Dried Pellets 100% Reliable

[oberst]

Most of the time, but not all, I pour the pellets into the AMNPS and x hours later I'm done. Never think about the smoke. Didn't happen last week though; left home after starting the smoker and came back two hours later to find no smoke. The pellets had burned some but then puffed up like water got on them, except I had an aluminum foil shield over them. Hmmmm. Relighted and really let them burn before putting in the smoker again. Smoke billowing out nicely. An hour later checking and smoke was out again. Same deal. I keep the pellets in a sealed orange juice bottle, but as my wife suggested, sitting on the garage floor over time some moisture no doubt crept in. Probably only happens certain times of the year. Anyway, I decided that was going to be the last time my smoker went out.

I always dry my meat at 135 degrees in the convection oven before smoking. No pre drying in the smoker as it doesn't have nearly the drying capacity of the convection oven fan blowing air through the oven. And while I'm drying the meat, why not put the pellets in as well. Since I've done that the pellets light up easily and burn perfectly.

Here I've loaded the AMNPS to how much burn time is desired and then dumped the pellets onto a pizza type pan.

Here I'm drying 4 nice mallards, after coming out of the brine and sitting for an hour, and at the same time the pellets are drying. I typically dry stuff, like stix, for 45 minutes at the lowest oven setting of 135 degrees, with the door propped open an inch with a hot pad so the moisture can freely exit the oven.

No time at all to get these pellets burning, and they smoke strong and steady for the duration. If you live in an area where pellet moisture is sometimes a problem, drying them first eliminates that concern, at least it has for my circumstances, and plus, I know exactly how much smoke time the batch got.

 

[ddufore]

After measuring pellets, I put them on a paper plate and microwave them for one minute. Take them out and let them cool and repeat. Never had an issue with pellets going out.

 

[wade]

I find the microwave method works well too

 

[oberst]

I should have mentioned that I also microwave pellets, although if I’m predrying meat in the oven it’s no extra step to put the pellets in there at the same time.

 

[mneeley490]

If I actually think ahead, I will dry pellets in the oven. But if I'm in a hurry, which is usually the case, I will dry on a paper towel in the microwave. But I've noticed moisture in the paper towel, so I try to pour them off onto another paper towel asap, fearing some of the moisture will reabsorb into the pellets.

 

[InThePittBBQ]

If I actually think ahead, I will dry pellets in the oven. But if I'm in a hurry, which is usually the case, I will dry on a paper towel in the microwave. But I've noticed moisture in the paper towel, so I try to pour them off onto another paper towel asap, fearing some of the moisture will reabsorb into the pellets.

Are you putting the paper towel under the pellets, over or both when you dry them in the microwave?

 

[wade]

I just place them in a shallow glass known and microwave on high for 4 minutes, stiring every minute. You will see the "steam" (water vapour) coming off. No need for paper towel.

 

[JZ_Focus]

I nuke my pellets in the microwave too. I just put them in a large bowl and microwave them for a minute, pull them out and stir, then another minute. That normally does the trick. I also modified my A-Maz-N tray by adding bolts to it to give it legs so more air can get under it.

 

[saltysandman]

thank you all. my pellets have been sitting in my garage all spring and summer long in florida. I'm sure they've got moisture in them. Nuking some and making some sawdust now.

 

[uncle eddie]

I place my loaded AMNPS in my MES40 smoker while it is warming up. I pull the AMNPS about 5 or 10 minutes before putting the meat in and light 'er up. I do let it burn for about 5 minutes before I put it back in the MES40...I have never had to nuke the pellets. Using this method I have had the pellets go out - one time - out of maybe 100 smokes.

 

[SonnyE]

I use the daveomak sterilization method.
Before a use, I fire my MES 30 up at 275° for 2 hours to sterilize it and make sure everything is hunky-dory.
During that time, I put a tray of fuel in the AMNPS to dry out.
Then everything is warmed up, test ran, and my fuel (pellets or dust) is dry and ready to burn steady.
After using my smoker, I do a second 275° - 2 hour run with clean racks and mats to dry out the smoker. When cool, it gets it's cover on.
Narry any problems doing things that way.

I did try the microwave method. All I got from it was warm pellets and a stinky house.
Fortunately, I got it aired out before the wife came home. If she smelled anything, she didn't say anything. Probably just thought it was just my crappy cooking again.

 

[saltysandman]

more great advice. since a couple hours ago. i've nuked pellets and smelled up the house. doesn't smell bad. reminds me of shop class in seventh grade. i used the nuked pellets and definitely they burn better.

i also melted some pellets (in water). wow does a small batch of pellets become a lot of dust. now i'm baking my dust. i feel like a connoisseur of wood now. wood dust for cheese next time. i'm tempted to vaccuum seal my dust for some reason. LOL