Smoked Brisket Temperature & Time
Smoked Brisket Temperature & Time
If you’re planning to smoke brisket, you’ve already done some research on the best dry rub, marinade, and smoking wood flavor. With all that goes into a great smoked brisket, don’t forget your temperature and time. Here are our tips for finding the right smoked brisket temperature and estimating its smoking time.
Directions
1
The size of the brisket, along with the amount connective tissue and fat, will determine the smoke time of the cut. Because briskets can range anywhere from 5-15 pounds, the cook time for your specific cut of brisket will vary.
2
Although some long-time BBQ cooks say that they know when their brisket is done just by looking at it, using a <a href="/instant-read-digital-temp-gauge">thermometer</a> to read the internal temperature is the sure-fire way to know that brisket is cooked all the way through. Insert thermometer into the thickest part of the brisket for a quick reading of the inside temperature of the meat.
Hot Tip
Some smokers – like the <a href="/deluxe-digital-electric-smoker">Deluxe Digital Electric Smoker</a> – come with thermometers that will automatically stop cooking and switch to warming mode once the meat has reached the desired temperature.
3
Smoked brisket will continue to cook even after it has been removed from the smoker. To prevent brisket from drying out, we suggest removing it when the internal temperature reads 195°F. This will put the temperature just at 200°F by the time you are ready to eat.
Smoked Brisket (5-10 lbs)
- Smoker Temperature: 225°F
- Smoking Time: 5-7 hrs
- Finished Temperature: 200°F
Smoked Brisket (12-18 lbs)
- Smoker Temperature: 225°F
- Smoking Time: 10-12 hrs
- Finished Temperature: 200°F