Food Smokers and Smoking Tips/Tricks/Techniques

Yeah it sucks when you get an alert the temp is down and crap I’m outta pellets.

 

I am from New England. New England bbq is pretty good, but my favorite is either KCMO or Texas, when we talk traditional smoke house style.

favorite is browns on Lamar in Austin I’ve had bbq just about everywhere except the pacific north west and the Dakota’s. I don’t like the vinegar in the Carolinas, TN is good but it’s not my go to. Everyone knows how to do it, there’s no one right way. Just my preferences.

speaking of which I’m driving across Texas in March. Austin isn’t on my route directly but I’m thinking I’ll end up there by following my taste buds.

man, there’s some jokes I can make that I won’t I like the poopers but I’m more of a charcoal guy or stick guy. Call me a caveman I’m good with it. From the rub to the cook I’m all about keeping it simple and not over complicating it. Once you start getting into making your brisket look like Sputnik and Bluetooth and WiFi and instagrammerahammerhammer it’s just not my thing.

I’m only 27 and complaining about the new fangled technology this ain’t bode well.

 

My pooper doesn’t have WiFi or BT.

Ive run all sorts of of smokers. If I ever get to do competitions I’ll get back into stick burners.

 

Yeah I understand but those probes really make it easy for a 50 yr old with 4 kids and guests waiting around to eat. When they say how much longer I just say when the temp gets to...

As far as the jokes yeah it’s kinda like fish in a barrel. And the Instagram stuff is not in my world. My kids yup but not for me.

 

if and when we move to Texas I’m getting one of these. My wife is a vegan and I’d be surrounded by the best of the best. I’d have no practical use for it. I have no reason to want one. Which is why I need one.

 

Heck ya.

If I can ever end up there I’m gonna build one with @Bigdaddy4760

 

nah I get it. I’m the same way with my truck. I paid more for the adaptive cruise (not worth it) and Android/Apple integration (worth it, wish it was wireless but )

to each their own. It doesn’t change anything other than not needing to stand over it at all.

when I cook for a group now I tell them ahead of time they’re getting leftovers unless they wait. A few of my buddies wait but all the in laws - by leftovers I mean I’m doing it the day before, I’m not going to ask them to potentially wait an extra 2-3 hours.

 

Where ya going in Texas

 

austin.

and

I am fully aware.

 

Mind over matter. It doesn't matter if you don't mind. 20 years ago in my 40's I didn't mind it so much. Now my body joints and old injuries scream at me from the cold. Today I finally put the long johns on this year. And I am inside the house LOL.

One good thing about living in the frozen tundra is cheese is pretty easy to smoke. I always do ~20 pounds or so and a lot of nuts for Christmas presents each year. Not worried about it getting too warm LOL.



Getting about the right age to eat now, this batch was for me.

Not backstrap loins unfortunately. Just sirloin for my youngest son. He likes his beef cooked well done :-( so not going to spend money for Filet for him or even Ribeye. Finally a couple of weeks ago he told me would like to have his steaks more like mine but not quite. So have been taking them "only" up to 150-155° for him. And he seems to like them so far and using better cuts of meat. He is 30, there is hope yet. Never give up!! I'll get him down to ~130° yet.

Carolina BBQ sauce actually has at least 3 types of BBQ sauce. Was stationed in the Tidewater VA. Area after taking the USS Coral Sea around the world in 83 and lived down in Currituck NC. Coastal NC sauce is very vinegary. Piedmont changes and in some areas getting close to the foothills of the Appalachians (maybe should be 4 sauces) can actually be similar to the SC mustard sauce. But once you get up in the mountains of Western NC where I retired from the Navy it turns more tomato and sugar based which is my favorite.

I hunt phesants in SD each year with some other retired Navy guys the Admiral bought a house there. BBQ sauce in the Dakotas is what ever you bring with you LOL.



We do eat well. Hunt Mn. and Wi. first and bring any woodcock shot with us to SD and do woodcock Cristina Di Beccaccia on toast for appetizers.



We don't eat too badly in SD.

I'm in my 60's and been in technology a long time. Have all types of technology for smoking but more and more am getting like @Bigdaddy4760 and fly by the seat of my pants. But will NEVER catch up with him no matter how long I live LOL.

I've done electronic knowledge management systems since they came out. And now am the technical specialist for the electronic content management systems at the #1 ranked hospital in the US. Really don't get the need for the whole social media concept. Then again I spent many years in the belly of ships running boilers, pumps, turbines and generators. Please pass the sledge hammer. Going to use it for the morons on social media, not the head of a slugging wrench, just saying...

With others depending on you and especially when I was married the wife doing side dishes having all those probes helped a lot. Even then though my favorite saying was when it is done it is done. AKA when the temperature gets to...

 

Hi! My name is Curt and I am an addict. To food, good food, cooked however it's cooked. Just don't cook it on a XX, coz it's better ona XZ.

 

Shew this thread makes me hungry.

 

Wish we was closer. Would love to cook with ya and meet all those guys.

 

I was craving some Peruvian chicken so I put together some skewers and fired up the pit.



I cut the chicken pretty big so away went the skewers and kept on cooking.



I made some cilantro dipping sauce to go with it.

 

Looks wonderful

 

I will sometimes do a mustard base, but not often at all, and only on pork. More likely I'll just do a rub pat and pack it in, and hope that shit sticks, or maybe do a little bit of oil. Sweat heat probably best describes my rubs, or the outcome of them.

Pretty sure the Carolinas vinegar style is more Eastern NC, but heck, who knows.

 

Wow you all just reminded me of a time I was in Kingstree SC it is an hour outside of myrtle beach. I had forgotten about the Carolina bbq. I was working there and someone said today I’m going to feed you the best bbq for lunch. Presidents eat this in fact we send it to the White House for whatever president at that time. They had pics of the pres eating there. i was pumped I was hungry in fact I avoided snacking just so I wouldn’t spoil my appetite. I took one bite and nearly choked. It was the worse stuff I had ever had. I offended these guys. The vinegar was horrible and I just couldn’t be polite about it. I forced a smile and said it just isn’t my thing.

 

Cool story.

 

4 hours in:



7 hours in and refuel the kettle just now:



I’m trying no wrap this go around, we’ll see how she fares.