Smoke brisket on its side?

[BBQ97229]

I have a small offset want to do two briskets. If I lay them flat most of the grate is covered so airflow impeded. Can I set them on edge like ribs in a rack?

[RonB]

I don't see why not, but someone who actually knows what they are doing might have a different opinion.

A question though - will they stand on their sides without support? If not, you could place them so they are leaning towards each other and use several toothpicks, or something similar, to hold them apart.

[jfmorris]

I don't see why not, but if you do, I would flip them over so the other edge is up halfway through the cook. I have to do that if I smoke ribs on edge in a rib rack. I would also flip them end to end, so that the other end is towards the firebox, when you do that.

[58limited]

Thank you Dr. Sheldon Cooper

[Stuey1515]

58limited Lol!!

[DaveD]

I'm here for y'all! *nerdface*

[Donw]

I would certainly think so. I’ve seen people hanging them in their smokers before. Do you have a top rack to hang from?

[LA Pork Butt]

I wonder if that would give more surface to the Brisket.

[BBQ97229]

Thanks all. I modified two old rib racks to support the briskets, I will flip them every 2 hours until they shrink enough to lay down.
I am really impressed by the quick responses from you all!

[DaveD]

This place teems with activity on a pretty much constant basis And that's just from Panhead John!

[bbqLuv]

I say give it a try, take pictures, and report back.

[JeffJ]

If they cook well hung in a PBC I don’t see why on the side would be a problem in an offset. Just move them around a bit and it should work fine

[Draznnl]

Someone has to be the trailblazer and it might as well be you BBQ97229 You could be devising a whole new method of brisket cookery. Good luck and please report back on your cook’s success.

[Redwng]

I haven't tried that but let us know how it works for you as you might be on to something.

[shify]

Cooking on its side should be fine. Just make sure that there would be enough space between them for air/heat/smoke to flow

[BBQ97229]

Cooking them on their sides worked out real well!
After 2 hours at 200 degrees I flipped them 180 degrees then after another 2 hours they had shrunk enough that I could lay them down.
They did bend over when on their sides but was able to address that when I flipped them. It really helped that one of the racks is pretty tall, not sure they could be supported in two shorter racks.
they are now wrapped for another 4 or 5 hours then in a cooler overnight then unwrap, slice and serve at noon tomorrow

[klflowers]

Brilliant!!! I'll be by for a couple slices

[texastweeter]

Yes you can have done it myself on 2 cooks over the years where I took 1 trailer and should have taken both. One tip, if you're doing it because your not able to fit all the brisket you need in your cooker, realize your gonna have a lot more grease to manage than usual. The 2nd worst grease fire I ever dealt with was one of those cooks.