How To Smoke Brisket Using a Barrel Smoker. (8 Simple Steps)

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Want to smoke a brisket in your barrel smoker? You’re in the right place; I have perfected my recipe so that the brisket comes out tender and juicy, everything with that perfect pink ring. You may have also seen drum smoker, which is the same as a barrel smoker, so you can also use this recipe

Smoking a brisket can be an intimidating prospect. But don’t worry!  We’re here to break down all the steps you need so that it goes smoothly. Have a read of the guide below to see how to smoke the perfect brisket in a barrel smoker

What You Need for Smoking a Brisket on a Barrel Smoker

• Beef Brisket
• Mustard
• Oil
• Brisket Rub
• Barrel Smoker or Drum Smoker

Preparing The Brisket For The Smoker

Using a sharp knife, trim the fat from the brisket. Leaving about a quarter of an inch of fat on the brisket. If you prefer your brisket with more bark, trim less fat. 

Seasoning Your Brisket

After trimming your brisket apply a binder like mustard or oil. Then we recommend using a dry brisket rub to get that crispy delicious bark. For a simpler option season the brisket with olive oil, herbs, salt, and black pepper. 

Rub the seasoning all over, wrap it in plastic wrap, and put it in the fridge overnight. 

Preparing the Smoker

Load your barrel smoker up with wood chips, charcoal, or wood chunks, and get it fired up. Preheating a barrel smoker can take about 1-2 hours to get it to the right temperature. 

When there is a layer of red hot coals at the bottom of the barrel, it’s time to begin cooking. 

How To Smoke A Brisket In A Barrel Smoker

Step 1: While the barrel smoker is preheating, remove the brisket from the fridge.

Let it sit at room temperature for at least an hour. Decide what to serve with beef brisket, as you want to prep those now as well.

Step 2: Trim your brisket if needed and apply the rub.

Step 3: Once your smoker is up to temperature, place the brisket on the grates. 

Step 4: Check the temperature of the smoker. It should be at about 160°F. Make sure you keep an eye on the temperature of your unit. You don’t want to get to the Pit Barrel to get too hot. You can control the temperature by opening and closing the vents.

Step 5: Check the internal brisket temp periodically. You can also make a smoked brisket spritz recipe, which may help prevent the formation of bark.

If you find your brisket is stalling at around 140°F you can wrap your brisket to combat the stall.

Step 6: Once the probe temps read 204°F then you can pull the brisket from the smoker. Then wrap it in plastic wrap and a towel.

Step 7: Place brisket in a cooler and let it rest.

You want to rest your brisket until the temperature comes down to 140°F. This can take 2-4 hours

Step 8: Remove the wrapped brisket from the cooler after four hours. Slice it up, then pat yourself on the back and serve your juicy brisket!

How Long Do I Need to Smoke My Brisket For?

You want to ensure your brisket has an internal temperature of 204°F. (you can use a temperature probe to check this ) You might have heard you need to smoke your brisket for 8 hours, but really it’s down to internal temperature, so wait until you hit 204°F.

So you want to know how to tell when your smoked brisket is done?

Use this calculation we use to roughly figure out how long it will take.  

It will take 1 hour and 30 minutes per pound (lb) of brisket at 225°F (or 107°C)

A brisket I smoked last weekend was 9lb. Here is the actual cooking time

9lb brisket x 1.5 hours = 13.5 hours with a cooking temperature of 225 °F

When Should I Wrap The Brisket

If the internal temperature of the brisket stop rising between 150°F – 160°F you are experiencing the brisket stall. Once your brisket starts to stall is when you want to wrap your brisket in alfoil or butcher’s paper. Continue smoking until it reaches 204°F then remove it from the smoker.

What Temperature Should I Smoke At?

You want to smoke your brisket at 160°F. This low temperature will allow all the connective tissue to dissolve into juicy gelatin and make it fall apart even when you look at it!

What Else Can I Smoke In My Barrel Smoker?

There are plenty of options out there, barrel Smokers are great for smoking chicken, ribs, or pulled pork butt.

You can even smoke foods like cheese and tomatoes in your barrel smoker. 

Just remember you need to clean your smoker after each use

Haven’t Got a Barrel Smoker?

Below are smoked brisket recipes for each type of unit. You can also use this recipe for a drum smoker

Brisket on a Pit Boss

Smoked Brisket on a Traeger

Smoked Brisket on a Big Green Egg

What to do With Leftover Brisket?

Leftover brisket is the best!

Just slice what you want to eat, then leave the rest. It makes it easier to reheat later.

• Beef Brisket Pot Pie With Mash Potatoes
• Brisket Burgers

Smoking your brisket in a barrel smoker doesn’t have to be complicated. It will take time…but we think that this piece of meat is worth it!

Smoked beef brisket is a fantastic way to show off your barbecue skills. It also gives this cut an incredible juicy flavor. 

What do you usually serve with brisket?

Smoke On!

Charlie

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