That's an excellent idea. You're in effect making your own smoker for the grill. I'm giving it a try the next time I grill pizza or beer can chicken.
I wrap a handful of dry chips in heavy foil and put about 6 small holes in the package. Lay on charcoal for 5 minutes then grill food. Will last for 15 - 20 minutes.
Five String
I've done something similar to that for several years as well as also buy wood chunks and split each chunk into several pieces which making them a bit bigger and longer than chips.
I wrap a handful of dry chips in heavy foil and put about 6 small holes in the package. Lay on charcoal for 5 minutes then grill food. Will last for 15 - 20 minutes.
Five String
It just gets me that I never thought of this. I always like to throw wood chips on the charcoal briquettes when grilling certain foods. This totally solves the flare up problem.
I've done something similar to that for several years as well as also buy wood chunks and split each chunk into several pieces which making them a bit bigger and longer than chips.
with these, I soak them in water and then throw a few directly on the coals for short smoked things like hamburgers and if smoking something that takes longer like ribs on my charcoal grill, (which I haven't since buying a MES) I place then in some foil with holes punched in it and leave open on top. Pieces like this last a bit longer than chips.
The foil packages are well known. Until 2009, when I got my first smoker, putting those little perforated packages on the charcoal grill was the only way My Son & I ever put any smoke on anything.
It just gets me that I never thought of this. I always like to throw wood chips on the charcoal briquettes when grilling certain foods. This totally solves the flare up problem.
And no ash to deal with - just toss the foil pack when you're done. I do this on my gas grill by setting it on the cooking grate where it's out of the way but still over the flames. I now grill with the lid closed instead of open, which I did for years. Don't find any major doneness issues this way, which kind of surprised me when I first tried it. I like to grill "hot & fast". EX: a 14 - 16 oz. rib eye is done 4 minutes a side for a total of approx. 8 - 8 1/2 minutes. I only cook for myself so room on the grate isn't a problem.
That's an excellent idea. You're in effect making your own smoker for the grill. I'm giving it a try the next time I grill pizza or beer can chicken.
How fortuitous for me that you posted this with the photo! I just happen to be cooking ribeyes for Father's Day. I'll first smoke them in my MES and then finish them up on my Weber charcoal kettle grill. I'll just need a few minutes each side but I'll be grilling two steaks medium rare and the other two well done.
And no ash to deal with - just toss the foil pack when you're done. I do this on my gas grill by setting it on the cooking grate where it's out of the way but still over the flames. I now grill with the lid closed instead of open, which I did for years. Don't find any major doneness issues this way, which kind of surprised me when I first tried it. I like to grill "hot & fast". EX: a 14 - 16 oz. rib eye is done 4 minutes a side for a total of approx. 8 - 8 1/2 minutes. I only cook for myself so room on the grate isn't a problem.
Five String
Bear
My lovely wife bought me a Gen 2.5 BT from Sam's after much searching on both our parts to figure out which one we wanted.
My neighbor who I have been smoking with for year got a Gen 2 a few weeks ago and I fell in love with the efficiency of it. We did some Chicken thighs which did not have enough smoke flavor for my taste ( I think we had to much water and we steamed them and then a couple of briskets same thing ( a lot better but still learning) ,
I am so glad we took our time and looked around because I love the stand with the rollers. I have yet to try the blue tooth function yet.
I found this forum and this weekend read this whole section on MES Electric Bluetooth yesterday and today, Thank you everyone, I have learn a lot and enjoy the comments.
I now realize that I will buy a 5 by 8 AMNPS tray and have several questions.
(1) Where to buy it? You already got one.
(2)What is a good price to look for? You got a good price.
(3) Where to put it in my Smoker? See Below (including pics)
(4) How to light it and keep it lit? Check out this Thread---All posts on it. http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/140859/how-i-light-my-amnps-w-video-link
(5) How should I elevate it? See below (including pics)
(6) Can I use wood chips in it ( as I have a bunch of them)? No---Only Pellets or SawDust.
(7) Best pellets to buy? I would buy them from Todd @ Amazing Smoker (See business card at the bottom of any page of this Forum). Then once you know you're doing it right, you can experiment with other pellets if you want.
There will be more questions I know but thank y'all so much for all the info so far. Bard
I have something a bit like that that I bought at ace Hardware. The top of it is similar to the pictured basket with the difference being it has 4 legs. The top size is perfect for the 5 x 8 pellet smoker tray. This small stand had plastic coating on it of which was easy to remove as it only took 5 minutes or so. I then had to shorten the legs a bit with a hacksaw. I would post a picture of my finished product, but don't know quite how to do this. After our multi-state company that we have at the moment leaves in a few days, I will wait until they are gone an see if my wife can help me with that.
Bear
This is the best thing I've seen so far---Taken from a post by "Dennis Pfaff"
I have an old bbq roasting wire basket that I haven't used in years. I put one half of the basket on the bottom floor of my 40in Bluetooth 2.5 and the AMNPS 5x8 tray fits perfectly on top of the basket and it raised about exactly the height of the water pan, and about level with the heat assembly. That should be perfect with air flow and lined up left side under the vent. I'll try it that way next week.
Dennis
Sure--That sounds great !!
I have something a bit like that that I bought at ace Hardware. The top of it is similar to the pictured basket with the difference being it has 4 legs. The top size is perfect for the 5 x 8 pellet smoker tray. This small stand had plastic coating on it of which was easy to remove as it only took 5 minutes or so. I then had to shorten the legs a bit with a hacksaw. I would post a picture of my finished product, but don't know quite how to do this. After our multi-state company that we have at the moment leaves in a few days, I will wait until they are gone an see if my wife can help me with that.
LOL----I do my best !!
How awesome a response, I can't wait to try it.thank you so much. Bard
There are a number of guys with MES 30s that can help you. If you don't here from one soon, contact "DaRicksta". He can tell you about what sizes of meat fit in the MES 30.Hello
I'm a new member who would like to say hi. This is my first smoker , I've tried smoking in my weber kettle and my charbroil smoker roaster grill.
Never had great results. Today I just bought the 30" Bluetooth at Basspros. I almost got the 40" one but I'm only gonna smoke for my wife and I or maybe if my son and his family BBQ with us. Plus I wanted something small for storage.
So was wondering how you guys with the 30" have made out with them ? How many ribs can u do ? Or what size brisket ?
Also should I get the amps ? If so what one and were do I put it in the smoker ? Do you put water in the pan ?
Sorry for all the questions , and I did read this thread , but most of the info is on the 40" version.
Thanks and this is a great forum , just not sure how to use this smoker.
You can only do 2 racks of ribs unless you get a rib rack. You can not do a whole brisket unless you cut it in half which I don't like doing. I never smoke brisket on my 30".Hello
I'm a new member who would like to say hi. This is my first smoker , I've tried smoking in my weber kettle and my charbroil smoker roaster grill.
Never had great results. Today I just bought the 30" Bluetooth at Basspros. I almost got the 40" one but I'm only gonna smoke for my wife and I or maybe if my son and his family BBQ with us. Plus I wanted something small for storage.
So was wondering how you guys with the 30" have made out with them ? How many ribs can u do ? Or what size brisket ?
Also should I get the amps ? If so what one and were do I put it in the smoker ? Do you put water in the pan ?
Sorry for all the questions , and I did read this thread , but most of the info is on the 40" version.
Thanks and this is a great forum , just not sure how to use this smoker.
I wouldn't argue with that either. I started with an MES 30, because I only smoke for Mrs Bear & myself, but a year later I got an MES 40, because of things that didn't fit, and only being able to put 7 pounds of Beef Stick in at one time.
If you haven't unboxed the 30" yet I would take it back for the 40". I regret not getting the 40" and ended up getting another larger smoker to fit wider items like ribs and brisket.