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Cooking & Food Talk => Charcoal Grilling & BBQ => Topic started by: BBQFiend on January 27, 2017, 06:36:39 AM

Title: Fat cap up or down?
Post by: BBQFiend on January 27, 2017, 06:36:39 AM
I usually smoke butts fat cap down? Is that wrong? I kind of figured it might because the melted fat can't run down back into the meat.
Title: Re: Fat cap up or down?
Post by: JEBIV on January 27, 2017, 07:54:19 AM
Always up for me
Title: Re: Fat cap up or down?
Post by: kettlebb on January 27, 2017, 09:11:43 AM
Always up for me too. I was bummed because the last one I did didn't have a nice cap on it.


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Title: Re: Fat cap up or down?
Post by: Idahawk on January 27, 2017, 10:31:35 AM
Fat cap up , if the fat is super thick I'll score it to get rub down to the meat


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Title: Re: Fat cap up or down?
Post by: HoosierKettle on January 27, 2017, 10:33:28 AM
Always up for me too but I've been thinking about flipping it half way so the bottom will get better bark/smoke.


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Title: Re: Fat cap up or down?
Post by: MikeRocksTheRed on January 27, 2017, 10:50:52 AM
Always up for me but @ABCbarbecue has suggested flipping halfway so the meat gets equal time at the different temps ranges that you naturally get since heat rises and your grill will therefore be a little warmer at the upper section of a bug hunk of meat than the bottom section.
Title: Re: Fat cap up or down?
Post by: JDann24 on January 27, 2017, 11:01:26 AM
I always put the fat cap down.
Title: Re: Fat cap up or down?
Post by: Davescprktl on January 27, 2017, 11:12:57 AM
I say screw the fat cap!  Butts have plenty of marbling.  When the fat cap melts it just rolls off and ends up in your drip pan.  I cut it off.  That way I get more bark.  The last cook I did (Smoked cheese and a small butt) was cooked without a fat cap.  It was probally one of the best I ever cooked.  You also get a better smoke ring too.
Title: Re: Fat cap up or down?
Post by: wessonjb on January 27, 2017, 11:21:30 AM

Always up for me but @ABCbarbecue has suggested flipping halfway so the meat gets equal time at the different temps ranges that you naturally get since heat rises and your grill will therefore be a little warmer at the upper section of a bug hunk of meat than the bottom section.
i rotate mine


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Title: Re: Fat cap up or down?
Post by: swamprb on January 27, 2017, 11:28:15 AM
what type of cooker?

For eatin' or competin'??

be more specific.
Title: Re: Fat cap up or down?
Post by: LightningBoldtz on January 27, 2017, 11:33:13 AM
Fat cap down because I always use my kamado when cooking brisket and the heat comes from below. 
Title: Re: Fat cap up or down?
Post by: Foster Dahlet on January 27, 2017, 01:41:44 PM
fat cap down
Title: Re: Fat cap up or down?
Post by: WNC on January 27, 2017, 01:52:03 PM

I say screw the fat cap!  Butts have plenty of marbling.  When the fat cap melts it just rolls off and ends up in your drip pan.  I cut it off.  That way I get more bark.  The last cook I did (Smoked cheese and a small butt) was cooked without a fat cap.  It was probally one of the best I ever cooked.  You also get a better smoke ring too.

^^^this what I do too, then where the fat cap was goes down. More better better meat, gets more better bark in my opinion


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Title: Re: Fat cap up or down?
Post by: Travis on January 27, 2017, 04:38:43 PM
cut off the cap also
Title: Re: Fat cap up or down?
Post by: pbe gummi bear on January 27, 2017, 04:39:49 PM
Down, obviously.
Title: Re: Fat cap up or down?
Post by: Jammato on January 27, 2017, 06:03:51 PM
ok, I use a drip pan so the fat is easy to clean up, that way up or down it is like no direct heat is on it. SOOOOOO, fat up it melts over the meat and helps to baste it, fat down it hits the drip beans the best.
I slice it and put it on top.
Title: Re: Fat cap up or down?
Post by: Craig on January 27, 2017, 07:15:29 PM
This is Troys favorite subject....
Title: Re: Fat cap up or down?
Post by: HoosierKettle on January 27, 2017, 07:36:51 PM
Does everyone voting up or down do the same thing with brisket?


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Title: Re: Fat cap up or down?
Post by: Foster Dahlet on January 27, 2017, 08:19:21 PM
i was taught to trim excess fat from the edges, trim the fat cap down to about 1/4 inch and fat cap down, but others will debate the last point.
Title: Re: Fat cap up or down?
Post by: kettlebb on January 28, 2017, 08:12:47 AM
I don't trim brisket down anymore. Just look for the hard pieces of fat and cut them out. Fat cap up with brisket too


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Title: Re: Fat cap up or down?
Post by: BBQFiend on January 28, 2017, 02:29:27 PM
I guess like most things it's personal preference. I've only tried it cap down so far. I've always cooked the butts with the slow n sear. I'll try it cap up next time or with no cap.
Title: Re: Fat cap up or down?
Post by: bbquy on January 28, 2017, 03:11:39 PM
I use the fat cap up method. I will trim it to about 1/4 fat cap for pork butt and brisket