The All Important 3''

[bocraw]

I need help with my three inches. 

No, not that three inches. I'm stuck with that. I'm talking about the mythical all important three inches mentioned in the instruction manual. The manual mentioned bread pans, but I do not own bread pans or roasting racks. The pictures of chicken and turkey look like there are some hellacool accessories I desperately need. Can someone explain to me exactly what to buy?

It seems like there would be a hovergrill type accessory to go with the smokenator that created a rack that would be in between the food rack and the charcoal rack. 

I'll be honest: I tried cooking beer butt chickens last night. I know the beer can doesn't actually do much, but it is cool to cook the chickens standing up right like that. But they didn't cook well on the lower rack, and the upper rack is too high (The chickens touch the dome.) This is why I want an in between level rack. 

Help. 

Thanks in advance!

- Bo

[bocraw]

I guess I am flaunting my ignorance. So I should buy two bread pans and straddle a roasting rack between them? If so, does anyone have links to Amazon for the right sized racks?

The pictures in the smokenator manual look like there is other equipment being used.

[bocraw]

I bought this: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000MJYE8I/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Someone who knows what they are doing please let me know if that will work to get the magical three.

[ncsmoker]

I haven't looked at the manual for a while, but I think what you are talking about is when your cooking a large turkey or roast beef, something in the 20lb+ range. That you place some wrapped bricks bottom of the kettle coal rack so the turkey or what ever is above the kettle coal rack by 3". This is the only time you cook on the coals rack. Then place a pan like you got on top of the brick. You can do everything with the SN on the main grill and hovergrill. I smoke bacon, pork butts and ribs, hams, 14lb turkeys and breasts and briskets..

Place the waterpan on top of the SN instead of inside or get a small loaf pan. I use a 4x8 pan and place it on the grill SN with out blocking the Hovergrill. The reason for doing a grill can chicken is to impart moisture flavor into the chicken. You can add any liquid and herbs or fruit into the container the chicken sets on. My favorite is a mix of white wine water and various herbs.

The best pages I consider in the manual for beginners are pages 7 and 8. This is the explanation of starting and maintaining the coals.

Hope this has helped a little. Take your time and there is a learning curve you have to go through to use the SN properly.

If you have more questions feel free to ask.

[bocraw]

Thanks for the reply ncsmoker.

For example purposes, let's say I am cooking a turkey. Tell me what you mean by 'wrapped brick'. Whatever that is I need to acquire.

[ncsmoker]

Just wrap 2 bricks in aluminum foil and place on the coal rack then place your roasting pan on them and big turkey or large roast beef in the roasting pan. You will need to turn it end to end about every 1-2hrs for even cooking. You can do up to about a 14lb turkey on the main cooking rack. I use cherry wood its delicious.

Since you are new to the SN I would start by learning how to use it with smaller pieces of meat on the main grill before trying a large piece on the coal grate.

Again any question feel free to ask.

NC