If you want to know the golden standard of BBQ, there is an answer to that. Cooking briskets are a significant accomplishment that every cook must master, and these are some tips that you may want to remember:
- For a 10lb brisket, you can smoke it for 9 to 12 hours before resting it for at least an hour.
- For a 15lb brisket, you can smoke your meat for about 12 to 14 hours before resting it for at least an hour.
- For a 20lb brisket, 18 to 24 hours is the suggested amount of smoking time before resting it for at least an hour.
The ideal temperature to take the brisket off the grill is between 195°F and 205°F. Then let your brisket rest for 2 to 4 hours.
Smoking your brisket between thirty and sixty minutes per pound is the basic rule any BBQ cook must know. A brisket weighing 16 lbs would take about 10 to 12 hours at 225°F on the grill. The whole process would last about 18 to 20 hours, including trimming fat, seasoning, cooking, and resting.
These are recommended times, but you can reduce the heat to as low as 165°F to extend the timeline and make the brisket even more tender. If you take that temperature, then a 15 lb brisket could take 20 to 24 hours to smoke.
Today, we would like to guide you on the right way to prepping and cooking a brisket that gives you the perfect flavor perfect for you and the people who taste your food.
Prepping Your Brisket
In preparing your brisket, the first step starts with trimming the fat. Even if your brisket has a tight seal on its packaging, it is essential to check for good marbling. Looking at your meat’s quality closely and carefully is what BBQ cooks usually do before smoking their brisket.
In addition, barbecue or brisket seasoning is the key to making a tastier brisket. Usually, it takes a day or days to prepare and rest your brisket, giving you an intense flavor taste at the end of your cooking.
Here are some steps that may guide you:
- Trim the fat from the edges.
It is essential to cut all the ‘hard fat’ that will hinder your brisket from being tasty. Not removing these fats will not let your seasoning sink in your brisket as you cook it on your Traeger grill. For example, you can trim the fat and silver skin until you have an even ¼ inch layer.
- Season and rub.
In this second step, you can showcase the brisket’s flavor without putting too much dry rub. Other people suggest rubbing ground pepper, sea salt, and garlic powder in equal parts on your tray. Give the rub time to set, wrap it in foil and refrigerate it for 12 to 24 hours. Smaller briskets also mean a slight change in the amount of seasoning.
Tips On Cooking Your Brisket On A Traeger Grill
As you finish trimming the unwanted fat on your brisket and seasoning it simply but flavorfully, it is time that we teach a few tips on how you can smoke your meat and how long it should take you to cook it.
- Preheat your Traeger Grill. As you start cooking your brisket on your Traeger grill, preheat it to about 225°F.
- Place your brisket directly on the grill. Once the grill reaches the temperature, cook your brisket with the fat side down. According to BBQ experts, doing this makes it tastier, flavorful, and presentable. In addition, placing the internal temperature of your Traeger grill to 165°F should be the starting point in cooking.
- Remember that no time is the same when it comes to cooking it. Some people recommend that it take five hours to cook the brisket, and others say it would take seven hours or even nine. But just like this article has mentioned earlier, the time of cooking always depends on how heavy your brisket is.
You may determine the time needed to cook your brisket by basing it on how much it weighs. The general rule is 60 minutes for each pound of meat. Traeger grill at 165°F, the brisket is usually done and ready to eat when it reaches about 200°F-205°F.
- Continue to cook your brisket on your Traeger Grill. If you see that the internal temperature reaches 170°F, wrap it in a butcher paper and slide it back on the grill, still at 225°F with the fat now facing downward. Next, set the probe alarm on the internal temperature to 200°F until it reaches the ideal temperature, about 202°F-205°F.
- Rest your brisket. As you reach the ideal internal temperature, it is time to remove the brisket from your Traeger grill. Towel wrap it and place it on your cooler for resting. It takes about two hours or more as you let your brisket rest before cutting it into slices. Some people let it rest for up to four hours, and it appeared to be flavorful, moist, and perfect.
- Slice and serve. It is essential to cut your brisket on a surface. Some cooks slice the brisket from its flat until it reaches a spot where the meat’s grain has changed. You can baste the brisket with barbecue sauce and mop sauce.
Best Side Dishes To Serve With Brisket
As you serve your cooked briskets and bring comfort to the people you serve your dish, you will have to think of a few sides to eat with this dish of yours. Here are five side dishes that will add more flavor, excite everyone around the house, and give those who taste your brisket a hearty meal.
- Coleslaw
After all the hours you spent grilling your brisket on the Traeger, some of you must be a little tired and would prefer to prepare a dish that would take just a few minutes. Coleslaw is the number one dish on the list, the perfect pair for your brisket. It only takes five minutes for you to prepare, and it sure does please everyone at the table. This side dish balances the richness and tenderness of your brisket with its sweet and tangy taste. Family, friends, and other guests will not be disappointed to have this popular dish paired with the brisket.
- Potatoes
If not all, most people really love potatoes. Who wouldn’t? Whether baked potatoes, mashed potatoes, scalloped potatoes, grilled potatoes, and whatever side dishes you come to think of regarding potatoes, these recipes make your brisket taste amazing. You may like it to be creamy or crispy. No one can resist how great potatoes are for your briskets.
- Corn
Another food that will be a delicious side to your brisket is corn. This is just one of the many foods people like eating together with their meals. Corn gives this sweet, buttery, and savory feeling that makes people want more, especially when eaten with bare hands. It makes every moment at the table even more memorable.
- Mac and Cheese
If you wish for a classic side dish with your brisket, this side dish is one of your go-to. Having a rich, cheesy, and flavorful side with your brisket sounds so right. Also, adding tiny bits of crispy bacon makes it sound perfect. This dish is definitely a must.
- Vegetable Side Dishes
There are a lot of vegetables that could satisfy your tummies and enjoy your briskets even more. Brussels sprouts, steamed asparagus, tomato slaw, mixed vegetables, and many more make a hearty meal even better. Nothing could ever go wrong when you have different textures, like vegetables, complement briskets.
Now that you know how long it is to prepare, cook a brisket on a Traeger grill, and add some side dishes, it is time for you to cook like a real BBQ expert. If you have any questions please let us know – we are always happy to help! We are open to trying something new if you would like to add more suggestions for creating the perfect brisket using a Traeger grill.
Reach us today, here at Brisket Pro!
