Saw a guy trim brisket with a chainsaw at a comp in Austin last weekend

I was at the Lockhart Smoke-Off in Austin last Saturday and this pitmaster from Arkansas pulls out a tiny chainsaw to trim his brisket flat. Said it saves him 20 minutes per cook and he's been doing it for 3 years. Anyone else ever seen something that wild at a competition?

3 comments

3 Comments

alice_palmer2022d ago

Is it just me or did anyone else's jaw drop reading that? I totally get where riverreed is coming from though. @danielw88's leaf blower comment cracked me up but also made me think about how far some folks will go to shave time. I've been trimming with a regular knife for 5 years and you can't beat that control, even if it takes an extra 20 minutes. One slip with a chainsaw and you've got a shredded flat on your hands.

danielw8822d ago

Next thing you know they'll be using a leaf blower to cool off their pork butts. Barbecue meets Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

riverreed22d ago

Ha, you gotta be kidding me. A chainsaw on brisket sounds like a disaster waiting to happen, and I don't get saving 20 minutes if you're ruining the meat. I've been competing for eight years and trimming with a sharp knife is half the battle for getting that smooth, even fat cap. One wrong move with a chainsaw and you're tearing up the grain or losing way too much meat. Are folks just trying to make BBQ a full-on circus act now?