Just a miserable time smoking this past weekend

[Stopsign32v]

#1 biggest mistake I did was not start smoking earlier.

• Haven't used the grill in a long time so I thought I had charcoal.
• I go to start smoking at 8am and notice that I have no charcoal.
• So going to Walmart to get some set me back 1 hour.
• It's now 9am and I've just started to heat the charcoal in the chimney.
• What feels like forever later the bottom charcoal was just getting ash so I pull it all and dump it in the offset.
• Put the butt on
• Threw on a cold piece of wood which surprise, won't lite
• Temp is surprisingly low (not really looking back the charcoal wasn't completely hot)
• It's now getting towards afternoon in South Carolina and the heat is getting well into the 80's with full sun.
• I'm constantly fighting this smoker with small windows of stable heat due to me not wanting to cook in the sun.
• I get flame ups because I'm running out of time for dinner and I want to speed up the process.
• The rub gets scorched and burnt which was the nail in the coffin.
• Finally wrap it and take it inside after smoking for 4-5 hours and put it in the oven ending this brutal smoke.

Mistakes were made my friends...Oh were they ever.

Lessons learned that day that will never happen again:

1. NEVER get in a hurry again, start early no matter what.
2. LOW and slow.
3. NEVER smoke again in the South Carolina sun during June.

I'm just glad it's over.

 

[smokerjim]

Sure sounds like a miserable time, hope the butt turned out good any way

 

[normanaj]

Mistakes suck but they can serve a purpose,you experience them and then don't repeat them.

 

[schlotz]

Just need to have a plan in place the day before (check supplies, smoker cleaned & ready, meat prep) and then work it. 9# bone-in butts can easily be smoked and ready for dinner the same day.

 

[Newglide]

One of those days, We all F-up, good thing is you learned a few things. Also get a canopy so you can smoke in the SC summers

 

[Barefootdog]

I recommend Vodka Tonics.....2 or 3 Vodka Tonics.