Purchased a 2 year old performer yesterday for $200 and it seems to be in great shape. Had planned to do a simple meatloaf for inaugural cook as they are easy and relatively quick. Then my wife shows up from Costco with a small Choice brisket flat.....about 3 lbs.
I have little brisket experience as this one will be my third........all flats from Costco and relatively small and rather thin.......this one is about an inch thick....perhaps slightly thicker.
They were apparently running behind on getting product in or selling the heck out of them because she indicated it was the last flat they had! Anyway the indicated sell by date is tomorrow! I may just freeze it but thought why not go ahead and put in on the performer. My previous two were cooked on the Pit Barrel Cooker and were only slightly larger.
Biggest concern is keeping it moist so I am thinking of injecting it with beef broth, which brings me to the reason for the post:
Since I have never injected before........Do I dry brine before or after the injection? I assume before but don't really know. Or do I add salt to the injection liquid and inject and brine together???
I assume I would apply my salt free rub just before putting meat on the fire like I normally do.
I would really appreciate any assistance you might be able to provide me.
I don't yet have a SnS for the 22" Performer but do have the charcoal basket made by SnS for my 18" Jumbo Joe. Thinking I will use it for this cook.
Also thinking I should do a dry run (WITH NO MEAT IN SMOKER) with SnS basket loaded with charcoal a day or so before. Use this to practice adjusting temp to between 225 and 250 and to see just how long my burn time will be.
Thinking a 3 lb flat will cook in around 4 to 5 hours. Wrap at around 170 degrees when bark is set, then take to probe tender. The cook time would be reasonably realistic on my PBC, but not sure about the Performer.
A lot of questions here but we have some real experts here on AR. Please chime it!!!! And thank you.
Tom
Edited to add: Just dawned on me that the PBC ran about 280 cooking those two earlier briskets. Wondering how much time will be added if between 225 and 250 due to the lower temp and I also expect the stall might be more noticeable at the lower temps?
I have little brisket experience as this one will be my third........all flats from Costco and relatively small and rather thin.......this one is about an inch thick....perhaps slightly thicker.
They were apparently running behind on getting product in or selling the heck out of them because she indicated it was the last flat they had! Anyway the indicated sell by date is tomorrow! I may just freeze it but thought why not go ahead and put in on the performer. My previous two were cooked on the Pit Barrel Cooker and were only slightly larger.
Biggest concern is keeping it moist so I am thinking of injecting it with beef broth, which brings me to the reason for the post:
Since I have never injected before........Do I dry brine before or after the injection? I assume before but don't really know. Or do I add salt to the injection liquid and inject and brine together???
I assume I would apply my salt free rub just before putting meat on the fire like I normally do.
I would really appreciate any assistance you might be able to provide me.
I don't yet have a SnS for the 22" Performer but do have the charcoal basket made by SnS for my 18" Jumbo Joe. Thinking I will use it for this cook.
Also thinking I should do a dry run (WITH NO MEAT IN SMOKER) with SnS basket loaded with charcoal a day or so before. Use this to practice adjusting temp to between 225 and 250 and to see just how long my burn time will be.
Thinking a 3 lb flat will cook in around 4 to 5 hours. Wrap at around 170 degrees when bark is set, then take to probe tender. The cook time would be reasonably realistic on my PBC, but not sure about the Performer.

A lot of questions here but we have some real experts here on AR. Please chime it!!!! And thank you.
Tom
Edited to add: Just dawned on me that the PBC ran about 280 cooking those two earlier briskets. Wondering how much time will be added if between 225 and 250 due to the lower temp and I also expect the stall might be more noticeable at the lower temps?
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