Hey gang, currently getting ready for my second smoke - 3 racks of spare ribs.
I think I may be putting too much charcoal in? I used the minion method, the chimney starter a filled about 1/3 full of coals and got them going and turning to ash gray. I had sat the chimney down in middle of the fire pit in my OK Joe smoker, and built up charcoal around it - probably around 5 lbs. I also put a couple chucks of hickory wood on top.
It has been burning about 30 - 40 minutes, and the temp keeps rising - inside down at the grate, around 350 on one side, around 300 on the far side. My new smoker has some leaks around where the lid lowers down.
I have fully closed the damper to the firebox now ( there is a gap there as well , not sure what I can do about that).
I will wait another 20 minutes or so and see if the temp is coming down.
Am I simply starting out with too much charcoal? I though the minion method, was so you could start with more and have it burn down gradually? To get it started good, I left the damper fully open for the first 20 minutes or so...
Thanks for any tips for this newbie!
Don
I think I may be putting too much charcoal in? I used the minion method, the chimney starter a filled about 1/3 full of coals and got them going and turning to ash gray. I had sat the chimney down in middle of the fire pit in my OK Joe smoker, and built up charcoal around it - probably around 5 lbs. I also put a couple chucks of hickory wood on top.
It has been burning about 30 - 40 minutes, and the temp keeps rising - inside down at the grate, around 350 on one side, around 300 on the far side. My new smoker has some leaks around where the lid lowers down.
I have fully closed the damper to the firebox now ( there is a gap there as well , not sure what I can do about that).
I will wait another 20 minutes or so and see if the temp is coming down.
Am I simply starting out with too much charcoal? I though the minion method, was so you could start with more and have it burn down gradually? To get it started good, I left the damper fully open for the first 20 minutes or so...
Thanks for any tips for this newbie!
Don