How long did it actually take you to figure out trimming? Or did you have someone show you the first time?

I thought trimming was just cutting off the hard fat and calling it done. First brisket I did came out with a giant hard spot on one end. Second one I trimmed way too much and it fell apart on the smoker. Third one I left too much silver skin and it chewed like leather. Finally watched a Franklin video and realized the shape matters as much as the fat. Took me about 4 months and maybe $180 in wasted meat to get it right. Did anyone else struggle way longer than they expected with trimming?

2 comments

2 Comments

wadeowens9d ago

That sounds about right, honestly. Trimming is one of those things where you don't realize what you're missing until you see it done properly. It's like learning how to sharpen a knife properly or even just packing a car trunk efficiently. There's a way that looks obvious once someone shows you, but until then you're guessing. What strikes me is how many skills in life are like that. We assume it's simple because the basic idea makes sense, but the real craft is in the details you can't see until you've messed up a few times. Four months and a pile of wasted meat sounds frustrating, but it probably taught you more than any single video could have.

drew_grant528d ago

The learning curve on trimming is steep. I trashed about 30 pounds of pork shoulder before I figured out it's all about finding the natural seams in the muscle.