LOOKING FOR OPINIONS

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cowboyuptex

Fire Starter
Original poster
Jan 8, 2013
67
15
DENTON TEXAS
OK I DO COMPETITIVE COOKING. I USE STICK FEED ONLY. BEEN THINKING ABOUT SWITCHING TO SOMETHING LIKE A SMOKE HOLLOW, MASTERBUILT BLUETOOTH BOX OR TREAGER SMOKER. I HAVE NEVER USED THESE AND DIDNT KNOW IF THEY ARE REALLY THAT MUCH DIFFERENT FROM STICK FEED SMOKERS. ANY INPUT WOULD BE NICE. I DO LOVE THE OLD SCHOOL STICK FEED BUT SOMETIMES SLEEP DOES FEEL GOOD.

THANKS
 
I started with a stick burner and after a tree fell on it i couldn't afford to replace it so i bought the MES 40.

They are different from a stick burner. IMHO you don't get that good bark like you do w/ a stick.

and yes if you placed a smoked butt or brisket from each one side by side you will easily tell the difference.

I have never had a complaint about anything i have smoked on my MES.

With the AmazeN pellet tray you can get 8 - 10 hrs of perfect smoke with one filling.

I have 40 lbs of butts rubbed and in the fridge right now to be smoked for lunch tomorrow.

 I will preheat my MES and get the pellets lit and start the butts at 6 pm today. when i wake up tomorrow and have my coffee i will go out and they will be done (around 8 am) I will wrap them and put them in an ice chest . then i will run the temp up to 265 switch to the AmazeN saw dust tray w/ apple dust and smoke a big batch ( 234 oz) of wicked beans. They will be done around 11am. i get 8 hrs sleep and everyone else gets to eat good.
 
 
OK I DO COMPETITIVE COOKING. I USE STICK FEED ONLY. BEEN THINKING ABOUT SWITCHING TO SOMETHING LIKE A SMOKE HOLLOW, MASTERBUILT BLUETOOTH BOX OR TREAGER SMOKER. I HAVE NEVER USED THESE AND DIDNT KNOW IF THEY ARE REALLY THAT MUCH DIFFERENT FROM STICK FEED SMOKERS. ANY INPUT WOULD BE NICE. I DO LOVE THE OLD SCHOOL STICK FEED BUT SOMETIMES SLEEP DOES FEEL GOOD.

THANKS
Love both my MES30 and my MES40 but I can't imagine using them for competitions. They're great for cooking at home though. 
 
 
Love both my MES30 and my MES40 but I can't imagine using them for competitions. They're great for cooking at home though. 
I agree with SmokesOnTuesday.  

The MES units have some limitations like a max temp of 275F (if it can hit it), they can't produce smoke with the onboard design if you must smoke low for sausage or bacon, also you can get temp swings (mine did 30-35F swings) which may wreck sausage or bacon by causing fat to render, and the built in probes are ALWAYS off so you must use a 3rd party thermometer and set of probes.

All/any of that makes me think it isn't ideal for real competition but fine for home.  I have heavily mod'ed my MES40 to deal with all of this but I think I have just about reached the limitations for what I can do with the unit even with all the mods.  I can produce great bbq and smoke anything that can be smoked... now :)
 
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