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Resting meat
Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2018 10:26 am
by rhall79079
New member here and I couldn't find any post about resting meat. I smoked a brisket yesterday and when I took it off the smoker (had it wrapped in peach butcher paper) I put it in a cooler to rest with some pork butt's I had smoked as well. I fell asleep and it stayed in there for about 4 plus hours. When I went to slice it, the flat was so dry. I was inquiring about how does everyone rest meat, do they leave it out at room temp, put it in a cooler or other ways. It could have been a bad piece of meat but I really think it was over cooked. Any advice or input would be appreciated.
Re: Resting meat
Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2018 10:33 am
by OldUsedParts
Welcome to the Forum - - - I'm sure some of our knowledgeable members will be to your assistance soon.
Re: Resting meat
Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2018 11:13 am
by outlaw
I always rest mine exactly like you described, sometimes even over night. For me optimum slicing temp is about 145 degrees. The purpose of resting is to pull the moisture back into the meat so I don't think too long affects it. Too short and all those great juices will just flow out on the board.
Re: Resting meat
Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2018 11:23 am
by bsooner75
#1 on the 145 ish temp.
Question - did the thickest part of the flat probe tender before you pulled it off the pit?
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Re: Resting meat
Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2018 11:32 am
by outlaw
Good question above. Another thought. The paper wrap will also leech moisture from the meat if left too long wrapped in it.
Re: Resting meat
Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2018 1:41 pm
by Copasspupil
Outlaw really? I never thought about it but the paper is taking away the juice from the meat by absorbing it. I just have never thought about it. The proving of the meat to be is a tall tail sign of the doneness of the meat. It should feel like butter. Simply smooth to penetrate.
Re: Resting meat
Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2018 1:49 pm
by limey
I let my my briskets for at least an hour, my ideal time is for a two hour rest, I also rest in foil pan with the juices and l will let the brisket breath or cool a bit before putting in cooler or Cambro.If you do not let it cool off pryor to placing in cooler it will continue to cook in the cooler.
Re: Resting meat
Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2018 1:52 pm
by limey
The pork butts might have been an issue as well if they were still hot. A lot of heat in the cooler. I usually just put one or two briskets but try to not stack on top of each other,
Re: Resting meat
Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2018 2:23 pm
by bondobill
limey wrote:The pork butts might have been an issue as well if they were still hot. A lot of heat in the cooler. I usually just put one or two briskets but try to not stack on top of each other,
Agree. I made that mistake once with prime rib.
Wrapped Hot pork butts will produce a lot of heat in a cooler. That's probably OK for the butts but not so much for a resting brisket.
Re: Resting meat
Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2018 4:44 pm
by Sailor Kenshin
Stupid question, but why rest in a cooler? Why not in a pan on the counter? Especially if you need the brisket temp to go down?
Re: Resting meat
Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2018 5:37 pm
by rhall79079
Thanks for all the replies. I did probe the meat when I took it off but I mainly try to go by feel of the meat especially when using paper as the wrap. It felt flexible, jelly like. It’s how I would normally take it off. Usually I don’t have pork butts with it but was cooking for several people and tried to kill 2 birds with 1 stone. I know sometimes people will pull a little earlier because if in a cooler it has the potential to cook while in the cooler. In hindsight transferring it to foil might have helped preserve the moisture and maybe separating the meats in different containers as well. Certainly a “live and learn” moment.
Re: Resting meat
Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2018 5:52 pm
by bsooner75
Sailor Kenshin wrote:Stupid question, but why rest in a cooler? Why not in a pan on the counter? Especially if you need the brisket temp to go down?
Not a stupid question at all. In my case it depends on how close to serving I am. Cooler is used if I need to keep it warm for a while.
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Re: Resting meat
Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2018 5:59 pm
by Sailor Kenshin
bsooner75 wrote:Sailor Kenshin wrote:Stupid question, but why rest in a cooler? Why not in a pan on the counter? Especially if you need the brisket temp to go down?
Not a stupid question at all. In my case it depends on how close to serving I am. Cooler is used if I need to keep it warm for a while.
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Thanks. We try to arrange things so the feeders wait for the food.
Re: Resting meat
Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2018 6:12 pm
by Canadian Smoker
I like to rest briskets and butts for at least a couple hours.....I am not a big fan of wrapping in butcher paper just because of the fact it soaks up the juices.....but paper seems to be the new fad the last couple of years.
I like to finish my cooks early and wrap in foil ...into a cooler and fill the void with a towel.I have done this for up to 4 hours and the meat is still to hot to handle....nothing worse then a crowd of hungry people waiting.
I find the foil keeps in the moisture and the long rest really lets the meat relax....makes for a much easier pull or slice....this is just my method....YMMV.
Re: Resting meat
Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2018 6:14 pm
by Arto
Thats how it works around here. Nobody wants to wait, they just want to eat