First shot at Bacon with Q

dnvrdv · Dec 18, 2016

My wife picked up a MES 30 on Black Friday and I was thinking "What the hell do we need another smoker for?", we have 4 others (3 propane and a stick burner). Since I'd just bought a new rifle I smartly kept that to myself. Boy this thing is awesome and easy to use! I've always wanted to do bacon, but we didn't have an electric smoker. I had remembered Bearcarvers Bacon (Extra Smokey) recipe from years ago and already had a AMNPS, so no excuses.

Started this last week.

20161215_180205.jpg

dnvrdv
Dec 18, 2016

I only picked up 10 lbs of belly for the fist time out. After frying up a slice of the cured belly I think we'll be doing more! The boss said "That's tasty as it is".

20161218_090142.jpg

dnvrdv
Dec 18, 2016

I've had some trouble keeping this thing lit, but I had a successful test run last weekend by nuking the pellets, opening everything up and removing the MES smoke tray. I have 2 of these so I have a backup fired up in the grill just in case (This one in fact). So far so good. Got TBS still rolling after 1.5 hours.

20161218_083412.jpg

dnvrdv
Dec 18, 2016

20161218_083442.jpg

dnvrdv
Dec 18, 2016

Seasoned and off to the smoker.

20161218_085246.jpg

dnvrdv
Dec 18, 2016

Threw our cast iron smoke box in the water pan to help hold some heat. Its a bit chilly out. I'll post some pics when its done. Thanks to Bearcarver for the recipe all who have posted and responded other users questions. I've spent the past week reading up prepping for a successful smoke!

SmokinAl · Dec 18, 2016

Looks like a great start!

Just wondering why you cut them up into such small pieces.

Al

dnvrdv · Dec 18, 2016

Cut one in half to see if it was cured and followed suit with the rest. Figured it couldn't hurt and more surface area for smoke. Any issues with doing that? First shot at this, and tips are always welcome.

Bearcarver · Dec 18, 2016

dnvrdv said:
Cut one in half to see if it was cured and followed suit with the rest. Figured it couldn't hurt and more surface area for smoke. Any issues with doing that? First shot at this, and tips are always welcome.

Looks Great so far!!

Only thing that hurts is if you want a lot of nice neat interior pieces. Cutting more of them up for testing gives you more exterior, which is tastier anyway.

That's why I never square my Bacon pieces before smoking, because we love those Smoky Bacon Ends we get when I square mine after smoking!!

Bear

dnvrdv · Dec 18, 2016

So it seems I have an airflow issue. AMNPS won't stay lit. A little forced air seems to be helping. Have to keep swapping with the spare burning in the grill. Heading to the store for a "chimney".

20161218_132300.jpg

dnvrdv
Dec 18, 2016

Bearcarver said:
Looks Great so far!!

Only thing that hurts is if you want a lot of nice neat interior pieces. Cutting more of them up for testing gives you more exterior, which is tastier anyway.

That's why I never square my Bacon pieces before smoking, because we love those Smoky Bacon Ends we get when I square mine after smoking!!

Bear

I can't see it when it's in my mouth!

Bearcarver · Dec 18, 2016

dnvrdv said:
I can't see it when it's in my mouth!

Exactly---Gotta love those Bacon Ends.

When I used to buy Bacon at a Butcher Shop, I always bought a couple pounds of "Bacon Ends"---Always Cheaper & always Tastier than the nice even slices.

Bear

dnvrdv · Dec 18, 2016

20161218_202519.jpg

dnvrdv
Dec 18, 2016

11 hours of smoke later. Looks like maybe they got a little warm. Smell amazing. Off to rest for a few days.

remsr · Dec 19, 2016

I don't have a 30" so I don't know if it's possible but Bear had me move may ANMPS form the left side where it often went out to the right side bottom rack above the chip tray with the chip tray piled an inch or two. It has never gone out since. But I have a 40" with 6 racks.
Randy,

dnvrdv · Dec 19, 2016

Think it should be. Wondering also about altitude. At roughly 6k feet.

Bearcarver · Dec 20, 2016

dnvrdv said:
Think it should be. Wondering also about altitude. At roughly 6k feet.

Very unusual you're getting your AMNPS to work at 6,000'.

The AMNTS (Tube) is normally recommended at those High Altitudes.

Bear

dnvrdv · Dec 20, 2016

Burns for an hour or so. I can leave one in the grill and it burnt fine

dnvrdv · Dec 23, 2016

20161223_191250.jpg

dnvrdv
Dec 23, 2016

Sliced Bacon. Fried up a couple of pieces before my wife got home and she wants to give it all away now. Needless to say it is awesome.

Bearcarver · Dec 24, 2016

dnvrdv said:
Sliced Bacon. Fried up a couple of pieces before my wife got home and she wants to give it all away now. Needless to say it is awesome.

Looks Great !!

She wants to give it away, because she's Proud of You & wants to show it off !!!

Bear

redheelerdog · Dec 26, 2016

20161223_191250.jpg

dnvrdv
Dec 23, 2016

Those are some nice thick slabs and slices.

Very nice!

dnvrdv · Dec 28, 2016

Bearcarver said:
Very unusual you're getting your AMNPS to work at 6,000'.

The AMNTS (Tube) is normally recommended at those High Altitudes.

Bear

Broke down and just ordered a tube. Interesting that both Cabelas and Gander Mountain are selling AMNPS. Seems a bad move if they don't work well above 5000'.

dnvrdv · Dec 28, 2016

redheelerdog said:
20161223_191250.jpg

dnvrdv

Dec 23, 2016

Those are some nice thick slabs and slices.

Very nice!

Thanks. Tasty too.:biggrin:

Bearcarver · Dec 29, 2016

dnvrdv said:
Broke down and just ordered a tube. Interesting that both Cabelas and Gander Mountain are selling AMNPS. Seems a bad move if they don't work well above 5000'.

Don't forget, a lot of us "Low Altitude Dwellers" shop at Cabelas or Gander Mountain too.

I believe Cabelas is my Son's 2nd Home.

They should sell both the AMNPS and the Tube.

Bear

smokin jay · Dec 29, 2016

Looks very good! Nice job!

dnvrdv · Dec 29, 2016

Bearcarver said:
Don't forget, a lot of us "Low Altitude Dwellers" shop at Cabelas or Gander Mountain too.

I believe Cabelas is my Son's 2nd Home.

They should sell both the AMNPS and the Tube.

Bear

I should have mentioned here locally in store. We have both within 8 miles of our house. :yahoo:

nwdave · Dec 29, 2016

Well, after reading this thread, Dave....I felt compelled to send you a care package. Some stuff I got from Todd. Also Dana's dehydrated ginger root. As Todd use to do, I'll carry on his package filler with some of his specialty pellets.

First shot at Bacon with Q

Smoke Blower

SMF Hall of Fame Pitmaster

Smoke Blower

Gone but not forgotten RIP

Smoke Blower

Gone but not forgotten RIP

Smoke Blower

Smoking Fanatic

Smoke Blower

Gone but not forgotten RIP

Smoke Blower

Smoke Blower

Gone but not forgotten RIP

Master of the Pit

Smoke Blower

Smoke Blower

Gone but not forgotten RIP

Smoking Fanatic

Smoke Blower

Master of the Pit

Similar threads

Hot Threads