The BEST Recipe for Barbecue Brisket {using a gas grill} (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep brisket moist on the grill? ›

Water: if you want to increase humidity, slow the cooking process to build more smoke flavor, or just want to keep the meat moist, you can just spritz with 100% water.

Sear brisket directly over medium coals or near a hot fire: 20 minutes per side. After searing, allow approximately 1 hour of cooking time per pound. Slow cook at a low temperature of 250 ˚F.

Place brisket, fat-side down, on grill rack over pan. Cover and smoke according to your recipe, or 4 to 5 hours until the brisket reaches 185°F to 190°F and is tender. Turn once halfway through smoking. Add additional coals and water as needed to maintain temperature and moisture.

The main reason to cook brisket fat side down is for delicious consistent results, especially when it comes to competition barbecue. Fat-side down encourages a more pronounced smoke ring. A smoke ring refers to the thin ribbon of pink-colored meat between the crust and the interior brown-colored meat.

To set things straight, we're here to put an end to the confusion, so you can get back to the grill with confidence. For brisket cooked to flavorful perfection, fat-side-down is the way to go. This is the only way to achieve a brisket that is perfectly moist with a perfect bark on both sides.

After two or four hours of cooking, you can lightly spray your brisket with water, hot sauce, apple cider vinegar, or apple juice. You can do this every 30 minutes or every hour, based on preference.

Grill/Roast 5-8 hours, depending on the size of the brisket, or until meat thermometer registers 185°-190°F in the thickest part. I like to wrap the brisket in two layers of heavy-duty foil when it reaches about 170°F. That way, the brisket steams and tenderizes even more as it finishes cooking.

Cook at 225-250 degrees. Keep the lid closed and maintain the cooking temperature throughout. Note that it will take several hours to barbecue the brisket; the size of the brisket and other factors will determine the actual length of time required.

All brisket, no matter which cut you choose, is a tough cut of meat that needs to be cooked low and slow: think oven, slow cooker or indirect heat on a grill.

What temp does brisket fall apart? ›

Mind you, it is a little faster. The meat still needs a couple of hours in a higher temperature range to fully render fat and dissolve collagen. Brisket can be done in a range of 200-210°F (93-99°C), but as a general rule, it's safe to bet on 203°F (95°C). Brisket should be tender but not so tender it's falling apart.

The brisket is at its most tender when it reaches an internal temperature of around 195 to 205°F (90 to 96°C). However, the exact temperature for peak tenderness can vary based on factors like the cooking method, the grade of the meat, and personal preference.

The temperature of the meat begins to rise again -- which you want because brisket gets more tender the longer you cook it.

What's important is getting that smoky flavor into the meat, and 5-6 hours on the grill should do it. After that point, you're simply getting the meat cooked through. DO AHEAD: Brisket is best shortly off the grill, but you can still get good results smoking it up to 3 days ahead.

Grill/Roast 5-8 hours, depending on the size of the brisket, or until meat thermometer registers 185°-190°F in the thickest part. I like to wrap the brisket in two layers of heavy-duty foil when it reaches about 170°F. That way, the brisket steams and tenderizes even more as it finishes cooking.

Brisket Flipping

Pro: By flipping the brisket over every few hours (typically two) and basting, you get the best of both worlds. The added bonus is that the side turned away from the heat will have a chance to rest and reabsorb some moisture.