Just getting going...

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Thumperz

Newbie
Original poster
Jul 14, 2019
1
1
Hello All! I hope to learn from everyone as I get going on this crazy BBQ adventure. I thought I'd post a few things I've tried and I'm open to feedback.

For many years I just did a homemade dry rub of ribs wrapped in foil and left at 225 for 5-6 hours until they fall off the bone. Not a true rib but delicious anyway. For Christmas, I got a pretty cheap electric smoker from masterbuilt.

I tried the 3-2-1 and I quickly learned that I was over smoking things with my wood choice and amount of smoke where I was the only one who enjoyed the ribs. I managed to fix the dryness of the ribs but still struggling a little with how much is too much smoke.

last week I decided to try and smoke a turkey for fun. I brined it in Mortons tender quick for 3 days in a bucket of ice. (turkey in water and brine in a cooler full of ice) I rinsed it with the hose and 5-gallon bucket for about 30 min. I smoked for 3.5 hours at 225 with some apple and cherry woods and then put in a traditional oven turkey bag for another 2 hours at 350. the dark meat tasted just like the smoked legs from Disneyland, and the white meat was perfect. I'm going to try and rinse a bit more next time as it was a little salty but everyone at work enjoyed the salty flavor. I was amazed at how good it actually tasted. I had to cut the turkey in 1/2 to make it work.

I'd like to buy some peach paper and try a brisket one of these days. Any suggestions of your absolute favorites?
 
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Welcome to the site, no favorites here either. It all depends on the mood.

Chris
 
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Welcome to the board!

One question about the saltiness of a finished product is, How do you intend to serve it? Turkey is one example, salmon is another. You probably don't want a lot of smoke/salt if you're going to serve large portions, but if you'll serve it as little snack bits on crackers or something like that, you'll want a stronger flavor.

There is a world of experimentation awaiting you.
 
Wow, sounds like you jumped right in. Never done a turkey myself but hope to do so one day. I would say my favorite is probably anything I happen to be smoking on a particular day. I do tend to do ribs a lot though.
 
Welcome to the forum.
First off---I don't see no pictures!! We ALWAYS like to see Q-View.
Try soaking the turkey in ice water, changing the water every hour. That will remove excess salt from the meat. For how long to continue soaking, you'll just have to experiment until you hit that magic time.
I would like to add that, in this world of paranoid people, I love the part about rinsing the turkey with a hose. LOL.
As for my favorite thing to smoke, that would be anything pork. Especially Apple Pie Stuffed Tenderloin.
Gary
 
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Love smoked turkey. My dad does it great. He only brines it for about a day. More like overnight most times. Same brine we use for jerky. Canning salt, brown sugar, water. Then rinse gently. Then you can inject it but we never have. His always turns out great but he only smokes it. Then will freeze them whole and cook them off I the oven gently when we want them. Never dry.
He just added an electric heat element to the smoker and is going to try smoking then turning up the heat and cooking it off in the smoker. But ours his home built. Dont know how the electric ones work for that. Maybe a pan of water to keep moisture in the chamber
 
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