New Rec Tec Bull first cook!

[NU2SMOKE]

Got my new Rec Tec Bull on July 3rd....just in time for the big July 4th party ....Heres how it went.

Got it assembled and the assembly went very smoothly and performed the 90 min 400 deg burn in last night. Connected to the wifi easily and got that all working. I had 10 lbs of traeger pellets left from a 20 lb bag that I wanted to get rid of so I used them for the burn in. Set it to 400 deg...22 min later it was at 400 and it stayed rock solid at 400.After 90 min I set it to 250 and watched it steadily come down and settle in. I was beautiful to watch. This grill responds to temp commands immediately. I went into the app and turned it off and it went thru its process to shut down. I let it cool completely then covered it and put it to bed for the evening.

July 4th morning uncovered it...went into the app to see if it would turn on from the app....it did. I set it to low and it went to 180 and held stead fast and nice smoke coming from the chimney. After 30 min I opened the door for a couple of min...wanted to see how it reacted as if I was spritzing some...the temp climbed to 189 then came back down to 180 all the while it is set to low. I then set it to 225 for the days workout and went inside to get things ready.

I started the day with some Bull Balls and some Pig candy. It will be followed with some ABT's and finishing up with a couple of slabs of ribs. Busy day for break in...

SO far...my assessment is.... I AM FREAKING ECSTATIC!!! This thing Rocks!!

 

[Winterrider]

All looks very good. Glad to hear the 1st go around was a success. Nice looking setup.

 

[texomakid]

Very nice and it all looks good. Congrats & enjoy!

 

[SecondHandSmoker]

Congratulations on your new Bull.
Looks like it will serve you well.

 

[JC in GB]

Congrats on your new rig. Hope to see more cook pics.

JC

 

[creek bottom]

Congrats on the new cooker! Definitely looks like it performed well. Looks DELICIOUS!!!

 

[SlowmotionQue]

Congrats on the Bull. Yes, the Rec Tec controller is something else.

 

[sandyut]

Nice cook and rig! Welcome to the Rec Tec Bull family!

its feels so good to make the investment and have it all work out. :)

 

[clifish]

Very Nice! What is that attached firebox on the right with the gauges?

 

[NU2SMOKE]

Very Nice! What is that attached firebox on the right with the gauges?

That is a cold smoke box. It has 3 shelves inside. Can use it for cheese and fish and such. I plan on using it for salami and beef sticks and cheese. Also can use it as a hot box to keep things warm if they finish early.
This thing is just fantastic!

 

[bregent]

I plan on using it for salami and beef sticks and cheese.

From what I've heard from folks that own them, they don't stay cool enough to smoke cheese. Even in Rectec's own video of them, the cheese is melting. You could try adding ice trays, but will still have trouble keeping it below 90 degrees. Better off just using a smoke tray or tube. But they are great for fish, jerky, snack sticks, etc.

 

[NU2SMOKE]

From what I've heard from folks that own them, they don't stay cool enough to smoke cheese. Even in Rectec's own video of them, the cheese is melting. You could try adding ice trays, but will still have trouble keeping it below 90 degrees. Better off just using a smoke tray or tube. But they are great for fish, jerky, snack sticks, etc.

I have been in contact with a guy that has one and where he lives the ambient temp is 72 deg. He smoked 2 lbs of cheese on the low setting for 2.5 hours with no problem.

I am working on a mod that should lower the internal temps down quite a bit but Im in Ft lauderdale. My ambient temp right this minute is 93....no cold anything here at all...lol

 

[bregent]

have been in contact with a guy that has one and where he lives the ambient temp is 72 deg. He smoked 2 lbs of cheese on the low setting for 2.5 hours with no problem.

Of course, some folks don't mind if the cheese melts or sweats a lot. Personally, if I'm going to spend the time and money, I make sure the cheese never gets above 80F. Any higher and the texture starts to change and it's not the same. At 72F ambient, I'd be surprised if his temps weren't close to or above 90F. But maybe the newer RecTec's have a lower minimum temp than the older ones.

 

[clifish]

yeah I am really kicking myself...waited too long for a local CL ad on a basically brand new Rec Tec 650 and I let it slide. I really did not know enough about them a couple months ago.

 

[banderson7474]

My buddy who has a bull smoked cheese in that box and it worked fine. However that wasn't in the summer. We live in bama so it's hot as hell now. I asked him about it and he said most people put a bowl of ice on bottom shelf and it works.

 

[gmc2003]

Congratulations on the new bull NU. It looks purty. Also that's some fine looking grub you posted. I would have enjoy a plate of that.

Point for sure
Chris

 

[BiscuitoftheSea]

What temp and timings / process did you use on the ribs?

 

[NU2SMOKE]

Congratulations on the new bull NU. It looks purty. Also that's some fine looking grub you posted. I would have enjoy a plate of that.

Point for sure
Chris

Coming from you sir is quite an honor. I did say I was going to steal a couple of things from some of your posts and I did tell the family that I learned them here from this great group! (after they repeatedly told me i was the best of course...lol)

Yes the Bull is just a wonderfully crafted pit. It is substantial. The weight of everything is incredible. Its really massive! I had seen lots of pics and talked to alot of people who owned it but when I saw it in person it is even better. Oh yeah and it makes me look like I know what I am doing...lol

 

[NU2SMOKE]

What temp and timings / process did you use on the ribs?

Well I would love to tell you that I have this secrete process that I have developed over years or trial and error but that would be a flat out lie!!

What I did was simple...I took the spares and just did some minor trimming of extra fat and the back skirt. I removed the membrane. Coated the ribs in my rib rub and wrapped them in plastic tightly and put in fridge over night.

Next morning I started the pit up at set the Rec Tec Bull to 225. Once the pit came to temp and stabilized I put the ribs flat on the grill and walked away. And hour later I spritzed them down with some peach nectar and then walked away. Hour later repeated the spritzing. Hour later I checked the temp between the bones and it was 155. I let them sit another 30 min. I checked temp again and they were 165. I then took them out to wrap.
Once wrapped I put them back on the pit still at 225 for 2 hours at which point I removed them. Opened them up and they were done....literally DONE...falling apart done. I don't sauce mine so there was no point returning them to the pit. I let them rest for 15-20 min while I set the table and got everything else set up then cut them apart and took the pic.
I could have taken them off 30-45 min sooner and they would have been perfect and not overdone but my family ate every last piece of them like they hadn't eaten in a week and loved it so....Ill take it...lol

 

[SlowmotionQue]

Got my new Rec Tec Bull on July 3rd....just in time for the big July 4th party ....Heres how it went.
......SO far...my assessment is.... I AM FREAKING ECSTATIC!!! This thing Rocks!!
View attachment 400136 View attachment 400137 View attachment 400138 View attachment 400139 View attachment 400140 View attachment 400141

Yes, the Rec Tec lineup and Rec Tec’s controller are impressive.

And that they use the same controller on the Bull, Stampede and Trailblazer, is even more impressive.

They’ve done a fantastic job.