Mold

[mummel]

So my MES 40 BT is currently being stored in my garage.  It rained quite a lot a few days ago.  It was humid in my garage.  I decided to test my risk for mold. 

The garage was at 71% RH.  It's normally pretty high, at least 60%+.  Nothing we can do.  But we have no mold problems.

So I opened the MES vent wide, put in a hygrometer, and shut the door.  I opened my garage door last night to air the basement.

The garage RH went down to 56%, but the inside of my MES remained dead on at 71%.  And thats without the cover........

So it looks like there is zero migration of humidity in and out of the smoker.  That's bad guys.

So is having a cover basically pointless as I assume I need to leave my door open?  Thats a bummer because I'm sure over the 8 months in the winter the MES is going to accumulate a lot of dust and dingy in the years to come.

Other than that, what do you guys do to prevent mold?  

 

[bmaddox]

 
Other than that, what do you guys do to prevent mold?  

Nothing. I wash everywhere that the food touches before I smoke and if the smoker is dirty I will run it to burn everything off. A few hours at 275 will take care of any issues. If it gets really bad I run it with a pot of boiling water on a rack to steam the inside then wipe it out. 

Living in Florida it is futile to try and fight the humidity. 

 

[mummel]

So you think just close the door, put on the cover, and if any mold ever surfaces, burn it at 275?

 

[brickguy221]

I guess I need to "knock on wood" when I say this .... I live in Oklahoma and my Smoker sits on my covered patio 12 months a year with a Masterbuilt Cover on it and I haven't had a mold problem ... yet anyhow.

 

[tropics]

 
So my MES 40 BT is currently being stored in my garage.  It rained quite a lot a few days ago.  It was humid in my garage.  I decided to test my risk for mold. 

The garage was at 71% RH.  It's normally pretty high, at least 60%+.  Nothing we can do.  But we have no mold problems.

So I opened the MES vent wide, put in a hygrometer, and shut the door.  I opened my garage door last night to air the basement.

The garage RH went down to 56%, but the inside of my MES remained dead on at 71%.  And thats without the cover........

So it looks like there is zero migration of humidity in and out of the smoker.  That's bad guys.

So is having a cover basically pointless as I assume I need to leave my door open?  Thats a bummer because I'm sure over the 8 months in the winter the MES is going to accumulate a lot of dust and dingy in the years to come.

Other than that, what do you guys do to prevent mold?  

Get a box of Baking Soda cut the top half open,sit it in the smoker it will take most of the humidity out.

Richie

 

[mummel]

 
Get a box of Baking Soda cut the top half open,sit it in the smoker it will take most of the humidity out.

Richie

Mmmm good idea.  I wonder how long it will last for.  If I box up the smoker for the winter, perhaps I should put a box in. 

 

[tropics]

 
Mmmm good idea.  I wonder how long it will last for.  If I box up the smoker for the winter, perhaps I should put a box in. 

That was my main idea,it will also do the job during the week when not in use. Hope you found this helpful.

Richie

 

[brickguy221]

 
Mmmm good idea.  I wonder how long it will last for.  If I box up the smoker for the winter, perhaps I should put a box in. 

Sounds like a good idea to me also. Although I haven't had a mold problem, I am going to sick a box of baking soda in mine anyhow when not in use. Thanks for sharing. 

 

[dr k]

 
So my MES 40 BT is currently being stored in my garage.  It rained quite a lot a few days ago.  It was humid in my garage.  I decided to test my risk for mold. 

The garage was at 71% RH.  It's normally pretty high, at least 60%+.  Nothing we can do.  But we have no mold problems.

So I opened the MES vent wide, put in a hygrometer, and shut the door.  I opened my garage door last night to air the basement.

The garage RH went down to 56%, but the inside of my MES remained dead on at 71%.  And thats without the cover........

So it looks like there is zero migration of humidity in and out of the smoker.  That's bad guys.

So is having a cover basically pointless as I assume I need to leave my door open?  Thats a bummer because I'm sure over the 8 months in the winter the MES is going to accumulate a lot of dust and dingy in the years to come.

Other than that, what do you guys do to prevent mold?  

If your really concerned about the relative humidity being too high do what gun owners do and get an electronic or some other moisture absorbing device for gun safes.

-Kurt

 

[wimpy69]

Do they still sell those large desiccant bags people used to hang in their basements.

 

[dr k]

 
So my MES 40 BT is currently being stored in my garage.  It rained quite a lot a few days ago.  It was humid in my garage.  I decided to test my risk for mold. 

The garage was at 71% RH.  It's normally pretty high, at least 60%+.  Nothing we can do.  But we have no mold problems.

So I opened the MES vent wide, put in a hygrometer, and shut the door.  I opened my garage door last night to air the basement.

The garage RH went down to 56%, but the inside of my MES remained dead on at 71%.  And thats without the cover........

So it looks like there is zero migration of humidity in and out of the smoker.  That's bad guys.

So is having a cover basically pointless as I assume I need to leave my door open?  Thats a bummer because I'm sure over the 8 months in the winter the MES is going to accumulate a lot of dust and dingy in the years to come.

Other than that, what do you guys do to prevent mold?  

I've seen disposable damp rid moisture control containers for a buck at the Dollar Tree.

-Kurt

 

[foamheart]

Mold? I live outside of New Orleans we don't need no stinkin mold!

Preheat your box, mold gone. How much easier do you want?

 

[inkjunkie]

Do they still sell those large desiccant bags people used to hang in their basements.

Yup. Bought a big bag off of EPay, have several in the buckets that have the spools of wire for my Mig machine

 

[daricksta]

 
So my MES 40 BT is currently being stored in my garage.  It rained quite a lot a few days ago.  It was humid in my garage.  I decided to test my risk for mold. 

The garage was at 71% RH.  It's normally pretty high, at least 60%+.  Nothing we can do.  But we have no mold problems.

So I opened the MES vent wide, put in a hygrometer, and shut the door.  I opened my garage door last night to air the basement.

The garage RH went down to 56%, but the inside of my MES remained dead on at 71%.  And thats without the cover........

So it looks like there is zero migration of humidity in and out of the smoker.  That's bad guys.

So is having a cover basically pointless as I assume I need to leave my door open?  Thats a bummer because I'm sure over the 8 months in the winter the MES is going to accumulate a lot of dust and dingy in the years to come.

Other than that, what do you guys do to prevent mold?  

I live in western Washington state so you know it can get pretty wet and humid during the winter and spring. I store my MES 30 with the top vent and the door closed and under the Masterbuilt built vinyl cover in my uninsulated garage. I've done this for three years and have never seen mold inside the smoker. Where do I get mold? Inside my Weber One Touch Silver charcoal kettle grill that I also store under its Weber vinyl cover inside in my garage. Every spring I have to scrub out the inside of the grill and I also need to scrub the mold off the cooking and charcoal briquettes grates.

I have no idea why mold grows on the inside of the Weber--which I clean out before tucking it away for the winter--and not the MES which I barely clean at all.

 

[mummel]

Im just worried about mold because I've seen many people post and complain about it.  Under what conditions are these guys getting mold?

 

[daricksta]

 
Im just worried about mold because I've seen many people post and complain about it.  Under what conditions are these guys getting mold?

Before I read your original post I hadn't read of any. But as wet and humid as the Puget Sound region can get it doesn't hold a candle to what happens in points east including all the way out to Northeast and Southeast.

 

[foamheart]

If you've got mold you ain't smoking enough.

 

[brickguy221]

 
If you've got mold you ain't smoking enough.

    What Foamheart said           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^         

 

 

[bmaddox]

 
If you've got mold you ain't smoking enough.

Foam the hard part is keeping all of the smokers busy. Maybe I need to start a rotation so they all get used enough and none of them feel neglected (in case smokers have feelings)

 

[mummel]

Well I'm going camping this weekend and next weekend.  FUN, but I would really like to smoke some meat instead!  I'm going to try get my wife to do a weekday smoke up next week.  Going to so Bear's chicken.