I smoked a brisket today (9 hour cook) and ended up having to leave it wrapped in the cooler for about 5.5 hours before I got home to slice. In the point, toward the back there was a weird dark brown sludge in the middle coming out of the fat. Anyone ever seen that before, and is it safe to eat?

It didn't smell bad or anything, just looked a bit gross and different. Here's a pic of it (can't upload since I'm not premium): https://ibb.co/2WyfZPV

TIA!

Don't think I have ever seen that but would eat if it didn't stink. Did you try?

Coulda been a weird vein that ran through there. Could also have been an encapsulated puncture.

I didn't try it yet. Ate some of the flat and it tastes good. I cut off all the fat that seemed to be oddly brown and put that portion of the point meat in the fridge in a separate container, so if it doesn't start smelling odd, I'll probably go for it.

I had something like that the last brisket I smoked. I just cut it out with the surrounding fat. Wasn't much but enought that wife and kids would look at it and not want to eat.

Worst case you get a brain amoeba?

LOL You guys are nuts if you are that hungry to eat unidentified brown sludge.

PM me your address and I'll drop off some of my husbands old jerky I was about to throw away.

Don't worry, we're not eating it. The suspicious parts were cut out and discarded! The meat surrounding it looks/smells/tastes just fine.

But I'm definitely too cheap to throw away a 15lb brisket without really a strong reason!

Thanks a lot! Now I am going to have to think of a new name for my imaginary band now that 'Dark brown brisket sludge" is taken.