BRADLEY SMOKER | "Taste the Great Outdoors"

Smoking Techniques => Curing => Topic started by: PapaC on January 06, 2014, 05:03:26 PM

Title: When life hands you lemons make....Pastrami!!
Post by: PapaC on January 06, 2014, 05:03:26 PM
Well, if you saw my other posts, you know I was in the middle of my first pastrami when the OBS quit heating up.  >:(  Oh well, cooked it in the oven, and it came out fine, but a little salty. I did do two rinse soaks for a total of one hour, but I think it could've used a couple more for my taste. Not at all bad though, don't get me wrong. I decided to try the wet brine method this time. I'll try the dry brine next time for comparison. Was great fun, and beats any store bought I've had!

4 lb Flat brisket with fat trimmed
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e398/crucut33/IMG_0607_zps4ca85139.jpg) (http://s43.photobucket.com/user/crucut33/media/IMG_0607_zps4ca85139.jpg.html)

In brine, ready to go into fridge for 5 days. Weighted down with one of the wife's fancy glass serving trays ( Don't tell her)! The floating things are grated garlic, I need to mash em up better next time I think.
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e398/crucut33/IMG_0608_zps72370073.jpg) (http://s43.photobucket.com/user/crucut33/media/IMG_0608_zps72370073.jpg.html)

This is after soaking for 4 1/2 days, then rinsed off. It next went into refer for a bit to air dry.
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e398/crucut33/IMG_0609_zps0c75b8f1.jpg) (http://s43.photobucket.com/user/crucut33/media/IMG_0609_zps0c75b8f1.jpg.html)

All rubbed up with Habaneros dry rub recipe. It then sat in refer for 4 hours before I WAS going to put in the smoker. When I couldn't get the smoker going, I covered it up and let it set overnight, then cooked the next day.
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e398/crucut33/IMG_0610_zps31933e0d.jpg) (http://s43.photobucket.com/user/crucut33/media/IMG_0610_zps31933e0d.jpg.html)

After 5 hours, at 250 in the house oven it reached an IT of 160, and I took it out, tented, and when cooled, wrapped and put in refer overnight.
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e398/crucut33/IMG_0611_zps899812eb.jpg) (http://s43.photobucket.com/user/crucut33/media/IMG_0611_zps899812eb.jpg.html)

Slicing up earlier today...looking good!
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e398/crucut33/IMG_0612_zps3eb3c92e.jpg) (http://s43.photobucket.com/user/crucut33/media/IMG_0612_zps3eb3c92e.jpg.html)

Reuben time!! They were as good as they look! Marbled Rye bread is fresh from our local bakery, and is awesome!
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e398/crucut33/IMG_0613_zps8537f3c3.jpg) (http://s43.photobucket.com/user/crucut33/media/IMG_0613_zps8537f3c3.jpg.html)

So it was well worth doing. We've got the rest all vac sealed and in the freezer. I'll definitely be trying again when the smoke box is back up and runnin.
Title: Re: When life hands you lemons make....Pastrami!!
Post by: ragweed on January 06, 2014, 05:29:25 PM
Turned out great!  Congratulations.
Title: Re: When life hands you lemons make....Pastrami!!
Post by: tailfeathers on January 06, 2014, 05:44:11 PM
On my to-do list for sure. That looks great!


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Title: Re: When life hands you lemons make....Pastrami!!
Post by: beefmann on January 06, 2014, 06:03:03 PM
mighty fine looking pastrami
Title: Re: When life hands you lemons make....Pastrami!!
Post by: Saber 4 on January 06, 2014, 07:12:30 PM
That looks great, I saw a tip on food network the other day for the garlic that might work for you, I haven't tried it yet but it looked like it would work good. They were using a microplane zester and the garlic was real finely chopped looking with all the good juices in the bowl, I'm going to try it next time I need to use fresh garlic.
Title: Re: When life hands you lemons make....Pastrami!!
Post by: STLstyle on January 06, 2014, 07:47:42 PM
Nice!  Had a pastrami sandwich today but not near that good looking.


Title: Re: When life hands you lemons make....Pastrami!!
Post by: Smoker John on January 08, 2014, 11:33:25 AM
Very nice, looks really tasty