Food Smokers and Smoking Tips/Tricks/Techniques

But you have to lift the lid and poke the meat with it. And how do you know what the temp is inside the smoker? Please don't say the gauge on the dome...

You really need a remote setup. If you lift the lift your not cooking your looking.

Dog better not chew up cheap or expensive thermometers! Of course depends on age.

If your WSM is the newer one it has a silicone gasket for the wires to go through. They are built in for a reason and I have run pit probe plus 3 meat probes at the same time doing Canadian bacon. You would be surprised at the time difference for different chunks of meat to come up to target temp



Although that is just 2 meat and pit, and one chuckie took an hour and a half longer than the other one.

 

I have a wireless dual probe I use, think it was in the $40-$50 range (got it as a gift from wife/daughter). I like the smoke but between the cost of it and then to add the internet gateway that is a LOT of money.

 

I was given a Char-Broil Coldspot - I've checked it with my thermapen and they are consistent - for about $20, I'd buy another one when it goes. If you need more than one probe then a unit like Smoke makes sense. I don't need an app when I've got a remote though, starts to get a little less like cooking and more video game.

Although I'm looking at the PartyQ temp controller for when I get a better drum - a $99 Trail Embers drum and a $150 PartyQ are still less than a 22" WSM new.

All this to smoke cheap meats - Why not take the gear money and buy good cuts? Same reason I hunt ducks - BTW, never - EVER - do math on ducks per pound.

 

Yep that is all that is needed and for years ran a $50 Maverick Redi Chek. But once I got the ATC it had 3 meat probes and pit probe for "free" LOL. Including internet gateway.

Now I use the Maverick to monitor temps in dog crate under the topper on the truck.



For grilling I still use a $20 Weber "instant" read thermometer I'm on my second or third one though. After many years, have gotten my money's worth out of them. Don't have to spend a fortune on any of them, just the right tool for the job.

 

I feel the same about all the gizmos like wifi and apps and such, but a lot of people like them so I'm just sharing info. ThermoWorks is not the cheapest out there but it is the best IMO.

 

Last night I put a couple fresh peaches (sliced up) on the dehydrator. Tonight they are going on the smoker for an hour of light smoke then place in a sealed jar for a couple days to let the smoke settle and flavors to meld. Next step is fine chopping of the peaches slices and used on top of some fresh vanilla bean ice cream.

 

Having used the probe, I agree - way better than opening the lid all the time. That is of course once I verified it's consistency.

 

I was just saying it's a lot of money. on sale you have what $76 for the Smoke and $89 for the gateway is $165 for it. I like toys I love remote capability and would be nice to be able to pull up the temps from my phone while I'm doing other things around the house. That's just a lot scratch I could be spending on the meats lol this is an EXPENSIVE hobby.

 

Yeah, it is. I'm not gonna get the wifi gateway, don't care at all about that, too old school to care, but I know a few people who are like "gotta have all the toys" so I just keep my mouth shut (as opposed to right now ). I want as few tools as possible, caveman style cooking.



Maybe not that far but you get the point. What few tools I do have though, I want the best available because I buy them once.

 

It is expensive and getting more so every day.

Went to my favorite butcher shop this weekend to pick up a pork belly. When he rang me up he couldn't believe it and tried to over ride the system but it wouldn't let him. He felt bad so threw in some breakfast sausages for free.



Overnight it went from $3.99 to $4.79 a pound and that is skin on. Looks like I'll be getting those small Costco bellies at $3.49 a pound from now on. But not sure how long they will stay at that price. Which reminds me I have a 14 and a half pound belly to skin and cure yet today

Oh screw that shit I'm getting too old for it LOL. Yeah at one time turn me loose in the woods with a knife and call it good. Now I want a cabin with running water! Only been the last couple years that it has changed, and it has in a big way. Love the automatic temp. control on the WSM. And do computer systems for a living don't want to dork around them at home either just plug it in and configure once. Much more than that I am cussing. Damn kids get the hell off the lawn! Hell I even get that now

 

I hear ya, and I'm getting there. Just turned 54 and find myself saying "fuck that" more often than I used to . Trying hard to hold on to the caveman / old school ideal but all these gizmos are tempting at times.

 

I used to have a Maverick wireless thermometer, but it started acting wonky, so I ditched it and never got around to replacing it. That was a few years ago. Now I just use River Country thermometers on my drums. They are tightened about 95% of the way so that I can rotate them. I put whatever my desired cooking temp is at the 12 o'clock position so I can read them from across the patio. Thermopop to get a couple of readings during the cook and to feel for tenderness at the end. I may get another wireless thermometer down the road and, if I do, it'd almost certainly be the Thermoworks option.

 

$10 at lowes. I might pick one up.

I have a dual probe temp monitor right now but I think an insta-read thermometer would be helpful.

 

As long as you aren't too picky about defining "instant". I too have a Weber and a few other cheapies I used to use... every one of them took at least 20 seconds to get a reading, usually closer to 30. That's a long time to have the lid off.

 

I feel like a grumpy old man at times and I'm only in my mid 40's. Wife wants to go camping and my idea now of camping is a cabin with electricity and beds and stuff. I just ain't all about roughing it anymore. My back and shoulder are too old for that garbage. When I wake up after sleeping on the ground in a sleeping bag for a little while and can barely move that stuff ain't happening again. I told her I would go buy a motorhome and she can sleep outside in a tent at the camp grounds.

 

This is all I am using, and I noticed on reading the reviews that a lot of people had this break down right away. Mine seems to be doing okay.

( that photo does not show the probe or the transmitter base.)

I have practiced with this thing for 5 months and it's been very reliable for a $14 Chinese marvel.

But the truth is that while the Weber Smokey Mountain is new to me, I have been cooking nearly 50 years and I kind of know what I'm doing without a thermometer.

I didn't bother to use the silicone port in the side of the grill but instead I just stick the probe in through the top vent, since I always run with the top vent wide open unless it is windy.

I paid $300 for mine, and I thought it was a little expensive for a piece of stamped steel and some welded wire. But it came well recommended from an experienced barbecuer, and everything he told me about it was right on. I love it.

That being said, I hate the aluminum legs and the aluminum heat shield and the aluminum door. But if I have a little more time and motivation to do some welding I'm going to spiff this setup up a little.

 

Thank you. I have probably forgotten more acronyms than I can remember nowadays.

 

Good to know. Thanks

 

50 years of experience!?!?! Looking forward to some stories, ideas, and recipes .

The WSM is well recommended for a reason. They are excellent smokers. For $300, there has to be some give and it manifests itself in the aluminum bits you mention. A $450 version likely wouldn't have that, but, then it'd be $450.

If you're motivated and skilled enough (sounds like you are), then there are lots of mods you can do to it from simple & cheap all the way up through elaborate & not-so-cheap. The Virtual Weber Bullet website will be a gold mine of information on modifications. Between that site and the plethora of WSM owners in this thread, you'll be well accommodated.

As for the door, here is one solution:

https://www.cajunbandit.com/18-5-WSM-Upgrade-Kit-p/18wsmupk.htm

 

$80 WSM at walmart for the 14.5 I'm thinking about it...