How to Cook Great Smoked Barbecue Brisket

A perfectly done smoked barbeque brisket is one of life's little pleasures. If done right it is tender, moist, brimming with beef flavor and tinged with just the right amount of smoke.

The meat will have a identifiable pink colored ring just below the surface of the meat. That ring is called the "smoke" ring. It enhances the flavor of the beef in a very unique way that makes smoked barbecue brisket a special treat. It can't be achieved any other way but to cook under the influence of slow burning, untreated hickory, oak, pecan, or fruit tree wood.

This article provides the basic steps for cooking outstanding brisket and the steps are simple enough for the novice to follow.

Brisket is regional specialty of barbeque, originating in Texas and currently found in most barbeque establishments. It's the great counterpoint to pork barbecue.

Brisket is a tough but flavorful cut of beef. Don't worry about it being tough because your barbecue "low and slow" cooking method will render it very tender.

Let's get started on the cooking steps:

The first thing you want to do is to clean and pat the meat dry.

Trim any large fat deposits from top portion of the cut. Some people like to leave the fat streak on because it moistens the meat while its cooking. The fat actually does a good job of preventing it from completely drying out. The fat really helps the flavor. Remember that you are using a smoker, which means you are generally placing your brisket on a rack or grid. Put a drip pan under the meat to catch the drippings. The drippings can be used to make a sauce for serving the barbecue.

After trimming you need to season. There are lots of spice combinations that go well with barbecue brisket. The best include onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper, smoked paprika, salt, sugar, dry thyme, dry mustard and cayenne.

A simple brisket rub is 1/4 cup salt, 1/4 cup garlic salt, 1/4 cup black pepper, and 1/4 cup smoked paprika. Sprinkle the rub liberally over the surface of the meat.

The brisket now needs to marinate under refrigeration for at least 2 hours but preferably overnight.

Once the meat is marinated then you are ready for the smoker.

Use charcoal briquettes or hardwood charcoal for heat. Your smoker temperature should be in the range of 230 to 250 degrees. Add two or three chunks of your choice of wood (that has been soaking in water for at least an hour) for smoke.

Your brisket will cook for approximately 6-8 hours. You will be able to pinpoint when done by monitoring the internal temperature of the meat.

Using a "instant read" meat thermometer periodically check the internal temperature of the meat. When the meat reaches approximately 140 degrees wrap the brisket in foil and place back on the smoker. At 140 degrees the meat will not absorb any more smoke. This should take about 2-3 hours.

When the meat reaches an internal temperature of about 190 to 195 degrees the meat is done. Take the meat off of the smoker and let it "rest" about 20 minutes before serving. Enjoy your smoked barbecue brisket!

See Also : cheap cookware sets Find KitchenAid Mixers Discount here. Where to fine a new gas barbeque grill Where to Find the best Ceramic Cookware.

How to Barbecue Better Using Cooking Grates

Cooking grates come in different types and materials, and each has its own advantages, depending on its use and the preference of the cook. Grill grates hold your food when you are barbecuing or grilling. So let us take a look at the choices available when it comes to outdoor cooking grates.

When it comes to popularity, cast iron grates seem to be the choice. The heavier wide cast iron grates can hold heat for a long time and cook evenly. As a result, you get well seared, quickly cooked food. The only problem with  iron grill grates is maintenance. Apart from the regular cleaning, you must ensure that cast iron grills are well seasoned before you use them and this must be done periodically even when they are in regular use. They do come with manufacturers instructions on how to season them. While it is not a difficult task to season them, neglecting to do it can result in rust. If you do keep them well seasoned, cast iron can be as good as nonstick grates and appear to last longer than a lifetime.

A better option, if you want the advantage of longer heat but not the associated maintenance hassle with cast iron, you can opt for porcelain coated iron grates. These combine the quality of durability, as well as avoid the problem of rust as long as the porcelain coating is intact. Over time, the porcelain coating can crack, chip or wear off unless you are really careful when you handle it. At the time of cleaning, it is better to use brass bristles in place of metal scrapers with hard edges.

Stainless cooking grates for grills are less durable than iron; however, with good care, these can also last a long time. You also get steel grates coated with porcelain just like cast iron grates coated with porcelain. One problem, however, is that these grates are quite thin and too widely spaced to hold heat. While this does not really affect smoking or indirectly cooking huge portions of meat, beef, steaks and chops could pose an issue since you will not get those attractive grill marks. Serious chefs prefer wider grates.

If you compare stainless cooking grates for grills, porcelain enameled cast iron cooking grates and porcelain coated cast iron grates, porcelain coated cast iron grates let you cook at lower temperatures because there is longer retention of heat. Stainless steel grates come with the longest warranty followed by porcelain coated cast iron grates and the porcelain enameled ones.

Generally, it is better to buy stainless cooking grates for bbq grills so that they are not prone to rust. Often we find barbecue grills that are perfect with all the features we want at a price that is hard to refuse, yet does not have the kind of grate we want. In such cases, you can always check with the manufacturer. For example, you can opt for Weber porcelain enameled cast iron cooking grates that give you the advantage of long lasting grates that retain excellent heat and are supposed to be easy to maintain. But most weekend barbecuers feel that it is hard to keep it seasoned because they get so heated. This manufacturer also offers the option of choosing stainless cooking grates for the grills. These are easy to clean before cooking. By coating them with oil, you can keep food from sticking to it. Importantly, the grill marks are prominent. Another big advantage of stainless steel is its lightweight property making it easy to handle particularly while adding wood or briquettes to your smoker box. Stainless steel is also a good material for camping cooking grates.

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