Food Smokers and Smoking Tips/Tricks/Techniques

Pre emergent ftw!

 

Salt the earth!

 

Ya I need to do a nice retaining wall out front also (downside of building new). I told her we will do some SMALL stuff now out front since she wants the deck out back.

Thanks for the tip on the ring I will definitely follow that. I HATE dealing with weeds and such.

 

Heck ya man I'm actually using the deck to cover up a spot from the freaking dog.

 

Wife is going to Costco today so I'm going to have her reconn some briskets and send me pics so I can pick one out

 

I heard of peeps using washing machine tubs!

 

except i got rid of my old washer before finding this!

 

Okay guys. So need some tips here.

Im going to try cooking some ribs on sunday

so I bought a few things and decided to prepare for it today.

 

I decided to do a test run on the slow n sear i purchased.

 

I wanted to learn how to control my heat and play with the vents.

Yes. Its a waste of charcoal.

Its okay, id rather waste the charcoal than the meat.

 

any tips on controlling the heat?

i know 225* is recommended for low and slow...

but is it bad if im over/under 10 degrees?

im at 300* and its already holding steady - theres nothing on the grill and i have top vents open

bottom vents hairline crack open.. very littlw oxygen..

How would i bring it lower without further chocking the fire (bottom vents) and when i already have full open top vents?


i presume that if i throw in a slab of meat in there, that meat will absorb my heat, bringing down the temperature... is this assumption correct?

 

Is that slow n sear from Adrenaline bar-b-q? They have lots of videos on you tube as well as bar-b-q pit boys. I just recently got a Weber grill and have been really enjoying some great food on it.

 

Yes, slow and sear from ABC

 

I already have water in the slow in sear.

Would adding an additional pan of water under the "ribs" help in further absorb heat?

 

Just beginning here myself to, so take my advice with a grain of salt. Not sure on temp control on the grill, if the bottom vents are almost closed, try closing the top one down some and see what happens. With the WSM, the bottom vents easily keep the temp under control with the top fully open, but with the grill ???

As for temp, on my first two smokes I was aiming for a range of 225-245, since, at least on my WSM, the temp does jump around some as the coal lights and wood chunks torch off.

 

Oh, man you're off to a good start. That ThermoWorks Smoke is killer.

but is it bad if im over/under 10 degrees? No, if your doing low and slow just try to keep it between 225 - 250. Try not to go below 200 and above 275.

im at 300* and its already holding steady - theres nothing on the grill and i have top vents open. Close the top vent to about 1/4 open, thats about as far as you want to go because it needs to be open somewhat to let smoke out of there (yes, too much smoke is bad)

bottom vents hairline crack open.. very littlw oxygen.. Good. That Weber will get pretty hot and 300 will be hard to bring down just using vents. Use less coal, not a full basket.

How would i bring it lower without further chocking the fire (bottom vents) and when i already have full open top vents? See above... as long as there is the slightest amount of air getting to the fuel, it won't go out. The seam between the top and bottom of the kettle allow a bit of air in as well, remember.


i presume that if i throw in a slab of meat in there, that meat will absorb my heat, bringing down the temperature... is this assumption correct? No. You want control of your pit before you put the meat on there. Dont factor in the temp of the meat at all... your pit probe should be 2" away from the meat and the edges of the kettle, so you know you're measuring the pit accurately.

 

yes, definitely. It also help to maintain even temps (once you get where you want) and it provides a place for drippings (easier cleanup).

 

...Products Discussed... below

 

this is the one for the WSM, there are other brands as well...

PartyQ BBQ Temperature Controller for Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker

https://www.amazon.com/PartyQ-BBQ-Temperature-Controller-Mountain/dp/B00UI0Z3PO