Smoke Planning Tools
- Brisket Calculator — Plan Your Cook from Serve Time to Fire StartFree brisket calculator that works backward from your serve time. Enter weight, pit type, and weather — get your exact start time, wrap window, and rest period.
- Smoke PlannerBuild a complete BBQ cook plan from serve time, cut, weight, pit, weather, wrap, and rest choices.
- Pork Shoulder (Boston Butt) Smoke PlannerBuild a Pork Shoulder (Boston Butt) cook plan with engine-based timing, pit, weather, wrap, and rest calculations.
- Pork Ribs (Spare/St. Louis) Smoke PlannerBuild a Pork Ribs (Spare/St. Louis) cook plan with engine-based timing, pit, weather, wrap, and rest calculations.
- Baby Back Ribs Smoke PlannerBuild a Baby Back Ribs cook plan with engine-based timing, pit, weather, wrap, and rest calculations.
- Beef Brisket Smoke PlannerBuild a Beef Brisket cook plan with engine-based timing, pit, weather, wrap, and rest calculations.
- Beef Ribs Smoke PlannerBuild a Beef Ribs cook plan with engine-based timing, pit, weather, wrap, and rest calculations.
- Chicken Wings Smoke PlannerBuild a Chicken Wings cook plan with engine-based timing, pit, weather, wrap, and rest calculations.
- Chicken Pieces (Thighs, Quarter) Smoke PlannerBuild a Chicken Pieces (Thighs, Quarter) cook plan with engine-based timing, pit, weather, wrap, and rest calculations.
- Chicken Breast Smoke PlannerBuild a Chicken Breast cook plan with engine-based timing, pit, weather, wrap, and rest calculations.
- Whole Chicken Smoke PlannerBuild a Whole Chicken cook plan with engine-based timing, pit, weather, wrap, and rest calculations.
- Turkey Pieces (Thighs, Quarter) Smoke PlannerBuild a Turkey Pieces (Thighs, Quarter) cook plan with engine-based timing, pit, weather, wrap, and rest calculations.
- Whole Turkey Smoke PlannerBuild a Whole Turkey cook plan with engine-based timing, pit, weather, wrap, and rest calculations.
- Turkey Breast Smoke PlannerBuild a Turkey Breast cook plan with engine-based timing, pit, weather, wrap, and rest calculations.
- Tri-Tip Roast Smoke PlannerBuild a Tri-Tip Roast cook plan with engine-based timing, pit, weather, wrap, and rest calculations.
- Lamb Shoulder Smoke PlannerBuild a Lamb Shoulder cook plan with engine-based timing, pit, weather, wrap, and rest calculations.
Brisket
- Brisket on a Pellet Grill / Traeger — Cook Times, Settings & What to Watch ForPellet grill brisket at 225°F runs 1.5-1.75 hrs/lb. Use super smoke for the first 2 hours. Full cook time tables, cold weather tips, and overnight planning included.
- Brisket on an Offset Smoker — Timing, Fire Management & the Overnight CookOffset brisket at 225°F runs ~2 hrs/lb — 10-20% longer than a kamado. Fire management schedule, hot spot rotation, and overnight controller setup included.
- How Long to Smoke a Brisket — Cook Times, Temps & TimingExactly how long to smoke a brisket at 225°F and 250°F. Cook time charts by weight, stall tips, and a free smoke planner that works backward from your serve time.
- How to Smoke a Brisket — Complete Step-by-Step GuideHow to smoke a brisket: trim to ¼ inch fat cap, smoke at 250°F, wrap at 165°F, pull at 203°F, rest 2 hours. Complete step-by-step guide with free timeline planner.
- How to Smoke BrisketLearn exactly how long to smoke a brisket. Cook time by weight, target pull temperature (203°F), stall tips, wood selection, and a free calculator that builds your full timeline from spark to serve.
- Overnight Brisket — The Complete Guide to Smoking While You SleepOvernight brisket is normal. Here
- Smoked Brisket for Beginners — Your First Brisket, Done RightEverything a first-time brisket smoker needs to know. Buying, trimming, seasoning, the stall, wrapping, resting, and slicing — explained step by step with zero assumed knowledge.
- Smoking Brisket at 225°F vs 250°F — What Actually Changes225°F vs 250°F for brisket: cook time, bark, stall, and moisture compared side by side. Most experienced pitmasters use 250°F. Here
- What Time Should I Start Smoking a Brisket?Serve at 5pm? A 12lb brisket at 225°F means lighting the fire by 9pm the night before. Get the full start time table plus your exact personalized schedule.
Ribs
- How Long to Smoke Beef Ribs — Plate Ribs, Back Ribs & Dino BonesBeef plate ribs (dino bones) at 250°F: 8-10 hours to 200-205°F. Beef back ribs: 4-6 hours. Plate vs back rib differences, no-wrap approach, and Texas oak pairing.
- How Long to Smoke Ribs — Baby Backs, Spare Ribs & St. Louis StyleExactly how long to smoke baby back ribs, spare ribs, and St. Louis style ribs. The 3-2-1 method explained, cook time charts, and a free smoke planner.
- How Long to Smoke Spare Ribs — Full Rack, St. Louis Style & 3-2-1 TimingSpare ribs at 225°F: 5-7 hours. St. Louis style: 5.5-6.5 hours. 3-2-1 method, trimming St. Louis style, and done tests that actually work.
- How to Smoke Baby Back Ribs — The Complete Step-by-Step GuideHow to smoke baby back ribs: membrane removal, rub, 2-2-1 timing, foil wrap contents, glaze window, and the bend test. Full step-by-step guide.
- How to Smoke RibsSmoke time for baby back and spare ribs at 225–250°F. The 3-2-1 method explained, target internal temperatures, the bend test, and a free rib cook planner that builds your full timeline.
- The 3-2-1 Ribs Method — What It Is, How It Works, and When to Use ItThe 3-2-1 method: 3 hours smoke, 2 hours wrapped, 1 hour finish. Baby backs use 2-2-1. What goes in the foil, how to tell when each phase is done, and common mistakes.
Poultry
- How Long to Smoke a Chicken — Whole Birds, Thighs & HalvesHow long to smoke a whole chicken, chicken thighs, and chicken halves. Cook time charts, crispy skin tips, and a free smoke planner.
- How Long to Smoke a Turkey — Cook Times, Temps & TimingHow long to smoke a turkey at 225°F, 250°F, and 325°F. Cook time chart by weight, crispy skin tips, safe temps, and a free smoke planner.
- How Long to Smoke a Turkey Breast — Time, Temp & Keeping It JuicySmoked turkey breast at 275°F: 2.5-3.5 hours bone-in, 1.5-2.5 hours boneless. Pull at 165°F. Dry brine, bone-in vs boneless, and holding tips included.
- How Long to Smoke Chicken Breast — Time, Temp & the Moisture GuideSmoked chicken breast at 250°F: 45-75 minutes. Pull at 160°F — carryover to 165°F. The brine that prevents dryness and the narrow window between done and dry.
- How Long to Smoke Chicken Wings — Time, Temp & the Crispy Skin FixSmoked chicken wings: 250°F takes 2-2.5 hrs, 300°F takes 1.5 hrs for crispier skin. The crispy skin fix, saucing windows, and game day planning included.
- How to Smoke TurkeySmoked turkey at 275°F: 12 lbs takes 3.5 hours, 20 lbs takes 5.5 hours. Complete guide with Thanksgiving start times, dry brine method, and free timeline planner.
- Smoked Turkey for Thanksgiving — Exact Start Times and Day-of Planning GuideThanksgiving turkey at 275°F: 12 lbs needs ~3.5 hrs, 20 lbs needs ~5.5 hrs. Start time table for every weight and serve time, plus the 2-day dry brine that changes everything.
Reference
- BBQ Cook Time by Pit Type — Offset, Kamado, Pellet & KettleHow your smoker type affects cook time. Side-by-side comparison of offset smokers, kamado grills, pellet grills, and kettle grills — with timing adjustments for each.
- BBQ Resources for Weekend Pitmasters — Forums, References & Free ToolsThe best BBQ forums, reference sites, and free planning tools for home pitmasters. No fluff — just the resources that actually get used.
- BBQ Timing Calculator FAQ — 20 Questions, All AnsweredAnswers to the 20 most common BBQ timing and smoke planning questions. When to start, how long per pound, what to do during the stall, how to hold meat, and more.
Get Your Exact Light-the-Fire Time
Tell the planner your cut, weight, pit type, serve time, and weather. It works backward and builds your schedule.
Build My Cook PlanFrequently Asked Questions
What free BBQ planning tools does Weekend Pitmasters offer?
The main smoke planner works backward from your serve time, adjusts for pit type and live weather, and covers 14 cuts. There is also a dedicated brisket calculator. Both are free with no account required.
Does Weekend Pitmasters have a guide for beginners?
Yes — the Smoked Brisket for Beginners guide covers the full process from buying to slicing. The BBQ Timing FAQ answers the 20 most common smoke planning questions. And the smoke planner walks through inputs step by step.
Are all the guides on Weekend Pitmasters free?
Yes. Every guide, calculator, and planning tool on Weekend Pitmasters is free with no account or registration required. The smoke planner stores settings locally in your browser — your data stays on your device.