Amnps questions

[chuckerg]

I have gotten the cold smoke down to a science (the 40 pounds of cheese in my fridge will attest to that) Now I have a new goal that being a beef brisket I have done pork shoulders chickens turkey and ribs but beef is new for me. The questions come up whith using the Amnps and heat for cold smoke its a walk in the park but dont know how to set it up for a longer hot smoke and this being the first beef smoke really want it to go well or the wife might shut down some experimental cooks on me!

 

[seenred]

I don't know what kind of smoker you have, but in my MES40 the AMNPS works flawlessly for long, hot smokes.  Air flow and the amount of moisture in the cooking environment are the 2 issues that tend to affect the permormance of the AMNPS.  In my MES, I never put water in the water pan, too much moisture for  the AMNPS.  For air flow, I open the chip loader a little at the bottom, and the top vent wide open.  At temps up to the MES's limit (275*), the AMNPS will put out a steady, continuous Thin Blue Smoke for as much as 8 hours or more.

 

[seenred]

Ok after looking back at some of your earlier posts, it looks like you use an MES30?  Does it have the little rails in the bottom to the left of the element and chip box?  If so, that's the place to set up your AMNPS.  The heat from the element and the air draw created by opening the chip loader a little should keep the AMNPS smoking along for hours.  And I didn't mention above, if you like a heavier smoke flavor, you can light both ends of the pellets, but this obviously means the pellets burn twice as fast.  I should also mention, if you didn't already know this, that the AMNPS tends to perform better if there is no moisture in the pellets.  That can be achieved by nuking a load of pellets in the microwave for a couple of minutes, or by putting them in a low-heat oven for about 20 minutes.  I hope I am answering your questions. 

 

[Bearcarver]

I agree with everything SeenRed said, except I never had to pull my chip loader out any amount.

I have found the most important thing to be getting the AMNPS lit properly before you put it in the smoker. I'll sometimes let it build a good hot bed of coals for 20 minutes prior to putting it in my MES.

Also---As soon as I get pellets from Todd, I immediately put them in empty juice jugs that seal the air & humidity out. I never had to Nuke or dry any of my pellets, because of this.

At 230 & below, I get up to 11 hours of perfect consistent smoke.

Bear

 

[chuckerg]

sorry did not say that I am using a MES30 and I have had to use the oven to dry the pellets even though stored in double ziplock bags, but I think thats where I store them. They get direct sun then cool down so might be condensation. I was worried that the heating element might make the AMNPS over heat and burn faster when its next to the " firebox". should I "tent" the tray to prevent drippings from hitting the tray?

 

[dasmoke]

Do the mailbox mod.  I went to menards and bought an alum. mailbox and two alum. adj elbows for $21.00.  Traced a circle on the back of the mailbox and cut a hole.  Cut 3 tabs 1 inch wide and 1 inch deep and bent them over,  stick pipe in and zip screwed tabs to mailbox.  Taped all the back holes on the mailbox.  Put mailbox on a brick for airflow and adjusted the two elbows so it goes into the mes.  Took me no more than 30 minuites.  When you have the amnps going good put it in the mailbox and watch it go.  I did drill two 1/2 inch holes in the mailbox door near the bottom for more air.  When it is windy I can use a piece of tape to block one.

Best thing ever for the mes30 due to room and moisture in the box.

Dasmoke

 

[Bearcarver]

sorry did not say that I am using a MES30 and I have had to use the oven to dry the pellets even though stored in double ziplock bags, but I think thats where I store them. They get direct sun then cool down so might be condensation. I was worried that the heating element might make the AMNPS over heat and burn faster when its next to the " firebox". should I "tent" the tray to prevent drippings from hitting the tray?

Yes tent over the AMNPS, so it doesn't catch drippings:

Check below:

This is an MES 40, but it works similar.

The upside down foil pan cut in half protects the AMNPS.

On the other side, sitting on an angle above the empty drip pan is a foil covered sheet of aluminum plate. That plate forces the heat to the middle of the smoker, instead of allowing the right side to get much hotter than the rest.



Bear

 

[chuckerg]

going to do the mailbox mod but this is more of an unplanned event weather is nice day off and want to smoke! also thanks for th picture that helps alot and I am thinking about upgrading to the MES 40 so its nice to see it in "action". going to run a single honey brined turkey breast today to check function but beef is rubbed sitting till thursday

 

[seenred]

going to do the mailbox mod but this is more of an unplanned event weather is nice day off and want to smoke! also thanks for th picture that helps alot and I am thinking about upgrading to the MES 40 so its nice to see it in "action". going to run a single honey brined turkey breast today to check function but beef is rubbed sitting till thursday

Good luck with the turkey breast...be sure to let us know how it goes, and don't forget the qview!