BBQ Novice Looking for help

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ninerfreak

Newbie
Original poster
Apr 23, 2017
1
10
Very Amateur Smoker here.  I inherited an old Brinkmann stick burner a few years back and became addicted to smoking.  The only problem I had was time.  With 2 kids under 4 it's very hard to spend 12 hours tending a fire.  My old set up was an old Brinkmann offset, a Char-Griller barrel, a Weber gas (from the 80's, it was my late Grandfathers, and I won't get rid of it,) and a Coleman Roadtrip (For tailgating)  For me, looking out at all of these grills on the deck was wonderful.  For the wife, not so much.  I live in Northern IL and for most people, that means grilling from March through October.  Not for me.  Once I figured out I could shovel my lazy ass to the deck, it became an even bigger addiction.  To make a long story even longer, The grill situation looked like this;  The Brinkmann needed a new firebox, The Char-Griller needed new everything, and the Weber needed new everything.  So my wife looked out the kitchen window and saw three broken grills everyday.  Big surprise, she wasn't happy.  I purchased a Traeger Select Elite a few weeks ago.  Not my first choice, but got a pretty good deal at Costco, and the wife wanted only one grill on the deck, and she wanted it to look pretty.  I figured if she is going to let me spend $1000 on a grill, the least I can do is give her something pretty to look at while she does the dishes.  I've had it for a few weeks now, and I've had to throw away 2 racks of ribs, and some brats.  (User error, no fault of the grill.)  I think I have it tuned in pretty well, but I have yet to find anyone using this as a smoker.  I have done one pork butt, and it was amazing.  What I'm looking for is anyone else who has one of these and can give me some tips on modifications.  The only problem I have had so far is cooking at high temps.  I know it only goes to 450, but I have yet to get it that high.  Do I need Fire Bricks?  Is it because of the weather?  Any help would be appreciated.  I only Smoke 10-15 times a year, and I grill 4 nights per week, so it will be used mostly as a grill.  I know a lot of the old school BBQ guys will say, A stick burner is the only way to go.  Well, I'm sorry.  I'm too lazy, I don't have the time, and from what I've read so far, I have more money than brains.  Everyone seems to hate anything that is powered by gas, or even looks like something powered by gas, but so far, I am very happy with my purchase.  So please, don't hate on me for buying the grill I have and tell me I should have bought something else.  I know there are probably better grills out there, but this is what I have.  I just want to cook good food for my family, just like the rest of you.

Smoke on Guys, and thank you for all of the info you share.

Ninerfreak
 
Ninerfreak, welcome to SMF!  Glad you are here with the new toy and figuring it out.  There are a LOT of guys here with a pellet grill/smoker, and we don't hate on anyone!  We welcome everyone!  Ask any questions you have and you'll get the answers you need.

Have fun! 

Ray
 
Welcome to the forum!

Happy to have you join the group.

Plenty of pellet smoker owners on here.

It's the cook, not the cooker that makes the difference!!

Al
 
Welcome to the forum!! 
welcome1.gif
 
Welcome to the forum.  Some of us are even lazier and use electrics, but they still welcomeus here..  Practice with what you have, and it will work out.  Yep, real stick burners will usually make a small percentage difference, but just how much is it worth tending to each individual person?  That is why they make so many different kinds of smokers, each have their advantages.  I load mine up and go to bed.  Beeper wakes me up if needed.

Enjoy your new toy.
 
Lots of guys with pellet poopers, gassers and watt burners. All, like you, are welcome. You will find a pellet grill does not make much smoke above 225. Guys that use them frequently add a Pellet Smoke Generator Tube like the AMNTS sold by A-MAZE-N Products, the owner Todd is a long time member. You set the grill temp, get the tube making smoke and you are playing with the kids for the next several hours before you need to reload.

BTW...Hang around and you will find many Stick Burners have grown children or very understanding wives...JJ
 
Welcome and I am a fellow Traeger user.  I used have a lil Tex Elite and used it for 4 years.  Prior to that I used a standard side box smoker.  The Traeger takes some getting used to.  It is a different animal but very easy to use.   If you want to really get a smoke ring on your meat you have to spend time at 185 or below.   Then later in the cook bring your temp up to finish your cook.   It is much different that  a regular smoker where you set it at 225 and walk away.    I had to adjust all my cooking times and temps on things I had smoked for years when I moved to a Traeger.    I did just buy the new Traeger Timberline which has a super smoke setting.  I can now go back to smoking just like the old pre-Traeger days.  I can run super smoke at 225 and get the perfect brisket, ribs etc.  With the convenience of loading pellets and forgetting about it except to spray a few times.  Over night cooks are easy.  I still think it is not quite as good as a side box smoker but close.     Hope this helps.
 
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