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  1. hkeiner

    Test brisket doneness while wrapped in butcher paper?

    I'm in the middle of smoking my first brisket point (at 230 degrees smoker temp) and just wrapped it in butcher paper when the meat was at 165 internal temp. It is now in the smoker to finish . I understand that doneness is best tested by inserting a probe (skewer, toothpick, or similar) and...
  2. hkeiner

    Recommended PID settings for Auber WS-1211GPH and MES40

    Hi, I just purchased the Auber WS-1211GPH PID for my Masterbuilt MES 40 smoker and have the following questions: A) Can anyone recommend PID settings that would work well with this smoker? I understand that I can use AUTOTUNE to do this, but not sure how optimal the settings would be. I...
  3. hkeiner

    Failed electrical connection at heating element. Any opinions on cause and/or use of dielectric grea

    My MES40 stopped working last week after about 3 years of regular use. I found that one of the terminals on the heating element was totally corroded/failed. The other connector and the rest of the wiring all seemed OK.  I read all the forum posts I could find on this type failure and found that...
  4. hkeiner

    Does MES mailbox mod work OK without removing the inside chip assembly?

    Has anyone used the mailbox mod successfully on a MES40 without removing the wood chip assembly completely?  I ask because I am considering doing this project but I want to leave the assembly installed because I sometimes like to use the wood chip drawer instead of my AMNPS for short smokes or...
  5. hkeiner

    Is it possible to do the MES mailbox mod without removing chip tray assembly?

    I was wondering if anyone has done the MES mailbox mod without removing the chip tray assembly (e.g., removing only the chip loader) and if so, how well it works this way. I would guess that connecting the vent pipe to the MES would be a problem and also that the chip tray assembly would...
  6. hkeiner

    Best method to smoke a whole turkey if not brining

    OK, so I know that brining an "unprocessed" whole turkey has a lot of benefits and I have done this in the past with great results. However, I will not be able to brine my turkey next time (for various logistical reasons) but I still want to do the best that I can do. For those of you that have...
  7. hkeiner

    Sausage stuffer recommendations - Kitchenaid attachment vs 5lb verticle stuffer

    I want to get a sausage stuffer and would like some opinions (pros and cons) between some common choices, such as a stuffer kit that attaches to a Kitchenaid mixer, a stand-alone 5lb verticle stuffer such as a Grizzly, or a hand press. I tried using my own homemade "funnel/wooden dowl stuffer...
  8. hkeiner

    Good pan for foiling in MES40?

    I understand that many use a pan covered with aluminum foil for foiling (instead of using aluminum foil only) and that a  'disposable' aluminum pan is often used because of easy clean up and such. I want to start using a pan for foiling too but being a somewhat ...frugal.. person, I prefer to...
  9. hkeiner

    BBB - What is best smoker temp and internal temp to get result closest to regular bacon?

    What is the recommended smoker temp and internal temp for BBB if  you want it to turn out as much like regular 'belly' bacon as possible? More specifically, I want to be able to fry it up crispy like regular bacon.  I understand that BBB will never turn out exactly like belly bacon, but I am...
  10. hkeiner

    Is it better to freeze pork loin before or after it is cured?

    I just got 6 packages of fresh pork loin for making canadian bacon but I do not have time to smoke them until 3-4 weeks from now. I think I will need to freeze them for part of this time to avoid spoilage. Is it better to first cure the pork loin (using Morton Tender Quick) before freezing them...
  11. hkeiner

    AMNS 6x8 (A-Maze-N)

    I got an AMNPS recently and so do not use my old AMNS 6x8 any more. I'll include a small bag of dust too. I only have enough dust for a few smokes, as I now use pellets with my AMNPS, but it will get you started. I hesitate to take a potential AMNS sale away from A-MAZE-N Products (Todd is a...
  12. hkeiner

    MES 40 goes dead intermittantly - Bad controller or overheat sensor?

    Hi, While using my MES 40 (model 20070710) this past weekend to smoke some ribs, it went temporarily dead after about 3 hours of smoking. The controller display went completely dead along with the heating element and the inside light. I confirmed that there was power at the outlet. I unplugged...
  13. hkeiner

    3-2-1 method - What are some alternatives to using apple juice as the liquid?

    Hi, Are there many alternative liquids that can  be used when doing the 3-2-1 method for pork ribs? That is, the liquid put in the foil with the ribs during the "2" phase. I have been using apple juice (and it works just fine ) but often I don't have any on hand. Rather than going out to buy a...
  14. hkeiner

    Buckboard bacon - How much cure to use if it has 0.8 percent nitrite?

    This will be my first attempt to make buckboard bacon. I tried to get some Morton's Tender Quick or Hi-Mountain cure locally but I was not able to find it. I did find a local restaurant supply shop that sold a local brand of cure which contains 0.8% nitrate (Oops. I should have said nitrite)...
  15. hkeiner

    MES 40 - Troubleshoot cause of temp reading on display higher than actual temps

    I purchased a MES 40 (model 20070710) in October 2010 and am very happy with it. However, I have found that the temperature reading on the MES display consistently shows 20-30 degrees higher than the temperature shown on my Taylor 1470N digital thermometer. (I checked the accuracy of the Taylor...
  16. hkeiner

    Is there an optimal size for smoking blocks of cheese?

    As my first attempt at smoking cheese, I picked up a 2 lb. (3.5" x 6.5" x 2.3") block of Monerery Jack cheese at the store. It seems kind of big to smoke in one piece, but I don't know. It is my first time...   I read up a bit on how to smoke cheese, but I didn't come across anything that talked...
  17. hkeiner

    A-MAZE-N Smoker -Is a single, double, or quad burn most recommended for hot smoking in MES 40?

    Any suggestions on the burn rate (single, double, or quadruple ) or the amount of dust to put in the A-MAZE-N 6x8 box (full, half, twice, etc. ) when hot smoking ribs, pork butt, brisket, or turkey legs in a MES 40 (or similar)? I understand that everyone has their preferences on smoking and I...
  18. hkeiner

    A-MAZE-N Dust - Opinion on all around best wood dust in 5lb bag size?

    Well, I have read a lot of good things about the A-MAZE-N box and the MES and plan to pull the trigger and order one. I also want to order some dust at the same time. I see on the website that the 5lb size is a much better deal (cost per pound) than the 1 lb size for the standard woods and so...
  19. hkeiner

    MES 40 with stainless steel body - Is it hard to keep exterior clean and shiny?

    Hi, I like the look of the MES 40 with the stainless steel body over the MES 40 with the black body. Of course, most new and shiny things look good. Before I buy an all stainless steel MES, I thought I would ask how hard it is to keep the stainless steel body looking good (say with moderate use...
  20. hkeiner

    MES 40 #20070710 - Do you have any opinions on this particular model?

    Hi, I found a guy selling a new (in the box) MES 40 model #20070710 on Craigslist for $275. Before I decide to buy it, I thought I would do a bit of checking to be sure I am not making an obvious mistake at this price. I understand that it has the newer 1200W element and an all SS body, but no...
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