NEW MES 40 WATTAGE?

[bob bramlett]

I AM SERIOUSLY INTERESTED IN THE MES 40 AT SAM'S CLUB FOR $299 BUT I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE WATTAGE FOR THESE REASONS: 1. I WANT MY CHICKEN SKIN TO HAVE A LITTLE BARK. AND I WANT MY RECOVERY TIME TO BE QUICK.    ANY HELP WILL BE APPRECIATED.  LOL - I AM STILL DEBATING BETWEEN THIS MODEL AND PROPANE...

 

[smokinhusker]

I have the MES 40 with the 1200 watt element. The highest the temp will go on it is 275*. This is not hot enough to "crisp" or "bark" chicken.

 

[linguica]

I have the MES 40 with the 1200 watt element. The highest the temp will go on it is 275*. This is not hot enough to "crisp" or "bark" chicken.

What is the lowest temp that would produce an acceptable chicken skin?

 

[bob bramlett]

SO SMOKINHUSKER.... ASIDE FROM THE "BARK"  DO YOU LIKE YOUR MES 40? CAN YOU GIVE ME SOME ADVICE AS FAR AS WHAT YOU WOULD DO DIFFERENTLY OR WHAT ELSE I WILL NEED TO PURCHASE, CHIPS OR CHUNKS, WET OR DRY, ETC....

 

[hogrider47]

Well Bob  I have a cajun injector propane and since I've installed a needle valve in the line I can smoke at about any temp I want  from 140 to 350  Love it

 

[driedstick]

Let us know with your choice, I am looking at the 30 just mainly for price reasons thou

Good luck with your purchase which ever it may be. I would think propane could get that crisp you are looking for???

 

[bob bramlett]

just saw the Bass Pro Shop Black Friday sale on the MES 30 with window / meat probe for $179.... hmmmm may sacrifice the space of the 40" for $200 bucks.

 

[bob bramlett]

is the wattage on the new generation MES 30" is 800?  so other than bark on poultry... this will fit my needs for fatties, ribs, loins, etc....? i also have the Charbroil Big Easy to crisp some stuff up.....

 

[bob bramlett]

hey Hogrider..... needle valve tough to install?

does it make the propane smoker more of a set it and forget it?

 

[hogrider47]

Once you get the flame where you want it and the temp is holding good  it"s good to go  I still watch my temps closely you never know what can happen  ever since they came up with Murphy"s Law

 

[deltadude]

bob bramlett, thanks for NOT SHOUTING after your first two posts!

Bob, the MES 40 at 1200 watts max temp setting is 275º, and you really need about 320+ deg to achieve the texture you desire.  For me if I want a smoky flavor to my chicken I start the cook in the MES then finish on my Weber gas BBQ grill.  However I also have a Weber kettle, we really like the whole BBQ chicken that comes out of the Weber kettle, so thats how we Q our whole chicken.  I haven't tried it, but if you baste your chicken skin with oil or butter several times during the smoke it might crisp up, in the MES.

As for your other meats the MES is great.

IMHO for bang for buck performance and top tasting Q you have two choices, either the MES 40 or a WMS (weber smoky mountain).  Almost anyone who has a MES will tell you that a 40" MES is the way to go, the capacity gives you options where the MES 30 you will be trying to squeeze in stuff to Q, a 40" MES you do not have to cut a rack of ribs to lay them out on the MES grate, the 30" you will have to cut or roll the rack.  You can read back two or 3 pages in this electric forum for all the great reasons to own a MES.

The WMS, is so good that if you go to a few BBQ competitions you will see many teams either using the WMS as a backup smoker or their primary smoker.  The WMS has probably won more BBQ contests than any other single smoker, a couple years ago the KCBS Team of the Year used only WMS smokers to achieve their recognition as top KCBS team for the entire nation.  Like the MES the WMS comes in two sizes the 171/2 inch and 22", get the 22".

If you buy an MES either the 30 or 40 you will be very happy with the Q.

 

[bob bramlett]

thanks deltadude... sorry for SHOUTING earlier...LOL

so other than chicken / turkey skin, it is a worthy investment? i am gonna try to get the 40" at Sam's club for $299.... but 179 for the 30" at BPS is appealing. However, like my garage, i will always wish i would have gone bigger.  

may evolve to a Weber down the road but for ease and lack of time to devout to the Q - i am gonna go MES.

any easy, cool recipes that you have found to be great in the MES?

 

[linguica]

thanks deltadude... sorry for SHOUTING earlier...LOL

so other than chicken / turkey skin, it is a worthy investment? i am gonna try to get the 40" at Sam's club for $299.... but 179 for the 30" at BPS is appealing. However, like my garage, i will always wish i would have gone bigger.  

may evolve to a Weber down the road but for ease and lack of time to devout to the Q - i am gonna go MES.

any easy, cool recipes that you have found to be great in the MES?

Just remember, life is a game. He who has the most toys when it's over WINS

 

[smokinhusker]

DeltaDude knows his MES that's for sure. I haven't found anything (other than crisp chicken skin) that I can't do in the MES. I sent the money to my son to pick up the 30" during the Black Friday Sale so he'll be able to make his own jerky etc instead of me making it and sending it to him. Essentially anything you can put in the oven, you can do in the MES or so I've been told. 

 

[linguica]

DeltaDude knows his MES that's for sure. I haven't found anything (other than crisp chicken skin) that I can't do in the MES. I sent the money to my son to pick up the 30" during the Black Friday Sale so he'll be able to make his own jerky etc instead of me making it and sending it to him. Essentially anything you can put in the oven, you can do in the MES or so I've been told. 

What makes you think that he will stop asking you to make it for him?