If you want to create an argument in the grilling community; ask someone whether you should wrap a brisket.
Depending on who you ask, you’ll either get the answer of leaving it bare throughout the entire duration of the cook, or the opposite, which is to cover.
Whether you’re on either side of the fence, today we’re going to give a detailed breakdown of everything brisket-related, and the best method to the famous Texas Crutch.
We’ll also give the insider into our favorite cooking papers and how to use them properly.
Hold onto your hats folks because after you’ve read this article you’ll have all the tools you need for the tastiest meat in the neighborhood!
What Is a Brisket?
A brisket is a cut from the front of the cow that comes from the chest area. It’s made up of two muscles called the pectoralis major and the pectoralis minor. These are located between the ribs and the breastbone.
The pectoralis major muscle is a flat muscle that covers the front of the rib cage. It runs along the top of the shoulder blade. This is where most people think they know what a “brisket” is.
The pectoralis minor is a small muscle that lies underneath the pectoralis Major. It has a very thin layer of fat covering it.
Briskets come in different sizes depending on how much meat you want to remove. A whole beef brisket will be about 5 pounds (2.3kg) and will usually weigh around 6 pounds (2.7kg).
Brisket can also refer to the actual cut of meat that comes off the brisket. There are three main types of brisket cuts: point, flat and tri-tip.
Point Brisket – Point briskets are the most popular cut of brisket. They consist of the pectoralis Minor and Pectoralis Major. The pectoralis Major is often referred to as the “flat.”
The flat is a large piece of meat that is mostly covered by the pectoralis Minors.
Flat Brisket – Flat briskets are similar to point briskets but with a larger portion of the flat.
Tri-Tip Brisket – Tri-tips are the smallest cut of brisket. Tri-tips are smaller than point briskets and are only found on the bottom half of the brisket.
Tri-Tips are generally used in sandwiches, tacos and other dishes that require a smaller amount of meat.
How Do You Cook Brisket?
There are many ways to cook brisket. Some prefer to smoke their brisket, while others like to grill them. Either way, cooking a brisket is pretty simple.
Smoking vs Grilling:
If you’re looking to smoke your brisket, there are several methods you can use. One of the easiest is to place the brisket in a smoker box.
You can buy these at any grocery store or butcher shop. Simply put the brisket into the box and close the lid. Smoke the brisket until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74°C).
Another option is to use a charcoal pit. Place the brisket directly over the coals. Make sure to add more coals every hour or so to keep the heat consistent.
Grilling:
For those who aren’t fans of smoking, grilling is another great option. If you don’t have access to a barbecue, you can still get some good results using a gas grill.
Place the brisket on a rack set inside the grill. Cook the brisket until it has reached an internal temperature of 150 degrees F (65°C).
Smoking:
To smoke a brisket, you’ll need to start by soaking the meat in water for 30 minutes before placing it in the smoker. After 30 minutes, pat dry the brisket with paper towels.
Next, rub the brisket all over with salt and pepper. Then place the brisket in the smoker.
Cook the brisket for 4 hours, then flip it over and continue to cook for 2 more hours. Remove the brisket from the smoker when it’s done. Let rest for 15 minutes before slicing.
Within smoking, the Texas Crutch can be used, which brings us nicely onto the topic at hand.
What Is The Texas Crutch?
The Texas crutch is a method of cooking a brisket that involves wrapping it in foil and placing it into a smoker. The idea behind this method is to keep the meat moist while allowing it to slowly roast over low heat.
This process allows the meat to retain its juices and flavor without drying out.
It was created by the legendary pitmaster Charlie Sifford. He started using this technique during his time at Louie Mueller Barbecue in Taylor, TX.
Suffice it to say, he’s been doing it right ever since.
How Does The Texas Crutch Work?
To understand how the Texas Crutch works, let’s start with the basics. You take a brisket, place it on a cutting board and separate the two halves.
Then you lay one half down on the cutting board and fold the other half over it.
You then roll the edges of the meat together so that there is no air gap between the two pieces. Once you do this, you wrap the entire thing in aluminum foil.
You then put the wrapped brisket into a smoker or grill. When the temperature reaches 200 degrees Fahrenheit (93°C), you pull it out and unwrap it.
As soon as the meat hits room temperature, you can slice it and serve it.
Why Should I Use The Texas Crutch? How Can I Make My Own?
There are many reasons why you should use the Texas Crutch. Here are just some of them:
• Moistness – Wrapping the meat creates an environment for moisture to stay inside the meat. As long as you don’t overcook your brisket, you’ll have juicy meat every single time.
• Flavor retention – The slow roasting process preserves the flavors of the meat. This means that even after you’ve sliced the meat, it will taste like it came straight off the smoker.
• No need for a smoker – You won’t need a special smoker if you’re going to use the Texas Crutch because you can make it work with any type of grill.
• Easy prep – It takes less than 10 minutes to prepare the meat. All you have to do is cut the brisket in half, wrap it up and stick it in the fridge.
• Low cost – If you want to try the Texas Crutch but don’t have access to a smoker, you can always opt for buying a cheap electric smoker.
If you’d rather learn how to make your own Texas Crutch, here’s what you need to know.
What Tools Do I Need For The Texas Crutch? What Temperature Should I Cook At?
For starters, you’ll need a cutting board, a knife, a pair of tongs, a couple of sheets of heavy-duty aluminum foil, a large pot and a thermometer.
Next, you’ll need to figure out how hot you want to cook the meat. There are three different ways to go about this:
1) Set the internal temperature of the meat to whatever level you prefer.
2) Start with a high temperature and lower it gradually until the desired final temperature is reached.
3) Start with a medium temperature and raise it gradually until the desired end point is achieved.
The first method is probably the easiest way to go about things. However, if you want to be able to control the exact temperature throughout the cooking process, you might want to choose option 2.
Alternatively, you could also opt for option 3. In fact, this is the most common way to go about things when making a Texas Crutch.
Now that we’ve covered all the tools you’ll need, let’s move onto the actual procedure.
Step 1: Cut Your Meat Into Two Equal Portions
To begin, you’ll need to cut your brisket into two equal portions.
Step 2: Place One Half On A Cutting Board And Fold The Other Over It
Once you’ve done that, place one piece on top of the other. Then, fold the bottom edge over itself.
This step ensures that the meat stays flat during the whole cooking process.
Step 3: Roll Up The Bottom Edge Of The Meat
Once you’ve folded the bottom edge over itself, roll it up from the bottom towards the middle.
You’ll notice that there’s a thin layer of fat between each piece of meat. This is normal and it’s not something that needs to be removed.
Step 4: Repeat With The Second Piece Of Meat
Repeat steps 2 through 4 with the second piece of meat.
Step 5: Seal Each End Of The Meat
After rolling up the bottom edge of both pieces of meat, seal them by folding the ends of the meat together.
Step 6: Tie The Ends Together
After sealing the ends of the meat, tie them together using kitchen string or twine.
Step 7: Put The Meat In The Refrigerator
Place the wrapped meat in the refrigerator for at least 12 hours before grilling.
Wrapping Brisket in Parchment Paper
Another popular alternative to wrapping the meat in foil is using parchment paper.
It’s a great idea because it allows you to use the same tool (the oven) to cook the meat. Plus, it’s much easier to remove the finished product from the oven than foil.
However, you should note that the temperature inside an oven isn’t as consistent as it is outside. So, it’s best to keep track of the temperature so that you can adjust accordingly.
Wrapping Brisket In Foil
If you’re looking for a quick and easy solution to wrap your brisket, then you may want to consider using foil.
As mentioned earlier, it’s a good idea to start with a higher temperature and lower it gradually.
This will ensure that you don’t overcook the meat.
Also, make sure that you leave enough space around the edges of the meat so that it doesn’t stick to the pan.
Wrapping Brisket Using Butcher Paper
Finally, you can always use butcher paper to wrap your brisket.
Butcher paper is very similar to aluminum foil. That means that you can use it to wrap your food just like you would use aluminum foil. In addition, it has a high heat resistance, which makes it ideal for a barbecue.
Do You Add Liquid Using A Wrapping Technique?
The answer to this question depends entirely on what type of liquid you’re adding to the sauce. If you’re using tomato juice, then you won’t have any problem.
However, if you’re using beer or wine, then you might run into some issues.
In these cases, you can either add more alcohol or reduce the amount of sugar in the recipe.
The former option is better since it helps prevent the formation of foam.
On the other hand, reducing the amount of sugar will help the sauce thicken faster.
How Long Does It Take To Cook Brisket?
Depending on how thick your brisket is, it usually takes anywhere from three to five hours to fully cook.
If you follow our guide, then you shouldn’t have any problems.
What Are Some Tips For Cooking Beef Brisket?
There are several tips that we recommend following when cooking beef brisket.
First, never place the meat directly on top of another piece of meat. Doing so could cause the two pieces of meat to fuse together. This is especially true if they’re touching each other.
Secondly, be careful not to overcook the meat. Otherwise, it’ll become tough.
Lastly, remember to keep the lid closed while cooking. This will allow all the smoke to escape.
Are There Any Other Ways To Make Beef Brisket Taste Better?
Yes! Here are some ways that you can improve the flavor of your brisket.
1. Use An Oven Instead Of A Grill
You can easily achieve the same results by placing the meat in the oven instead of the grill.
2. Add More Smoke Flavor
To get more smoke flavor, simply increase the amount of wood chips used during smoking.
3. Try Adding Spices
Adding spices such as garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, etc., will also enhance the flavor of your briskets.
4. Serve With Barbecue Sauce
Serve your brisket with a barbecue sauce that contains vinegar, ketchup, molasses, brown sugar, mustard, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper.
5. Season Your Meat Before Smoking
Seasoning your meat before smoking will give it an extra kick.
6. Use Salt And Pepper
Adding salt and pepper to the meat will also help boost its flavor.
7. Keep The Heat Low When Grilling
Keeping the heat low will help prevent the meat from drying out.
8. Let The Smoked Meat Rest After Cooking
Letting the smoked meat rest after cooking will ensure that it stays moist.
9. Don’t Overdo It On The Flavors
Don’t go overboard with the flavors. Too much spice might make the meat taste bitter.
10. Try Different Types Of Wood Chips
Try different types of wood chips to see which one works best for you.
Similar Methods To The Texas Crutch
Here are some methods that you can use to mimic the Texas crutch.
1. Place The Brisket In A Baking Pan
Place the brisket in a baking pan and cover it with foil. Then bake it at 350 degrees F (177 C) for about four hours.
2. Preheat The Oven
Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F (149 C). Then place the brisket in the oven and let it sit there until it’s done.
3. Use A Slow Cooker
Use a slow cooker to cook the brisket. Just add enough water to cover the bottom of the pot. Then put the brisket in the slow cooker. Cover it with a lid and set it to low.
4. Use A Pressure Cooker
Use a pressure cooker to cook the briskets. Put the brisket into the pressure cooker along with enough water to cover the meat. Close the lid and turn the stove on high.
Once the pressure has built up inside the cooker, reduce the heat to medium and wait for 10 minutes. Turn off the heat and open the lid.
How To Trim A Brisket
If you want to trim a brisket, here’s how you do it.
1. Cut Off The Fat
Cut off the fat first. You should remove most of the fat because this will affect the way the meat cooks.
2. Remove The Ribs
After removing the fat, cut away the ribs. They’re usually located near the edge of the brisket.
3. Score The Surface
Score the surface of the meat so that it doesn’t dry out when cooking.
4. Flip The Brisket
Flip the brisket over so that it faces down. This is important if you plan on wrapping it later on.
5. Fold The Flaps Together
Fold the two flaps together. Make sure they meet in the middle.
6. Tie The Ends
Tie the ends of the flap together using butcher twine or string.
7. Wrap The Brisket
Wrap the brisket tightly using butcher twine. Make sure that the end of the twine isn’t exposed.
8. Secure The End Using Tape
Secure the end of the brisket using tape. This prevents the meat from coming loose during transportation or storage.
9. Wrap The Wrapping Paper Around The Brisket
You can wrap the paper around the brisket. Make sure that the paper covers all sides of the meat.
Final Thoughts
The Texas crutch is an easy method to cook a large piece of meat like a brisket. It takes less time than other methods, but it also requires more effort.
If you have a lot of space, then you can try the Texas crutch. However, it’s not a mandatory method. There are many ways to cook a brisket without having to use a crutch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Do I Need To Trim A Brisket Before Wrapping It?
Trimming helps prevent the meat from drying out while it’s wrapped. Also, it makes the wrapping process easier.
Can I Freeze My Brisket After Wrapping It?
Yes! You can freeze your brisket after wrapping it. Simply store it in a freezer bag for later use. And if you are storing your brisket in the refrigerator, keep it for no longer than three days.
What Are Some Alternatives To Brisket?
Brisket can be substituted with any type of beef. Here are some alternatives:
– Beef Short Ribs
– Chuck Roast
– London Broil
– Shoulder Roast
– Top Round Roast
– Tenderloin Steak
– Eye Of Round Roast
– Flat Iron Steak
– Filet Mignon
– Sirloin Steak
How Does Connective Tissue Affect Cooking Brisket?
Connective tissue is what holds the muscles together. It affects the texture of the meat. In general, connective tissue is firmer than muscle fibers.
So, it makes the meat tougher. But, there are exceptions. For example, flank steak is very tender because it contains little connective tissue.
I decided to follow my passion for BBQ and share this love with other people. That’s what led me to co-found BroBBQ, along with my friend Tommy. Through this website, I can share my love and knowledge of barbecuing with the world, and connect with other BBQ enthusiasts from all corners of the world.
In addition to grilling, I also love to travel the world and try the local cuisine - particularly anything meaty! I am always on the lookout for new recipes and new exotic flavors. My travels are where I draw a lot of my inspiration from.
I’m glad to share this journey with you. Happy grilling!
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