micki
New Member
Posts: 3 
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Post by micki on Jun 6, 2015 22:55:45 GMT -5
Hi everyone,
I am new to this forum, and I want to learn all I can about the Smokenator. I have just received it by UPS on Friday 06/05/2015, and I am getting real excited on using it. The first thing I want to cook is ribs this weekend, next weekend will be a pork shoulder. Cooking on a Weber Performer that I got 3 weeks ago. |
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Post by ncsmoker on Jun 7, 2015 19:59:54 GMT -5
Welcome micki. I'm from near Bryson City, NC and do quite a bit of smoking with the SN. The best advice I can give you is to keep a notebook for your first few months of smoking while you learn the vent openings, stirring time of the coals, adding water, when to add water and probably most importantly how weather affects your smokes. Then you will be able to go back and check what you did a few weeks ago when you have similar circumstances.
This week alone I smoked three times, once chicken legs and thighs and then for a friends memorial service 2days straight an 8lb turkey breast one day with cherry wood and 2 pork butts the next day. None of the days were the same, and gave me nearly 22lbs of meat to feed around 45 people.
Starting with ribs is a good place to start as is a small pork butt the next week, chicken is also good to practice on. For the butt you can't beat the Maverick ET-72 Thermometer with probes for helping controlling the temp of the kettle and watching the temping of the meat.
Good luck on your first smokes.
Tom
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micki
New Member
Posts: 3
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Post by micki on Jun 7, 2015 22:16:13 GMT -5
Thank you Tom! I am from Wilmington, NC, right on the coast. I will be visiting Bryson City in October with family from Germany. We have rented a log cabin there for a week. By then, I should have this Smokenator down pat, I hope. I have had a Professional Brinkman in the past, so I did a little smoking of meats on it. I gave it to my son, and now I am cooking with the Weber and Smokenator. Thank you for all of your advice, and I will keep a log of everything I do, time, water addition, temperature watch, just like you said. Where can I find the Maverick ET-72? I'm just wanting to make sure I have the right tools in the future. Also, with your experience, what is the average time for ribs.
Thanks again for your response...Micki
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Post by ncsmoker on Jun 7, 2015 23:02:23 GMT -5
The Maverick can be bought on line at Amazon.com. Drill a hole just above grill height when you get it to pass the probes through. Make it slightly larger, I think I made mine 1/2". Baby back ribs take about ribs take about 3-4 hours, but I really don't like wasting my time on them. Spare ribs when trimmed up and cut into St. Louis style ribs take about 6 hours. Here is a good site on how to do them bbqpitboys.com/recipes/how-to-trim-for-st-louis-spare-ribs#.VXUN6M_bKt8 plus you have trimming to snack on while your waiting for the ribs to finish. LOL Enjoy your trip to Bryson in the fall. If I can help with any suggestions on things to do or where to eat please feel free to contact me. arrowhead @ live.com Tom |
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micki
New Member
Posts: 3
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Post by micki on Jun 8, 2015 20:20:30 GMT -5
I am going to get a Maverick today. From what I have read, if you have the right tools and patience with your cooking, there can be some good results with your meats. It is good to have a veteran like yourself helping everyone out. Thanks for the feedback on everything, looking forward to using the SN this weekend. Also, I appreciate the reply about Bryson City, it is some beautiful country where you live, I can't wait to go.
Mike
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