Smoking meat works by maintaining a low temperature over hours, and it is especially useful for brisket since it is such a dense cut. How long this takes varies greatly.

Each pound of brisket adds 30-60 minutes to your cooking time depending on temperature. For instance, at 250 degrees Fahrenheit, it takes about 45 minutes to cook a pound of meat.

While you can estimate when a brisket will be done cooking, you should always check that it has an internal temperature of at least 195 degrees Fahrenheit before serving.

Fully cooked brisket should be very tender, allowing the thermometer to pierce through easily. Once it's done cooking, let the brisket rest for an hour so the juices can settle.