New Smoker for Fathers Day!!

curly11

Fire Starter

Original poster

Jun 16, 2012

34

22

Lakeland Fl

• Jun 16, 2012

• #1

Just wanted to introduce myself to the community.  I've been lurking for quite sometime as I tried to decide if I was brave/patient enough to join the smoking community.  Well I finally pulled the trigger (at my wife's request) and I have my dad delivering a new MES 40" smoker from Cabela's when we meet up tomorrow.  I realize there is a wealth of info on this site and will continue to look around.  I know that I need to season the smoker first (hope this is in the directions) and just wanted some opinions of what to smoke first.

We love ribs, pulled pork and brisket.  I want to start off with my best chance of success.  Any suggestions of what is less "screw-upable"?

Thanks for the wealth of expertise and knowledge that you all willingly share.

-Jason

 

scarbelly

Gone but not forgotten. RIP

OTBS Member

Jul 26, 2009

14,315

73

• Jun 16, 2012

• #2

Hello and 

to SMF - glad you joined in 

 

s2k9k

AMNPS Test Group

Sep 8, 2011

11,324

182

SEUSA

• Jun 16, 2012

• #3

Hi Jason! 

 to SMF!!! We're happy you decided to join our community! 

One of the easiest not to screw up is chicken. It is good for a first time smoke since it is inexpensive (in case you do screw it up), doesn't take that long to cook and you can cook at higher temps. It gives you a good chance to start learning your smoker without worrying about a very long smoke like with a butt or brisket. There is a lot of good advice on here about chicken: http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/f/102/poultry

Fatties are another easy one, they just take a little patience preparing them: http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/f/175/fatties

If you want to do ribs I would suggest the 3-2-1 method to start, if you follow it you should get good results and later you can tweak it to your liking: http://www.smoking-meat.com/august-25-2011-smoked-baby-back-ribs.html

Since you are new to this I would suggest taking Jeff's Free 5 day E-course, it will teach you all the basics and a lot more: http://www.smoking-meat.com/smoking-basics-ecourse.html

You can always use the search bar at the top to find almost anything you want to know!

 

curly11

Fire Starter

Original poster

Thread starter

Jun 16, 2012

34

22

Lakeland Fl

• Jun 16, 2012

• #4

I appreciate the welcome and the advice. Just finished with lesson 1 from Jeff! Going to the butcher today to see what he's got in the realm of whole chickens.....cross my fingers

 

smokinhusker

Legendary Pitmaster

Oct 20, 2010

8,179

77

Mountains west of Colorado Springs, CO

• Jun 18, 2012

• #5

Hello and welcome to SMF! Glad you joined us. I have an MES 40 and love it. Loads of info on here about it.

 

indyadmin1974

Smoking Fanatic

May 26, 2007

736

20

Clemmons

• Jun 18, 2012

• #6

Welcome to SMF!

The way I've very quickly come to think about my MES 40" is an oven with a smoke attachment.

It's so simple to use that there's nothing I wouldn't try right off.  To get your feet wet a chicken would be a good way to go but I'd jump in with what you want to smoke and eat not what you think will be easy.

Jump in with both feet.  You won't be disappointed.

 

jrod62

Smoking Guru

OTBS Member

Group Lead

Jun 13, 2011

5,010

41

New Athens IL

• Jun 18, 2012

• #7

Welcome to SMF :welcome1:

 

curly11

Fire Starter

Original poster

Thread starter

Jun 16, 2012

34

22

Lakeland Fl

• Jun 18, 2012

• #8

Thanks for the warm welcome. Looking forward to diving in after breaking in the smoker for the first time. Learning a lot from the ecourse and already purchased Jeff's rub.....thanks everyone.

 

rtbbq2

Master of the Pit

Mar 2, 2012

1,412

29

Minneapolis MN/Riding Country USA

• Jun 20, 2012

• #9

Welcome..........to SMF....Chicken is the easiest and tastes pretty good too.....good luck and post Q-views..............