Food Smokers and Smoking Tips/Tricks/Techniques

Hey Guys, looking for some assistance trying to smoke. I am an amateur here and recently purchased a vertical propane smoker. I have done a lot research on how to properly smoke/cook but I having a little trouble with the smoke part. I soak my wood in water for at least an hour, get the smoker nice and hot (usually above 350 degrees) and the wood starts to smoke. I give it a few minutes, I see a nice blue smoke so then I proceed to lower the temp to the 200 range. Yet once the temp gets below 300 or so, the smoke stops?? I fire the temp back up, it starts to smoke again. I leave it to smoke at high temps for about 10 minutes and then attempted to lower the temp again and yet again I lost the smoke. Ughh....what am I missing? Am I doing something wrong?

Any help will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

 

I've never used a gas fired smoker, but I never soak my wood.

 

Sounds like your wood box is too far away from the heat. If you put a chunk of wood on the rack in your 225 deg oven, it's not going to smoke. It needs contact with the hot flame or element to do anything.

 

What kind of wood are you using?
My wood smoker has an optional gas burner. The shop had one running on natural gas with a large cast iron pot above the flames with several short oak logs and it was smoking at 225.


Post some pics of your setup.

 

I was using wood chips and they were directly above, actually on the flame. I did some research today and found out that soaking the wood was useless and that I should be using wood chunks instead of the chips for longer smoking. I read that the wood chips only last up to 45 minutes if that. That may explain some of the issues, but not why I couldn't keep the smoke going. I may run a test this weekend with a wood chunk (not soaked) and see how it goes.

Here is a pic of my setup, it's not the greatest pic either. I had just finished throwing together that cart I made. I wanted to be able to wheel it around with the propane tank and added a shelf for convenience. I added a piece of aluminum on the bottom to prevent any fire just in case something hot dropped down. I also covered the wood in that "high heat" paint you can get from Home Depot. I figured it couldn't hurt! If you notice in the picture, around the edges, I added an insulation kit to help seal the smoker better. This is the link of what I bought - http://bbqgaskets.com/catalog_2.html
I also purchased this thermometer, per recommendations, to help keep track of the temperature acurately! http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007UFOUB8/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

Anybody?

 

Perhaps I am just a traditionalist, but in my opinion, propane has no business in smoking.

That being said, I will tell you that it is VERY difficult to provide the appropriate amount of true "smoke" for cooking with a propane unit. Picture it from the charcoal standpoint: When smoking in a charcoal base, the wood is placed within the charcoal itself, but it tends to smolder more than open-flame burn as things progress. This smoldering is what creates the most flavorful, deep-reaching smoke. It is nearly impossible to put wood of any kind over the top of an open propane flame without it actually catching fire and burning, increasing the heat in the smoker. This means that in order to attain the same smoke flavor, you will need to use a larger amount of total wood, adding it to the "fire" in smaller amounts, but more often as it burns down.

That is what I have heard from some people who claim the propane units are easier to control on heat, so don't take it as gospel, but it does make perfect sense to me.

 

I am only a beginner here but I found this....
http://www.amazingribs.com/recipes/chicken_turkey_duck/ultimate_smoked_turkey.html

I enjoy this website and it's had a lot of great recipes and tips!

 

A smoke generator alleviates all the problems mentioned above.

 

This....

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Brinkman...harcoal-Smoker-and-Grill-855-6305-S/202252980

Or this...

http://www.weber.com/grills/series/smokers/smc-smoker-185

 

Put a tray if water down next to the coals. That will help the temp from getting to hot. Close the bottom vent 1/2 way and regulate the temp with the top vent. 1/3 open seems to keep mine around 250-300*

 

I don't have a top vent though

 

I'm going a brisket on my trager Saturday after I get home I think

 

No opinions either way?

 

I don't mean to offend anyone, but most smokers you get at Homedepot or sporting goods store are junk. They are too thin and wont hold a constant temperature. THey will completely rust out in a few years. 3 good size guys struggled to unload my Lyfe Tylme...they loaded it with a forklift at the store.


I am speaking from long term 12+hours smoking perspective. But for short term chicken, they may suit you needs. What do you plan on smoking with it?


I own a Lyfe Tyme. Entry level about $750. Highly Regarded in Texas
http://www.lyfetyme.com/


My buddy has a Klose are considered the best in Texas...but they are very expensive. About $2,000 for an entry level.
http://www.bbqpits.com/

 

I have been using my uds (ugly drum smoker) for about 4 years or so now with zero issues. It holds temps with no problem in sub freezing temps, is completely adjustable and will hold meats as large as whole turkey. I have even done 15 hour briskets and never once had to open the top or add more fuel. Most times I start it up and go to bed, only to wake up to delicious BBQ. Total cost into to thing is about $40 (including the drum) due to being resourceful and finding or waiting until I could find the pieces I needed. The best thing you could do for yourself before buying a smoker is research research research! I read for months before I decided to make my drum. And as far as bang for the buck I don't think it can be beat. I think if I had the money I would get an egg, but I would probably still keep my drum. Don't get me wrong top dollar smokers are nice, and if you can afford them then great! Just don't preach that they are the only real way to do it right.

 

I usually do pork butts, turkeys and pork loins so far. I actually am pretty settled on the Weber Smokey just because I am sold on their quality (I have a 18.5 One Touch Grill now). I just saw that Brinkman in here and thought it looked heavier than most Home Depot finds. Plus it just looks pretty sweet...those have to be 20's.

 

Not all cheaper smokers are junk. I love my Weber Smokey Mountain (18.5") and have cooked tons of BBQ on it. Like someone else mentioned with their drum, I've done entire pork butts, briskets, and other long smokes without ever adding more fuel. In fact, that's the norm.

For me, it was a great smoker for $300. I'm so impressed with it that I'm going to buy the 22" next summer. IMHO, if you're gonna get 1, get the bigger one. It's only $100 more, I believe. But as great as those more expensive smokers are, you ABSOLUTELY do not need one to make great food.

 

You can't beat the Weber bullet. I still do not have one but many of my friends do and I've cooked on them. My Weber kettle is 5 years old and I burn a half ton of charcoal on it a year since I got it. Purchased a heavy cast iron grate for grilling a couple of years ago and it is almost cooked through. But the Weber is still perfect. As much charcoal as I burn I could justify a ceramic cooker however I do a lot of steaks using sear and slide which an egg can't do. Or rotisserie which I love. Smoked meat especially poultry on a stick is hard to beat.

There is only my gf and I at the house now and I have been very successful smoking with the Weber kettle but it is a lot more work than a dedicated smoker. I do have an older Cabelas Stainless smoker that I use only for smoking fish, I think it is made by Masterbuilt and it is just not in the same league as Weber.

Harry Soo (Slap Yo' Daddy) is a multiple time Grand Champion and he only started in 2008. He regular "smokes" those using $15,000 cookers and he uses a WSM. He has a great review on Amazon if you haven't seen it, worth the read. Weber recently released the 14.5 bullet and I might go with that one only because I fill up every freezer in the house as it is and still end up giving meat away.

I'd go with the WSM bullet. You can spend a lot more money but don't think you can get any better results. And that has been proven by Soo. It isn't the arrow but the Indian that makes the difference.

 

I am not a huge fan of pork baby back ribs, but they are good every now and then. I normally just wrap my rib in foil and put them in the oven on low for about a hour and let them gray up and tender..the just put them on natural gas grill to char and put some BBQ sauce on...they come out falling apart tender...all my guests love them and think I slaved hours over a pit, when they quite actually very easy to make.


Well I tried my first rack this morning on my Lyfe Tyme..and they came out great. I put mustard and dry rub last night..and did them for about 2.5hrs at about 285. I last 30 minutes I put them in foil with apple juice. They produced a nice smoke ring, and didn't even use BBQ sauce. I will try the apple juice a bit longer next time.
The chicken I just put Italian dressing and some chicken dry rub under the skin and smoke them on the foil...they looked dry, but were very juicey with a light smokey taste.