MES40 w/PID/Mailbox mod vs Pellet

[GatorAGR]

I have an MES40 with a mailbox mod w/pellet tray that I use for sausages as well as a Kamado Joe for grilling and long cooks. Was considering adding a pellet for smoking bigger meats because I'm getting tired of dealing with the Kamado for long cooks, but am now wondering if I add a PID to my MES along with the mailbox mod, do I basically have a pellet smoker? Are there any advantages/disadvantages either way that anyone can think of?

 

[dsk]

Advantage MES: Individual control of heat and smoke.
Advantage Pellet: Bigger contiguous cook surface and higher temperatures possible.

 

[Winterrider]

Higher temps are the only + I see. My MES gets double duty over my RT 590
Probably much better smoke profile with MES, if you enjoy Smokey flavor.

 

[GatorAGR]

Thanks for the replies. If if need higher temps for grilling, I'd use the KJ. I think it's just a mental thing for me. A good pellet smoker just seems "beefier" to me, but since I have the MES already, it seem like the smarter play to just add a couple hundred dollar PID and see what I get before dropping $800-$1000 on a good pellet.

 

[Winterrider]

If you do jerky, sausage, fish, can't beat the MES with PID. Can control the lower temps unlike a pellet unit.

 

[GatorAGR]

If you do jerky, sausage, fish, can't beat the MES with PID. Can control the lower temps unlike a pellet unit.

Yeah, that's why I bought the MES in the first place. Now wanting to upgrade my "big" smoker from the KJ to a pellet. Was hoping I could just upgrade the MES to get close to a RecTeq 590 which is what I would buy. I'll probably spend the $200 for the PID and give it a shot. I'll do a brisket as the test meat. If it turns out good, then I'm good to go. If not, I'll have to talk my wife into letting me spend another $800 :)

 

[normanaj]

In an ideal world both would be the way to go.

MES with PID becomes an awesome smoker.

 

[tallbm]

Yeah, that's why I bought the MES in the first place. Now wanting to upgrade my "big" smoker from the KJ to a pellet. Was hoping I could just upgrade the MES to get close to a RecTeq 590 which is what I would buy. I'll probably spend the $200 for the PID and give it a shot. I'll do a brisket as the test meat. If it turns out good, then I'm good to go. If not, I'll have to talk my wife into letting me spend another $800 :)

I don't own a pellet smoker or have ever owned one but I'm pretty sure you are coming to the best conclusion.

If you want to really want to maximize your MES you can get to 325F 4 hour or less smokes.

WARNING: to do so means fooling with the high temp safety switch or removing it, so understand the responsibility you are accepting in doing so.

Now with that disclaimer, you could replace the safety switch (which is a common failure point) with a ceramic 175/185 C (347/356F) switch, or wire around the switch so you can smoke at 325F.
Just don't go over 325F and don't do longer than 4 hours. The insulation of an MES is not meant to continually run at that temp for long periods, you are at the top limit and don't want it to melt down. Be sure to have a good reliable multi probe remote thermometer with max temp alarm capability and as long as you keep an eye on things you should be fine.

In this configuration the only thing a pellet smoker will do better is anything grilling related. An MES is not built for grilling so no big deal.
Sounds like you are about to join the PID club :D

 

[GatorAGR]

Yeah, I don't see the need to go that high for smoking. I typically stay in the 250-275 range for my smokes. If I need to grill, I'll just fire up the KJ. I'm not completely convinced of the grilling capabilities of the pellets anyway. Some say they're great and some say not so much.

 

[tallbm]

Yeah, I don't see the need to go that high for smoking. I typically stay in the 250-275 range for my smokes. If I need to grill, I'll just fire up the KJ. I'm not completely convinced of the grilling capabilities of the pellets anyway. Some say they're great and some say not so much.

Then you are all set!

I only go 325F for short skin on poultry smokes. Chicken and Turkey skin doesn't like to behave unless smoked at higher temps or some extra prep is done to get the skin to behave at lower temps (that I don't want to bother with).

This is not a concern for lots of folks though :D

 

[normanaj]

Now with that disclaimer, you could replace the safety switch (which is a common failure point) with a ceramic 175/185 C (347/356F) switch, or wire around the switch so you can smoke at 325F.

You posted up that particular switch in the past but I can't find it.

If you could post it up again I'd appreciate it.

 

[chopsaw]

if I add a PID to my MES along with the mailbox mod, do I basically have a pellet smoker?

No . That setup mimics a smokehouse . No doubt it's a great setup , but it won't compare to a Pellet grill / smoker .
I have a 30 that's set up with an Auber controller and a mailbox . I only use it for sausage , hams and the like . Not saying it won't do the job for other stuff , but for me it doesn't compare to my pellet grill .

I typically stay in the 250-275 range for my smokes.

PID / mailbox would be perfect .

. I'm not completely convinced of the grilling capabilities of the pellets anyway.

Depends on the grill . Mine has an open design . It's a great grill .
Pellet grills in general make great food .

I recently added a smoke rod to mine , so I can hang sausage .

 

[GatorAGR]

No . That setup mimics a smokehouse . No doubt it's a great setup , but it won't compare to a Pellet grill / smoker .
I have a 30 that's set up with an Auber controller and a mailbox . I only use it for sausage , hams and the like . Not saying it won't do the job for other stuff , but for me it doesn't compare to my pellet grill .


PID / mailbox would be perfect .

Depends on the grill . Mine has an open design . It's a great grill .
Pellet grills in general make great food .
View attachment 701511
I recently added a smoke rod to mine , so I can hang sausage .

View attachment 701512

Thanks for the insight. In your opinion, how would a brisket, for example, on your pellet differ than your MES? Intuitively it makes sense to me that a pellet will produce a better flavor than the MES, but I don't know why. Those steaks look great by the way. What pellet do you have and what temp were those cooked at?

 

[chopsaw]

I have a Gen 2 Weber SmokeFire EX4 , but there's all kinds of great pellet grills out there .

Those steaks look great by the way. What pellet do you have and what temp were those cooked at?

Here's a thread I did on a dual cook . Shows the range of a pellet grill / smoker . Includes those steaks .

SmokeFire Double duty . Beef knuckle and strip steaks .

Broke down and smoked a beef knuckle roast . The whole knuckle breaks into 3 whole muscle sections . This would be a center cut sirloin tip ( cap off ) . Plan is to use this for sandwiches later in the week . Meal for the day will be strip steaks from the loin I broke down a while back . Heated...

www.smokingmeatforums.com

In your opinion, how would a brisket, for example, on your pellet differ than your MES?

That pellet grill is a brisket machine . Better bark and smoke flavor from it over the MES .
MES does a good job , but the pellet grill is a more traditional wood fired result .



I would say a place for you to start is getting your MES switched over . Then you have the KJ , and if you decide to add a pellet at some point it will server in between the other 2 .

I have several options , that all work great . That Pellet smoker has taken over the go to spot .

 

[tallbm]

You posted up that particular switch in the past but I can't find it.

If you could post it up again I'd appreciate it.

Here is one good deal for it right now. 5 of the 180C ceramic that are the CORRECT design for under $10 :D

Amazon.com

Enjoy!