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Hey y’all, it’s BBQ Dropout, and I’m here to answer the question that’s on everyone’s mind: how long should you bake your brisket?
Whether you’re a seasoned pitmaster or a beginner, this is an important question to get right. In this post, I’ll break down the two main factors to consider when cooking a brisket, regardless of whether you’re baking it or smoking it.
Learn how to estimate the cook time of your brisket when baking or smoking it by considering two factors: the weight and temperature. On average, it should be one to two pounds per one hour of cook time, depending on how hot and fast or low and slow you cook it.
Factors to Consider When Cooking a Brisket
When it comes to cooking a brisket, there are two main factors that will affect how long it takes to cook: the weight of your brisket and the temperature at which you cook it. These factors apply whether you’re baking your brisket or smoking it.
Weight of Your Brisket
The first factor to consider is the weight of your brisket. On average, your brisket should be done anywhere from one to two pounds per one hour of cook time.
This is solely dependent on how hot and fast or how low and slow you’re cooking your brisket.
Temperature at Which You Cook Your Brisket
The second factor to consider is the temperature at which you cook your brisket.
If you’re baking your brisket at anywhere between 225 and 250 degrees Fahrenheit, take whatever pound of brisket you have and consider the fact that it’s going to take one pound per one hour of cook time at those lower temperature ranges.
If you’re cooking your brisket hot and fast, such as at around 275 degrees Fahrenheit or above, then that same brisket will take about half as long as it would otherwise. In this case, you should budget about two pounds per one hour cook time.
How to Estimate Cook Time
Depending on how much your brisket weighs, it will fall within these different ranges. To recap, for the low ranges of around 225 to 250 degrees Fahrenheit, budget about one pound per hour of cook time.
For the higher ranges, if you’re baking your brisket, budget about two pounds of cook time per one hour or two pounds per one hour cook time.
Why Baking and Smoking Don’t Make a Difference
You may be wondering if there’s a difference in cook time between baking and smoking your brisket.
The answer is no. Regardless of whether you’re wrapping your brisket, the two main factors that determine cook time are the weight of your brisket and the temperature at which you cook it.
Final Thoughts
So there you have it, folks. A comprehensive guide on how long to bake your brisket. Remember, the two main factors to consider are the weight of your brisket and the temperature at which you cook it. By following these guidelines, you’ll be able to estimate the cook time and ensure that your brisket turns out perfectly cooked every time. Happy cooking!
Robert is a certified Pitmaster, with over a decade of experience in smoking the best meats you’ll ever feast upon. He also has a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Texas at San Antonio. When he’s not researching technical topics, he’s most likely barbecuing in his backyard.