Dry rub...oh yes...imo you can't do a brisket right without it...I went overnight with mine also.
Primo XL...lol...in some ways it does to be honest
...two yrs ago I smoked my 1st turkey ever for Thanksgiving...it went over better than the oven roasted bird. Last Thanksgiving I did another and one for a friend. Said friend has asked to bring another bird this yr already. It's the American made version of the Big Green Egg. The 3 top Kamado style cookers are pretty much the same...they insulate extremely well so they hold moisture in the food...where the Primo separates from the others is from the firebox up you can do true dual zone cooking.
240-250...yeah, they are good, but I cheated...
. Using good lump charcoal and deflector plates (in addition to deflecting the heat, they catch the food drippings so very few flare ups if any)...if you start the fire small (only light it in one area) once the pit temp gets to to 195-200 deg (lets say 230 is your goal), you shut down all the airflow andafter about 5 mins, the pit temp will stabilize around 205 or so..now you have control of the fire, tweak it from there, open the intake like a 1/4 inch, same with the flue and slowly bring it up. After so many fires you learn.
Cranberry/bourbon...a good friend told me that little trick...you also spritz the brisket with this at the end to help with the bark...adds a nice flavor that water alone can't give it.
I said I cheated...I bought a fan control unit with the probes, wifi etc...I wasn't quite brave enough to go play a round of golf during the brisket cook, but in terms of temp control...those things are game changers for lo and slo cooking.
The birds from Thanksgiving.
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