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  1. saigonjj

    cure calculator app

    Yes, the app takes the salt in the cure into account.  Not sure I understand what you are saying about cure #2, but I suppose you could treat it as extra cure #1 when using the app. 
  2. saigonjj

    Smithfield Country Ham -- cut in half before cooking. Mistake?

    I recently picked up my first ever Smithfield Country Ham.  The instructions are to soak it for 12-24 hours, scrub off the mold, then simmer to cook.  It was too large to completely fit even in my brewing pot, so I took it back to the store and had the butcher saw it in half.  That done, I...
  3. saigonjj

    cure calculator app

    Hey Guys — I’ve become a little obsessed with making my own bacon (and small hams) over the last few years, and it’s taken me a while, but I managed to make a cure calculator for the iPhone and iPad in my spare time.  It’s in the app store for free and it’s called iSmokeHog. Been using...
  4. saigonjj

    Pops6927's Wet Curing Brine

    First I want to join in thanking Pops for posting his recipe. But I am hoping someone can help clarify something for me. I normally dry-cure my meats (bacon and small hams), and for this type of curing you assume that all the nitrite applied will permeate into the meat. This makes it easy...
  5. saigonjj

    Sausage casings from three continents??

    I bought a package of Eastman hog sausage casings from Amazon and noticed on the back of the package it says "product of USA, China, and Europe."  I find this curious.  I can only thing of three ingredients: (1) hog casings, (2) salt, (3) the package, so I guess each came from a different...
  6. saigonjj

    Bad Redi-Check temperature probe -- where to get replacement?

    My meat probe for my Redi Check seems to have gone bad.  Always registers the same temp around 200 degrees.  Must have shorted out inside the cable or something.  Has anyone found a source for replacement probes?  I hate having to open the door and let all the smoke and heat out just to take a...
  7. saigonjj

    3-2-1 method

    I have to show my ignorance here as another noob, but I was wondering if I should fill the water pan in the smoker for the "3' or any other part of the process?
  8. saigonjj

    Another AMNPS-MES Question

    I'm sure you're way past this kind of simplistic suggestion, but when I was having trouble with my AMNPS in my MES30 I got the idea that I need to fill the pellets all the way up as high as possible without spilling over.  I also shake/massage a little to make sure there are no air gaps.  I had...
  9. saigonjj

    AMNPS compatible pellets?

    Thanks for all the input.  I went ahead and ordered new supplies from Todd.  
  10. saigonjj

    AMNPS compatible pellets?

    Hi Folks, Still fairly new to smoking, I have a MES 30 and an AMNPS.  I'm curious if all the various different types of pellets for sale out there, like Traeger's, Lumber Jack, BBQr's Delight, etc. work alright in the AMNPS.  I don't want to end up buying something that won't burn right...
  11. saigonjj

    mixing large batches of sausage

    I'm curious how others mix large batches of sausage.  I've done somewhere in the range of 8-10 pounds (which for me is large) but I find it gets difficult to thoroughly mix the seasoning into the meat at this volume.  I usually get started with a large fork and then eventually remove my wedding...
  12. saigonjj

    pre-mixing instacure and salt?

    Started 3 small pork loins 2 weeks ago with my pre-mix.  Looks like all 3 have some degree of unpleasant smell.  One is probably OK but...  I opened my jar of mix again and the chlorine-like smell is quite strong.  I don't know what I got in there but obviously it's not good.  Guess I'm going...
  13. saigonjj

    pre-mixing instacure and salt?

    Just instacure #1, table salt, and light brown sugar.  Nothing else.  
  14. saigonjj

    AMNPS goes out

    This weekend I used the AMNPS to smoke some bellies.  I put it up over the heating element and completely removed the chip loader on my MES30 and it worked fine after a few attempts at getting it going.  Then yesterday I tried using it for some jerky and could not keep it going.  Because of the...
  15. saigonjj

    pre-mixing instacure and salt?

    I opened my jar of pre-mixed cure last night to start curing some mini-hams out of pork loins and noticed a chlorine-like smell which I hadn't noticed before.  What could this be?  I did use regular table salt and in all likelihood it was iodized.  Could this be the cause, and is it anything to...
  16. saigonjj

    AMNPS goes out

    Thanks, Mike.  Good suggestions.  I usually ended up pulling the chip loaded out half way to let more air in but I never touched the chip tray.  Will try that this time.  I also like where you put your AMNPS.  I'll see if I can put mine there without interfering with my second tray of hanging...
  17. saigonjj

    AMNPS goes out

    I think I must be doing something wrong.  I bought my AMNPS from Todd and he sent me the right one to fit in my MES30.  It fits in the bottom right to the left of the heating element.  It worked well the first couple of times but recently it has not kept burning.  Two times ago it went around...
  18. saigonjj

    pre-mixing instacure and salt?

    I think this is a useful discussion. So I think in my case I need to figure out my target nitrite level plus my target salt and sugar levels and create a mix from there.  I see the USDA minimum is 120 ppm, which is what DiggingDog says too, so that's probably a good starting point.  I've tried...
  19. saigonjj

    pre-mixing instacure and salt?

    So I assume that 5% is based on the other ingredients that you put in your cure mix and by using 5% of the mix you are getting the proper amount of nitrite per weight of meat, is that right?
  20. saigonjj

    MES 30 just arrived -- need beginner recipe ideas

    Hi Guys, My MES 30 just arrived and unfortunately I have to work on Saturday but I still hope to get started on testing this thing on the weekend.  Can someone recommend some easy yet sure-to-please recipes to test it out on and get my feet wet?  I'll be using it in conjunction with my AMNPS...
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