Foil Question

[fishingbouchman]

Was looking through some old posts and found one BP did on Brisket. Said when he foiled he got it as tight as he could to remove any air.

Do you try and remove all the air when you foil Ribs, Pork, pulled beef?

 

[FLBentRider]

When I foil ribs ans pulled beef, it is more like a boat, with the addition of a braising liquid. When I foil butts I wrap them tight, and add no liquid.

 

[TTNuge]

I try to get as much air out as possible. I want to cook the meat and not steam it. It can be done either way successfully.

 

[scooter]

I agree with BP. If you foil tightly the bark will retain some integrity. If you loosely foil you'll be steaming the bark into a mushy mess.

 

[Big Poppa]

in addition to the bark it is the meat that gets steamed and that is no good Foil everything tight in my book!

 

[fishingbouchman]

Been doing it loose so I better try tight next cook

 

[TentHunter]

Here's my take on it. Pan braising is a tried and true technique. I have done both, wrapped tightly in foil and braised in foil pans (sealed with foil). You are braising either way and you are going to generate some steam and collect some liquid no matter what, it can't be helped.

The difference is wrapping loosely or pan braising allows the steam to circulate around the meat and soften your bark. But foiling tightly with little or no extra liquid, as suggested, means the steam can't circulating around the outside of the meat, so your your bark is retained way better.

If you don't care about your bark then pan Braising is fine. If you want to keep your bark intact as much as possible wrap tightly!


There, that's my 2¢... not that it's worth that much! LOL

 

[KyNola]

Looks like I'll be swimming upstream on this topic as I don't foil anything on my MAK except a brisket. For my personal taste and preference I don't see that ribs or butts require foiling. Certainly you can but I just don't see a need for it.

Smoke on! Foil or no foil!

 

[FLBentRider]

I like the texture of un-foiled butts better.

 

[bflodan]

I like the texture of un-foiled butts better.

Same here!

 

[sparky]

I like the texture of un-foiled butts better.

me too. what bent said on the nose. ok, well bent said it must be true.

 

[HogSmoker]

I like the texture of un-foiled butts better.

I experience that this past weekend. No foiling for me next time on butts.

 

[fishingbouchman]

How about foiling brisket.

Most here seem to not like foil for butts.