Burning Charcoal with Chunks or Chips...JJ

[chef jimmyj]

Yesterday I smoked off a couple of small Butts, about 5 pounds total...Sorry no Qview, Casey took the Camera back to school with her. I used my usual setup, Minion method, except my wife could not get the Hickory Chunks I like to use and just bought Apple Chips.

What a NIGHTMARE! The smoker came up to the 230*F I use but after 30 minutes dropped to 210* and I had to fight, stirring the coals and adding more chips every 15 minutes for 4 hours until I gave up foiled the pan and stuck them ib the Oven to finish!

I did EVERYTHING the same except using Chips instead of Chunks! I had no idea that Chunks made such a difference in gotting to and maintaining a steady temp. Has anyone had a similar experience?

BTW...I used my RIN FOIL JUICE in the Butt pan with AWESOME results!

What do you guys think anout this situation I experienced?,,,JJ

 

[SmokinAl]

What smoker were you using?

 

[chef jimmyj]

The NB Horizontal...Got that sucker dialed in or at least thought I did. The only change this last run was the Chips instead of Chunks...JJ

 

[oldschoolbbq]

    Jimmy, yeah those chips (IMHO)are for the elect.units or lower heat.You have Maple there in H-burg,ask around and someone will give some limbs

 and you can use a skillsaw to cut disk about 2"long then use a hatchet to split them;about three weeks in the sun in a layer will cure them enough to cook with and have good results.

    Now watch someone say that's not long enough

.Oh,well,and how are ya?

have fun and,

 

[jirodriguez]

Yup.... chunks are the best way to go with a charcoal fired smoker.... but if you you are in a pinch and absolutely have to use chips you can make a foil pouch filled with chips, poke some holes in it with a pencil and toss it in. It will smoke a lot longer than just tossing handfulls of chips on.

 

[venture]

X2 on both.  I would go chunks or the AMNS.  As Johnny said, If I have to use chips I wrap in foil.  I like only one or two holes, but try it different ways and see what you like.

Good luck and good smoking.

 

[Bearcarver]

Hi Jimmy!

I can't help you because I'm a Watt-burner, but it looks like you got some good help on this one!!!

Thanks to Todd, that half bag of Hickory Chips I still have are going to become collectors items!!

Bear

 

[meateater]

 

[chef jimmyj]

This ones not about the MEAT!  Would you really want to look at a bunch of pics of a thermometer at 210*F? What you some kind a WISEGUY!?!?!?