Recent content by plume-o-smoke

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  1. plume-o-smoke

    R.I.P. Bearcarver (John)

    The man made me feel welcome here. It's a sad day.
  2. plume-o-smoke

    Texas Pepper Smoked Sirloin Roast - Reverse Engineered

    When I was in Texas a few years back I had a sirloin steak that was unique and fan-freaking-tastic. Forget what you think you know about cheap sirloin steak. The texture/moisture of this technique is unlike any sirloin steak I’ve ever had. Juicy, tender. With a beautiful smoked beef flavor that...
  3. plume-o-smoke

    Newby, Masterbuilt question

    Search for posts by BearCarver. Dude knows the MES and has *fantastic* advice Another vote for the mailbox + the AMAZN maze or tube (even though Bearcarver says you don't need the mailbox). It absolutely rocks for 'fire and forget' thin blue smoke for hours and hours. If you live at altitude...
  4. plume-o-smoke

    Anyone know the IT for alligator?

    I dusted them w/ my cajun spice, salt, garlic, lemon juice & oil for a few hours. Grilled w/ 2-zone, smoked w/ apple for ~30 min, finished on hot side. Bugs were killed at 160. Sliced it thin and served. Leftovers = tacos tomorrow. I successfully achieved cooking them w/o making them taste like...
  5. plume-o-smoke

    Anyone know the IT for alligator?

    I'm grilling some alligator tenderloins tonight. Anyone know the internal temp I should shoot for? Is this like steak, sear the outside and leave the middle mid-rare? Or more like pork chop/chicken, cooked throughout? Eatin' some Florida gator in Denver while watching the Av's beat down of...
  6. plume-o-smoke

    Long smoke- temp and time frame question

    My own experience is that I could grow old before geting a pork shoulder to 205 internal at 225 degrees. I don't know if it's the altitude (~6000 ft) or what. 18 hours at 270 to maybe get to 200 is more common for me.
  7. plume-o-smoke

    Need a new pellet brand (electric smoker tube & maze users, not Traeger-type pellet smokers)

    I'm super excited to hear about some good pellet options. I just checked out Lumberjack. 80% of their pellets are blends with a lot of oak or something mellow. Just like I'd expect from Trager. Do you avoid the blends? It seems like the 100% hickory from my local Dicks Sporting Goods for $15...
  8. plume-o-smoke

    Need a new pellet brand (electric smoker tube & maze users, not Traeger-type pellet smokers)

    <<< A-MAZ-N Product pellets >>> Yea, that's what I've used for years and loved them. Burned ~20-40 lbs/year, maze by maze that's a lot of smokes. I heard the company got bought, then they hit the big box stores, then the 'free shipping' promotionals disappeared, now I can't even buy bags over...
  9. plume-o-smoke

    Need a new pellet brand (electric smoker tube & maze users, not Traeger-type pellet smokers)

    UPDATE: The results are in Lumberjack (4 votes) - notably available locally at Dicks Sporting Goods for $15/20 lbs Owens BBQ (2 votes) - 20lb bags pick up only, $17/5 lbs delivered. CookinPellets (1 vote) - $36/40 lbs delivered BBQrs Delight (1 vote) - only sell small bags, six 1-pound bags for...
  10. plume-o-smoke

    Another mailbox mod

    At high altitude (Denver-ish), I have had poor luck w/ the maze AMNPS. The tube AMNTS works pretty well. I have had better success w/ many air holes open, or even crack the door, until I'm *positive* it's lit well. Then I close off the holes to get something similar to Dave's picture. The 12"...
  11. plume-o-smoke

    Another mailbox mod

    And to anyone who wants about 4 days of good reading on this, here is a link to the 'old' mailbox thread on the MES forum. This really did change my smoking life. I'm at high altitude (Denver-ish) and I couldn't get consistent smoke to save my life. I did this mod and have never looked back...
  12. plume-o-smoke

    MES Mailbox Mod! for use with AMNPS

    Good timing, I just lit my AMNTS tube and shut the door on my mailbox. I'm curious how yours will work. Do report back. Most people put the exhaust tube on the back near the top where it's nice and flat to cut a hole. If yours doesn't leak too much from the top vent, it seems like it should...
  13. plume-o-smoke

    MES Mailbox Mod! for use with AMNPS

    Perfect. The tube smoked *perfectly* for 6 hours, down to white ash. 1 reloaded & went off to bed w/ not the slightest concern. I'm at ~185 IT right now and climbing. It's hard to see in the picture, but there is a constant upward slope from the mailbox to the smoker inlet. I can understand how...
  14. plume-o-smoke

    MES Mailbox Mod! for use with AMNPS

    Ahhh, life is good. I tossed a properly loaded & lit tube and an hour later I'm at stable TBS. Barely visible in the picture. Huge shout out to Bear & Dave. I've been fighting my AMNPS tray for 4 years, mostly here in Colorado. That has to be close to a hundred smokes. Now I know why. I've...
  15. plume-o-smoke

    MES Mailbox Mod! for use with AMNPS

    THANK YOU for that insight. I'm on it, I have one and will check back in a while.
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