook slowly.

When smoking a brisket, there are three distinct stages: smoking, resting, and carving.

During the first stage, known as smoking, the brisket is exposed to smoke. This is followed by a period of rest. Finally, the brisket is carved.

In order to ensure that the meat retains all of its juices during the resting stage, you must allow the meat to cool completely. This means letting the meat sit for at least 30 minutes once it comes out of the smoker.

After the brisket has rested, you can slice it and serve it. You can either eat it right away or refrigerate it for later consumption.

You can also freeze leftover brisket. Just wrap it tightly with plastic wrap and store it in the freezer.

How Do You Rest A Brisket?

How long do I rest my brisket after smoking?

There are several ways to rest a brisket. You can let it sit on a cutting board for about 15 minutes before slicing it.

Alternatively, you can wrap the brisket in foil and put it in the refrigerator overnight. Once it has cooled completely, remove it from the fridge and cut it into slices.

Briskets are traditionally sliced across the grain. However, you can also slice them against the grain. This gives the meat a chewier texture.

Do not leave the brisket sitting out for too long. This could cause it to dry out.

Tips For Resting A Brisket After Smoking

To help prevent the meat from drying out, you should cover it with aluminum foil while it rests. This will help protect it from the elements.

To avoid having to slice the meat against the grain, you can wrap it in foil and refrigerate it overnight. Remove the foil and slice the meat against the grains.

The longer the brisket sits, the more flavorful it becomes.

Brisket Frequently Asked Questions

Cooking a brisket is no easy task. It’s one of the longest and trickiest meats to cook and get right. That’s why you should arm yourself with as much information about briskets as you can before cooking.

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions when it comes to cooking brisket, and the answers that go with them.

What Is A Brisket?

Brisket is a large muscle found in the chest area of an animal. It’s used primarily for roasting. When cooked correctly, brisket can be quite tender and juicy.

Where Does Brisket Come From?

Brisket originated in England. It was originally called “English beef” because it was so popular among English people.

Today, brisket is often referred to as “Texas beef.” That’s because brisket is one of the most popular dishes in Texas. 

How Long Can I Cook My Brisket?

If you have a whole brisket, you can expect to spend between 3 and 4 hours cooking it. If you only have half a brisket, you can cook it for 2 hours.

However, the general rule for cooking brisket is that it should take 1.5 – 2 hours per pound when cooked at 225F, 1.5 hours per pound at 250F, and 30-45 minutes per pound at 300F.

The slower you cook your brisket the juicer it will be.

Can I Smoke My Own Brisket?

Yes, you can smoke your own brisket if you want to. But remember that this is a very time-consuming process.

You’ll need to plan ahead and make sure you have enough space in your kitchen.

It takes approximately 6 hours to smoke a brisket, but you can start early in the morning and finish late in the evening. Some even choose to smoke larger biscuits overnight.

Why Should I Smoke My Brisket?

Smoking makes the flavor of the meat even better. It adds a lot of depth and complexity to the meal. Plus, smoked foods tend to stay moist longer than their non-smoker counterparts.

How Much Wood Should I Use To Smoke A Whole Brisket?

There is no specific amount of wood you need to smoke a whole brisket. However, if you are planning to smoke a whole brisket, you should plan ahead so you have enough wood available.

If you’re planning to smoke a whole brisket, start by soaking half of your wood chips in water. This will help reduce their burning rate.

Then soak the remaining half of your wood chips.

Next, soak your charcoal briquettes in water for 30 minutes. This helps ensure that they burn evenly.

Now, when you light your fire, you should be able to get an even distribution of coals throughout your smoker.

How Much Time Should I Allow My Brisket To Rest Before Cutting It?

This depends entirely on how thick your brisket is. Generally speaking, you should allow the brisket to rest for 10-15 minutes before cutting it.

However, if your brisket is extremely thin, you may want to wait until it has cooled down completely before slicing it.

How Long Should I Let My Brisket Marinate Before Cooking It?

There’s no set amount of time you should let your brisket sit after smoking it. Some people like to cut it immediately after they’ve finished smoking it. Others prefer to let it sit for several days.

For best results, try to let it sit for 24 hours before cooking it.

Is There Anything Else I Need To Know About Cooking A Brisket?

You should always use a thermometer to check the internal temperature of the meat. You don’t want to overcook it or undercook it.

When using a digital probe, insert it into the thickest part of the meat. Then wait until the reading reaches 165F.

Once the meat is done, you can either serve it immediately or let it cool down first. Either way, keep the meat covered while it’s resting.

If you’re serving it right away, cover it with foil and place it back in the oven for 15 minutes to help it retain its juices.

If you’re going to store leftovers, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate them. They’ll last up to 5 days.

What Are Some Of The Best Ways To Serve Smoked Brisket?

The easiest way to eat smoked brisket is by simply slicing it thinly and eating it with barbecue sauce. This is especially good served over rice. Another great option is to slice it thinly and then grill it. 

If you’d rather not eat it plain, you can add other ingredients such as onions, peppers, tomatoes, etc. to give it more flavor.

Other popular options include:

• Stuffed with Cornbread Stuffing

• Served With Baked Beans

• Wrapped In Bacon

• Slathered With Barbecue Sauce

• Wrapped In Cheese Curds

• Fried

• Sliced And Cooked On A Rotisserie Grill

How Do I Store Leftover Brisket?

Leftover brisket tastes delicious reheated. Just heat it up in the microwave on high for about 60 seconds.

To prevent food poisoning from occurring, you should never reheat leftover brisket above 140F. For best results, you should also freeze leftover brisket within two days of making it.

The brisket freezes well because it contains a lot of fat. If you do decide to freeze it, make sure that you remove all the excess fat before freezing it.

The brisket will keep frozen for up to three months.

How Can I Make Sure That My Brisket Is Tender When I Reheat It?

As mentioned earlier, you should only cook brisket at temperatures below 140F. Once cooked, you can reheat it in the microwave or a skillet.

Microwave: Heat it in the microwave on high power for 60 seconds per pound.

Skillet: Heat it in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add some oil to the pan and sear the brisket for 3-5 minutes per side. Remove the brisket from the pan and finish cooking it in the oven.

Final Thoughts

Cooking brisket is a tender business. You don’t want to be that person who spends hours and hours cooking and marinating their brisket, smoking it to the best flavor, and then you don’t let it rest. 

Resting your brisket after cooking is incredibly important. This is because when you smoke your brisket, you actually start to break down the collagen fibers in the meat.

These are the same fibers that connect muscle cells together. As they break down, the meat becomes softer and easier to chew.

You have to allow time for these collagen fibers to break down so that your brisket doesn’t become tough. By allowing it to rest, you’re giving the collagen fibers time to break down.

Without this time, the collagen fibers would continue to tighten up and toughen the meat.

It takes anywhere between 2-3 hours for the collagen fibers to completely break down. During this time, you need to keep an eye on the temperature of your brisket.

You don’t want it to get too hot or else it could burn.

After resting, you’ll notice that the meat has lost its pink color. This is because the collagen fibers have broken down and the meat has turned into a darker red color.

Once you’ve rested your brisket, you can either serve it immediately or you can wrap it tightly and store it in the refrigerator. You can use it later in the week or even the next day.

Brisket keeps well when properly stored. 

So there you have it. Cooking your brisket is important, but resting it is just as important too. 

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