First Smoke with MES 30 - small QView

[pgsmoker64]

Good evening fellow smokers,

Today I broke in my new MasterBuilt 30" smoker - a gift from my mother-in-law (a truly great woman).

I seasoned the smoker last night for about 4 hours and for the last hour dropped in some mesquite chips that made the whole area smell good!!!!

I apologize for the weak q-view but I got a little involved trying to figure out how the new smoker was reacting.

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• pgsmoker64
• Sep 23, 2012

So, I get the smoker set up and up to temperature.  I brined my chickens in a simple brine solution of 1 gallon of water plus equal parts of salt and brown sugar for about 4 or 5 hours in an extra large zip-loc bag.

After rinsing, patting dry, and rubbing the chickens I put them in the smoker, which had come to 275 degrees quite quickly.

I never touched the controller after that for about 40 minutes.  My youngest (Trevor) says dad, what should the smoker temp be?  Isay "about 275".  He says, "well, it's about 230 and the light on the controller is off".

 

This situation continued through the afternoon.

So, I spent the rest of the afternoon babysitting this thing instead of watching football!!!!  

  Screw this!!!!!

Anyway, I wind up adjusting the temp controller throughout the afternoon instead of relaxing and watching football (as I was promised by the Master Built liars that sold this machine to my mother-in-law).

The really good thing is that the chickens turned out GREAT!!!!!!!!  

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• pgsmoker64
• Sep 23, 2012

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• pgsmoker64
• Sep 23, 2012

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• pgsmoker64
• Sep 23, 2012

I apologize for the weak q-view but I was a little frustrated with the MB temp controller.  Beyond that the chicken was awesome - smoked at around 275 for about 3 hours to an IT of 165.  Tender, juicy, bite-through skin....just delicious.

Just a shame that the smoker is not as worry free as we were lead to believe...

I am thinking of making some mods to the temp control system and have seen a few on the SMF.  What I would like to know is...

WHAT IS THE BEST MOD TO MAKE?

All help welcome and appreciated.

Good night and good smoking,

Bill

 

[gotarace]

Congrats on the new smoker and the chicken looks Great!!! Every smoker has a learning curve and it won't be long before your comfortable with your new smoker. 

 

[roller]

Great first smoke and I would eat that...Nice job !

 

[chef jimmyj]

A Plug and Play PID may be what you need. This ain't Cheap but it is effective...JJ

http://www.auberins.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=14_28&products_id=206

 

[pgsmoker64]

A Plug and Play PID may be what you need. This ain't Cheap but it is effective...JJ

http://www.auberins.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=14_28&products_id=206

Thanks Jimmy.  I looked at this but without additional modifications I don't believe it will work.

The smoker has the type of temp controller that you get with an electric skillet.  I would have to bypass that somehow and come up with a way to turn the element on an off...

 

[mike johnson]

contact Masterbuilt and tell them what is going on. They are very helpfull.Im sorry yours is giving you problems, I have the MES40 and have never had a problem.

 

[smokinhusker]

Chicken looks great! I have an MES40 and a must have is a good thermometer so you can check the set temp to the actual cabinet temp. They can be off by as much as 40*. I had mine for about 15 months when it would not heat up. Masterbuilt was quick to ship me a new element at no cost and when that didn't fix the problem, they sent me a new body unit. I couldn't be happier. 

 

[pgsmoker64]

Thanks for the info on MB.  I will give their customer service line a call.

Can anyone tell me about how long a tray of wood chips will last in the smoker?  The chicken smoked for about 2-1/2 to 3 hours and I still had plenty of wood chips left in the tray, so I am just wondering how many times I might have to reload it when I smoke a brisket.

 

[kryinggame]

Thanks for the info on MB.  I will give their customer service line a call.

Can anyone tell me about how long a tray of wood chips will last in the smoker?  The chicken smoked for about 2-1/2 to 3 hours and I still had plenty of wood chips left in the tray, so I am just wondering how many times I might have to reload it when I smoke a brisket.

Many people who own the MES will also buy an AMNPS. It's a device that you put inside your smoker that burns pellets. The neat thing about it is, you can get about 12 hours of smoke without refilling it. 

I'll admit, at times, some have problems keeping it lit but it's a good device.  It makes smoking, truly set it and forget it.  The gent who owns the company that produces the AMNPS is on this site: Todd.  He's great in quickly answering all of your questions.

Here's a link. 

http://www.amazenproducts.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=12

Also, you might want to invest in a good thermometer.  The one on the machine ain't accurate at all.

 

[ptcruiserguy]

Looks like a great first smoke.....  I love me some smoked birds.

Great pics too.... better then the first ones I posted.. lol (didn't post any)

Hope ya get everything worked out &

Happy Smokin'

Mike