Sliced up beef brisket
FOOD NEWS
Why You Should Avoid Grilling Brisket
BY BRIAN UDALL
A burned beef brisket on a grill
One of the toughest cuts of the cow, brisket is best cooked low and slow. A grill is designed to apply high heat to whatever you're cooking, the exact opposite of what you need.
A beef brisket cut up in three
When grilling brisket, too much heat is applied too quickly and the muscle fibers will tighten up into a dense block. Instead, brisket should be cooked in a smoker or braised.
The brisket is full of connective tissue and collagen. When cooked low and slow between 160 and 205 degrees F, the collagen becomes gelatin, resulting in a tender brisket.
Some people can rig their grills to work like a smoker, with some success, but if you are considering using your grill normally, you're going to end up with a tough piece of meat.