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Quoted: What kind of charcoal are you guys using in your WSMs? I've been using Kingsford, but I'm wondering if that has an effect on the flavor of the meat and might want to try something else. View Quote I'm using regular blue bag Kingsford briquettes. I don't really notice any taste differences, and it's cheap and plentiful. Admittedly though, I've never tried using anything else for long cooks. I keep some Royal Oak lump on hand for skirt steaks caveman style, otherwise 90% of my grilling and smoking is done with Kingsford. |
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What kind of charcoal are you guys using in your WSMs? I've been using Kingsford, but I'm wondering if that has an effect on the flavor of the meat and might want to try something else. View Quote Not using a WSM, I have a side barrel smoker, but I use hickory, and other hard woods, but I also use Kingsford for a good coal base at times. Never been an issue with flavor. ETA, finally after almost 9hrs my pork shoulder was up to temp, pulled it and now letting it sit! Pulled pork for tomorrow I guess! |
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Quoted: I'm using regular blue bag Kingsford briquettes. I don't really notice any taste differences, and it's cheap and plentiful. Admittedly though, I've never tried using anything else for long cooks. I keep some Royal Oak lump on hand for skirt steaks caveman style, otherwise 90% of my grilling and smoking is done with Kingsford. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: Quoted: What kind of charcoal are you guys using in your WSMs? I've been using Kingsford, but I'm wondering if that has an effect on the flavor of the meat and might want to try something else. I'm using regular blue bag Kingsford briquettes. I don't really notice any taste differences, and it's cheap and plentiful. Admittedly though, I've never tried using anything else for long cooks. I keep some Royal Oak lump on hand for skirt steaks caveman style, otherwise 90% of my grilling and smoking is done with Kingsford. See my pic on the previous page? My smoked meats are more black on the outside than the deep mahogany color I always see from other people. |
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Quoted: See my pic on the previous page? My smoked meats are more black on the outside than the deep mahogany color I always see from other people. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: What kind of charcoal are you guys using in your WSMs? I've been using Kingsford, but I'm wondering if that has an effect on the flavor of the meat and might want to try something else. I'm using regular blue bag Kingsford briquettes. I don't really notice any taste differences, and it's cheap and plentiful. Admittedly though, I've never tried using anything else for long cooks. I keep some Royal Oak lump on hand for skirt steaks caveman style, otherwise 90% of my grilling and smoking is done with Kingsford. See my pic on the previous page? My smoked meats are more black on the outside than the deep mahogany color I always see from other people. |
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Quoted:
What kind of charcoal are you guys using in your WSMs? I've been using Kingsford, but I'm wondering if that has an effect on the flavor of the meat and might want to try something else. View Quote I used Kingsford for awhile but switched to Royal Pak lump. Burns a little hotter but I like the smell more and results are fantastic. |
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Quoted: See my pic on the previous page? My smoked meats are more black on the outside than the deep mahogany color I always see from other people. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: What kind of charcoal are you guys using in your WSMs? I've been using Kingsford, but I'm wondering if that has an effect on the flavor of the meat and might want to try something else. I'm using regular blue bag Kingsford briquettes. I don't really notice any taste differences, and it's cheap and plentiful. Admittedly though, I've never tried using anything else for long cooks. I keep some Royal Oak lump on hand for skirt steaks caveman style, otherwise 90% of my grilling and smoking is done with Kingsford. See my pic on the previous page? My smoked meats are more black on the outside than the deep mahogany color I always see from other people. Hm, you don't reckon that would be cook time and/or temp related though? Maybe further browning/carmelization of the exterior from longer cooking times and/or higher temps? I always figured the charcoal is just there to provide heat, I can't really see one brand of charcoal doing something like that. For what it's worth, mine is an 18-1/2" WSM. The brisket I did this weekend, temps hovered at about 240-250 and stayed there for about an hour and a half before I went to bed. I slept right through the alarm when my smoker's temp dropped below 200 though. |
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I lit the smoker with the Minion method, I just didn't have enough charcoal in there. There was enough unlit charcoal to fill the fire ring up about a quarter of the way, then I dumped just short of a full chimney of lit coals on top of that. Me being lazy, using up the last bit of charcoal I had with me on the porch instead of walking not even ten or fifteen yards to my work shop to get another bag that night. I've run for an easy 12-14 hours filling the fire ring up about half way and dumping a full chimney of lit coals on them. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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I did a brisket this weekend as well. 14 lb'er or so, biggest one I've tried cooking so far. I started it Saturday at around 11PM. I underestimated and my smoker ran of out fuel overnight, cooker temp was 170ish and meat temp was 140 when I woke up yesterday morning. I added about a chimney and a half and that took me the rest of the way up to about 203ish four or five hours later. http://i.imgur.com/vRkJkMU.jpg How did you have your coals? I use the snake method and it went all night steady at 225. Started at 10, Woke up at 6 AM to check and it still had at least an ours worth left. Addded some more and went bakc inside. Temps stayed steady all day and burned slow. I lit the smoker with the Minion method, I just didn't have enough charcoal in there. There was enough unlit charcoal to fill the fire ring up about a quarter of the way, then I dumped just short of a full chimney of lit coals on top of that. Me being lazy, using up the last bit of charcoal I had with me on the porch instead of walking not even ten or fifteen yards to my work shop to get another bag that night. I've run for an easy 12-14 hours filling the fire ring up about half way and dumping a full chimney of lit coals on them. Cool I might get an actual smoker one day. Still using the Kettle. |
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i did 2 7 pound butts, a slab of baby backs, some sausage, and 5 eggs on saturday. did the eggs for potato salad. i heard they took some smoke but i couldnt taste much.
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I went 12 hours and it finally broke the stall.
At 1 pm it was done. 13 total hours of smoking. I let it rest until 4 then the bone fell out and it was ever so tasty. Next time Im smoking with a auto smoker (Traeger) or Im doing it for 5-6 then into the oven. Longest shoulder I have ever smoked. Ill post a pic of lunch later today. Leftovers but who cares its pork, still damn tasty. |
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Quoted: What kind of charcoal are you guys using in your WSMs? I've been using Kingsford, but I'm wondering if that has an effect on the flavor of the meat and might want to try something else. View Quote The regular Kingsford is good, but I get a much better taste using the above. |
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I use the cowboy charcoal or Stubb to start it. The regular Kingsford is good, but I get a much better taste using the above. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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What kind of charcoal are you guys using in your WSMs? I've been using Kingsford, but I'm wondering if that has an effect on the flavor of the meat and might want to try something else. Same, only use real lump charcoal, not briquettes. |
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Quoted: Same, only use real lump charcoal, not briquettes. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: What kind of charcoal are you guys using in your WSMs? I've been using Kingsford, but I'm wondering if that has an effect on the flavor of the meat and might want to try something else. Same, only use real lump charcoal, not briquettes. I usually take mine out and put it in the grill or oven to get it over. Yesterday I just left it on and it took much longer. I really dont see any flavor difference. |
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For you guys with WSM, when you need to add fuel do you add it thru the access door or separate the unit and refill the base again?
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Did a rack of baby back ribs and a whole chicken in my WSM with pecan wood. Both were delicious. ribs didn't have much of a smoke ring though and didn't taste quite as smoky as I was expecting. Also the chicken was done after just 1.5 hrs. I have a lot to learn!
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Eating yesterdays shoulder tonight, after smoking it so long as I did I will never cheat with a slow cooker again.
It was lot of work and I misjudged the time frame required, but hell it is worth the effort! Best pulled pork I have had! Also I love these threads, learn something new each time! |
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Local grocery store chain has been having these crazy anniversary sales..chicken leg quarters for 1.90 for 10lb bag..pork butt for 99cents a pound..country ribs same price...now the freezer is stocked and im liking the idea of getting a smoker..if im just starting out are the $40 walmart smokers ok or am i better off with something else?
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Quoted: Local grocery store chain has been having these crazy anniversary sales..chicken leg quarters for 1.90 for 10lb bag..pork butt for 99cents a pound..country ribs same price...now the freezer is stocked and im liking the idea of getting a smoker..if im just starting out are the $40 walmart smokers ok or am i better off with something else? View Quote The cheeseball smokers are difficult to maintain temperatures with and will prove frustrating. The cheapest smoker I'd recommend would be a Weber Smokey Mountain, 18" or 22.5" |
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Local grocery store chain has been having these crazy anniversary sales..chicken leg quarters for 1.90 for 10lb bag..pork butt for 99cents a pound..country ribs same price...now the freezer is stocked and im liking the idea of getting a smoker..if im just starting out are the $40 walmart smokers ok or am i better off with something else? View Quote I am using a Weber Kettle grill. If you do your part it will do its. Nowhere as hard as I thought it would be. Sure a dedicated smoker will be nice but I like being able to also sear up chops and steaks after pulling the smoked goods. I might get a cajun bandit later |
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Quoted: The cheeseball smokers are difficult to maintain temperatures with and will prove frustrating. The cheapest smoker I'd recommend would be a Weber Smokey Mountain, 18" or 22.5" View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: Quoted: Local grocery store chain has been having these crazy anniversary sales..chicken leg quarters for 1.90 for 10lb bag..pork butt for 99cents a pound..country ribs same price...now the freezer is stocked and im liking the idea of getting a smoker..if im just starting out are the $40 walmart smokers ok or am i better off with something else? The cheeseball smokers are difficult to maintain temperatures with and will prove frustrating. The cheapest smoker I'd recommend would be a Weber Smokey Mountain, 18" or 22.5" This. My first smoker was one of those $40 Brinkman things from Lowes. Frustrating is putting it nicely; the thing was a poor sealing piece of crap. I kept trying to figure out what I was doing wrong when I was cooking something, they don't hold heat for shit and use a ton of charcoal to get anything done that takes longer than a couple hours or so to do. That junker lasted all of about a year before I gave in and bought an 18-1/2" Weber Smokey Mountain. I couldn't be happier. They're like $300 but they're probably one of the easiest to learn and use charcoal smokers out there. They make a smaller one too for about $200, and the monster 22-1/2" cooker for about $400. |
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The cheeseball smokers are difficult to maintain temperatures with and will prove frustrating. The cheapest smoker I'd recommend would be a Weber Smokey Mountain, 18" or 22.5" View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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Local grocery store chain has been having these crazy anniversary sales..chicken leg quarters for 1.90 for 10lb bag..pork butt for 99cents a pound..country ribs same price...now the freezer is stocked and im liking the idea of getting a smoker..if im just starting out are the $40 walmart smokers ok or am i better off with something else? The cheeseball smokers are difficult to maintain temperatures with and will prove frustrating. The cheapest smoker I'd recommend would be a Weber Smokey Mountain, 18" or 22.5" I'll second this. I bought a small offset smoker from Academy and it is almost impossible to maintain a constant temp in it. I have a Weber clone but have not tried to smoke anything in it. |
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I am using a Weber Kettle grill. If you do your part it will do its. Nowhere as hard as I thought it would be. Sure a dedicated smoker will be nice but I like being able to also sear up chops and steaks after pulling the smoked goods. I might get a cajun bandit later View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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Local grocery store chain has been having these crazy anniversary sales..chicken leg quarters for 1.90 for 10lb bag..pork butt for 99cents a pound..country ribs same price...now the freezer is stocked and im liking the idea of getting a smoker..if im just starting out are the $40 walmart smokers ok or am i better off with something else? I am using a Weber Kettle grill. If you do your part it will do its. Nowhere as hard as I thought it would be. Sure a dedicated smoker will be nice but I like being able to also sear up chops and steaks after pulling the smoked goods. I might get a cajun bandit later If you're on a tight budget buy a Weber Kettle and order the "Smokenator" accessory. It will make any smoked food you can think of and do as good a job as pretty much any smoker out there if you do your part. Smokenator makes one for both the 22in or 18in Weber. |
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If you're on a tight budget buy a Weber Kettle and order the "Smokenator" accessory. It will make any smoked food you can think of and do as good a job as pretty much any smoker out there if you do your part. Smokenator makes one for both the 22in or 18in Weber. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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Local grocery store chain has been having these crazy anniversary sales..chicken leg quarters for 1.90 for 10lb bag..pork butt for 99cents a pound..country ribs same price...now the freezer is stocked and im liking the idea of getting a smoker..if im just starting out are the $40 walmart smokers ok or am i better off with something else? I am using a Weber Kettle grill. If you do your part it will do its. Nowhere as hard as I thought it would be. Sure a dedicated smoker will be nice but I like being able to also sear up chops and steaks after pulling the smoked goods. I might get a cajun bandit later If you're on a tight budget buy a Weber Kettle and order the "Smokenator" accessory. It will make any smoked food you can think of and do as good a job as pretty much any smoker out there if you do your part. Smokenator makes one for both the 22in or 18in Weber. +1 on the Kettle and Smokenator combo. My buddy uses that. I looked at the smokenator but so far using a couple of foil wrapped fire bricks and a small foil pan of water seems to do the same thing. Lately I have been using the snake/fuse method and it works great. Hold temp long and burns slow. I can get about 10-12 hours and only have to rotate the rack every 4 hours or so. I then just add another foot of coals to the fuse for another 6 hours or so. Ribs, chicken, brisket, smoked them all on this trusty kettle. What I really like is I can smoke some really thick cold porterhouses at under 200 for about an hour then dump a chimney of coals in the baskets and sear them up and they are still medium rare. Smoked medium rare butter and garlic seared porterhouse is insane. |
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I'm thinking about cleaning out my 22wsm this weekend then listing it on craigslist along with a pitmaster IQ
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Quoted: Local grocery store chain has been having these crazy anniversary sales..chicken leg quarters for 1.90 for 10lb bag..pork butt for 99cents a pound..country ribs same price...now the freezer is stocked and im liking the idea of getting a smoker..if im just starting out are the $40 walmart smokers ok or am i better off with something else? View Quote I was able to keep temp but it can be frustrating. Get a good coal base before you start. Also soak the wood chunks for 24 hours and its nice. I have a stainless steel one Dad has had for 35 years, the grates eventually rusted out. |
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