AS A NEWBIE HOW DARE I??

[kc5tpy]

SupercenterChef got what I was trying to put across and said it better.  How new is new?  Should we assume that person has used sodium nitrite before and just answer the specific question asked?  Being in the U.K. has opened my eyes to a whole new culture.  When I came here 13 years ago I couldn't find a decent smoker, small grills with no lid was it.  I had to send to Germany for my offset and had my Dad mail me an OLD Smokey.  The country has now changed.  The Brits are gettin with the program and are really eager to learn and try.  Many are now doin great stuff on their own.  I do find some wanting to walk before they run.  Their total experience is grilling some burgers once a year if that.  They were surprised I cooked chicken legs on the smoker without pre-cooking in the oven.  Their's had always turned out burned and raw.  Couple of my friends have seen me pull a packer from the offset and figure if that dumb redneck can do it, lets go get a bag of charcoal.  "New" CAN mean REALLY "New" is the only point I was ( badly ) trying to put across.  In their eagerness to try new things, we just want them to do it safely.  That's all I meant about making it look too easy.  I NEVER meant any disrespect to this site or anyone here.  I find it to be friendly and a GREAT site for sharing info. 

 

[foamheart]

I am new and planning on using it as an excuse for as long as I can get away with it. New does not mean inexperienced, it simply means that others got here ahead of me as others will trail along behind me.

BBQ/smoking/grilling has always been a personal expression of taste which is sizably influenced by the geographic region where you hang your hat. This new world of information transfer has opened so many new doors to rooms we didn’t realize existed. NC and Texas both have world renowned BBQ but they are no way close to being able to judge as equals. I have no idea yet what Alaska and Hawaii have but I am reading the posts. Gosh there are wood types for smoking never thought of. I guess what I am saying in a nutshell is we have learned how diverse and exciting making flame is.

I have burnt a few sticks, I have enjoyed many peoples company discussing it both here and there. I always look for something fun and different. I also realize there is so much I don’t know and want to experience. My Dad made his own hams and bacon as a kid, I don’t know how yet. Brining is completely new to me, it’s still a fairly new experience where I come from (well it is when you think how long we didn’t do it), I understand the chemistry involved but I don’t know it well enough yet. And turkey fried and lard although being two of my favorite food groups should never replace that golden skined juicy seasonned smoked bird to be carved.

Heck I never saw one of these cute smoke generators everyone here likes, but I am guessing I'll be needing one shortly.  I enjoy listening here, I don’t mind sharing here. Sometimes due to my “Newness” I fear some will take a remark wrong or an idea wrong, I may not agree or maybe I have never seen it done your way, its all about respect and learning. If I disagree I am not dissing your experience, only trying to explain my own.

I learned to tend a fire when I was knee high to a toad frog. I have fired  some unbelievable custom made pits and seen some of those monster tractor trailers. I have a few pits which I enjoy but I am still acquiring more and with each new apropreation comes a new learning cycle.  Here there are good people, who have the same thing, and have experience with the same thing. Even when I am independently willed (that is what my Dad called my Mom’s mother and got away with it), people still listen and probably laugh, but they still help.

It’s a wealth of knowledge, from people who freely give that information (no secret recipes here and that is strange for BBQ chefs), so you can better enjoy your experience. Nothing is asked in return, no payment, heck they don’t even require you to recipricate. Everyone is equal until you prove yourself otherwise, or so I assume. That’s how I have been treated.

A wise old saying, “experience gathered is knowledge, knowledge applied is wisdom”. If I can get knowledge here it helps me become wise faster. Isn’t that what we are all looking for?

It’s a great site, and they even have let me babble on relentlessly so far without censoring me. LOL

 

[wes w]

I totally agree Dave!

I'm going to ask for new smokers (less than 1 year experience) to tells us about their experience with SMF. Did you get the help you needed or did you feel like you got brushed off or did you feel like people were talking way over your head?

I'm not new to smoking but I am new to sausage making and producing my own bacon.   I will say I have never been looking down upon for asking what I feel is a dumb question.   I have PMed chefs and many others here with questions.  I have never gotten  anything but outstanding responses.   The folks here will got to great lengths to make sure you understand what you are doing and in a safe manner.   I owe a lot to this site.  I've gotten rave reviews from my sage sausage and  kielbasa.   I owe it all  to this site.     Not just one, but everyone here is outstanding.  You just have to ask.  Or use the handy dandy search bar.    

 

[oldschoolbbq]

Kcy5tpl , hello. I don't feel we brush the new folks off . I for one like to see the lengthy post of our members in the know. I for one have some "articles" on Smoking and there are others that also have "outlined" the processes.

We also invite all newbies to read the post and ( if understanding is still difficult) PM one of us and have a discussion of the problem. May take a bit as most here have jobs and time concerns.Others like me can peruse at will (disabled).

We pride ourselves that we send Pics of our endeavors and explain just how to achieve the results. however there are learning curves to overcome. We will state these and explain the reason (as close to possible ) give a hand fed version when needed . I don't have a problem with this , I enjoy the Teaching.

To begin with , one should know the ways of Fire and control of it; the only way to do this Frugally < is through practice and patience . Thus I preach "Patience and Practice" . Learn your unit, know how it operates in different Weather, times of year , length of heat renention . . . etc.

Then when understanding of the unit is understood , start cooking the more inexpensive cut of meat. I suggest starting with Chicken and prefect it first , then go to the Pork Butt , Ribs and so on . . .

No one is a Pro at the start , and even the older guys will need a hand from time to time. I will be needing help this coming Fall and Winter , to learn how to operate a new kind of smoker as  my health is getting fragile.

So, in short , if you don't see it clearly ; by all means ask one of us .  Our Mods. are up on the game enough to give correct answers . USE US

 That's the reason for this Forum.

Thanks for bringing the subject up, be sure to have fun and . . .

 

[coffeecreek]

S2K9K asked new members to comment.......
As a new member and new to smoking, here's my thoughts on what I think KC5TPY meant and this site.
After reading and rereading and his post, I don't feel he was accusing, just concerned new members may be scared away or feel a lack of confidence. I had, I think, the same concerns a few years ago as a member on a beer brewing forum. After I learned a lot and a newbi would ask a question I was concerned that some answers might be " over thier head". Then After thinking about it I realized that when I first joined everyone talked over my head. You will have window shoppers everywhere you go, people will " think" they want or like something and after a very short time change their mind. Everything we try without knowing how is hard, riding a bike as small child, driving my first car, learning to fly a plane. All easy after I learned. what I think matters the most is the right people making the learning easy and fun. The people on here do just that!! and I thank you!! I also thank KC5TPY for sharing his concern.
S2K9K asked if new people felt like you talked over our heads, my answer is YES LOL, when you know as little as I do most everything you say is over my head but that's how I learn. I don't know if my rambling made any sence. All I mean is I think I understand what KC5TPY meant, this is a great site and a lot of wonderful people that know a lot about what I want to learn.

 

[berninga87]

About 2 years ago, I found my dad's brinkmann smoke'n'grill in the shed and thought "I love smoked meat, I'm gonna make some of my own", so I bought a chunk of pork and some chicken legs and built a fire with charcoal and too much(I dont use any now) lighter fluid. Battled the brinkmann for heat until my meat thermo said the food was done. The food I "smoked" that day was HORRIBLE, I ate more than I probably should have just in attempt to save my own pride. Not being one to go down easily, I knew I needed help, and stumbled on this forum. No matter how dumb the questions I asked were, they were always answered completely and politely by other forum members(as long as you stop in roll call first!). I've spend lots of time reading and searching the posts in this forum and have learned so much. So far I have built my own smoker and smoked countless delicious meals on it (beef, chicken, pork, fish, veggies, cheese etc...) and I owe it all to the members here willing to share their knowledge with us. I grew up without the luxury of having smoking/canning/curing traditions passed down to myself. This forum has given me knowledge that I will pass down to my child/children(just 1 now at 14mos.) and I pray she will pass this along to her children. In short, I love this forum and hope it lasts a very very long time. 

 

[jetsknicks1]

I totally agree Dave!

I'm going to ask for new smokers (less than 1 year experience) to tells us about their experience with SMF. Did you get the help you needed or did you feel like you got brushed off or did you feel like people were talking way over your head?

I've actually been a member here for over a year but I don't get on very often just because I don't get the opportunity to use my smoker very often. However, every single time I've come her for help/advice, everyone here's been extremely helpful and informative.

 

[tyler523]

I am a brand spankin new member as of yesterday i have bin visiting this site for years you guys keep popping up on my google searches every time a read a forum it seems like a great community of people involved here and for that I decided i wanted to be part of that. and maybe y'all do make it look too easy but from every forum I've read no body hesitates to explain in depth how to do what ever.

Tyler