How Many Mes Owners Here?

[okee ed]

I bought my MES at Amazon a few weeks ago and I love it.  Its cooking ribs right now using Jeff's special rub

OkeeEd
 

 

[okee ed]

I am new to the forum.  I have been a lawyer for almost fifty years and specialized in prosecution and law enforcement,  Retired in Jan., 2002 as the Sheriff of Okeechobee County, Fl. when my heart gave me some problems.  Before that in Okeecohobee, I ran the State Attorney's Office there and was Chief Felony Prosecutor. I was then elected County Judge/Acting Circuit Judge.

I moved to the Florida Panhandle last year to be near my children, grandchildren adn great grandchildren.

I am a newbie at smoking and have so far smoked mullet and catfish, both of which turned out very, very well,  Today I am smoking ribs using Jeff's Rub and will let you know how they turn out. I have a three shelf Masterbuilt smoker.

I am glad to be aboard.

 

[tiki guy]

 Yeah I ordered mine from Wally World should be here in a few days , GREAT price I think $177.00 

I loved my old Brinkmann and had many great smokes with and look forward to using the new one, fantastic reviews , and seems this thread shows a lot of happy smokers   

 

[Bearcarver]

 Yeah I ordered mine from Wally World should be here in a few days , GREAT price I think $177.00 

I loved my old Brinkmann and had many great smokes with and look forward to using the new one, fantastic reviews , and seems this thread shows a lot of happy smokers   

I think inside of one year, you'll be kicking yourself for not going right to the MES 40.

Happened to most of us.

Bear

 

[tiki guy]

 Ha ...I thought about it ...let me be dumb....what is the big difference ?  

For now , it was kinda a price issue , I didn't plan on buying a new smoker I really love my Brinkmann if it had not have rusted out ...I would keep using it .   Still can't believe it rusted so bad its NEVER been in the rain, its on a carport well shielded and tucked under a shelf . I did buy a cover for the new MES   I do have a question I read a lot of people have had issues with the digital control panel . Can it be easily remover and stored ? 

 

[Bearcarver]

 Ha ...I thought about it ...let me be dumb....what is the big difference ?  

For now , it was kinda a price issue , I didn't plan on buying a new smoker I really love my Brinkmann if it had not have rusted out ...I would keep using it .   Still can't believe it rusted so bad its NEVER been in the rain, its on a carport well shielded and tucked under a shelf . I did buy a cover for the new MES   I do have a question I read a lot of people have had issues with the digital control panel . Can it be easily remover and stored ? 

Biggest difference is 10" in height, which gives you more room from the top rack to the ceiling, and more space between each of the other racks. Also more width, giving you a lot more rack space. I hope you'll be happy with the MES 30, but I & many others weren't.

I keep mine under roof, so I don't have to, but yes my digital control is easy to remove.

Bear

 

[redclaymud]

Never thought of using both for more smoke.

It doesn't mean it's the right way and the manufacturers will not recommend it.  

The pellets are not meant to burn as quickly as they will in the MES chip tray.  The first time I tried the 50/50 combination I couldn't believe the smoke that billowed when the door was opened.  I've never seen a flare up, but when the door is opened, oxygen is added and you might see a flicker of flame coming out of the wood tray.  In my mind, this is not desirable, so don't open the door until you feel the wood chip mixture has burnt down in the MES's somewhat oxygen deprived environment..

Like I said before, this is what I do.  A thousand other people here do things differently.  Most are just as right as anyone else.  Some are less right and that's the category I place my comments.  Call it "experimental".  I call it, running out of enough wood chips to finish a bbq a few years back, improvising, and liking the results.

 

[173rdherd]

I think inside of one year, you'll be kicking yourself for not going right to the MES 40.

Happened to most of us.

Bear

I recently bought a 40(haven't seasoned it yet), and am still using my 30 which has been great for me and the Fabulous Susie K. 6 racks of BB ribs, 4racks of spare ribs, 2 pork butts, 2 turkeys, 2 briskets, 4 corned beefs,at a time.... do not like how it does chicken. Any way point is the 30 was a great learning tool and served my small family well, so i think it has a place on the market.

 

[robbrocks]

Can I use Traeger pellets in my MES 30"?  Ever tried them in your MES?

 

[tiki guy]

 Thanks bear , as soon as it gets here I'm gonna set it up season it ....and then a smoke with Q view .

Hey 173rdherd   what about the "Chicken"  Ya say ya don't like how it does chicken?   I do a lotta Turkeys & Chicken .....can ya explain what ya mean ?

 

[jarhead]

Can I use Traeger pellets in my MES 30"?  Ever tried them in your MES?

You can, but not very many. Don't fill the tray up unless you like fire and white smoke. (Don't ask)...It WILL screw up your groceries.

Best bet and cooks, stay with the chips.

 

[robbrocks]

Thanks Jarhead.  Chips it is!  We don't need no stinkin' pellets......

 

[173rdherd]

don't like soggy skin and don't want to finish in the oven. I just completed a purchase of the pellet(AMNPS) tray from Todd and am looking forward to hands free smoking in the future.....I have a Turkey in the MES30 right now on pecan chips

Airborne....All The Way!

 

[ratboy5000]

I've had nothing but problems with my MES. all i can say is that i fully rebuilt it and it still doesn't work rite. The best thing about the masterbuilt is the box, I turned it into a cold smoke with a Smoke Daddy.. Now it works..

 

[tjnamtiw]

I have the 40 with window that is the new model bought from Sam's.  The controller on the panel went out and they replaced it within a week no questions asked.  It's working again and just smoked a turkey breast!  Great!

The only wish I have is that I hadn't spent the extra money on the window since it's totally useless!  It gets fogged up and dirty almost immediately and you can't see a thing!  The best thing I found to clean it, believe it or not, is Westley's BleachWhite tire cleaner!  Takes all that crap right off!  Don't get the window!

 

[Bearcarver]

I have the 40 with window that is the new model bought from Sam's.  The controller on the panel went out and they replaced it within a week no questions asked.  It's working again and just smoked a turkey breast!  Great!

The only wish I have is that I hadn't spent the extra money on the window since it's totally useless!  It gets fogged up and dirty almost immediately and you can't see a thing!  The best thing I found to clean it, believe it or not, is Westley's BleachWhite tire cleaner!  Takes all that crap right off!  Don't get the window!

The window is one of my favorite things about my MES 40.

Very easy to clean, but you can't let it go.

I clean mine before every smoke, with Windex, or wet paper towels & ashes, or most other glass cleaners. Takes about 3 minutes.

Bear

 

[tiki guy]

 Well.....the UPS man just left , and My new MES 30 is here !  Looks pretty .    I will be seasoning it later this evening and hopefully a Q-View this week end.  

 

[kofseattle]

ha! I just got my MES 40 delivered too! Looking forward to cracking it open. Whats your first smoke going to be?

 

[tiki guy]

  I was gonna do a brisket , BUT My girl is wanting Turkey breast & a Chicken....so why not !     I have to do some Burgers , My son made some for me some nice thick Gourmet burgers he got from his butcher  He smoked um 45 mins then finish um on the grill for a few mins .  I never had them like that they where great. Hows bout YOU with that new 40 ????/ 

 

[themole]

This is my first serious smoke on the MES 30. I did smoke some sausage and dogs last weekend after the Disney trip. They were GREAT! Life is so good right now! Had the four grand babies over this afternoon, with my oldest 7 year old staying with grandaddy tonight. She has been all about this new smoking experience.So many questions about the process. This little girls mind is a sponge. She will no doubt be telling me how to do it after a few sessions. lol It's such a pleasure to be around a young mind that is so curious.
 

Here's a copy of an email I sent one of Buds tonight detailing what I did.

Ok, it's now 10:06pm and the 6.07 lb Butt has been on for 2hrs. I'm smoking at 225 for 12 hrs & 15 minutes allowing 2 hrs per lb. Shooting for 205 degs for pull pork. Been checking it on the remote and it's holding temp very well. I washed some pea gravel and loaded the water pan with it.

I bought one of the prerubbed Butts from Hitchcocks, got it home and let it sit for around three hrs. When I put it in the smoker, the meat probe said the core temp was at 64 degs.. It is now at 138 degs. so it's coming along nicely. The AMZNPS is working as it is supposed to.

Looking through the window the Butt is browning up nicely. I did have too pull the chip loader out about 1/2 an inch though. I made up my mind that I'm going to buy the Aubrins WS 1203 duel probe controller, so I can have confidence in the temps. I did buy the Master Forge, digital thermometer from Lowes today. I didn't use it because I was afraid  closing the door on the probe wire would harm the wire.

I'll let you know how it came out in the AM. I feel it's pretty safe to go to bed on it now. I'll most likely check it some time before daylight.

Say good night Gracy!

If any of you pros see anything wrong with what I did, let me know, please. Although, it's most likely to late to make any corrections if I made mistakes in the process, I'll correct them in the future. The pre rubbed Butts are done up every morning at the super market I mentioned using, Bad Byron's Butt Rub. It has salt, black pepper, granulated onion, granulated garlic, paprika, chiptotle powder, smoked jalapeno.

Gonna check on it one more time and hit the sack.

Good night all!