Food Smokers and Smoking Tips/Tricks/Techniques

That 45 bucks for a 26qt seems like a really good deal.

I've got the OT 52qt cooler that has served me pretty well. Picked up the Lifetime 55qt later on, but I don't like it near as much.

 

I have the 52 but if I’m going camping just me for a few days it’s way overkill. So I got that small one to downsize. Still have the 52 and will probably keep it for this summer just in case but I’ll probably pitch it.

 

Man, that sounds pretty nice. I haven't been camping by myself in years. Maybe when the kids are a little older and hanging out with their friends on the weekend it will happen again.

 

Up at 0400 and it looks to be a great day for barbecue...

 

Sake wings in the air fryer last night. Can't ask for any better than these. If you haven't tried em your missing out.

 

7 hours in and ready to wrap!

 

Hm. That was quick. In at 0430 and up to 205 by 1400. This is going to be quite a long rest...wife doesn't get home from work until around 1830.

 

Haha I posted those in the AF thread a few times .. glad someone finally tried them!!

 

Question for the expert pitmasters in the forum - With the extra long rest (~4.5 hours) for the brisket, should I do anything to warm it before slicing and / or serving?

It's been double wrapped in foil on a pan in the oven since I pulled it from the smoker. Oven has been off of course.

 

Certainly no expert pitmaster, but... For those long rests wrap in foil and a towel you don't care about, then fit it snugly in a cooler. For the reheat -- stick it back in the smoker if you can.

 

We did it boys. We made a brisket without hecking it up.

 

Looks darn good!

 

They will get a little older before you know it. Then they come in handy carrying those large coolers filled with food and "supplies" LOL. Once they get out of the house and you are on your own those large coolers are too much to carry by your self. Just saying so enjoy it when and while you can.

They also can be used to keep food FROM freezing.



Obviously not back on the NC\SC Saluda grade camping there. But some of my best memories with my sons are back in Western NC, including hiking up to the Devil's Courthouse. Oldest son still talks about that one. Then again he doesn't want to camp anymore after that. I even carried extra socks in a bread bag wrapper for him and an extra pair of boots in my pack up the Mountain. Snow. Rain. Sleet. Wind. Freezing temps. But was not below zero...

 

Carrying too many socks breeds sock wetters. Learn them early and learn them well: Don’t get your socks wet.

 

Get a Yeti style cooler and leave in there unwrapped. I have left a brisket in there for up to 6 hours and it was steaming hot by the time I sliced it that everybody thought I had literally just taken it out the smoker. The trick is to add a pot of hot water in the cooler for about 30 minutes prior to pulling the meat out the smoker to rest so the insulation is already warm and doesn't absorb all the heat from the meat.

 

I posted earlier the 26qt cooler from Walmart is probably perfect size for it and they were on clearance for 45 down from 86.

 

My boys are 9 and almost 13 now, so on one hand I feel like we're in the middle of our best times together -- and even if they don't always admit it, they have fun. But on the other hand, my oldest is getting close to wanting do his own thing. Then after my youngest starts doing his own thing, my wife will probably be pushing me out of the house to go do my own thing!

 

3-2-1 but no sauce. May have been been a little too tender but everyone liked them.

 

You got me started on these. I've done them several times now. I should thank you for sharing.

 

@timred93 @DC 17_3

Any suggestions on the sake wings without an air fryer? I'm thinking - sake soak for 30 ish minutes, salt them down and put 'em on the grill tonight.