New AMNPS & big bag of pellets

[buzzy]

Got my first AMNPS Friday & picked up bag of pit boss competition blend for $16.88 for a 40# bag today. As soon as the weather clears after tomorrow I’m ready to burn some pellets to get ready to try it out. Funny at my age I have to say I’m a little excited because of all u guys talking up the AMNPS

 

[oddegan]

Love mine. You won't regret spending the money.

 

[SmokinVOLfan]

I ended up buying one too after I read nothing but good things on here now its all I use in my MES40. Great for cold smoking too!

Let us know how you like the pit boss pellets. I have been using the amazen pellets and they work great. I've seen the giant bag of pit boss on amazon just didn't want to end of with a 40 pound bag if they suck!

 

[oddegan]

The price is right on the pit boss and I have used them but they just don't hold a candle to the flavor I've gotten from the A-maz-n pellets. For me they are worth the price. Experiment and see what you like.

 

[SonnyE]

I like mine!
I did a break-in burn in mine. Filled it with pellets, lit it, and it finally stopped 11 hours later.
You can guesstimate the smoke time by the rows, ~4 hours a row, roughly.
I have some Hickory, and Pit Boss (like you), and some Oak Dust I made with my Jointer.
I figure at my rate, probably 147 years worth of fuel. :confused:

 

[tallbm]

Got my first AMNPS Friday & picked up bag of pit boss competition blend for $16.88 for a 40# bag today. As soon as the weather clears after tomorrow I’m ready to burn some pellets to get ready to try it out. Funny at my age I have to say I’m a little excited because of all u guys talking up the AMNPS

Congrats and I understand the excitement!

I'm a 100% pure wood Lumberjack guy and like to make my own blends from the 100% pellets BUT I like the Pit Boss Competition Blend (PBCB). Walmart sells it anywhere from $9-$18 depending on the time of year. You can usually get it on amazon for like $20-$24 or so (if I remember correctly).

The flavor is a little light for me EXCEPT when I burn two rows at the same time in my AMNPS!!!! Then it is very good and the flavor improves more every day something sits in the fridge.

If you are questioning whether or not you would like 2 rows worth of smoke go buy you some boneless skinless chicken thighs, cook them at 225F and burn two rows of the PBCB and see how they come out, I'm sure you won't be disappointed :)

Get ready to enjoy your setup! :)

 

[SmokinVOLfan]

I bought 5 pounds of a-maze-n apple pellets and 5 pounds of a-maze-n mesquite pellets off amazon yesterday for $13.99 a piece. Thought that was a pretty good deal considering I paid $14 a few weeks go just for 2 pounds of apple.

 

[buzzy]

Great. Thank u all for the info. Will save some time. I thought it was a little odd there is no blend mix on bag. Like to find some pure cherry & pure hickory. Any problems with burning straight cherry????

 

[Geebs]

The price is right on the pit boss and I have used them but they just don't hold a candle to the flavor I've gotten from the A-maz-n pellets. For me they are worth the price. Experiment and see what you like.

I have started to mix the competition blend with whatever other Camp Chef pellet I am wanting to use. I like the pit Boss Competition blend just to run through for the heat purpose and use Camp Chef for me AMNTS.

 

[tallbm]

I bought 5 pounds of a-maze-n apple pellets and 5 pounds of a-maze-n mesquite pellets off amazon yesterday for $13.99 a piece. Thought that was a pretty good deal considering I paid $14 a few weeks go just for 2 pounds of apple.

Oh man, get some beef and smoke it with those 100% Mesquite pellets!!! You will be in heaven.

Great. Thank u all for the info. Will save some time. I thought it was a little odd there is no blend mix on bag. Like to find some pure cherry & pure hickory. Any problems with burning straight cherry????

Most brands seem to do a blend. The PBCB Is something like 50-60 Maple, then equal parts of Cherry and Hickory according to some hardcore google research I did in the past.
Most brands have a "flavor" like Hickory but that is usually no more than 25-35% Hickory and then it is blended with a less expensive regional wood like Oak or Alder.

Lumberjack is one of the brands that will tell you 100% of the wood or will tell you that it is a blend right on the bag. I'm a huge fan of Lumberjack pellets and make my own blends using a variety of different 100% wood pellets.

As for 100% Cherry, it can be harder to keep lit than other pellets. I have found that the microwave trick (microwave 1 minute, wait 2 minute and mix, then microwave another 1 minute) helps pellets burn more easily even the cherry pellets. Also having a good draft helps with the cherry pellets so smoking 225F or higher seems to be a good draft to keep air flowing through them. I just had problems at 170F with them for Jerky but I have a solution for that.

You shouldn't have as many issues with other types of wood. The 100% cherry on my venison jerky was good, I just need to increase my draft to keep the 100% cherry going at 170F, and I have that solution already :)

 

[Geebs]

How much are lumberjack pellets?

 

[tropics]

Buzzy When you get a chance you may want to let us know what kind of smoker you have. If it is a MES30 or 40 you may want to raise the body up so it can get more air.I used spring binder clips from Staples

 

[SmokinVOLfan]

Oh man, get some beef and smoke it with those 100% Mesquite pellets!!! You will be in heaven.




Most brands seem to do a blend. The PBCB Is something like 50-60 Maple, then equal parts of Cherry and Hickory according to some hardcore google research I did in the past.
Most brands have a "flavor" like Hickory but that is usually no more than 25-35% Hickory and then it is blended with a less expensive regional wood like Oak or Alder.

Lumberjack is one of the brands that will tell you 100% of the wood or will tell you that it is a blend right on the bag. I'm a huge fan of Lumberjack pellets and make my own blends using a variety of different 100% wood pellets.

As for 100% Cherry, it can be harder to keep lit than other pellets. I have found that the microwave trick (microwave 1 minute, wait 2 minute and mix, then microwave another 1 minute) helps pellets burn more easily even the cherry pellets. Also having a good draft helps with the cherry pellets so smoking 225F or higher seems to be a good draft to keep air flowing through them. I just had problems at 170F with them for Jerky but I have a solution for that.

You shouldn't have as many issues with other types of wood. The 100% cherry on my venison jerky was good, I just need to increase my draft to keep the 100% cherry going at 170F, and I have that solution already :)

I did two chucks yesterday and was kicking myself for not having any mesquite! Read so many good things on here about mesquite and beef! Did hickory/apple mix was still good eatin though!

 

[tallbm]

How much are lumberjack pellets?

Well on Amazon anywhere between $0.83-$1 a pound :(
If you can find them from a local dealer you can get much better prices probably closer to $0.50 a pound.
The wood is top notch though!

If you have a Cabela's near you I believe the "Cabela's" brand is just Lumberjack rebranded :)

 

[zwiller]

Originally, I was apprehensive and thought the group was kinda shilling the AMNPS but the thing is legit amazing. Yes, do a bunch of test burns before smoking meat to find best location etc for you.

 

[zwiller]

Yes mesquite and beef is great but so is oak. Alternately, blends. Traeger "Texas Beef" pellets rock. Mesquite/oak/pecan.

 

[buzzy]

Good day to hang out in garage an do a test smoke & watch the temps

 

[SmokinVOLfan]

Like the shed!

Looks like a great day to throw a few blocks of cheese in the smoker while you are trying out the new AMNPS!

 

[zwiller]

^ Actually a great idea. Did this myself... Won't be too long and cheese smoking temps will be gone.

 

[buzzy]

Going to just run a load of pellets through it for being first time. Had to build shed because it’s windy here alot. I do pull smoker out an replace with turkey fryer to do bologna & sausage. Can smoke 30 sticks. Going to do cheese tomorrow. Plus the wife wants some smoked butter