Day 1 smoker!

[starfox32]

Hello all,

My name's Corbin.  Born and raised in Los Angeles, CA.  Summertime just started for me, and what better way to spend it than to learn how to smoke stuff right?  My first smoker is the "7 in 1 Masterbuilt gas smoker."  It doesn't look anywhere near the greatest thing, but I think it'll be perfect for me since I'm a beginner.  My first try, which was actually today, smoked a tri tip.  My first mistake, I used the temp gauges the smoker came with.  They didn't seem too accurate to me since I was aiming at 130 degrees for the thickest part of the tri tip (I wanted that nice pink center).  Well I pulled it off when the gauge said 130, and let the meat sit for about 10 minutes.  When I started cutting into it, the meat was pretty well brown. It was cooked all the way through.  I'm not complaining though since the tri tip was still amazing!! I think this next time I will try a dry rub.  Does anyone have any suggestions or tips for a beginner?  Any advice will be greatly appreciated.  Thank you!

 

[s2k9k]

Hi Corbin! 

 to SMF!!! Glad to have you here!! You are going to find lot's of great people here that are more than willing to help you along your journey.

I think you already answered your first tip, don't trust the factory thermometers! I would recommend getting a good digital therm. There are some with 2 probes, 1 for smoker temp, 1 for meat temp, and they also have a remote unit so you can watch your temps without having to open the door. Maverick makes some good ones, the ET-73 and ET-732, are very popular models. http://www.amazenproducts.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=MAVET-732  Temps are probably the most important part of smoking, not just to get the meat tender and tasting good but also for safety, you don't want to get anyone sick from undercooked meat!

Another tip, read read read....there is a search bar at the top of the screen that will lead you to almost anything you want to know. And the owner of this forum, TulsaJeff, offers a 5 day E-course that is really good and will teach you all the basics...http://www.smoking-meat.com/smoking-basics-ecourse.html

Would you also do us a favor and update your profile to include your location, it really helps people to know where you are when they offer advice, Thanks and Happy smoking to you!

 

[shoneyboy]

 to SMF  from Louisiana .........

 

[smokinhusker]

Good morning Corbin! Welcome to SMF and the wonderful world of smoked foods.

Sorry to hear the tri tip wasn't what you wanted, so get yourself a good thermometer. Don't give up...learning the ins and outs of your smoker is key and you already figured out that the therm was off.

Lots of helpful info, recipes and great folks here and you can always use the search bar above.

 

[scarbelly]

Hello Corbin and 

to SMF - glad to have another So Cal in the house. 

Here is a link to our So Cal Smokers Group and we would love to have you join 

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/groups/show/23/so-cal-smokers

 

[jrod62]

:welcome1: to SMF