Food Smokers and Smoking Tips/Tricks/Techniques

I went inexpensive but highly rated. There were certainly better, more expensive, but this seemed like a good value. I've used it tonight for dinner (inappropriately to cut vegetables!) and it worked great.

$22 MAIRICO Brisket Slicing Knife - Ultra Sharp Premium 11" Stainless Steel Carving Knife for Slicing Roasts, Meats, Fruits and Vegetables

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073PXSQCS/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

A couple of chicken from a few weeks ago, bacon wrapped jalepeno stuffed chicken breasts, and some reverse grilled steaks my 13 yr old made for Father’s Day, they were phenomenal

 

Yep, had it for about three weeks, bought it from a guy I work with for $75! I absolutely love it, nothing like the taste of charcoal grilled food!

 

Good chance you were comparing a Costco Prime brisket to a grocery store Choice grade brisket. But maybe not like someone said it is a Regional thing. But any Costco brisket here in Mn. above $40 is a Prime. And much better quality. Hell even Costco Choice is better than most grocery store or packing plant choice by far and closer to their Prime grade.

You sound just like I used to so I understand that. Hunt pheasants in SD with some other retired Navy guys and a few AF pilots each year. 2 years ago 8 of them were all telling me I should join Costco and gave reasons why. After a few minutes I stopped arguing and started listening. Have done well for myself since retired from the Navy and a big part of that was the ability to listen and process information. But also the lowest ranked one of the 8 was a Lt. Cdr. up through a 2 Star Admiral and they all belonged to Costco someplace in the CONUS or Hawaii. And I am a Chief LOL. Still wasn't enough to convince me in the end.

Read on here for a couple of years how great the meat was at Costco. Wasn't enough, but getting closer. Then Groupon offered what was basically a free membership to Costco. It was enough then nothing to loose. They upsold me and ended up with the $120 a year membership (normal is $60 or $5 a month) but get 2% back at the end of the year with the upgrade. Just got a check for almost $90 and yer damn right going to renew. After getting meat there for a year every place else I look just can't bring myself to buy it, there is no comparison. Costco wins hands down.

Like someone said the other day everyone needs shit paper, paper towels and meat. I will throw in carrots. My Toller eats carrots for treats and goes through a 10 pound bag in no time. And there are other things there that are well worth the money. Just saying....

I moved to Mn. from Asheville. Lived in Currituck before that when I was stationed in the Tidewater area. Ex MIL lived in Hickory then Wilmington. Ex SIL lives in Clayton. My youngest sister and Mother live in Wake Forrest. I have shopped at Piggly Wiggly more than a few times. Passed one in Wi. last year on my way to a Sporting Clays shoot and damn near wrecked the truck LOL.

Although I like the produce at Harris Tweeter better than the Wiggly Hey besides they are actually NC based

But Costco for the win. Just saying....

 

They LOOK phenomenal! Great, now I'm hungry... Your 13 yr old executed well Dad. Must have had a good teacher

 

Well said. Over the years I’ve been to all the butchers around here, still stop in sometimes to see what’s up, and I keep going back to Costco. No comparison when you factor all variables in. And it was me who said I only go there for shit paper, paper towels, and meatz. Those 3 alone saves me a few hundred a year.

 

Damnit Jim, I'm a Chef, not a photographer!

No pics really - I was a 1 man show so I focused on the grill

 

I might take the plunge!

 

closest Costco to me is 92 miles...

 

The closest Cosco to me is in a shitty little mall and always packed I hate fighting to park then standing in line for hours

 

Now that I can get behind, you gotta Zen out when you go in there or you’ll go crazy. That’s why I just get those three things and then split.

 

215 miles for me, but I still go there every chance I can because it’s frickin awesome.

 

Guess I'm lucky, I have 3 within 15 miles of me. 4 if I'm willing to drive another 5 miles further.

 

Love me some Costco. You could limit me in that store to Ribeyes, briskets, and pork belly and I would still get a membership.

There is a pretty nice bump in quality going to prime brisket over choice. We'll see Saturday if wagyu is even better .

 

Guess count me lucky too. I live in the second largest metro area in Mn. When I moved here there were 50K people. Now there is more than 100K. And between work and the State they are expanding to try and make it the number one Medical Destination City in the country at the tune of $1 Billion dollars a year over the next 20 years. Getting close to time to move again.

Used to be if there were more than 5 people at the stop light in front of me it was rush hour. Now I consider that light traffic.

Only have one Costco but it is less than a mile from my work. I take my RTIC cooler with me when I do go into work in the summer. Used to use it mainly while grouse hunting on the North Shore of Lake Superior.



During the summer months it is now my Costco meat cooler when I do go into the office. And park in the same stall. And put the buggy in the same buggy stall. Timing is everything anymore, getting to be too many people here like many other places around the Country. But still there are ways around it, just wish they opened earlier so I could get in and out sooner especially on the weekends.

7 months or sometimes more of the year not a problem and don't need the cooler just throw it in the back of the truck and lock the topper

 

I must confess. I had gotten into a really bad habit of marinating any cut of meat (beef and deer) that I would grill. Since getting the Char-Griller Akorn, all I have used is a light sprinkle of seasoning salt. I can't believe how much meat has been wasted with fake tastes added to it. I feel like a new man. I'm sure using charcoal also helps with the flavor!

 

My first batch of bacon (A little over 6 lbs)... Cured with pink salt, brown sugar and pepper for 7 days, then cold smoked for 3 hours - Super Easy. Whenever a meal called for bacon, I'd set the oven to 450° and throw a portion in until ready.
Anybody have any smoked bacon recipes?

 

How long did it take them to dry after you pulled them from the smoker?

 

I let them sit out for about an hour. If you put them in a container right away they tend to grow mold in a few days.