- Jun 1, 2014
- 5
- 10
Hi, I've just finished modding my Brinkmann gourmet this weekend. Raised charcoal grate for the pan, fitted 3 dampers to the bottom, 1 to the top and fitted a new thermometer towards the top of the main unit. I also bought a high temp gasket for sealing off the lid so no smoke can escape (even thought it is just a little)
I've tried playing around with it this weekend without much luck, I think the main problem was using quick light bags from Costco (bar-b-quick stuff) so I've remedied that by getting some bags of Big K lump wood which I haven't tried yet.
Put a couple of bags of the instant light stuff on yesterday, waited till it ashed over then put the body and lid on with all 3 bottom dampers half open and the top one fully open. The temp rocketed to 400F, so I left it for about 45 mins then checked and had had dropped to 100F. I closed down the bottoms to 1/4 and the top to about the same and had to go out. Came back about 2 hours later and the temp was back up around 350F again. It then died off without any real stabilising
I went to Lidl this morning and noticed some King of the Grill briquettes for a couple of quid so I bought some of them, dropped some into the charcoal pan cold and lit a bag of the quick light stuff on top of them (going for minion method here). Opened the bottom dampers fully and the top, temp was up at 400F again, let it drop slightly then I had to go out so I closed down to 1/4 open. Came back 4 hours later and it was pretty much cold.
I didn't intend cooking anything this weekend, just wanted to see if I could get stable temps & season the smoker, however I don't think I've used the correct charcoal or enough of it!
So next weekend I'd like to smoke a couple of racks of ribs, I've got a chimney starter now, the king of the grill briquettes and 10kg of Big K lumpwood. Any thoughts?
I've tried playing around with it this weekend without much luck, I think the main problem was using quick light bags from Costco (bar-b-quick stuff) so I've remedied that by getting some bags of Big K lump wood which I haven't tried yet.
Put a couple of bags of the instant light stuff on yesterday, waited till it ashed over then put the body and lid on with all 3 bottom dampers half open and the top one fully open. The temp rocketed to 400F, so I left it for about 45 mins then checked and had had dropped to 100F. I closed down the bottoms to 1/4 and the top to about the same and had to go out. Came back about 2 hours later and the temp was back up around 350F again. It then died off without any real stabilising
I went to Lidl this morning and noticed some King of the Grill briquettes for a couple of quid so I bought some of them, dropped some into the charcoal pan cold and lit a bag of the quick light stuff on top of them (going for minion method here). Opened the bottom dampers fully and the top, temp was up at 400F again, let it drop slightly then I had to go out so I closed down to 1/4 open. Came back 4 hours later and it was pretty much cold.
I didn't intend cooking anything this weekend, just wanted to see if I could get stable temps & season the smoker, however I don't think I've used the correct charcoal or enough of it!
So next weekend I'd like to smoke a couple of racks of ribs, I've got a chimney starter now, the king of the grill briquettes and 10kg of Big K lumpwood. Any thoughts?
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