Smoking Ribs and chicken today. Need some advice.

[mrgregory29]

I've only smoked ribs a few times due to lack of time. I've never smoked chicken before. I have to Brickmann Smoke N Pit grills. I planned on using one for my chicken and one for my ribs. I put my dry rub on my ribs last night and I made my marinade for my chicken.

I bought some cherry and mesquite wood chips. I've never used wood chips before but have read and been told they are good to use so I wanted to give them a try.

My questions are.

1.When placing the coals in the offset smoker how long do I wait after lighting them before placing the wood chips on them?

2.I bought a smoker box for the chips. Should I use it or just place the chips directly on the coals?

3.How long should I wait before putting my ribs and chicken on the grill after lighting coals and placing chips?

4.Whats a good time for the ribs and chicken to smoke? (The chicken is legs, thighs, and wings.)

Thanks in advance for any tips.

 

[nola saints smoker]

1) I usually place the wood chips on the lump coal right before I put whatever I am cooking on the grill.
2) I never used a smoker box. I just place them on the coals.
3) If you are using regular charcoal, you need to wait until the coals are white. I use lump as it burns hotter and longer and doesn't have the nasty taste that regular charcoal produces. I also use a chimney starter for my lump and when it is lit, i dump it in my smoker and close the lid until the target temp is obtained.
4) When you smoke, time is not important. You need to watch the internal temps, especially on chicken. Internal breast temp should be 165-170 and the thigh 180-190. As for as the ribs, baby backs you do the 2-2-1 method and for spare ribs you do 3-2-1. Search the forum under pork and poultry and there are tons of info and recipes.

 

[mrgregory29]

Thanks for the info. Yea I bought a chimney starter also. I've seen a few people talk about the 3-2-1 method for Ribs. I going to fire my grill up in the next hour.

 

[werdwolf]

Spares 3-2-1 (i use 3-1.5-.5 at 235)
BBs 2-2-1

 

[mrgregory29]

How long should I smoke my chicken?(Legs, thighs, and wings)

 

[rdknb]

You want to cook them to temp 170 for me. Thighs and legs about 1.5 hrs. Wings will be a little less time