Separating a Brisket Question

[ssandy_561]

I have searched the internet for this question and I have not found the answer. Maybe someone here can answer my question.

What is the reason one should NOT separate a brisket before cooking.

I have seen and read many things on the reason a brisket is sorta difficult to cook is that the two seperate muscles that comprise it cook at different rates.

Why should you leave it whole instead of breaking it down to "Flat" and "Point" before cooking it?

Inquiring minds want to know.

Thanks

Steve

[Steve R.]

About the only time I don't separate it before cooking is if I don't have enough available space on the grate, so I guess that's my reason. It works fine either way, but I prefer the all-over bark and somewhat shorter cook time of two separate pieces.

[klflowers]

No reason not too, I don't think. I haven't separated before but I am going to separate my next one. Make pastrami out of the flat maybe.

[parkerj2]

I've never separated before cooking. Great results every time.

[SmokingSteve]

Thanks for asking this question, I would like to know also!

[Jerod Broussard]

Most, if not all BBQ joints cook together due to space. I like to separate if possible (read- if I got room) to get more bark on the point for burnt ends. I have two to start Saturday evening and still debating. They are currently dry brining.

[HouseHomey]

Whatever makes your boat float.

Im sure you’ll find plenty of both sides.

if I wanted to cook a big piece of flat I would have bought that.

[HawkerXP]

I guess its the same as to spatchcock or not. Your preference if guess.

[ifican]

There is no technical reason you should not. There are quite a few technical reasons to do many things but most live by standards still today that are based on myths of old. BBQ is much like wine or food or tv shows or input what you like here. The best way of all of it is the way you like best. We all experiment and play and learn and share, sometimes we discover new things, sometimes we re-learn something we once did or forgot about and sometimes we screw up royally. Personally i dont separate, simply because i dont have a need too. Would i if there was a need, technique or recipe i would like to try? Sure i would, the only time ive done anything to a whole packer is when i cut it up into 2lb pieces to play with a few ideas i had and thought it was a good idea so i would not have to cook several packers. Well what i learned was, you cannot successfully recreated how a large chunk of meat acts by using much smaller piece of said meat. You can via sous vide but you cant using standard practice on a grill. In this case, size does matter.

[Mosca]

I separate.

I liken this discussion to Steve Raichlen soaking his wood chips. Everyone here says not to do it, but Raichlen undeniably turns out fantastic food.

That means that in theory you shouldn’t soak your wood chips, but in practice it doesn’t seem to matter. Same thing with separating point and flat. In theory it should make better ‘que, but in practice it doesn’t seem to matter.

So, separate to speed things up if you need to. Otherwise don’t stress.

[HawkerXP]

ssssh. don't tell anyone. I soak my chips too.

[ofelles]

HawkerXP shame! 😊

[Belfagor]

I separate. More surface area means greater chance of drying out if you're not careful, especially on the point with its now severe differences in thickness. Like pretty much everything that saves time, you have less margin of error.

[Huskee]

Here's the reason why I usually don't separate: My guests like seeing me bring in that big ol' hunk of meat and slice it up. Like an intact roasted turkey, it has appeal as a solid unit. Logically though, it makes sense to separate based on cooking each piece to its best point, and you get a little extra bark too.

[Dadof3Illinois]

I don’t usually separate but instead I cut straight in-half up close to the point. IMO the flat under the point is crazy good. I just trimmed and cut one today. Smoking the point tomorrow and making corned beef with the remaining flat.

[Schwyy]

Picking up a full packer soon, and this was my exact plan. Do you have any pictures of this cook? I know Pitmaster Club members generally snap a few pics of our projects!

Im torn on a full seperation and full flat for corned beef/pastrami, or do what you said and have a point with a better shape for cooking and have less for pastrami.....

Let me know if you can!

[Jerod Broussard]

I'll have a definite answer in about (x amount) of hours. I have one separated and one together with plenty trimming between the muscles. Some extramuscular fat, less intramuscular fat, even less intermuscular fat.

[SmokingSteve]

Looking forward to hearing your results!

[Huskee]

I'll have a definite answer in about (x amount) of hours. I have one separated and one together with plenty trimming between the muscles. Some extramuscular fat, less intramuscular fat, even less intermuscular fat.

It is remarkably selfless of you to jump in and cook 2 briskets, one each way, to help answer this fella Steve's question and give him a direct side-by-side. That's what makes AmazingRibs.com's Pitmaster Club one of a kind in customer service!

[Jerod Broussard]

Shoot, if nothing is definitive I'm doing two more by Thursday. Thank goodness for Choice in the bin at $2.46/lb, hate to pay that much for a darn Select/Standard/How old was thing dang cow??!!!