Food Smokers and Smoking Tips/Tricks/Techniques

I need a Santa Maria in my life...

Cooked on one tonight at friends.

 

I’ll give it a watch. Probably Monday. Will most like be driving till midnight or so.

 

It's a little more work to get it going but the taste is so worth it. My wife who had been sleeping asked me if I cooked it on the gasser. I said hell no, that thing is only for hot dogs.

If you are not familiar with a Santa Maria Pit this is what it looks like next to a propane grill. All wood with an adjustable grill height.

 

Twelve hours later.

 

Good Morning Smokers

 

Top of the morning to ya’ (in my best British accent).

 

Morning Maner

 

Looks like you are hooked on the braid. Those look better than the ones i did last year. They are easier than pbbe’s.

 

Smoke is rolling today. About 17lbs of butt, and a 13lb prime packer.

 

Got caught up with some crap yesterday morning, then it was too late to start the meat. I didn’t want to be taking meat off at 2AM.

 

Gonna need to put the gross & the tare on that unit soon.

 

Yeah, you definitely have me hooked. Last two I've done, I've tried to make the braids longer. If I can get a belly that is fairly uniform, I'll do one the whole width of it.

 

I need to do one again. What temp you finishing them at?

 

Yessir. I cut the strands about a thumb's width, leaving the belly attached at one end (about an inch). Rub all surfaces of the belly, then braid nice and tight. Two wooden skewers at the free end help keep it together. Add more rub as necessary, then cook using your favorite PBBE method. This takes a little longer than PBBEs by around 30-60 minutes, I've found in my last two attempts.

 

This last one cooked at 250* at all stages.

 

I should have watched how you did that the other day. I was drinking beer.

 

Internal temp?

 

I had that one prepped before you got here.

I'm the father to two daughters, so nailing the braiding part was easy.

Just until it's nice and soft. I figure 195-200*? Probe went in super easy in the thicker parts.