graystratcat
Smoking Fanatic
Hey jruch, I thought that might be the use of the ice pick. Just be aware, when you're doing that you are pushing a lot of bacteria into the muscle mass of the meat, inoculating it actually. One of the reasons we recommend not inserting your temp probe into the meat unit it's spent at least an hour or more in the smoker is to reduce/eliminate pushing bacteria into the meat. The hour or so in the box kills most of the bacteria on the surface of the meat. If you want to keep using your ice pick as a tenderizer, you really need to make sure you get the meat from 40* - 140* (or the newest guidelines say to 135*) in 4 hours or less.
Actually, I'm not sure how much benefit using an ice pick as a tenderizer might be compared to the risk. Hopefully JJ or on of the other members can comment on how effective an ice pick might be as a tenderizing tool.
Just thought I'd pass this all along about the bacteria and ice pick. Like I said, when I first saw that picture with the ice pick, I kind of figured you were using it as you state.
Hope you don't mind my pointing this all out. Just passing it along for you to consider. We like to practice safe smoking and cooking procedures here on the forum and also like to pass along things like this.
-Salt
Actually, I'm not sure how much benefit using an ice pick as a tenderizer might be compared to the risk. Hopefully JJ or on of the other members can comment on how effective an ice pick might be as a tenderizing tool.
Just thought I'd pass this all along about the bacteria and ice pick. Like I said, when I first saw that picture with the ice pick, I kind of figured you were using it as you state.
Hope you don't mind my pointing this all out. Just passing it along for you to consider. We like to practice safe smoking and cooking procedures here on the forum and also like to pass along things like this.
-Salt