New here and new to smoking

[dfox]

Hi everyone, my name is David and I'm new to the forum and to smoking meat. I received one of the original Bradley smokers for xmas this year. I need to get a thermometer and I was reading the reviews some of you had for the new Maverick. Any other suggestions? Also, I understand one probe is put into the meat, but how do you keep the other one from touching the rack to get the inside temp accurate? My smoker has a thermometer built into the door, doesn't that give you an accurate inside temp.? Thanks.

 

[scarbelly]

Hello David

Welcome to SMF.  Glad to have you here with us.  On the issue of the thermometer, you can put the smoker probe in a potato or a piece of wood or a bracket of some kind.  

 

[dfox]

thanks for the help!

 

[adiochiro3]

Welcome!  Don't trust any thermometer without testing it in boiling water first.  you can either mount it in the unit at grill level or do as scarbelly suggests with a block of wood or potato.  Apples work too.  I just have mine mounted low through a hole in the door.

Cheers!

 

[realtorterry]

Welcome David if your new to smoking try the free e-course offered here. It'll get you going in the right direction

 

[theracenut]

Welcome dfox. You will enjoy this place. Everyone is helpfull. Read read read you learn a lot that way. I use the potato method on the thermometer.

 

[pineywoods]

Welcome to SMF glad you joined us. The thermometers that are on the doors of most smokers are not very accurate and the heat will be different at different levels of the smoker which is why many of us will use a thermometer we know is accurate and place it on the grate close to what we are smoking. As Scarbelly said a potato or block of wood both work great and some thermometers come with a clip that holds the probe and clips onto the grate. I have about 15 thermometers with lots of different brands and models and if I were to buy a new thermometer today it would be the new Maverick model 732 and I would order it from TJohnson a site sponsor check out this link he's offering free shipping right now

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/forum/thread/102506/maverick-et-732-s-now-in-stock  

 

[xjcamaro]

Welcom aboard! Lots of good info here, and lots of good people that will help you with any questions you have. If you cant find your answer seaching around, then just ask. This will soon become your favorite past time!

 

[ellymae]

Welcome to the party!

 

[beer-b-q]

 

Welcome to SMF, Glad to have you with us.
 

This is the place to learn, lots of good info and helpful friendly Members.
 

For those of you new to Smoking, be sure to check out Jeff's 5 Day Smoking Basics eCourse.

Click Here it's "FREE" ... 5 Day eCourseE

 

[fpnmf]

Welcome!!

 

[SmokinAl]

Welcome my friend. Your gonna love this place!

 

[mballi3011]

First off Welcome David to SMF.  You'll like it here for there are alot of really good folks here that would just love to help you with just about anything to do with smoking. Now there are alot of proven recipes for some amazing things here too. So if you need sign up for the E-Course it's free and it will give you the basics of smoking and some good methods to use also. So the next big thing for you to do is go out and get you something to smoke and if you happen to have any questions just post it here and we will be happy to answer them for you.

Welcome To Your New Addiction

GO GATORS    

 

[dfox]

Thanks for the warm welcome! I did sign up forthe e course and have been reading a lot. Now I need to order a thermometer so I can smoke something!

 

[meateater]

Welcome to the SMF. Glad to have you here. Lots of good folks, great recipes and knowledge. Looking forward to your first qview.

 

 

[smokeamotive]

Welcome to SMF and your new addiction! I think the folks above have pretty much summed up the thermometer thing. Don't trust the ones that come with the smoker. Digitals are the only wat to go.

 

[hmcm]

Welcome David!  I'm a newbie just like you.  I've been part of this forum now for about a month and you'll find, as I did, that everyone here is willing to help with any question or problem you may have.  Everyone is great!  It looks like you've signed up for the 5 day e-course already! good move!  Many have already said "Don't trust the door themometer", take their advice!  That is for sure.  Mine is off by 20 degrees.  Last thing you want to do is get people sick...I just ordered my Maverick ET-732 from Todd this morning.  He has a special for forum members that gives you free shipping (look in http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/forum/thread/102506/maverick-et-732-s-now-in-stock).  That is a bonus!  Like I said, everyone wants to help one way or another!  Good luck with your Bradley and Happy Smoking!  Oh, and don't forget to post pictures (QView)!