Food Smokers and Smoking Tips/Tricks/Techniques

Jowls have been cured, rinsed, sugared, rested and are now hanging in the garage to air dry. Will start them on smoke later today or tomorrow.

 

It got cold here the last few days, but i had some tenderloins and was hungry... Don't mind the felt ring seal hanging, that happened in the 20 minute ordeal that was me trying to get the BGE open because it was frozen shut. Looks like I'm in the market for a new seal.

 

Next time its frozen shut either stick a hair dryer in the bottom vent for 5 or 10 minutes or you can drop in a lighted sawdust wax block or a few piece of lighted lump.

 

Yeah, thats a good idea... I hit the seal with a hairdryer for a while, and then with my lump lighter magic wand whatever thing and that didn't work, ended up carefully getting a small pry bar in between the seals on the front, but that one side stuck a bit and peeled. I may just find some adhesive and secure it back, its still in fine shape.

 

if its still in one piece should be able to glue it back. Just some kind of food safe epoxy or sealant.

 

it is, just did a quick google search and ordered some of this: https://www.permatex.com/products/g...aximum-temperature-rtv-silicone-gasket-maker/

should be good to go by this weekend

 

Personally prefer the food grade (and safe)

$15 Food Grade NSF FDA RTV Silicone Sealant Adhesive Red High Temp 10.3oz (Standard Version) (Standard Version)

RTV Although honestly don't think it will hurt using what you are using. There is some debate over the food safe aspect. It is between the metal and felt and not exposed so I don't feel it is a hazard. But just in case use food grade RTV. Permatex makes good stuff that is what we used in the Engine room of ships on flanges that don't take a silver seal or flex gasket.

I put seals on all my charcoal burners. If you don't keep them covered the snow melts on top and can run down inside and then freezes and sticks to the felt. That is why they come off. And why I keep mine covered in the winter.



The gasser just throw the cover over the top because I only use the side table to sit the chimney on when it is hot after dumping.

Been a week since I've grilled has been below zero for most of the last 3 weeks. In the 20's now and supposed to hit 30 this weekend. Time to shovel the deck off and free the grills and smoker.
And my banana ketchup, cane vinegar and Calamansi should be here today Time to run to Costco and get the meat.

 

3M Super77 is what you want to use. Clean the ceramic with acetone and then spray both surfaces w/ 3M Super77 wait until its tacky and stick the gasket to the ceramic. Close the lid for 24 hours and your done.

Do not use RTV. The glue only needs to hold the gasket in place not bond it to the ceramic. I replaced my felt gasket with a Nomex one 8 years ago with 3M Super77 as per the directions and the top gasket just came off (because I snagged it) a couple months ago. If I hadn't snagged it, it'd still be in place.

Another trick is to piece of wax/parchment paper between the lid/base after its cooled down a bit.

 

Thanks for the tips guys! We aren't used to much snow down here so its not a common problem. The cover would have been on it except I cooked a few nights ago and it wasn't cooled off enough to put the cover on before i went to bed, and woke up to snow!

 

After 7 days in the cure spice mixture I removed from the zip top bag rinsed w/ cold water to get off the bulk of the spices then vac packed. Then into the Sous Vide bath at 134* for about 17hrs. Removed from SV put into ice water bath to rapidly cool then opened the bag (smelled great) removed the "corned beef" and patted it dry with paper towels. Then a dusting of onion powder, granulated garlic and a heavy dose of black pepper. Wrapped in plastic wrap and put in the fridge to "firm up" and until I have time to get it over some smoke later tonight or tomorrow.

 

My smoker has lived it's life to date in the garage so far, which has solved all these issues for me. Now if it would only not be stupid cold and snowy I would go out and smoke some meat.

 

I almost feel bad for y’all who are freezing right now. I’m not sure if I’d prefer snow over rust. Here in Hawaii, any bare metal part rusts. Never ending battle

 

Where ever you live, something sucks. Just have to figure out what sucks worse to you and go where it's not.

 

True.

 

I lived in FL for 18 years and hopefully soon will be back there.

Rusting grill sucks less than face freezing and falling off while trying to smoke a brisket.

 

Cold =salty roads =rust lol
So don’t be too jealous

 

zombie land. If you havent seen it

 

It's all mind over matter. It doesn't matter if you don't mind.

 

Just noticed Nova laying behind the Jumbo Joe.