New guy from Illinois

[telman2]

My name is Chuck and I live in Northern Illinois.

I have no experience smoking meats but have enjoyed eating them for most of my life. I'm retired and recently picked up an electric 30" Masterbuilt smoker at a garage sale. I found the Masterbuilt web site and downloaded a copy of the owners manual. As soon as the weather improves a little I intend to fire it up and try smoking something. In the mean time I intend educate myself by reading everything I can on this forum.

I would appreciate any suggestions I can get on cleaning and preparing my smoker for it's first use.

Chuck

 

[jrod62]

Welcome to SMF from southern Illinois.
Your right place to learn all about smoking.
Don't wait for warmer weather, fire that puppy up
And do some smoking. You will be glad you did.
Chicken is good one to start with.
Then you have to try "pork shots" , ABT's.

 

[SmokinAl]

   Glad to have you with us!

Would you update your profile info to include your location. Thanks!

 

[scarbelly]

Welcome to SMF - glad to have you here 

 

[realtorterry]

Welcome aboard. Check into the free e-course offered on out home page. It will set you in the right direction

 

[venture]

Welcome aboard, Chuck!

Good luck and good smoking.

 

[sprky]

 to SMF Chuck. You have come to the right place for smoking info. This site is loaded with great info just use the search bar at top of page to find what you are looking for. If you can't locate the answer just ask folks here are willing to share there knowledge. I suggest you take  the 5 day e-course on smoking its chuck full of great info. Smoking  5-Day e-Course

 

[ronrude]

Welcome, I am on the IA/IL border near the Quad Cities.  If you have a remote thermometer, you have nothing to fear.  Throw on something simple and cook to temp.  I have been smoking with coal for years, but when I got my masterbuilt, I did a couple pork chops with salt and pepper and couldn't have been happier.  You can be as simple or complex as you want.  Besides, two days reading this forum and they won't be able to hold you back.  This place is loaded with great characters, positive feedback and tons of inspiration.

As many say,post photos.  No photos means it didn't happen!  I am sure we are all looking forward to your first smoke photos!

 

[telman2]

Thanks for the welcome guys. I'm still in the process of reading old posts and trying to get an idea of what I have to do. I signed up for the 5 day course and have received the day 1 & 2 so far, I have reread them a couple of times and have them saved on my computer. I can see one of the first things I'm going to have to do is build a cart for the smoker to make it easier moving it in and out of the garage.