new MES30, going to smoke a pork butt for the first time tomorrow

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echinacea

Newbie
Original poster
Sep 14, 2016
21
10
hi, im new to the forum (my first post) and i just got an MES30 digital this wednesday, black with no window.

my experience thus far was ribs which were unremarkable. i took 2 racks of baby back ribs, pulled the membranes, added rub and i put it in the preseasoned (done the night before for 3hrs at 275, chips in the last 45) smoker which had been at 275 for 30 minutes. i added chips and lowered temp to 230 and cooked for 6 hours adding chips every 45 minutes to an hour or so. i spritzed with apple juice about 4 times and i only added water to the pan at first. i kept the vent closed.

i should have wrapped at the 4 hour mark (they were 3lb racks)

tomorrow i plan on doing a pork butt, but i dont wanna screw it up. im looking to get an 8 to 10 pound so im guessing i will have to start late tonight.

its my birthday, help it not be a disaster
 

this is how the ribs came out. should i have only smoked for 2 hours then wrapped for 2 hours then take the wrapped ribs and put them on a cooler or oven for another hour?
 
questions i have are;

1) how often do you add chips to the mes30? i was doing every 45min to an hour. for short smoking times like 2hrs, is this enough?

2) the manual says to leave the vent closed unless youre doing fish. others say full open yet others say cracked halfway. wouldnt that dry it out and lose heat?

3) do you empty the ash tray at any time during cooking, especially for long smokes

4) should you always have water in the pan?
 
Every 45 min is fine. I would only add chips for the first couple of hours.also leave your vent wide open. You don't want stale smoke staying in the smoker.
 
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another thing is it rains a lot here, if it rains while its smoking i put foil over the digital unit and will shield the top with some plywood laying on a table and hanging over about 9" above to keep rain off it...the cable goes right inside the house through a door right next to it so the extension cord plug is safe. i hope thats enough protection
 
ok, about that butt...these are the commercial spices i have and i plan on using 3 lil pigs cherry and smoking it over cherry wood. should i put mustard on it first as an adhesive?

if its 8 pounds then i smoke at 225 for 16 hours, fat side down. i plan on starting at 11pm and add chips at midnight, 1, 2 and 3am. should i then wrap it or leave it until i get up around 8 or 9 to wrap? after the 16hrs do i put it in a cooler or oven for a couple hours? i have a wireless thermometer....what temp should i wrap it, take it out?
 
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oh, and i plan on spritzing it with apple juice when i add the chips and when it gets wrapped ill baste it with rub/butter/honey mix
 
ok, about that butt...these are the commercial spices i have and i plan on using 3 lil pigs cherry and smoking it over cherry wood. should i put mustard on it first as an adhesive?

if its 8 pounds then i smoke at 225 for 16 hours, fat side down. i plan on starting at 11pm and add chips at midnight, 1, 2 and 3am. should i then wrap it or leave it until i get up around 8 or 9 to wrap? after the 16hrs do i put it in a cooler or oven for a couple hours? i have a wireless thermometer....what temp should i wrap it, take it out?
I would put the fat side up in an electric smoker.

Here might be some hints, instead of answering a lot of questions.

Done in an MES 40:

Pulled Boston Pork Butt         
Bear
 
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questions i have are;

1) how often do you add chips to the mes30? i was doing every 45min to an hour. for short smoking times like 2hrs, is this enough?

2) the manual says to leave the vent closed unless youre doing fish. others say full open yet others say cracked halfway. wouldnt that dry it out and lose heat?

3) do you empty the ash tray at any time during cooking, especially for long smokes

4) should you always have water in the pan?
I haven't done ribs yet, so can't help there. But..

1. I think a lot folks here do not use wood chips. They use BBQ pellets in a smoke generator like the Amazen Smoker (AMNPS). The website is https://www.amazenproducts.com. Also there is the Smoke Daddy Pellet Pro Smoke ring.

2. Vent completely open

3. trying to empty ashtray is not applicable if using the AMNPS or other smoke generator.

4. no water in the pan. Especially if you decide to use the AMNPS or other smoke generators.

Do a search on this forum for AMNPS and you will get a ton on information.
 
 
I haven't done ribs yet, so can't help there. But..

1. I think a lot folks here do not use wood chips. They use BBQ pellets in a smoke generator like the Amazen Smoker (AMNPS). The website is https://www.amazenproducts.com. Also there is the Smoke Daddy Pellet Pro Smoke ring.

2. Vent completely open

3. trying to empty ashtray is not applicable if using the AMNPS or other smoke generator.

4. no water in the pan. Especially if you decide to use the AMNPS or other smoke generators.

Do a search on this forum for AMNPS and you will get a ton on information.
People like myself also use the 'Smoke Ring' from 'Smoke Daddy' in place of the AMNPS.
 
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People like myself also use the 'Smoke Ring' from 'Smoke Daddy' in place of the AMNPS.
Just bought one a couple of days ago. Haven't used it yet. Plan to do a boneless turkey breast roast in my MES 30 using the ring. Tried everything and could not get the AMNPS to stay lit. Even did the mailbox mod.

If it works out, I'll use it on my Green Mountain Pellet grill/smoker too.
 
I haven't done ribs yet, so can't help there. But..

1. I think a lot folks here do not use wood chips. They use BBQ pellets in a smoke generator like the Amazen Smoker (AMNPS). The website is https://www.amazenproducts.com. Also there is the Smoke Daddy Pellet Pro Smoke ring.
2. Vent completely open
3. trying to empty ashtray is not applicable if using the AMNPS or other smoke generator.
4. no water in the pan. Especially if you decide to use the AMNPS or other smoke generators.

Do a search on this forum for AMNPS and you will get a ton on information.
i ordered an AMNPS last night...im glad i google searched and found this forum (since im banned on FB so couldnt ask the smoking group there)
 
 
People like myself also use the 'Smoke Ring' from 'Smoke Daddy' in place of the AMNPS.
What kind of smoker do you have? I have the MES 30 and I just checked and the Smoke Ring does not fit on the bottom where most people put the AMNPS. I thought of putting on the shelf above the food but don't want to get ash on the food.
 
i ordered an AMNPS last night...im glad i google searched and found this forum (since im banned on FB so couldnt ask the smoking group there)
That's Great----You'll love it !!

The most important thing is learning to get it lit right, before you put it in.

Follow the instructions that come with it first.

Then if you have trouble, check the Link below:

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/140859/how-i-light-my-amnps-w-video-link

Then if you have a Heat gun, check the video in Post #1 of that Thread.

If you don't have a Heat gun, check out my Post #2 on that thread.

Enjoy,

Bear
 
 
That's Great----You'll love it !!

The most important thing is learning to get it lit right, before you put it in.

Follow the instructions that come with it first.

Then if you have trouble, check the Link below:

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/140859/how-i-light-my-amnps-w-video-link

Then if you have a Heat gun, check the video in Post #1 of that Thread.

If you don't have a Heat gun, check out my Post #2 on that thread.

Enjoy,

Bear
yep, i have a heat gun in storage somewhere...gotta dig it out. i just need a small propane torch, will probably hit harbor freight tomorrow
 
People like myself also use the 'Smoke Ring' from 'Smoke Daddy' in place of the AMNPS.
Were you the one that used Jack Daniels charcoal pellets in the past and did you still have problems with the AMNPS staying lit. I have never had any sort of issues with the mailbox mod and AMNPS. I have a local pellet distributor that sells Bbq'ers Delight one pound bags like Todd does for $4.50/bg. I wanted to try the Jack Daniels one pound bag. From my research I have found they are made from the maple wood charcoal the whisky is dripped through as well as oak saw dust but they are midnight black pellets that appear to only be charcoal. If I like the one pound bag, they sell 20lb. bags for $24.00. I looked at Todd's site but couldn't find the large 20lb. bag. I'm still loaded with Todd's pellets.
-Kurt
 
 
yep, i have a heat gun in storage somewhere...gotta dig it out. i just need a small propane torch, will probably hit harbor freight tomorrow
LOL---Might be a dumb reason, but I like the Bernzamatic "Fat Boy", because I can set it on my porch railing without it falling over so easily.
icon_rolleyes.gif


Bear
 
 
LOL---Might be a dumb reason, but I like the Bernzamatic "Fat Boy", because I can set it on my porch railing without it falling over so easily.
icon_rolleyes.gif


Bear
i thought about it and picked up a brass benzomatic ul2317 at home depot. i thought the el cheapo harbor freight stuff might not be a good idea with flammable materials and cheap seals that leak.

i have reservations about the amnps working though, the area i live in always has high humidity especially in the summertime....we are about 300 feet from the ohio river and it rains a lot. its worth a try though.
 
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