You must have heard that the best way to check if brisket is ready or not is by probing your meat thermometer into it.
As soon as the meat probe smoothly slides inside the meat and gives you a temperature reading of 180 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit, your brisket is ready to be served.
However, this information is only useful for someone who knows how many hours the brisket is to be smoked before the temperature can be checked.
So, we’re narrowed down to one question: how long does it take to smoke a brisket?
Lucky for you, we’re here to help you out with exactly this concern!
| Pounds of Brisket | Cooking Time at 225° F | Cooking Time at 230° F | Cooking Time at 300° F |
| 1 pound brisket | 1 hour and 30 minutes, to 2 hours | 1 hour and 30 minutes | 30 to 45 minutes |
| 2 pound brisket | 3 hours to 4 hours | 3 hours | 1 hour, to 1 hour and 30 minutes |
| 5 pound brisket | 7 hours and 30 minutes, to 10 hours | 7 hours and 30 minutes | 2 hours and 30 minutes, to 3 hours and 45 minutes |
| 10 pound brisket | 15 hours, to 20 hours | 15 hours | 5 hours, to 7 hours and 30 minutes |
How Long Should I Smoke a Brisket Per Pound?
As it goes unsaid, the answer to how long a brisket needs to be smoked depends on the pounds of meat in question.
It’s important to know the size and weight of your brisket, and also the temperature you are comfortable smoking it at, to have an exact answer to your question.
Although it’s common to hear that a brisket is best prepared low and slow, it’s never a bad choice to go high and fast either.
So, for a rough estimate, you can know that a pound of brisket takes somewhere between 30 minutes to 2 hours to be smoked completely. These periods depend on your cooking method and temperatures.
How Long Do You Smoke a Brisket at 225 Degrees Fahrenheit?
If you want to smoke your brisket low and slow, it’s best to keep your temperature between 225 to 250 degrees Fahrenheit.
If the temperature is exactly 225 degrees Fahrenheit, a pound of your brisket should take about 1 hour and 30 minutes to 2 hours to get ready.
If you want a sharper period to remember, you can always turn the temperature up to 250 degrees Fahrenheit and expect it to be done in 1 hour and 30 minutes.
If you’re somehow running late and would prefer going high and fast, smoking a pound of your brisket at 300 degrees Fahrenheit will prepare it within 30 to 45 minutes.
Also Read:
How Long Does it Take to Smoke 10 Pound Brisket at 225 Degrees Fahrenheit?
Keeping in mind that a pound of brisket being prepared at a temperature of 225 degrees Fahrenheit takes 1 hour and 30 minutes to 2 hours to be done, we can easily estimate how long 10 pounds of brisket at that temperature should take.
10 pounds of brisket will take between 15 hours to 20 hours to be completely smoked. But turning up the temperature just by 25 degrees Fahrenheit, you can easily save around 5 hours of your smoking time and prepare it earlier on.
How Long Does it Take to Smoke a 5 Pound Brisket?
Similarly, if you are to prepare 5 pounds of brisket, your cooking period is determined by the temperature you decide to smoke it at.
At 225 degrees Fahrenheit, a 5 pound brisket will take around 7 hours and 30 minutes to 10 hours to get ready. At 250 degrees Fahrenheit, it will take just 7 hours and 30 minutes, and an even lesser 2 hours and 30 minutes to 3 hours and 45 minutes at a temperature of 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How Can I Smoke My Brisket High and Fast?
Although the best way to prepare a brisket high and fast is by turning the temperature up to 300 degrees Fahrenheit, there are other cooking methods that you can adopt to fasten the process.
The best way is by wrapping it in foil or butcher paper. This speeds the smoking process greatly.
What Type of Smoker Should I Use to Smoke My Brisket?
Any type of smoker can be used to smoke a brisket.
However, the different types of smokers will impact the cooking time for you.
For instance, gas and electric smokers are the best in this regard for they have more consistent temperatures than other smokers.
Can I Serve a Brisket Right After Smoking it?
Surprisingly, the answer is no.
It’s best to let your freshly prepared brisket rest for at least an hour before it can be sliced and eaten to be enjoyed to the fullest!
Why Should I Rest a Brisket?
Resting a brisket allows it to settle for a while, letting its juices be absorbed in the meat.
If the brisket is not rested and instantly sliced, these juices run out quickly, leaving you with meat that is rather dry to consume.
What is the Best Wood Type For Smoking Brisket?
To get the best flavor out of your brisket, it’s also important to choose your wood wisely. The smoking wood always adds a flavor of its own to the brisket. The best wood for you is the one that brings out the meat flavor that you want!
Also Read >> Best Wood for Smoking Brisket
Wrapping it Up
In order to answer the question of how long to smoke brisket per pound, you need to know more than just the size and weight of your brisket.
Factors such as your cooking method and your cooking temperature are what mainly affect your smoking results. Therefore, there is a lot of homework for you to do to know exactly when to probe your meat thermometer in your brisket to check for its preparedness.
Happy smoking!
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