Weber Kettle Club Forums

Cooking & Food Talk => Charcoal Grilling & BBQ => Topic started by: Shanks Kop on January 08, 2021, 06:37:09 PM

Title: Pastrami Virgin - Touched for the very first time
Post by: Shanks Kop on January 08, 2021, 06:37:09 PM
Happy New Year All

Hope you and your loved ones are all safe and well.

Just at the last hurdle of my first pastrami adventure, when I realise I may need some guidance from more weatherered warriors.

I've brined my own meat to produce what you call  corned beef stateside (very different to what we in the UK refer to the same), desalinated and now at the point of smoking (I'm not looking to smoke and then steam this time out).

Most online instructions refer to the use of brisket, but in theory you can use all types of meat, so I decided to go with what I had available.

1 x Picanha 1.39kg trimmed to  966g
1 x Rump Tail (think you call it Tri Tip stateside) 1.040kg trimmed to 860g
Total 1.826kg

Question is do I look to smoke these to 200f similar to a brisket or as they are not as tough a lot lower?

All help greatly appreciated
Title: Re: Pastrami Virgin - Touched for the very first time
Post by: AZ2FL on January 09, 2021, 03:14:03 AM
Nice Madonna reference in your title. Lol

I normally run IT to 155-165 on the smoker and refrigerator overnight. Steam pastrami the next day to  190-200IT.

To answer your question I’d run IT to 180-190F. If the meat is tough you can always steam it.

Cheers
Title: Re: Pastrami Virgin - Touched for the very first time
Post by: Shanks Kop on January 09, 2021, 06:20:14 AM
Far from a Madonna fan....Maradona on the other hand [emoji4].

What pit temp do you normally run at?  I'm running at circa 225f atm.
Nice Madonna reference in your title. Lol

I normally run IT to 155-165 on the smoker and refrigerator overnight. Steam pastrami the next day to  190-200IT.

To answer your question I’d run IT to 180-190F. If the meat is tough you can always steam it.

Cheers
Title: Re: Pastrami Virgin - Touched for the very first time
Post by: AZ2FL on January 09, 2021, 06:32:41 AM
Far from a Madonna fan....Maradona on the other hand [emoji4].

What pit temp do you normally run at?  I'm running at circa 225f atm.
Nice Madonna reference in your title. Lol

I normally run IT to 155-165 on the smoker and refrigerator overnight. Steam pastrami the next day to  190-200IT.

To answer your question I’d run IT to 180-190F. If the meat is tough you can always steam it.

Cheers
Sadly Maradona past away in November.

Pit temp 225-250F



Title: Re: Pastrami Virgin - Touched for the very first time
Post by: AZ2FL on January 09, 2021, 06:37:42 AM
Here is a recent pastrami cook.


Sent from my iPhone using Weber Kettle Club (https://siteowners.tapatalk.com/byo/displayAndDownloadByoApp?rid=91018)
Title: Re: Pastrami Virgin - Touched for the very first time
Post by: Shanks Kop on January 09, 2021, 07:33:49 AM
Looks great , do you use brisket?

I'm all to aware of the passing of the greatest Football (Soccer) player of all time [emoji4] a wonderful documentary, if you're a fan, came out not so long ago.
Here is a recent pastrami cook.


Sent from my iPhone using Weber Kettle Club (https://siteowners.tapatalk.com/byo/displayAndDownloadByoApp?rid=91018)
Title: Re: Pastrami Virgin - Touched for the very first time
Post by: AZ2FL on January 09, 2021, 08:03:56 AM
Looks great , do you use brisket?

I'm all to aware of the passing of the greatest Football (Soccer) player of all time [emoji4] wonderful documentary if you're a fan came out not so long ago
Here is a recent pastrami cook.


Sent from my iPhone using Weber Kettle Club (https://siteowners.tapatalk.com/byo/displayAndDownloadByoApp?rid=91018)

Yes I use a whole packer brisket, separate the point/flat and cure with Prague  #1.

I’ll search for his documentary.
Title: Re: Pastrami Virgin - Touched for the very first time
Post by: AZ2FL on January 10, 2021, 04:22:35 PM
@Shanks Kop
How was your pastrami cook? Would you use picanha and tri-tip again?
Title: Re: Pastrami Virgin - Touched for the very first time
Post by: bbqking01 on January 13, 2021, 06:53:00 PM
That look great.


Sent from my iPhone using Weber Kettle Club (https://siteowners.tapatalk.com/byo/displayAndDownloadByoApp?rid=91018)
Title: Re: Pastrami Virgin - Touched for the very first time
Post by: Shanks Kop on January 16, 2021, 02:34:23 PM
@Shanks Kop
How was your pastrami cook? Would you use picanha and tri-tip again?
I'd definitely try again with both cuts, but probably load up a few more so I have leftovers.

Picanha: I left a thin layer of the fat cap and pastrami wise that doesn't add to the bark.  Alternative would be to lose the fat cap entirely for a more conventional layer.

Rump Tail/Tri Tip: Worked really well and I was pleasantly surprised, you could in theory load up a fair few in a WSM, which is what I used.

Thanks for you help.  I decided to pull circa 180f no wrap
Title: Re: Pastrami Virgin - Touched for the very first time
Post by: Shanks Kop on January 16, 2021, 02:40:55 PM
Pics of the finishing line
Title: Re: Pastrami Virgin - Touched for the very first time
Post by: bbqking01 on January 17, 2021, 08:17:19 AM
If it tasted as good as it looks, I have to say spectacular!! Well done.


Sent from my iPhone using Weber Kettle Club (https://siteowners.tapatalk.com/byo/displayAndDownloadByoApp?rid=91018)
Title: Re: Pastrami Virgin - Touched for the very first time
Post by: Darko on January 18, 2021, 04:17:18 AM
From one Liverpool lad to another, it looks like you did good.
Title: Re: Pastrami Virgin - Touched for the very first time
Post by: AZ2FL on January 18, 2021, 06:07:44 PM
Pics of the finishing line
WOW your pastrami looks delicious, I really like the bark/crust too

Thanks for sharing your cook.
Title: Re: Pastrami Virgin - Touched for the very first time
Post by: Shanks Kop on January 23, 2021, 09:28:18 PM
Darko no way you're a Scouser [emoji106] You're gonna love this, I'm actually born and raised in OT, up the east lancs [emoji16]
From one Liverpool lad to another, it looks like you did good.
Title: Re: Pastrami Virgin - Touched for the very first time
Post by: Shanks Kop on January 23, 2021, 09:30:41 PM
Thanks turned out not so shabby for a first attempt.  I'm toying with the idea of a brisket (refrigeration space is the only concern).

What size brisket do you find is the sweet spot?
Pics of the finishing line
WOW your pastrami looks delicious, I really like the bark/crust too

Thanks for sharing your cook.