Dig in to my beginner-friendly Traeger smoked brisket flat recipe with details for smoking 5 LB flat cut brisket. Get everything you need to smoke it with confidence…. Including the proper smoke time, temperature, brisket rub suggestions, fat cap trimming help, and butcher paper wrapping details. Let’s smoke it…
5LBbrisket flattrimmed of fat cap and silver skin (see notes and Sip Bite Go video)
½cupBBQ Seasoningany beef / brisket rub, as much as you’d like
¼cupapple cider vinegar
Instructions
Preheat the Traeger Grill (or whatever pellet smoker you’re using) to 250 degrees F for 15 minutes before it’s time to smoke brisket. I like setting out brisket about 20-30 minutes ahead of time to help bring it to room temperature.
Prep brisket flat for smoking. Season brisket with the Voodoo seasoning by massaging the seasoning into the brisket top, bottom, and sides.
Smoke brisket flat on Traeger. Place your brisket on the pellet grill grates fat side up and smoke brisket flat until the internal temperature of the flat of brisket reaches 160 - 170 degrees F, measured in the thickest part of the meat. This will take about 3 hours and 15 minutes. Remove partially smoked brisket flat from the grill. Keep the lid to the smoker closed and the smoker on.
Prep butcher paper for smoking brisket flat. Add apple cider vinegar to a spray bottle and set aside. On a large work surface, roll out butcher paper. (I leave it on the roll so I can adjust the size as needed, but usually I’ll use a piece that’s about 5-6 times larger than your piece of beef). The inside of the butcher paper should be facing up. Spray the inside of the butcher paper (where you’re going to set the brisket down) with some apple cider vinegar, until the area that will touch the brisket flat once it’s wrapped is fully moistened.
Wrap brisket flat in butcher paper. Place half smoked brisket flat near the edge of the butcher paper. Spritz it with the spray bottle to moisten it with more apple cider vinegar, for juicy good luck while smoking. (IMPORTANT – You’ll want to keep track of the SIDE of the brisket flat that has the FAT CAP when rolling it!! You’ll want to “end” with the FAT CAP UP. This way it will OOOOOOZE juiciness because the fat will drip down as it cooks.) Wrap the brisket flat a few times in the butcher paper, folding edges in like a burrito so it bundles together to create a cozy, moist little sleeping bag environment for your beef.
Smoke brisket flatwrapped in butcher paper. Add your little bundle of joy brisket flat back on the smoker grill grates, fat cap side UP (hope you kept track of it!). Smoke the flat until the internal temperature has reached 200 - 205 degrees F.
Rest smoked brisket flat and enjoy. When time is up, remove the brisket flat from the smoker and let it rest (we usually let it rest in the butcher paper, but you don’t have to - it’s debatable) for at least 30 minutes, or an hour if you’re my husband. Slice against the grain and enjoy.
Video
Notes
PREP HELP...How do you trim fat cap and silver skin on a brisket flat?
Place the brisket flat with the fat side UP on a large cutting board.
Use a sharp paring knife or another sharp knife to trim off excess fat and silver on the brisket. The best way is to almost “shave off” a layer of fat at a time, so you don’t accidentally take too much off at once. You want to keep the fat cap on top intact, but trim it down to leave an even ¼ inch on top of the brisket flat.
With the fat cap side up, use a sharp knife to locate the thick silver skin (the thick membrane of connective tissue) and cut it off from the brisket meat.
How long does it take to smoke 5 LB brisket flat?The Sip Bite Go demonstration recipe for a 5 LB brisket flat took about 10 hours total. This includes preparing brisket flat by trimming the fat cap and seasoning it. Then a little over 3 hours smoking directly on the grill grates. Then time to wrap it and moisten the flat of brisket with apple cider vinegar. Then about 6 more hours of smoke time on the Traeger, wrapped in butcher paper. Oh, plus some resting time at the end! You’ll want to wait an hour of rest time before letting the brisket rest before putting it in the fridge.See the recipe: https://sipbitego.com/smoked-brisket-flatWatch the full-length recipe video for Traeger brisket flat on Sip Bite Go’s YouTube.