Smokin-It Air Hole and GE Profile Smokers

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Count Porcula

Meat Mopper
Original poster
SMF Premier Member
Sep 25, 2020
250
198
First thing: would I be crazy to enlarge the bottom hole in my Smokin-It 2? Not only does the existing hole clog from above; it will also clog from crud sticking to the bottom of the box. I don't think a larger hole would make the box cooler, since hot air rises.

Seems to me it would be simple to open the hole up and then fix it so I could close it partially to control air flow.

Second: anyone tried the GE Profile indoor smoker? They claim it gets good results in your kitchen. I don't really feel like blowing $800 on a new gadget, but it might be interesting if people get tired of them and start selling them used.
 
I have two smokers - Cookshack and Smokin-it. Neither top vent hole has clogged in all the years I have used them. They get a patina from the smoke. Nothing excessive that blocks flow. But a cloth wrapped around a small dowel or little finger will clean off any soft stuff if/when it is necessary. I have never cleaned mine. I did strip and clean with oven cleaner the Cookshack when it was invaded by mice. But other than that one time, nothing special. The drain hole in the bottom can, over time accumulate grease. Always important to clean the grease out after every smoke. I line the bottom of the CS with foil. The SI has a removable box liner (newer product from SI) that works in place of foil. Regardless, I still use a few paper towels on the floor for what little grease collects. And that includes the drip hole, which I plug with a large bolt to block rodents and bugs.
 
The top hole on my smoker is no problem, but the drip hole clogs up fast.

I like spare ribs, so no shortage of fat to clog things.

Didn't know about the bottom tray. Is it worth it or just another thing to wash? I never cover the bottom. I get a sponge and a bucket of hot soapy water and remove maybe 90% of the mess.
 
I haven't thought about it before, but I get black crusty stuff in the bottom of the smoker, and it must be burned material that drips onto the smoke box. Either that, or it gets hot enough to burn underneath the box. Makes me wonder if putting some kind of heat shield over the box would reduce the amount of burned material.
 
On the Cookshack, I foil the wood box lid and bottom of the smoker and poke a hole in the foil so the grease etc goes to the drip pan. On the SI, I have the accessory bottom tray so no foil except for the wood box lid. But it is another item to clean.
 
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I have two smokers - Cookshack and Smokin-it. Neither top vent hole has clogged in all the years I have used them. They get a patina from the smoke. Nothing excessive that blocks flow. But a cloth wrapped around a small dowel or little finger will clean off any soft stuff if/when it is necessary. I have never cleaned mine. I did strip and clean with oven cleaner the Cookshack when it was invaded by mice. But other than that one time, nothing special. The drain hole in the bottom can, over time accumulate grease. Always important to clean the grease out after every smoke. I line the bottom of the CS with foil. The SI has a removable box liner (newer product from SI) that works in place of foil. Regardless, I still use a few paper towels on the floor for what little grease collects. And that includes the drip hole, which I plug with a large bolt to block rodents and bugs.
Are you saying you put paper towels on the floor under the removable box liner while cooking or while storing the smoker?

I was thinking the removable box liner would be worth having and still cover it with foil, it seems it would make it alot easier than trying to foil the floor and get it to stay flat so the grease runs out well and then make clean up of the liner just seconds. A good stiff SS putty knife works great for cleaning up the bottom of the smoker and top of fire box if anything gets through the foil.
 
The paper towels are used to wipe up residual grease carried by moisture. They are not used during cooking or during storage. Nothing wrong with foiling the liner and somehow it makes sense v
 
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I have never had the bottom hole plug up during a smoke except one time when it was so cold the dripping fat solidified and pyramided to seal the hole.

Enlarging the bottom hole will increase airflow and may diminish the smoke profile. Increased airflow may also increase likeability the wood chunks will combust because of increased oxygen.
 
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I use a drip pan on the next rack down below my ribs or other items I smoke in my smok-it 2. I have never had the little 3/8 hole clog. I do change a foil bottom out when it starts getting nasty, then repoke the hole out through it.
 
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