What do you do about smoking in Winter?

fire it up · Oct 15, 2009

Today is a cold and rainy day here in New Jersey.
I was looking at the map checking on the weather and noticed some nastiness a bit further North...

Ewwwww...........
I feel sorry for anyone dealing with that crap up North.

This got me wondering what different folks on here do about feeding your smoke addiction during the Winter months.
Last year wasn't such a big deal for me since I wasn't fully addicted and when I did want to smoke I built a little wind break for my Brinkman Electric Gourmet, well this year I have a bigger smoker (sNp) and will be out there battling the cold, adding more heat and smoking when there is no blizzard blowing through.

What do you do when it is 10 degrees out and 4 feet of snow on the ground?

downstatesmoker · Oct 15, 2009

Where in NJ are you? On Long Island here and we haven't had 4' of snow since 1996, though this year may prove differently.

I usually just power through the cold and rain, use more fuel, and try like hell to keep the temps up on the sNp

bbq engineer · Oct 15, 2009

Fire,

Good question. I love ribs as much in the winter as I do in the summer. Besides, a smoked thanksgiving bird is nothing to trifle with at my house. I built my smokers, and made them double walled and insulated. There is no appreciable difference in their operation summer to winter. I have started fires in -2° temperatures with stiff breezes blowing, to smoke pork butts and briskets that were absolutely wonderful (if you have never made smoked brisket or burnt end chili, it is an absolute treat on a cold winter day). If you live in a part of the world where it gets cold and windy, insulated is the only way to go.

pineywoods · Oct 15, 2009

I find it more comfortable outside to smoke in the winter than the summer

blue · Oct 15, 2009

I wear boots while I smoke. The only time I have problems with maintaining temps is when the wind is blowing hard. Even then I can use a wall of my house or garage to sheild the smoker. I also have a welding blanket that I throw over the main chamber of my offset.

chefrob · Oct 15, 2009

i'm with piney............this IS my smoking season, for both, meat and cigars!

downstatesmoker · Oct 15, 2009

Don't know, a warm spring or fall (unheard of this year) day is great. Sit around in a camp chair sipping adult beverages and tending the fire. Maybe read a book or keep the laptop out back with me so I can run through the SMF's. What better could there be?

blue · Oct 15, 2009

Thanks because you winters are the same as my summers...

downstatesmoker · Oct 15, 2009

Didn't even look at where you 2 are from

grandpajohn · Oct 15, 2009

I purchased my first gas grill on Feb 14 th about 45 years ago. Have been cooking outside year round since. The GOSM gasser make smoking in the winter better then grilling, less watching time spent. The other plus for winter cooking in NO bugs.

chisoxjim · Oct 15, 2009

after last winter, and toughing out the weather while babysitting the old offset, I retired the offset, and bought a GOSM gasser a couple months ago for this winter. I am also getting a WSM in December. These 2 additions, and the the steady temps they provide will make smoking this winter as easy & as fun as it has been since I bought the GOSM.

rickw · Oct 15, 2009

Last year I ran the UDS as usual, it runs great no matter the weather. Years before that I had to shield the Brinkman 7-1 I had from the wind to try and keep temps up.

I'm hoping the Horizon will run as well in the winter as it has this spring and summer. If not I'll try a welding blanket first and if that fails I'll store it and use the trusty ol drum.

I will be smokin one way or another this winter.

rivet · Oct 15, 2009

With my manifold mod inside the smoking chamber, I can smoke year round. Further north a blanket certainly would help....someone mentioned a welding blanket.

Fire, contact 3Montes, he's up in the Minessota northern peninsula and says the manifold is perfect!

jdt · Oct 15, 2009

1/4 inch or better pits seem to hold temps alot better than the sheetmetal ones, several guys I know do the welding blanket thing with good success on ecbs.

treegje · Oct 15, 2009

I am fortunate that I have a carpord
which is closed on 3 sides ,I've never been so much affected by the wind

the dude abides · Oct 15, 2009

I say as long as it's above 20* and there's no wind...I keep smoking. But I'll admit I smoke far less in the winter. That's why I'm trying to get the freezer filled up now with cooked meats. That'll usually satisfy a craving. Just try not to dip into it too much so I don't run out. In a pinch, dare I say, I'll hit a resturant.

rwc565 · Oct 15, 2009

Go to your local welding supply company and buy a fire proof welding blanket. Throw that over the cooking chamber to hold the heat in.

txbbqman · Oct 15, 2009

The first thing I do is get my butt back in my truck and get back to Texas as fast as I possibly can.

Sorry Wish I could help, it just don't get that cold here.

But like others have said a welding blanket should work.

Good Luck....Stay Warm & happy smokes

bman62526 · Oct 15, 2009

I agree with the earlier post, if you have a pit made of 1/4" thick steel and a firebox made of 5/16" steel - cold won't affect it!

Even though it goes against my smoking religion

I would also agree that investing in a small gasser or a bullet-type charcoal, where you can use the minion and get long burns before heading out into the cold, would be a good change of pace for the winter.

coffee_junkie · Oct 15, 2009

I live in Montana, it gets very cold here, we have already had some 10-15* weather, that is without the windchill. I use MY GOSM to make sausage, but have trouble keeping temps up when the wind blows, which is almost always in the winter. I think I am gonna drill my orphase out one size to see if that helps, I think the altitude is affecting that. I am also building a UDS because I have been told the wind does not affect temps. I will use the GOSM to make sausage and the UDS for all other Q, hopefully it will be done by thanksgiving, so I can smoke a turkey.....but hunting season might get in the way of my build.

What do you do about smoking in Winter?

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