the thing is..

  • Some of the links on this forum allow SMF, at no cost to you, to earn a small commission when you click through and make a purchase. Let me know if you have any questions about this.
SmokingMeatForums.com is reader supported and as an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases.

newflame

Meat Mopper
Original poster
Dec 20, 2009
245
12
Holdrege, NE
I've come to a point now in my short smoking life, that I can't stand making just one thing, for instance, this weekend I'm planning on doing some spares, st. louis style..which I was fine with until today, I mean, the ribs are only going to take up two rack in my smoker, and I have four! So I bought a pork shoulder to elongate the addiction a bit further..does anyone else have this problem? (by problem I mean addiction)
 
Yes and NO. I feel bad putting one small item in my 8.5 ft smoker so I tend to want to do multiple things. But being its just my wife and I most of the time if I do more things it seems like they end up going to waste so I have tried to cut back or wait until I can smoke extra stuff for other friends at the same time. Once I get a second chest freezer hopefully it will help then I can just freeze some of the left overs instead of throwing them once they go bad in the fridge. My freezer is so full now I have to put stuff on the lid just to keep it shut. I know having it so full cuts down on the efficiency of the freezer hence the reason for buying another one.
 
I hardly ever smoke just one item or even anything that will be consumed in a sitting or two. For me, finding a day to do a smoke doesn't come around all the time. So when I do smoke, the main goal is to fill the freezer.

Nope, you're not alone
 
Awhile back, I was feeling pretty good about my exploits so I gave 'multiples' a try. It was a disaster - I found that I wasn't ready for the big time. So, I scaled back and am working on regaining confidence.

So for the time being, I'm fighting the urge to 'load up'.
 
I have done multiples a few times now and everything turned out alright, I just have to make sure that I can cook them at the same temps and generally don't mix pork and beef because the wood type I use are different, but ribs and pork shoulder should be fine, cook em both at 230, one just takes a whole hell of a lot longer.
 
Reminds me of those NASCAR commercials "How bad have you got it?"


I gotta say pretty bad! My smoker limits me to doing too much...thats why I want to get started on the fridge project in a couple of weeks.

John
 
yea I hear ya man, me and a buddy just went in on an old boiler convert on wheels, still gotta get her sanded and a fresh coat of paint but then we're ready to go, this thing could hold 40 butts easy. so excited!
 
I always try to fill the smoker, might as well put that heat & smoke to good use.

If I don't have enough meat to fill it the empty space gets taken up by almonds or shrooms or sliced up baguette to make crostini with.

I also always toss a whole chicken in anytime smoke is blowing. Love to have the meat on hand for enchiladas or green chili and smoked stock for soups.
 
I rarely only smoke one thing, I hate to see an empty smoker. What we don't eat right away gets frozen for some other time when I don't have time to smoke something.
 
most times I got room to spair, I have only had my smoker 75-80% full once, two pans of beans, two 11 lb butts, a brisket, two spachcock chickens and about 4 lbs of bacon to try and fill it up, I kinda wanna have a party and cook 100 chicken legs just to see what they look like on the pit.
 
Everytime I start up the smoker, I invite the neighbors and friends over. (Or they invite themselves) So, I almost always fill the smoker with goodies.
icon_smile.gif
It is always good for leftovers or chilie stew or.......
 
With my ECB watt burner I don't have that kinda room . Plus I like to smoke my stuff and keep it fresh without freezing the product . If I get carried away I pull out my second ECB charcoal burner for chicken . I use the chickens for my tamales .. they work great .. smoked chicken tamales that is ..
 
When I decide to fire up the SNP I always have 2 or 3 racks of ribs, a boston butt, and whole chicken and some sausages...fill the fridge and fodder for other things down the road (chili, enchiladas etc.), plus sharing with the inlaws and neighbors. Oh, and some ABT's to snack on. If I want say a chuckie, or some pulled pork for the fam, I just fire up the 22.5 weber and go indirect...
icon_wink.gif
 
SmokingMeatForums.com is reader supported and as an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases.
Clicky