Foil Boat

The foil boat is a hybrid wrapping technique that gives you some benefits of the Texas Crutch without fully enclosing the meat. You shape aluminum foil into a boat or tray around the meat, covering the bottom and sides but leaving the top (bark side) exposed to smoke and dry heat.

How to Make a Foil Boat: 1. Tear off a piece of heavy-duty foil about 3 feet long 2. Fold it in half for extra strength 3. Place the brisket or ribs on the foil 4. Fold the foil up around the sides, creating walls about 2-3 inches high 5. Leave the top completely open

Why Use It: - Protects the bottom of the meat from direct heat (helpful on smokers that run hot on the bottom) - Catches drippings and rendered fat, which keeps the bottom moist - Preserves bark on the top surface since it's still exposed to smoke and dry heat - Helps slightly with temperature recovery without fully wrapping

When I Use Foil Boats: - On beef ribs, where I want the bone side protected but the meat cap exposed to smoke - On brisket sometimes, as a compromise between wrapping and not wrapping - When my smoker is running a bit hot and I want to shield the bottom without losing bark

The foil boat doesn't push through the stall as effectively as a full wrap because the top is still exposed to evaporative cooling. It's a middle ground — some stall protection, full bark preservation. Think of it as the 60% solution that doesn't require any sacrifice.