Prepping for first smoke

[john dice]

I have a 4 pound pork shoulder and a couple chicken quarters I am going to attempt for my first time.

Got some questions hopefully to be answered. Once I get my pan of charcoal going should I just toss a few pieces in every now and again to maintain the temp? Or wait till I can throw another batch in preheated in the starter? Do the chicken quarters need to be sprayed with some mixture while smoking?

I have a pretty simple rub I made last week but all the roommates enjoyed it. Going to make a beer barbecue sauce and make up some baked beans.

No signs of rain and supposed to get up to 70 on Saturday. I will try and steal one of my roommates digital cameras for qview cause I have yet to get one of those things.

Any other helpful hints you guys got for me?

 

[capt dan]

as long as your temp stays good and steady, you can stay ahead a bit by tossin in a couple chunks at a time, to keep it steady. If ya wait too long though. Ya might hafta fire up the chimney again.

Sounds like ya got a plan, have fun!

 

[john dice]

I think my thermometer is messed up, put the meat in about 20 min ago and the chicken is already up to 96 degrees. How fast should I see the temp rising? I have the smoker at about 250 degrees.

 

[capt dan]

Thats pretty fast

 

[john dice]

Probably cause more then half of the thermometer is sticking outside the meat. ill try and position it better.

 

[john dice]

All is going well now, slowed down. The pork is at 156 degrees and I am about to pull the chicken off the smoker and throw them on the grill to crisp up the skin.

and I have been maintaining the smoker around 225-250 degrees.

 

[pineywoods]

sounds good you got Qview for us???

 

[john dice]

I have no camera right now, hopefully a roommate will be back for when I pull the pork.

The chicken was next to amazing. It could of used more rub and I should of soaked it in brine, but aside from that it was brilliant. I almost lost the quarter pulling off the grill cause it fell apart so easy, and it just melted when I pulled it from the bone.

I will be getting a cell phone with camera (poor excuse for pic but its something) next week so i will have qview for sure. And I am almost positive there will be more smoking next weekend.

 

[pineywoods]

glad to hear it came out good

 

[meowey]

Don't you love it when a plan comes together?!!!

Take care, have fun, and do good!

Regards,

Meowey

 

[john dice]

I failed the pork butt. The coals were dying and didnt seem worth it to start up some more for the last 5 degrees so I preheated the oven to stick it in their. Well I did that and the pork started falling in temp. I only got it up to 190 degrees.

The butt was a little dry, but still pretty darn tasty. I cannot wait for next week, I think I am going to do a fatty, a larger butt and some more chicken.

After the 2 hours I started getting a hang of it, the hardest part was trying to get used to how much and when to add more charcoal. After 2 hours I maintained it at 225-250 for the other 3 or so hours.

Overall I am very happy with the outcome. And I promise qview starting next week.