Cold Weather Smoking

[RoundSquare]

While here in the Southeast we don't often have crazy cold weather, today it was 47, felt like 42. At what point does cold effect most modern electric smokers like a Masterbuilt 40 inch digital electric? Looking at getting a new smoker and trying to check all the boxes.

Having to finish my butt in the oven after 18 hours on my Brinkmann Electric and it won't get above 180 internal.

 

[SmokyMose]

That's not crazy cold and I don't have an electric, but any smoker is going to have to work harder at low ambients. If I cook in low temps with my offset I have to use more wood than usual.
That being said, 180 IT is when I wrap the butt and finish it in the oven anyway....

 

[normanaj]

At 47 not even a little.

 

[Fueling Around]

No experience with either a Masterbuilt Electric Smoker (MES) or a Brinkmann electric.
I have a Big Chief electric and I smoked for a few hours and foil pan wrapped and moved to the oven to finish. This was after learning to not over smoke

 

[801driver]

I have used my Smoke-it #2 set on 225' in Oklahoma when the temps are 20' daytime and down to 0' for a night time low. I was not watching box temp, only looking for meat IT, but the cook times did not seem to vary from normal smokes. I have done at least one brisket and at least a couple pork buts under those conditions. My 10 yo smoker is a little protected from direct wind, and they are double walled with insulation between. Good luck finding what works for you.

 

[bazzz9]

I also have a Smoking-it #2 and have never had any problems with outside weather affecting the cook. I have not used mine in the temps 801driver has but it has never had a problem getting it done.

 

[normanaj]

Woke up to 2℉ with a nice stiff wind.Ribs will be going in the MES in about an hour or so and by then it should be a nice balmy 8°-10℉. I'll let you know how it works out.

 

[dr k]

Wind chill on anything insulated or not is the biggest issue. I'd rather have 0*F no wind than be 40*F and wind. Electric on/off controllers or PID's be sure to follow their mfr's humidity/temp limits because they don't have conformal coatings to keep components and traces from shorting from rain/water and condensate. Auber WS-1510ELPM has limits and is similar to all things electronic. Bring warm controllers inside right after a cook when you bring in the food and let them cool in a dry environment.

 

[normanaj]

Just pulled my ribs out of the MES and it never got above 14℉. All worked out well.

47℉ will NEVER be an issue for your MES.

 

[801driver]

Wind chill on anything insulated or not is the biggest issue. I'd rather have 0*F no wind than be 40*F and wind. Electric on/off controllers or PID's be sure to follow their mfr's humidity/temp limits because they don't have conformal coatings to keep components and traces from shorting from rain/water and condensate. Auber WS-1510ELPM has limits and is similar to all things electronic. Bring warm controllers inside right after a cook when you bring in the food and let them cool in a dry environment.

My smoker sits outside just under a covered area on the edge of my deck year round, gets a little blowing rain every once in a while. Yep, all electronics will have temperature and humidity limits, and circuits will eventually fail. I have enough spare parts to build a PID controller for my Smoke-it #2 Analog but I see no reason for doing that. Being Analog, the temperature sensor directly turns the heater on and off with a single contact (only moving part) identical to how your kitchen oven works with just a twist knob. No electronics involved. Yep the temp swings back and forth a few degrees, so what? Good enough to bake a cake with or open the door to take a quick look or slap on some sauce or what ever you might do does the same. IT of your chunk of meat is the only thing that really matters in my opinion. Mine is close to 10 years on my original temp sensor and heater. Only maintenance has been to clean it every once in a while. Not a bad thing in my opinion.

 

[RoundSquare]

Just pulled my ribs out of the MES and it never got above 14℉. All worked out well.

47℉ will NEVER be an issue for your MES.

That'll work!

 

[Winterrider]

Wind is about twice the factor as the ambient temp from my experience with the 40. Have a 3-sided coat and top made of reflectix and wrapped with welding blanket. Have smoked below 0° many times.