How hot can you get your WSM?

[timstalltaletav]

Just a lazy Sunday cook today. Had a pork loin on the WSM earlier. After it finished up, the temp was idling down around 200°. I figured I'd throw a basket of little potatoes on the cooker while it was hot as a side. 200° wasn't going to cut it so I lit about 1/2 chimney of RO lump. The temp has been pegged at 405° (on a verified Maverick) for about 1.5 hours now with just that little bit of lump.

I did verify most of the previous coal was ashes before I dumped in the fresh load so I don't think it relit old coals. I'm really surprised, this cooker never runs this hot. If I could do this consistently my chicken cooks would be awesome!

 

[gmc2003]

Lump burns allot hotter then charcoal. So with the vents wide open I wouldn't be surprised at your temps.

Chris

 

[noboundaries]

Yep, depending on the fuel used it can easily settle in to the 400s with all vents open. You might have to "burp" the lid a few times to add fresh air to the chamber fire, but 350-425F is very doable.

Yesterday I was doing a hot n fast chuckie smoke and pan roast. 10 hot Ridge briquettes added to my cold pile/wood chunks. 45 mins later I loaded the 3.5 lb chuckie at 200F chamber temp. All vents open. About 45 mins later the chamber settled in at 320F. 2 hours later when I panned the meat/veggies/liquids, it settled in at 357F and stayed there for 3 more hours.

It was over 100F outside yesterday. No way was I firing up the oven in the a/c'd house to roast the chuckie.