Post by BB-Kuhn on Jan 6, 2013 12:33:08 GMT -5
So, I'm an experienced BBQ cook, but yesterday was my first smokenator experience.
Sadly, it was a cold (15-25 deg f) and windy (20+mph) day, which didn't make my inaugural run easy.
I went with a 20 lit/ 40 unlit ratio to start, and didn't have much trouble getting to 225-250 deg. Put the three slabs on (rib rack) and off we go! I'd say the first hour was a bit hectic messing with the vents (probably too much), but the wind kept changing directions and it was a bit crazy.
Hours 2-3 went smoothly, with the temp nearly rock solid. I added water every hour and had little trouble.
Then the coals started to get cooler, and adding unlit coals wasn't doing much to keep the temp up enough, nor was opening the vents. i realized that i was just burning 30% faster than scheduled in such crappy weather, so I had to start about 12 coals in the chimney to revive the fire. That hour the temps were probably averaging 170, which was not making me happy.
But once I got it back going, I had no trouble keeping the 225-250 range and all was good.
The temp troubles and looooonger cook time were entirely due to my inexperience with the smokenator and the awful weather conditions with an unfamiliar smoker setup. The 'nator worked great.
I have a brisket on today, and am running fine - weather is the same as yesterday, but this time I started adding a few unlit coals earlier in the cook (2 hrs in instead of 4) so hopefully I don't have any problems.
Sadly, it was a cold (15-25 deg f) and windy (20+mph) day, which didn't make my inaugural run easy.
I went with a 20 lit/ 40 unlit ratio to start, and didn't have much trouble getting to 225-250 deg. Put the three slabs on (rib rack) and off we go! I'd say the first hour was a bit hectic messing with the vents (probably too much), but the wind kept changing directions and it was a bit crazy.
Hours 2-3 went smoothly, with the temp nearly rock solid. I added water every hour and had little trouble.
Then the coals started to get cooler, and adding unlit coals wasn't doing much to keep the temp up enough, nor was opening the vents. i realized that i was just burning 30% faster than scheduled in such crappy weather, so I had to start about 12 coals in the chimney to revive the fire. That hour the temps were probably averaging 170, which was not making me happy.
But once I got it back going, I had no trouble keeping the 225-250 range and all was good.
The temp troubles and looooonger cook time were entirely due to my inexperience with the smokenator and the awful weather conditions with an unfamiliar smoker setup. The 'nator worked great.
I have a brisket on today, and am running fine - weather is the same as yesterday, but this time I started adding a few unlit coals earlier in the cook (2 hrs in instead of 4) so hopefully I don't have any problems.
