Grilled Cajun chicken fettuccine alfredo.
Trying an 8lb brisket on my Kamado Joe today - never really done anything so ambitious on a grill before.
We had some damp misty weather that meant I didn't get it on as early in the morning as I wanted - so am worried about a very late dinner because this should be a long cook - but am anxious to see how it comes out.
For a first try it was really good. Maybe slightly overdone and maybe could have had a bit more rub but overall a solid first effort.
I watched quite a few videos beforehand and thought I executed ok. Temp at the end was kinda unstable though and after many steady hours it started to creep higher than I wanted.
I did foil at the end rather than butcher paper which I guess is a "cheat" - I just didn't want to buy a bunch of new items for my first try.
I really never grasped how to properly cut the thing though. I just sliced against the grain and that was that. While intending to buy a full brisket at a real butcher I think some of the point was chopped off based on my weight request. I will be more particular about what I buy next time.
You want to request a "packer trimmed" brisket which will have the point in tact. But it's tough to find one under 10-12 pounds.
It will actually cook better, and stay moister with the point in tact, but it obviously takes longer. And don't worry about "cheats". I did enough briskets without cheating to finally perfect it. . . then realized I didn't have to work so hard, and could be more consistent with some cheats like wrapping in foil or butcher paper. Why gamble? Briskets cost too much, and too much time involved smoking them to mess around.
On slicing, you'll want to find the grain of the "flat" and slice across the grain until you start to get significantly into the "point". You'll know after a few how far to go, but the "point" grain runs in a completely different direction, as it's a separate muscle. When you get to the point where you're slicing as much point as flat, rotate the brisket 90 degrees and slice a little thicker slices against the grain of the point. This section is much more fatty, and moist. Somewhat thicker slices make for a better bite on this part.
Aaron Franklin (Franklin BBQ) recommends slicing the flat about the thickness of a #2 pencil. Then slice the Point slightly thicker, but not quite twice as thick as you sliced the flat.
The butt of the brisket should go to the local homeless shelter. I only eat the lean part after the fat has been dripping on it for 18 hours @ 225 F. Slice it against the grain.
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