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Best first time smoked ribs/brisket recipe: https://amazingribs.com/tested-recipes/spice-rubs-and-pastes/big-bad-beef-rub-recipe

Chickens taste better when cooked whole. Pickles taste better cut. Sandwiches taste better cut and bitten from inside. Meat tastes better sliced against grain.


Definitely a smoker is a personal choice, and what is better depends on what you are looking for.  I say it's a balance of goals, between: (i) making good food, (ii) making authentic BBQ, (iii) having fun with the maaseh of smoking, and (iv) convenience.  Items (iii) and (iv) don't only conflict, they directly oppose each other.

I opted for items (i) and (iv) so went PBC.  I would say WSM is also mostly a (i) and (iv) choice, but it brings in extra elements of (ii) and (iii), at a slight cost to (iv).  Maybe WSM also better at (i)--I have no idea either way.

Further to the above:

If all you want is good food, get a sous vide.

If all you want is authentic BBQ, get a huge offset smoker that you feed with split logs.

If all you want is having fun with the maaseh of smoking, again, get a huge offset smoker.

If all you want is convenience, use your oven.


Henche's PBC review
https://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=43018.msg1439199#msg1439199
« Last edited by jj1000 on June 04, 2020, 10:13:19 AM »

Author Topic: Smoking Meats  (Read 507411 times)

Offline Sport

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Re: Smoking Meats
« Reply #120 on: February 16, 2016, 08:23:48 AM »
Which smoker you get?

My current method is watching the sales in NY and then begging my siblings to buy for me. The jerks didn't get me anything 2 weeks ago when seasons had brisket for 6 dollars.

Re ribs, my plan is that when flanken is like 10 a pound, I'll ask for the whole rack at that price. 10 a poind for ribs that actually have meat on them would be a good price.

I've been having a lot of success with chickens. I stick a whole chicken in for 2-3 hours, and it may not be beef, but its delicious. I've also done a quarter of a turkey (breast), and that was also really good, although I liked chicken better.

I tried a minute roast, and probably won't do that again although it was pretty good.

I've done ribs and that was excellent. I haven't done a brisket yet because I'm waiting to be a bit better at this before I stick a 90 dollar piece of meat in.
I've got the wsm bullet. Seasons is where I Currently get my "special order" from. If you  buy the pre packaged brisket your not going to get a fat cap.
If you're nervous aboit ruining a brisket-which you shouldnt be because It's pretty difficult to mess up on it- start with a 3-4 lb one. Then it wont cost you $90.

Offline rs242

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Re: Smoking Meats
« Reply #121 on: February 16, 2016, 10:56:54 AM »
Im not sure if brisket is really choice meat to smoke or it's what they use in Texas because it's cheap. But if your buying kosher we are talking about $13 a pound there are better cuts of meat that is in that price range, am I off?

Offline jaywhy

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Re: Smoking Meats
« Reply #122 on: February 16, 2016, 11:01:28 AM »
Im not sure if brisket is really choice meat to smoke or it's what they use in Texas because it's cheap. But if your buying kosher we are talking about $13 a pound there are better cuts of meat that is in that price range, am I off?
You're joking right?

Offline rs242

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Re: Smoking Meats
« Reply #123 on: February 16, 2016, 11:02:41 AM »

Offline rs242

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Re: Smoking Meats
« Reply #124 on: February 16, 2016, 11:03:27 AM »

You're joking right?
would love to hear why u think I'm wrong

Offline henche

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Re: Smoking Meats
« Reply #125 on: February 16, 2016, 11:37:55 AM »
Im not sure if brisket is really choice meat to smoke or it's what they use in Texas because it's cheap. But if your buying kosher we are talking about $13 a pound there are better cuts of meat that is in that price range, am I off?

Brisket is 9 a lb full price.

Offline rs242

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Re: Smoking Meats
« Reply #126 on: February 16, 2016, 11:38:42 AM »

Brisket is 9 a lb full price.
not in Lakewood

Offline henche

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Re: Smoking Meats
« Reply #127 on: February 16, 2016, 11:39:58 AM »
I've got the wsm bullet. Seasons is where I Currently get my "special order" from. If you  buy the pre packaged brisket your not going to get a fat cap.
If you're nervous aboit ruining a brisket-which you shouldnt be because It's pretty difficult to mess up on it- start with a 3-4 lb one. Then it wont cost you $90.

I considered the WSM.  Plenty of fanatical fans out there. 

I'm aware I'm not getting the fat cap.  There are chilukei deos on the fat cap, and I'm fine without it.

I don't have a 3-4 lb piece. I only have a full packer cut 11 lb one I bought in Arons last time I was in NY.

Offline henche

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Re: Smoking Meats
« Reply #128 on: February 16, 2016, 11:40:27 AM »
not in Lakewood

If you buy the whole thing? Should be.  Wait for a sale.  Seasons regularly prices it down to 6.

Offline Sport

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Re: Smoking Meats
« Reply #129 on: February 16, 2016, 11:47:34 AM »
I considered the WSM.  Plenty of fanatical fans out there. 

I'm aware I'm not getting the fat cap.  There are chilukei deos on the fat cap, and I'm fine without it.

I don't have a 3-4 lb piece. I only have a full packer cut 11 lb one I bought in Arons last time I was in NY.
I love the wsm, wouldnt consider myself a fanatical fan yet, especially since I have nothing to compare it to.

Are you a fat-capless fan ?  If you smoke with out the fat cap then you probably run a greater risk of ruining the brisket because its more likely to dry out.


Offline Sport

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Re: Smoking Meats
« Reply #130 on: February 16, 2016, 11:49:48 AM »
Im not sure if brisket is really choice meat to smoke or it's what they use in Texas because it's cheap. But if your buying kosher we are talking about $13 a pound there are better cuts of meat that is in that price range, am I off?
It's the best cut for smoking. Its also one of the cheapest cuts but thats besides the point.

Offline henche

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Re: Smoking Meats
« Reply #131 on: February 16, 2016, 12:03:07 PM »
I love the wsm, wouldnt consider myself a fanatical fan yet, especially since I have nothing to compare it to.

Are you a fat-capless fan ?  If you smoke with out the fat cap then you probably run a greater risk of ruining the brisket because its more likely to dry out.

I suppose so.   I haven't smoked one yet, so I can't say for sure.  The one currently in my freezer actually has the fat cap because it was from Arons.  I think the affordable glatt one doesn't have it, which is the one that goes on sale for 6.

Offline ushdadude

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Re: Smoking Meats
« Reply #132 on: February 16, 2016, 09:02:14 PM »
i know this is old post but I just bought a smoker and can't wait to start I have been doing a ton of reading on smoking brisket so I'm wondering a 5 pound brisket how long did it take they say 16 pound could take 18 hours. Also what cut brisket did u use?

I always use 2nd cut brisket. I cheated and used the "texas crunch" so the whole thing took about 4-5 hours.

Offline rs242

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Re: Smoking Meats
« Reply #133 on: February 16, 2016, 09:04:06 PM »

I always use 2nd cut brisket. I cheated and used the "texas crunch" so the whole thing took about 4-5 hours.
according to amazing ribs it's not really cheating and the way to go

Offline henche

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Re: Smoking Meats
« Reply #134 on: February 16, 2016, 09:06:40 PM »
according to amazing ribs it's not really cheating and the way to go

besides, you're already cheating by not using a wood fired offset smoker, so you may as well just keep on at it.

Offline rs242

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Re: Smoking Meats
« Reply #135 on: February 16, 2016, 09:09:18 PM »

besides, you're already cheating by not using a wood fired offset smoker, so you may as well just keep on at it.
Well I am a little embarrassed but I will be cheating on a whole other level ... Electric smoker

Offline ushdadude

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Re: Smoking Meats
« Reply #136 on: February 16, 2016, 09:12:38 PM »
Well I am a little embarrassed but I will be cheating on a whole other level ... Electric smoker

You can get some good flavors out of an electric smoker

Ive done worse....texas crunch in an oven  :o

Offline rs242

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Re: Smoking Meats
« Reply #137 on: February 16, 2016, 09:15:03 PM »

You can get some good flavors out of an electric smoker

Ive done worse....texas crunch in an oven  :o
yea I would keep that to myself

Offline rs242

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Re: Smoking Meats
« Reply #138 on: February 16, 2016, 09:15:52 PM »

You can get some good flavors out of an electric smoker

Ive done worse....texas crunch in an oven  :o
when u say Texas crunch the whole time or staring at 140

Offline ushdadude

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Re: Smoking Meats
« Reply #139 on: February 16, 2016, 09:26:07 PM »
yea I would keep that to myself
lol
when u say Texas crunch the whole time or staring at 140
starting at the stall (about 140ish)