20 Best Leftover Brisket Recipes - The Three Snackateers (2024)

FAQs

What is the 3 2 1 rule for brisket? ›

Often used for other meats that require long, slow cooking on the barbecue, such as ribs, the 3-2-1 method essentially involves firstly smoking the meat as it is for three hours, wrapping it for the second two hours, and finally finishing the cooking unwrapped for the last hour.

As for what to do now I would put all the brisket in an oven dish with a lid, put in some stock to about 2/3 of the way up and then braise it for at least 3 hours at about 145°C. Braise it until it starts to get tender, then braise it for a bit longer.

When placing your meat, make sure the fattest side is facing upward. You want to do this so that the fat can dribble down over the meat to keep a brisket moist and juicy for longer.

USDA recommends using cooked beef within 3 to 4 days, kept refrigerated (40°F or less). Refrigeration slows but does not stop bacterial growth. USDA recommends using cooked leftovers within 3 to 4 days.

Danger Zone for Smoking and Grilling Meat

As mentioned above, the temperature danger zone is 46°F -140°F (8°C-60°C). Hence, it is better to keep the hot smoking or grill above 158°F (70°C).

Slice the brisket into 1/4-inch-thick slices and put the slices into a roasting pan. Cover the sliced meat with the defatted cooking liquid and reheat slowly. All the fat is gone and the meat is tender and juicy.

Pre-sliced brisket can be reheated in the oven just like larger pieces of beef, but do it at about 375-degrees. You can even use a glass pan and cover the pan with aluminum foil to make clean-up easy. Only reheat for 15 to 20 minutes to avoid drying out the meat.

If you overcook meat, it becomes dry and tough. Often people using a slow cooker and don't check when the food is actually done. If a recipe says cook for 8 hours on low, people may not check the food for 8 hours. A slow cooker will not do what you want.

Apple Cider Vinegar

This is one of the most commonly used liquids for a brisket spritz, especially for Carolina-style barbecue. Apple Cider Vinegar is often mixed with a little bit of water or apple juice to slightly dilute it.

Wet rubs are fantastic when you are cooking low and slow – again, brisket and pulled pork.

What liquid do you add to brisket? ›

Beef broth – you can use beef broth, stock or bone broth. I prefer low-sodium. Worcestershire sauce – Worcestershire sauce is made from vinegar, cloves, molasses, and other flavors that will give your BBQ that “edge.” Liquid smoke – liquid smoke mimics that smoker smokiness!

Storing Fresh Brisket

A fresh brisket will be fine in the coldest part of your refrigerator (35 to 40 F) for up to five days before cooking and up to eight days if your refrigerator section is kept at a temperature lower than 34 F.

Remove the brisket from the fridge, take it out of the liquid, and slice it up. It's easier to do this when the beef is cold, as it holds together better. Lay out the brisket slices in a single layer on a baking sheet and pop them in the freezer for a flash-freeze.

There is no magic number for when briskets are done. I've had briskets be done anywhere from 200° – 208°. What are you looking for is for it to feel done.

Set your pellet grill to 225℉ and preheat, lid closed, for 15 minutes. Place brisket on the grill grate fat side down, and cook for approximately 6 hours or until the internal temperature reaches 160℉.

Place it fat side down on the grill grate and smoke for 4-6 hours, or until the internal temperature reaches around 160° F. 4. After 4-6 hours of smoke, remove and double wrap in foil. Turn the grill to 225 and cook the brisket until it reaches an internal temperature of 200 – 205° F, approximately 6 more hours.

A: You can usually figure about 1.5 hours per pound at 225 degrees for brisket, pork shoulder and other larger pieces of meat. Several things can affect this time such as actual meat thickness, wind, temperature and how often you open the door of the smoker.