Food Smokers and Smoking Tips/Tricks/Techniques

Looks great!

 

Wha huh? What is this devilry?

 

Now add hose and a fan controlled by a logic board which makes adjustments based on temp. probe in the pit.



It is some type of black magic... You don't even have to add punch cards to it for it to work. Or rewire for memory.

 

But... I like punch cards.

This is good AF. Very cool!

 

I have one. Doesn't see much action unless long cooks are needed. Charcoal is my preferred choice.

 

How long will one load of coal maintain that temp with the unit?

 

Depends on outside air temp of course. Teens below zero only about 6 hours before refill. But closer to 8-10 hours now. The limiting factor was the deep water bowl that is huge and prevented really packing the ring full.

I don't use water in the water pan when I smoke and read the heat shield fits it perfectly and allows a lot more fuel. Finally found one but haven't done a long smoke since I replaced it but expect that I can go a good 12 hours during the summer without touching it. I use a metal ice scoop to load more charcoal and now can open the door and throw a load or 2 in and close it in less than a minute if I had to. Before the water pan blocked most of it.



This was for ribs and only need 6 hours max so didn't fill it near as full as I could of. Lot more room for fuel now.

 

Thanks. I thought the wsm's could do long smokes like that without that controller.

 

Oh for sure they can. The ATC is just so I don't have to mess with the vents to maintain temps. Can see more than a 60 degree ambient air change during a long cook here in the winter. And it is nice to not have to run outside to make adjustments. Or leave the AC in the summer LOL. But I do keep a close eye on it through the windows whenever a fire is burning.

 

The WSM can do anything, all depends on how much time you spend with it. Read: things like that auto-fan make it same as pellet pooper for cooks under 16 hours. Just takes experience.

 

Ok. I got you now. My next purchase was going to be a wsm for longer smokes, you had me worried. Current smoker does well for ribs and other short smokes. I can get 6 hours easy on one load, 4-5 lbs of coal, but longer smokes get to be pain. I've been pulling butts and briskets after 6 hours and finishing them in the oven. I'd really like to do long smokes completely on a smoker for that added flavor and bark.

 

Mine is an electric so I need something else. (walks away ashamed)


Actually I wasn't sure I'd stick with it so I cheaped out.

 

WSM is awesome in my opinion. Wanted one for years and not really sure why it took me so long to finally get it. Last year sometime Cabelas of all places had them on sale for about $150 off and free shipping. It was in my driveway by the end of the week LOL.

Yeah smoked on cheap offsets, propane, cheap bullet smokers, electric and the kettle. The WSM is all I could ask for and then some. Still if a Primo XL landed on my deck I wouldn't kick it to the curb though! With the ATC I can also go down to 140-160 fairly easy and keep it there so will get another one dedicated for smoking fish at some point.

 

My first smoker was a Luhr Jensen Little Chief in the early 80's and smoked probably literally a ton of a salmon on it. And hundreds of pounds of steelhead and trout.

 

I bought an electric, MES 40". I didnt even open the box, gave it to the father in law for a Christmas present. Do you use the AMAZ-N pellet or dust trays with your electric?

 

I haven't tried to smoke any fish yet. I have 15-20 pounds of salmon in the freezer that I'm going to do this fall/winter when the temps cool back down. I hope to have 30 more pounds by then as well. I'm doing a 14 day trip to NY this year for salmon.

 

I have an MES 30 that i use weekly and I have an A-MAZE-N but I have not used it yet.

 

Search smoking meat forums. Lots of people using the MES and amaze-n trays with good looking results.

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/

 

I need to find the right pellets to use if that matters. I'm finding my wife and I like hickory the best.