Sometimes feel guilty if only smoking a bit of meat

[Tallbald]

Help me feel less guilt please. I have an OK Joe Highland wonderfully modified by me, and tomorrow I'm firing her up again with only a 4 1/2 pound chuck roast to smoke. The same fire could as easily smoke many times that amount.
The wood is not really expensive. I'll maybe burn four split pieces of firewood total. And I love building the fire, watching things run and fiddling with everything. That's why I prefer a stick burner to an electric or pellet system for my needs. And the trip is much of the enjoyment for me. I may try potato bombs, or throw on a macc and cheese tray in so I feel I'm getting more for my fire.
Ever feel silly for smoking "just a bit"?
Wish I had a true miniature offset sometimes, for small cooks like this.
Don.

 

[chef jimmyj]

I fire the smoker for 1 pound of shrimp smoked 30 minutes. I'm retired, got plenty of time on my hands and too old to hang out in bars or chase young women...JJ

 

[Rings Я Us]

Sounds worthy of a stick burnt or 6 .

Enjoy!

 

[SmokinAl]

I have fired up my Lang for 1 fattie!
Like you I find tending a fire & drinking a couple of beers very relaxing.
Al

 

[gmc2003]

For smaller cook's/smokes I use the Kettle, if I fire up the WSM I load it up full.

Chris

 

[bluewhisper]

My offset has more room than I need; the cooking area is approximately 30 x 16 inches. I've never filled it completely. I'm usually cooking for four people at most, more likely just for two.

Since I have room to spare, I'll often smoke something else like some peppers along with the main project.

 

[daveomak]

If my smoker is not full, I go look for something to throw in it...

 

[Tallbald]

I did too. Some halved potatoes are on there now. EVOO rubbed and Kosher salt! Don

 

[motolife313]

I fired mine up an hour ago because there was some day light left and 5 Korean thin cut beef short ribs left, and I made good money at work today so that helped a lot lol. I cooked some last night on the propane grill and they were so so. Only cooked them about 10 minutes. These have been on 1 hour so far. Thinking about going another 30-1 hour. cooking at 200-225

 

[motolife313]

Alder and apple. Tossed in a little oak too. This is just getting it going

 

[motolife313]

Pics are from tonight. This one was when it was starting to get dark

 

[Tallbald]

That's a beautiful and unique looking smoker. Custom made? Sure looks wonderful. Don.

 

[motolife313]

Yes it's 100% custom made all stainless. Did it myself. Had to re silicon the door and some of the fb gasket couple nights ago with a lot better quality stuff from any auto parts store. I bought some Rutland stuff made in USA and it's 100% junk. I go to the extreme on building stuff. I'll get some more pics up tomorrow of some cool parts. My buddy lets me use his machine shop. I build the hubs myself and the whole axle. Pretty much everything is hand made lol

 

[keithu]

I do it all the time. It's not uncommon for us to fire up the smoker for a single chicken or fatty. It's just the wife and I so even then we have leftovers.

Some people spend all day watching TV; I'd much rather crack a beer and watch the smoker.

 

[bluewhisper]

Some people spend all day watching TV; I'd much rather crack a beer and watch the smoker.

Oh heck yes. That's time much better spent.

You have a nice rig and it illustrates a point I was going to make: Some of the rigs here are much bigger than my offset, but it can still be worthwhile to fire them up for just a fraction of what they could cook.

 

[SonnyE]

I did a 6 hour stint for one rack of ribs. Well, it was a smidgen longer...

1. First time ribs in the usta be new smoker, now highly modified. (But fully restore-able)
2. Nobody but me and my buddy the dog here.
3. It was a test.

But Oh Manna..., so worth it!
And I'll do it again.
I fired up my old smoker a while back for 4 chicken thighs with the skin on. Then finished them in the Air Fryer to crisp the skin.

I... have no shame. :oops:

 

[GaryHibbert]

I have no qualms about firing up the MES and the AMNPS for anything. A pound of coffee, two pounds of Hot Chocolate mix, 1 tenderloin. Anything. That's why I have a smoker--to USE whenever I want, to smoke whatever I want.
Gary

 

[SonnyE]

I have no qualms about firing up the MES and the AMNPS for anything. A pound of coffee, two pounds of Hot Chocolate mix, 1 tenderloin. Anything. That's why I have a smoker--to USE whenever I want, to smoke whatever I want.
Gary

And I can do what I want...
When ever I want...

It's my Life... LOL!

:confused: Oh, yes dear, I'll be right there... :eek::oops:

(Got your leg Gary...)

 

[hb99]

If my smoker is not full, I go look for something to throw in it...

I hear you. I'll hide potatoes in all the spaces I can find (after the meat shrinks). They get sliced for pan frying for breakfast.

 

[myownidaho]

Doesn’t bother me at all. There’s only two of us and my freezer is pretty much full. I’ve done everything from 30# of butts to a single rack of baby backs.