complete and totally new at this

kendall

Newbie

Original poster

Mar 24, 2008

7

10

MIDDLE TENNESSEE

• Mar 24, 2008

• #1

Our city is hosting a KCBS event in June. So I went to a class and learned
how to judge meat.
So now I want to learn to cook.
I don't own any thing but a gas grill. so any advice is good.

 

gooose53

Smoking Fanatic

SMF Premier Member

Aug 17, 2007

976

11

• Mar 24, 2008

• #2

Kendall, welcome to the forum!! I don't believe KCBS allows the use of gas at their events. Not sure if that was going to be one of your questions or not. You can use gas to start your fire but it cannot be the primary source of heat to cook with. If you want to learn to smoke meat take Jeff's 5-day course as a start. Buy a inexpensive smoker unless you want to and have the means to buy something really nice. Read more on this forum and ask questions when something doesn't make sense. There is so much to learn about smoking meat that no one could tell you all you needed to know in one post. You'll find tons of info on this forum....

 

jseiber

Fire Starter

Dec 10, 2007

72

10

Clinton Tennessee

• Mar 24, 2008

• #3

Welcome Kendall,

If you are just starting out, you need to sign up for the 5 day ecourse. It's very helpful, and it's free.

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/for...splay.php?f=41

 

mcp9

Meat Mopper

Jan 31, 2008

177

10

Foley, AL

• Mar 24, 2008

• #4

read a lot of these threads. u will learn a lot. then look at some of the pics, that will seal it. u will be smokin tomorrow. best way to learn is to practice.

 

vlap

Master of the Pit

OTBS Member

SMF Premier Member

Aug 17, 2007

1,770

10

Bradenton, Florida

• Mar 24, 2008

• #5

We all started somewhere. I may get banned from this site for saying this but I would start with a gas or electric smoker. The heat is easy to maintain so you can concentrate on the meat rather then temperature maintenance. I used an electric for years and still do along with my charcoal smoker. Once you are used to the cooking process, have some recipes down pat, and feel comfortable with a smoker get a charcoal/woodburner and progress to the next stage in your developement.

The recipes on this site and methods described are incredible. Get Jeff's rub and bbq sauce recipe and sign up for his smoking course.

Read read and read some more on this site. Ask questions even if you think they maybe silly. You will get a good answer.

Just don't ask how much time it takes to cook something. RichT may get his underwear twisted.

Ask what temp to take food to instead. The temp matters not the time.

I hope this helps.

 

packplantpath

Smoking Fanatic

Dec 14, 2007

478

10

• Mar 24, 2008

• #6

My advice is to check craigslist in your area. If it's active, there are several smokers posted a week. Pick out one for $25 or less and go to it. That way, you have money left for butts. Pretty much any ecb or offset like a SnP is a good way to start. If the one you find is gas or electric, go for it. Though I like charcoal best, my first brisket showed me why a electric or gas unit has it's uses.

Jump in head first and have fun.

 

kendall

Newbie

Original poster

Thread starter

Mar 24, 2008

7

10

MIDDLE TENNESSEE

• Mar 24, 2008

• #7

thank you,thank you
it will be a long time before I will be competitive.....anything I do now will
be for family........but man, what we had sure was good.

 

lcruzen

Master of the Pit

OTBS Member

Apr 16, 2007

1,023

10

Hell, Michigan

• Mar 24, 2008

• #8

Hey Kendall and welcome to the SMF. At least by taking the judging class you'll have first hand knowledge how it should turn out. You'll have a lot of fun learning, reading and posting here. And we love Q-VIEW!

Lou

 

richtee

Epic Pitmaster

OTBS Member

Aug 12, 2007

10,682

29

N. Oakland County, MI

• Mar 24, 2008

• #9

You got a boatload of good advice there Ken.

Only thing I can add is WELCOME to SMF!

 

travcoman45

Master of the Pit

OTBS Member

Jan 19, 2008

4,118

34

A Holler in North Iowa

• Mar 24, 2008

• #10

Welcome aboard, glad to have ya! Just ask all the questions you wan't, lots of fine folks here who can give you answers!

 

bb53chevpro

Master of the Pit

OTBS Member

Dec 29, 2007

1,846

12

• Mar 25, 2008

• #11

Welcome to the forum. You will learn alot here quickly. Alot of fantastic people here. The best advise I can give you, is Thin Blue Smoke.
Ask if you have any questions.
Andy.

 

kookie

Master of the Pit

OTBS Member

Mar 27, 2007

2,850

10

Mandan North Dakota

• Mar 25, 2008

• #12

Welcome to the site..........Great site here...............