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How to smoke brisket

A perfectly cooked brisket on a table with some gravy and char grilled corn cobs

Overview

When it comes to smoked meats, American beef brisket is the holy grail of the low and slow movement. Tender, full of flavour and super easy to make, beef brisket is cut from the beef flank and a cut above. This is one of those crowd-pleaser dishes that takes a while to prepare but is made to be savoured, both in the cooking and eating.

Tools and materials

Tools

Ingredients

  • 3-4kg beef brisket
  • Your favourite spice mix

Steps

1

Time

9–11 hours, depending on size

2

Prepare the brisket

Prepare your brisket by trimming off the fat and sinew. Then rub both sides of the brisket thoroughly with your spice mix to enhance the flavour profile at the end of the cook.

3

Smoked brisket temperature

Get your smoker up to 115°C and rack your brisket for 3 hours. It should then be ‘boated’ inside your smoker for a further 6–8 hours. A ‘boat’ is an open foil construction used to hold liquid and allow food to rest in its own juices.

A slab of brisket sitting in a barbecue

4

Use some water

Spritz throughout your cook with water, checking hourly. You want your brisket to be juicy.

A brisket being sprayed down to keep it juicy

5

Check the temperature

Use a probe to check your brisket is ready. When it reaches 82°C to 90°C, it’s good to go.

A probe being used to check the temperature of a cooking brisket

6

Slice and serve

Slice up your brisket to reveal the beautiful colours and serve.
A finished brisket being sliced up
Health & Safety

Asbestos, lead-based paints and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber are health hazards you need to look out for when renovating older homes. These substances can easily be disturbed when renovating and exposure to them can cause a range of life-threatening diseases and conditions including cancer. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer or visit our Health & Safety page.

When following our advice in our D.I.Y. videos, make sure you use all equipment, including PPE, safely by following the manufacturer’s instructions. Check that the equipment is suitable for the task and that PPE fits properly. If you are unsure, hire an expert to do the job or talk to a Bunnings Team Member.