Category: Blog

Smoked brisket is a beloved barbecue dish that is enjoyed by many people around the world. However, one common issue that can arise when smoking brisket is that it can end up being dry. This can be a major disappointment, as dry brisket can be difficult to chew and lacks the juicy, tender texture that is desired.

There are several possible reasons why your smoked brisket may have turned out dry. One possible reason is that you may have overcooked the brisket. Brisket is a tough cut of meat that requires a long cooking time to become tender and juicy. However, if it is cooked for too long, the meat can become dry and overcooked. This is especially true if the temperature of the smoker was too high, as this can cause the meat to cook faster and dry out more quickly.

Another possible reason for dry brisket is that the meat may not have been properly moisturized before it was smoked. Brisket is a lean cut of meat, which means it does not have a lot of fat to keep it moist as it cooks. To help prevent the meat from drying out, it is important to apply a moisture-rich marinade or rub to the surface of the brisket before smoking it. This will help to keep the meat moist and flavorful as it cooks.

Additionally, the type of wood that you use to smoke the brisket can also impact its moisture content. Hardwood, such as oak or hickory, can add a rich, smoky flavor to the brisket, but it can also cause the meat to dry out if it is used in excess. Softwood, on the other hand, such as cedar or pine, can add a milder flavor to the brisket, but it may not provide as much smoke. The type and amount of wood that you use to smoke the brisket should be carefully balanced to ensure that the meat stays moist and flavorful.

Finally, the type of smoker that you use can also play a role in the moisture content of your smoked brisket. Some smokers are designed to retain moisture better than others, which can help to prevent the meat from drying out. For example, water smokers and ceramic smokers tend to be better at retaining moisture, while offset smokers and pellet smokers may be more prone to drying out the meat.

In conclusion, there are several factors that can contribute to dry smoked brisket. Overcooking, insufficient moisture, the type of wood used, and the type of smoker can all play a role in the moisture content of the meat. By being mindful of these factors, you can help to ensure that your smoked brisket is juicy, tender, and flavorful every time.

My new Weber Spirit II three burner grill has been delivered. I’ve never paid this much for a gas grill before, so I am hoping to get many years of use out of it.

The Lowes assembly and delivery service worked pretty well, although the delivery guys seemed a little hesitant when I asked them to take my old grill away (as advertised). They did end up taking it. The old grill left a trail of rusty metal in my yard that I had to clean up. The other issue is that they didn’t deliver the manual with the grill. I didn’t check while they were here, but I expected it to be inside on top of the grates. When I found that they didn’t bring a manual, we made a trip to Lowe’s and they had to pull one out of another grill.

I look forward to writing up a full review once I’ve had a chance to cook on the Weber Spirit II a few times!

After much research and deliberation, we’ve finally decided on a new gas grill. A new Weber Spirit II E-310 will be delivered by Lowe’s tomorrow.

The four year old Charbroil is on its last legs. The underside has completely rusted out and the grease pan has collapsed into the cabinet.

We narrowed down the choices to the Weber Genesis E-310 and the Weber Spirit II E-310 a few months ago. We were so locked in to those two models that we even picked up a cover on an Amazon Lightning Deal back in March. The cover was advertised to fit both the Genesis and Spirit models. The price was too good to pass up. The cover has just been setting aside waiting for us to pull the trigger on the grill.

The Genisis is definitely the premium model, but the Spirit II offers the best value. Based on my research, you can’t go wrong with either model. I can’t wait to cook on the new Weber this weekend!

We’ve been traveling to a lot of volleyball tournaments over the last few weekends. That hasn’t left much time for smoking or grilling. However, the volleyball season is starting to wind down so I’m looking forward to some much needed BBQ time.

In the meantime, my search for a dedicated charcoal smoker continues. I’ve spent a lot of time researching and reviewing the Bronco Drum Smoker from Oklahoma Joe’s. This smoker really caught my eye at Lowes because of its unique profile. I like almost everything about the Bronco, but during my research I did learn that some early adopters are reporting a manufacturing defect. I will need to see how Oklahoma Joe’s responds to these reports before I consider buying a Bronco. You can read my detailed review of Oklahoma Joe’s Bronco Drum Smoker here.

The next smoker that I’m going to focus on is the Char-Griller AKORN 20-in Kamado grill. Right from the start, I’m not convinced the AKORN is is going to be a real option for me. The cook space just seems too limited. I know the Kamado style grills are super-popular and I want to know why.

I stopped in at Lowe’s yesterday to pick up a new ceiling fan and a light switch. You can tell the store is all geared up for spring. It is March and here in West Virginia we are bound to get a few 60°+ days very soon. That will trigger spring fever when everyone heads to the big box home improvement stores.

I also needed to also pick up some seed starting mix, so as I walked toward the lawn and garden section, the prominent display of grills and smokers caught my eye. I wandered over to the smokers “just to look”. My wife Sara was with me. Sara asked me if I wanted to get a new smoker. I told her my Weber equipped with a Smokenator has been working well for me. She hinted that maybe it’s time that I upgrade. Well okay, then!

I purchased the Smokenator 1000 in 2012 when I first became interested in smoking. For me, the Smokenator was the perfect solution for a relatively low cost way to get into smoking. Since that time, it has served me extremely well. I am a big fan of the product.

Justification for a new dedicated smoker

So why would I get a new dedicated smoker? Capacity and convenience. The two main issues I’ve noted over my years with the Smokenator are the limited amount charcoal you can load at a time and limited cook space that you have available.

The Smokenator isn’t going away though. I can still think of circumstances where a large dedicated smoker would be overkill. I’ll keep the Smokenator on hand for those smaller cooks.

The Plan

It sounds like the new smoker will end up being a Father’s day gift for me. That means I have a few months to figure out what I want to purchase. I’ve got my work cut out for me. There are so many styles of charcoal smokers available. I want to make an educated purchasing decision.

Over the coming weeks I will be documenting my smoker research here on BBQYeti.com. My hope is that others will find my research helpful in making their own purchasing decision on choosing a dedicated charcoal smoker.