Picked up two Painted Hills briskets (9.6 & 10.5 pound) today from Rain Shadow Butchers in Seattle in preparation for the Fourth of July holiday weekend ahead. If you're ever in the area, you should check them out as they're known for providing old world service in a contemporary/urban setting. Case and point, they know the ranches and the ranchers that provide their product and even brag about knowing some of the animals! Not too many places dry age...it's a thing of beauty to see!
My goal is to serve one brisket at 5 PM on 7/4 and the second brisket at 5 PM on 7/5 - neither of which will be served at my house. To complicate things further, I will be gone both mornings attending family events and away from home the night of the 4th until about 11-12 PM.
Based on their size, I know I could get them on the middle and top racks....but don't think I could get both on one rack. Should I cook both at the same time - starting the night of the 3rd - and then FTC the one to be served on the 4th holding the 2nd one in the fridge to be reheated on the 5th? The brisket for the 5th isn't the main dish and doesn't have to be a show piece.
Or should I just plan to do two smokes....starting the second one at about midnight on the 4th and hope that it is done when I pass through to pick it up in the early afternoon. This seems like a recipe for disaster to me....so I'd appreciate insight from those more experienced.
How best to proceed?
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