Dang Wind

[pineywoods]

So today was my Granddaughter's 4th birthday and they made plans to come here for dinner and cake. the plan was for 12-14 people and when I asked her what she wanted me to cook she of course said chicken. No problem I ran up and picked up parts legs, thighs, and breasts. We are going to eat at 6 so I'm in no hurry I like to do them hot and fast in the GOSM so they aren't going to take long. I go out and discover the propane tank is almost empty hmm I go to grab the spare uh empty dang it I rob the 1/2 full one from the turkey fryer and hook it up and fire up the smoker about 3:30 and the wife has the chicken pieces all washed so I apply the rub and take them out to the smoker but the temp is only at 215 oh well I've got it running wide open it'll raise I say to myself. The wind is blowing hard but heck the smoker is on the pool deck and is protected on 2 sides from the wind and in the couple years I've had it the wind has never affected it. So I slip the ET73 probe into the smoker to monitor the smoker temps and come back in the house its at 205 now no biggie I just had the door open loading all 4 racks. I watch as the temp slowly climbs it got to 227 and stopped grrr I go back out and figure out the wind is blowing just right and is affecting the smoker for the first time ever. Ok no biggie I'll smoke them till 5:30 then throw them on the gas grill to finish and crisp the skin. At 5:15 I go fire up the gas grill and at 5:30 I transfer some of the chicken over cool we're cookin now at 5:35 I run out of propane in the gas grill grr I still have chicken in the smoker as well yikes fire up the oven in a hurry. Put what chicken I could in the oven but still had some in the smoker but the wind has laid down a little and it was now up to 275. Then I start checking every piece with the thermopen finally at about 6:15 it was all done and foiled. i was lucky one of my nieces and her husband were running late so it worked out ok but what a pain of a cook.

Lesson learned the wind will figure a way to screw ya at some point that smoker has been in that spot for over 2 years and the wind had never affected it until today.
Lesson learned check all the propane tanks before you plan "the birthday" smoke

 

[bmudd14474]

gotta love the wind. Been that way here too. Glad it turned out well. Cant disappoint the 4 yr old.

 

[pit 4 brains]

Smokin is just like fishin. Nobody gives a darn about your boat, rod or reel, just show them the fish.
Running out of propane is just sick. you might as well be out on the lake without a pole.

P.P.P.P.P.P.P. is the key
Proper Prior Planning Prevents Piss-Poor Performance

 

[pineywoods]

Very true but not finding out I was smoking today until last night didn't help and I haven't been home long enough to check propane tanks and stuff. But bottom line is yes it was poor planning on my part but it did get done and it did get eaten and I figured somebody might learn from my experience today

 

[ronp]

**** Happens. At least you got it done.

 

[DanMcG]

Glad to hear that in the end it all worked out Jerry. It seems like stuff like that always happens to me too.

 

[Bearcarver]

Wow Piney, you're in Florida, and I'm in PA, and I had the same problem with the wind---first time!
Mine is on the porch & never gets a bad wind, but this time the wind was coming from the Southeast---That is really rare for here.

Glad you got 'er done too!



Bearcarver

 

[mama's smoke]

Then it was a success. I'm sure your granddaughter never knew or cared there was a problem.

 

[northern greenhorn]

You gotta love Mother Nature, think of it as her testing your ability, and you passed. I ran into the propane issue before, that's always fun. But atleast everything turned out well, everyone was fed, and I'm sure your granddaughter had a great birthday.

 

[smokin relaxin steve]

Everything go done and it made for a more interseting post... Good job nailing the last min smoke for 14 people!

 

[vinylhanger]

We smoked a Ham for Easter and the wind was a real bugger. I was working hard to get to 200 degrees. I used to have the smoker out in the open and had no trouble, moved it behind the new place and any breeze seems to effect it. Hopefully that no wthe weather has gotten better, the wind will cooperate as smoking is going to be an every day thing for the next few months.

 

[bbrock]

Am glad it all worked out Jerry.. Thanks for taking the time to share that with us. I have found out it never hurts to check alot of people will say that will never happen to me but you never know. Now in your case you just had short notice. Have you been under that much pressure before?