1. Home
  2. Food & Drink
  3. Barbecues & Grilling

Brisket - Step by Step

By , About.com Guide

8 of 9

Brisket - Wrap and Rest

Brisket Wrapped in Foil

Brisket Wrapped in Foil

Regarding BBQ Inc.
Once your brisket nears being done it is time to lock in the remaining moisture and let it finish off to perfect tenderness without drying out. To do this you will want to wrap the brisket in aluminum foil as tight as you can, keep it warm and let the internal temperature continue to climb.

What you are aiming for is a uniform temperature throughout the brisket around 190 degrees F. Since the surface and the fat are much hotter than the center of the brisket all you need do is keep the brisket warm to let that heat continue cooking the center. This can be done in a number of ways. Competition cooks will place their brisket(s) in a cooler to hold in the heat and let this happen. You can take your wrapped brisket and wrap it in a heavy towel to hold in the heat. I put my wrapped brisket back on the smoker and close down all the vents to put out the fire. The smoker will remain warm enough to continue the process but won't add too much additional heat which can cause the brisket to overcook.

Let the brisket continue in this way for 30 minutes to an hour before checking the internal temperature again. Once you reach 190 degrees your brisket is cooked and rested.

Explore Barbecues & Grilling

About.com Special Features

Holiday Central

What to eat, where to go, fun things to do and how to save money on the perfect gifts. More >

All-Star Football Food

Try these gameday recipes that are sure to please any fan. More >

  1. Home
  2. Food & Drink
  3. Barbecues & Grilling

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.