Recent content by polefalc

  • Some of the links on this forum allow SMF, at no cost to you, to earn a small commission when you click through and make a purchase. Let me know if you have any questions about this.
  1. polefalc

    cleaning your mes 30?

    I've found the original magic eraser to be flimsy, too, when cleaning my MES 30.  However, the "Extra Power" version (has a wiggly edge) is a bit tougher and stands up better when cleaning the MES.  I've found I can clean the entire MES two or three times before "extra power" ones fall apart.  I...
  2. polefalc

    Pre-slicing Ribs Before Smoking Them

    TW, They were in the pan for the whole smoke, no wire racks at all.  They simmered in their own juices.
  3. polefalc

    Pre-slicing Ribs Before Smoking Them

    Thank you.   Don't know if it makes a difference but I did have a water pan in my MES and put the ribs in pans.  Also, next time I'll make sure that I flip each of the ribs so that each side gets rub and sauce when I add them, rather than just shake them around. I've found that Jeff's email...
  4. polefalc

    Pre-slicing Ribs Before Smoking Them

    I got Jeff's email about Pre-slicing Ribs Before Smoking Them (Rick Shaw's method) before I started to smoke some baby back ribs yesterday and decided to try that method. Sorry no pics but the results:  awesome! Thank you Jeff and Rick.  I'm new to smoking and all the members of my family are...
  5. polefalc

    Another AMNPS-MES Question

    I feel your pain but my experience is the opposite.  I have a 30" MES - the second model.  I'm using a 12" AMNPS.  I've used the ANMPS three times already.  Only once did it not work but that was my fault.  I did the initial burn for only 20 seconds or so and although the pellets were burning...
  6. polefalc

    Noob

    Thanks.  We're under the weather here in the Gulf Coast.  Got about 6" over three days according to my backyard rain gauge.  Can't wait unit the weather clears out and I can go back to experimenting with smoking meats :) I'm going to try to cold smoke some rib eyes and finish them off on the grill.
  7. polefalc

    Noob

    I'm a newbie smoker from the Houston-Galveston area. I just got a MES 30" a few weeks back.  I've already used it a few times.  Messed up chicken breast and then messed up pork shoulder.  With help from this forum, I now know what I should be doing.   Things I've learned: 1.  Bigger is...
  8. polefalc

    Advice: how to smoke a pork shoulder so that it stays moist?

    Thanks.  Will do the stick test.  Wish I had done that yesterday.  Before I put the pork in the oven, it was perfect for us:  flavorful and juicy.   I'm approaching retirement age, so I know what an ice pick is.  Heck, I remember the milk man!  Amazon still sells ice picks, so I'll order one...
  9. polefalc

    Advice: how to smoke a pork shoulder so that it stays moist?

    Thanks.  Next time, I'll quit when it is cooked and it tastes good. Lesson learned  The pork shoulder got to 165 in about 7 hours and it was put in foil then; it was at 180 in about 10 hours or 3 hours after putting in foil.  I moved it to the oven at about 16 hours or 9 hours after being put...
  10. polefalc

    Advice: how to smoke a pork shoulder so that it stays moist?

    I had two probes in the pork shoulder in two slightly different spots:  the meat probe that is part of the MES and a Maverick probe.  Both probes were reading the same temp most of the time, or they were within a couple of degrees (e.g. one may read 185 and the other 184). 
  11. polefalc

    Advice: how to smoke a pork shoulder so that it stays moist?

    I'm new to smoking and I have a 30" MES. I got a 10# pork shoulder and trimmed some of the fat off and put a dry rub on it and left it in plastic overnight in the fridge. Preheated the MES to 225 and put the pork shoulder in and put the MES meat probe in and also a Maverick probe.  Both probes...
  12. polefalc

    MES cooking too quickly

    Got the Maverick and set it up.  I found it a bit complicated to use but I finally got the hang of it.   Someone recommended testing the probes with a known value, like boiling water.  I didn't run the MES probe but did try the two Maverick probes, a digital Weber "instant" meat thermometer...
  13. polefalc

    How Many Mes Owners Here?

    I have a 30" MES with window - 800 W I got it at QVC - they had a deal for $300 - the smoker plus a bunch of extras:  cover, rib rack, chicken stand, meat gloves.  
  14. polefalc

    MES cooking too quickly

    Richie, Great idea for replacing the tiny drip pan.  I'll have to try it.  Thanks.
  15. polefalc

    MES cooking too quickly

    David, I must be really dense.  I'm not sure what you do and I want to get it right.  My MES has the tiny rectangular water pan.  How much sand do you use?  Where do you put the sand after it is wrapped in foil?  In the water pan or at the bottom of the MES?  If the sand is at the bottom of the...
Clicky