Source
r/BBQ•
FoxOneFire

Split my brisket to fit smoker? Ideas appreciated

I have a packer brisket I was hoping would fit my smoker (vertical electric), but alas it will not.

Im considering a few things. First, cut the thing in half and smoke each half on a different rack.

The other thought is building an addition to my smoker by essentially sliding a box over it/the front door to expand the space enough. Ghetto AF, but if Alton Brown can use a cardboard box as a makeshift smoker, its good enough for me. Until the fire rages out of control, of course.

I've been procrastinating an upgrade on my smoker for more space, but my grill is also on its last legs. Curious what everyone thinks about the hybrid grill/smokers.

Thanks for all this sub does in the pursuit of the pinnacle of human-meat interaction.

Posted May 24, 2020, 7:07 PM UTC

28
GTG1979•

You can easily separate the point and flat and cook separately.

3
FoxOneFireOP•

By 'separate' you mean 'cut', right? Like there's no specific connective line to follow? I can look this up. You dont have to be my google.

Thanks for the response though.

1
kiwiiboii•

If you want to be meticulous about it you can actually find the point and the flat and where it overlaps and carefully cut along the seam.

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Or if you're lazy like me you can just find the point (the flappy bit) and just cut it straight down so you get a little bit of flat with your point and a chunk of the flat.

1
fatoldvet•

The grain of the flat runs perpendicular to the point (sometimes called a deckle). The two are separated by a layer of fat. With a little patience you can separate the two. If you make a mistake it's no big deal.

The flat will likely be done smoking before the point is as the point will be thicker and contains more fat than the flat.

1
[deleted]•

Put a piece of wood under the brisket, right at the center. This should make it shorter and give you extra space. A square piece around the size of your fist or a bit smaller.

1
FoxOneFireOP•

Im leaning toward your idea (bending to fit), but I read a recommendation to add an angled grate on one side and bend up instead of down as you recommend. Either way, once on for a while, the shrink will get it to fit.

2
[deleted]•

Learned this technique from harry soo when he cooks fat briskets on his kamado grills. Dont really need it as my smoker is pretty big but glad i gave someone the idea.

1
inkedmoney•

You can separate but I feel it is better to keep whole. I feel like my flat always stays juicier when I keep it with the point. If you do the bend method go down.

I was in the same boat where my propane grill was on its last leg. I looked at combos and finally decided on a pellet that I could slide the fire box open to get a sear. I love it. I kept my offset also because you can't beat that flavour. I did replace my electric vertical and propane grill with the pellet though.

1