Well, those 'branches' look like the real deal to me...no chunks outta the bag for you (lucky) but I see no smoke....so assume it's REAL thin. Throughly got a great laugh outta your comment about the missus says you know nothing....lol....thanks
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Well, those 'branches' look like the real deal to me...no chunks outta the bag for you (lucky) but I see no smoke....so assume it's REAL thin. Throughly got a great laugh outta your comment about the missus says you know nothing....lol....thanks
You Texas guys got that wood wired down there...pecan, mesquite etc...just go pick it up off the ground. I'm in the PNW so will be pruning some plum, cherry and pear branches to dry out some for future use....and maybe some hazlenutThanks, Chef Willie,
Completely the real deal. I do the neighborhood a service, by picking up fallen branches, and get free wood for the smoker to boot.
Win/Win!
As for the wife, I have been married long enough to know who's boss....
LOL!
Hi Smokinjoe,Snorkelinggirl - Sounds like you are having fun!
Here are my thoughts about what you recently posted.
I believe Todd recommends dust up to 180* and pellets up to 275* so am not surprised that the smoked turned gray above 240.
The 5x8 AMAZEN does fit on the bottom of the smoker, and works great there. I don't think there is any issue with jumping rows with the AMAZEN 5x8.
I have smoked 4 Boston butts. The first one I did not wrap in Al. and only took it to about 190. Not very tender, and not very juicy. All the remaining ones have been smoked for around 8-10 hours to an IT of 140 - 150. They were then wrapped in Al. left in the smoker to an IT of 205. That takes maybe another 4-6 hours. I took them out and let them sit on the counter for 1.5 hours. No cooler or blankets, too much trouble. There was quite a bit of juice in the bottom of the aluminum foil. I pulled the shoulders, then tossed the juice back in. Moist, tender and very tasty.
The name of the game is low and slow. I start my ~9lb shoulders at 10pm at 210*. They are ready to be wrapped in the morning. I increase the temp. to 225 until the IT gets to 205.
It might be possible that the nasty stuff you have been getting is due to the use of dust at too high of a temp. I don't have a dust burner so can't be sure. Maybe some folks that have had experience with dust can chime in.
Based on my experience, I would recommend going to the 5x8 AMAZEN and burning pellets when you want to run above 180*. Use the dust for cold smoking, which is what it was originally designed to do.
Smokinjoe
I agree that if you are smoking with all 3 holes wide open, you are asking for trouble. I have experienced very uneven cooking results with too much airflow. Ideally, you want only enough airflow to keep the AMAZEN burning, which in my case has been 2 holes open about 1/2". Keep in mind that this is with the AMAZEN on the bottom of the smoker, which places it right by the air holes. The uneven smoker temps are worsened by breezy conditions.Plug your extra holes, that should resolve the temp swing issues. The SmokinTex was not designed nor engineered for the extra air flow.
As for pork shoulder roasts (butts). Set your smoker for 225, use a digital temp probe, smoke to an internal temp of 195 - 200. Pull and let the meat rest at least 30 minutes. Resting of your Q is vital for all smoked meat.
Incredible results.
Hi moxaman,Along with PCALLISON and Scarbelly I modified my Smokin-IT #2 and use AMNPS all the way. I did a 5 hr salmon the other day and TBS the whole time. No creosote and great flavor. I wouldn't cut any other additional holes in your smoker.
Hey smokinjoe,If anybody interpreted my input as implying that more holes in the bottom would cause temperature swings, I want to clarify what I meant.
What I have experienced is that with too much air flow, meaning all three holes open in the bottom, I get uneven cooking results (temps) inside the smoker, even though the Auber display tells me the temperature at the AUBER PROBE TIP does not vary by more than 2 degrees.
Now keep in mind that I have been smoking in ambient temperature ranging from 10* to 45* F lately. I had some beef sticks that were laying horizontal on racks, and the variation in doneness (IT) and appearance varied quite dramatically rack to rack and even L-R and F-B on the same rack when all 3 holes were open. Breezy conditions worsened the unevenness. Closing one up, and opening the other 2 to about 1/2" seemed to greatly reduce the uneven cooking, and still allowed the AMAZEN to produce nice TBS.
Todd and some other folks determined that they needed a little more air flow than 2 holes open at 1/2", but that has not been the case with me. I am assuming that during the summer, when COLD air is not being blown or at least drawn, into the bottom holes, this problem will be reduced even more.
Smokinjoe
BTW - I have never operated my smoker without the Auber, so can't comment on exactly what Clarissa is seeing.