Food Smokers and Smoking Tips/Tricks/Techniques

Have any of you built around your smokers to help with cold, windy day smokes? Looking to build something for my upright but wanted to see if you guys had done so, could use some ideas and tips.

 

I've seen people build hinged screens out of plywood sheets and then cover the inside with the heat resistant foil insulation like goes around fireplaces. I'm lucky enough to have 2.5 sides of my smoker already surrounded because of the shape of my patio.

 

I thought about doing that with a prep station built around it.

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=wsm...ved=0ahUKEwiF6pmXjrLMAhVKSiYKHaAmBcUQ_AUIBygC like this.

 

I just smoke in the garage. No worries about fire the smoker is insulated and the outside only gets warm to the touch Then the garage will smells like smoked ribs (or whatever) for a week... no problem there!

 

I used to use the cardboard box my first electric pill smoker came in. Tuck in and tape the top and bottom flaps. Then I could just collapse and fold flat for storage. I've used a beach towel and clothes pin with acceptable results. For a buddies we used 3 2'x4' pieces of plywood (1/2") connected with piano hinges, works great and folds flat for storage. I've always claimed wind was harder to deal with than cold. But with my current set up neither are an issue.

 

Or something like this:

http://www.walmart.com/ip/27653123

 

I'm smoking ribs again. Got the GF's parents in town and they're coming over for dinner. Only 2nd time I've met them.

Anyway, just curious if anybody uses a rib rack? I bought this Weber from Home D but it's close to useless (1st pic). The ribs twist over and lay on top of each other. I have to keep adjusting them as they cook... I found the other one (second pic) on Amazon and it should arrive tomorrow. It's a much better design in that it supports the ribs nearly their entire length. With a few mods it should be near perfect.

 

bottom rack looks nice

 

Yeah, bottom and middle are the same. I just bought that one on Amazon and it's coming in tomorrow. Won't help me with my ribs tonight but I'm hosting a spring BBQ on the day they have the Preakness and there will be about 20 people, so I need to maximize space. This one should do it...

 

yeah, looks it, depending on what size your weber is, i can fit 2 racks lying down on each rack.

or you could fit more if you roll them they say...

 

I do use a rack. Can do 4 racks at a time easy. Mine has slanted slots. Put the ribs in meat side tilted back and the ribs lay out and open - no overlap. I'll try to find a link for you.

 

I have a CharGriller pellet cooker. It's a barrel shape (basically a copy of the Traeger Lil Tex, but bigger). It has a fair amount of space but the ribs I get at Restaurant Depot are pretty long - about 18 inches or so. I find if they get too close to the edges they burn/char, so the rack helps with that.

 

Or you could use two of the HD cheapies side by side, and then you'd have shorter racks for when you might need them for whatever.

 

Could but I haven't needed to use it for anything else... Two of those are about the same cost as the Amazon one I just bought, but the Amazon rack is a much better design.

 

I'm a newb to all this anyway, so that was just my newb suggestion. Is there any reason to not just cut the rib racks in half instead of trying to deal with them full length?

 

I roll mine up if I don't have enough room to lay them all out. You roll them to where the ends are overlapped but not touching and stick a couple of skewers through both ends.

 

I'm thinking about getting rib rack. Let me know how the Amazon one works out for you.

 

Don't buy a rib rack. Not if you have a roasting rack for your oven. The one you set your turkey in during the holidays. Just flip it upside down and use it like a rib rack.


Sent via Jedi mind trick.

 

I do this when space is at a premium.