I think I needed to add a bit more water
Yea, I been there on that last round of kielbasa. I was figuring on using my big cooler that I rest meat in for the job, but the clamp on the SV cooker isn't close to opening wide enough to clip on the side. I'm sure I could have rigged something up, but I just finished on the pellet grill.Gonna finish them in the oven per Marianski's instructions. I was GOING to SV them, but the links are too long for my SV vessel, so the oven it is.
Not trying to spend your money, but consider the mes40 size. More room is very nice to have sometimes.You know what they say...the best laid plans of mice and men-blah-blah-blah.
BIL/nephew came over today and replaced the front lower ball joint in my truck (YEA! I'm mobile again!) and with them came my ex-BIL who I haven't seen in a long time, soooo...
Anyway, didn't get to HD for what I needed for my hangers, so they're in Big Chief on grill mats and I just turned them and rotated the racks...using my 6" tube w/apple dust and getting good color! I have the unit plugged in and lava rock in the chip pan...temp is holding steady at 130 - 135F.
Gonna finish them in the oven per Marianski's instructions. I was GOING to SV them, but the links are too long for my SV vessel, so the oven it is.
I initially set up in my propane at 130F (the absolute lowest I can get on it), but the wind picked up and snuffed it out even with a windbreak around the bottom of the smoker.
I'm about ***THIS*** close to ordering the MES30 (20071117) from Amazon...somebody talk me down QUICK or it'll be here Friday!!!
Not trying to spend your money, but consider the mes40 size. More room is very nice to have sometimes.
I'd gladly help you spend your money! But will agree if you could find a cheap mes 40 to have added space would be the way to go...problem here is everyone thinks they need new price for a used unit.
Ryan
Sherry
Been looking at my Big Chief smoker for new ideas to justify getting a new heating element.
Thinking new bottom and top vents with dampers and something to control the heat.
No, a Chief is nowhere near the capacity of the MB or similar cabinet smokers.
I rarely make anything over a 5# batch and it will fit in the Chief.
See Amazon warehouse has a mes40 for about the same price as a new mes30. Just says the box shows damage. Maybe worth a shot as you can always return it on their cost if the unit itself is damaged to bad to use or keep. Or call and complain if it's usable but damaged some and they will give you a pretty good discount (usually).I would, but it appears they're out of stock at Amazon and anyone local to me is quite a bit higher in price.
In the summer with cardboard (wind blocking insulation), I didn't have trouble keeping my Chief up to 180°.I tried to find an element in the 1000W (or so) range, but I can't find one that'll fit in it. I "thought" I'd found one on Amazon, but the depth as shown/stated in the item description was wrong (it was 1/2" bigger than the cabinet depth)...returned it.°