Food Smokers and Smoking Tips/Tricks/Techniques

We are heading to Costco this afternoon to check it out. Our sams membership expired last week. I’ve heard so much about their meat department I need to go see it.

 

I hear so many nice things about Costco, but my city only has 2 and the closest one to me is in one of the worst malls here.

 

ours has a good selection...but prices are very high vs walmart.

 

My first real camera was an old Pentax K-1000. Still got it, still takes great photos. I’ve got a Nikon DSLR that pulls most “real” work, but the iPhone does 90% of what I need.

 

MOINK balls on and us two sirs have kicked off St. Patrick's Day!

Hopefully the last third of Pitfaced BBQ can make it this evening.

 

Ended up going with a 5lb brisket. I’ll try that tomorrow but getting the grill seasoned right now

 

Price differences must be a local thing... here in Seattle area Walmart can’t hold a candle to Costco IF you consider what you get for your money. IMO Costco can’t be beat.

 

Had to google moink balls .Look good .Gotta try that .Baby backs going on soon with some pitfaced rub for our St Patricks party .Was going to cook a day before but deceided didn't want to chance warming up and drying it out .Don't know what kind of Irish food to make so just going to garnish pan with some parsley lol.

 

Good call on the parsley! We had a pour of Jameson Caskmates to get in the spirit.

 

That's an awesome smoker

 

Thanks. I did some research on it prior to purchasing and I really wanted a combo instead of having multiple “grills” on the deck.

Did the few mods suggested from reviews and reading before I started the seasoning too

 

Prices weren't bad at all compared to the mart, and quality was/is much better. Ended up getting a membership and bought some steaks and other stuff. Was mad they didn't have full packer briskets, but I didn't really need one anyway.

That brisket looks goooooodd! You two, not so much. LOL

I have the same one. It does pretty good, but I found it lacking on long smokes. I use mine for all short smokes. Long smokes go on the WSM 18.5".

My mods for it where: RTV all the joints, and the dryer vent to bring heat down to the grate level. Still need to seal the door somehow to better control the temps. Either way, it works and does well. Everything I've made in it was edible!!

 

Story of my life.

 

Wee little leprechaun!! Sanuks are my favorites!

 

Glad you liked Costco, I rarely buy large meat anywhere else now. Weird about the lack of briskets, my Costco always has a ton of them.

 

Putting the MES to work today

Smoked salmon with brown sugar, garlic powder, salt, pepper. Topped with slices of pineapple . Brined earlier with a little Apple juice

 

how long do you smoke the salmon?

 

This is the first smoker I’ve owned but prior to seasoning it I put the flexible dryer vent in, sealed the seams with high temp silicone and put high temp adhesive gaskets on the doors. When I got it filled with smoke, it was still leaking out smoke quite a bit but I don’t feel like it’s enough to make a difference nor do I think it’s going to be completely 100% sealed

 

They had plenty of flats. Some where fresh packed. I'm wondering if they grind the points.

 

So for years I have lighted my lump charcoal with a shot of denatured alcohol and it worked a treat. After getting my Amazing Pellet tray and watching different methods to light I settled on using my $9 Harbor Freight gun. Works a treat and I already had it in the garage. Well some time back I ran out of alcohol and figured I'd try out the heat gun on lump. Within about 2 minutes a good bed of coals was lighted and it has now become my go to method. Today I bought 2 bags of briquettes as I just needed a heat source in my Lodge hibachi. Broke out the heat gun and in 2 minutes had a nice set of starter coals going. Bonus is there is absolutely no flavor added or needing to be burned off like when using liguid or solid fuel starters.

I will say as a side note I have not used briquettes in over a decade and once these are gone I'll not use them again. I bought Kingsford briquettes and once lighted they smell like a trash fire compared to lump. Even cheap lump is superior.