Too smokey

[Mopartech9]

Hey guys, I'm new to smoking, I purchased a small electric smoker, I've had OK success a couple times, but I've found it too smokey, almost bitter tasting. I've got ribs to do tommorrow and last time I did them used the 3-2-1 method. They were tender but over smoked., I put appleweed chips in the entire smoke, should I not be?

 

[TNJAKE]

I don't have an electric smoker but are you running it with the exhaust wide open?

 

[912smoker]

What brand do you have ?
As Jake said you need to run the exhaust wide open and most choose to use a smoke tube with pellets instead on the chip loader and tray.
Gives you the almost invisible thin blue smoke that you desire.

Keith

 

[chopsaw]

Don't load your chips to heavy . That will do it for sure , especially if the top vent isn't full open .
If you're soaking your chips , don't . Use them dry .
You don't have to see smoke to get smoke flavor on the food .

 

[Bearcarver]

^^^^What Chopsaw said above^^^^
Also get yourself an AMNPS Amazing Smoker & some pellets & Dust.
It's hard to over smoke with one of those.
And Mopars Are #1.

Bear

 

[Mopartech9]

It's a great outdoors smokey mountain series. It doesn't seem to have ant adjustable vents on it, just a roughly 3/4 inch open hole on the back near the top. I've never soaked the chips but always fill the chip tray up full. When I open the door it is full of smoke

 

[TNJAKE]

It's a great outdoors smokey mountain series. It doesn't seem to have ant adjustable vents on it, just a roughly 3/4 inch open hole on the back near the top. I've never soaked the chips but always fill the chip tray up full. When I open the door it is full of smoke

Propane? Can you send pics of the vents?

 

[normanaj]

An Amazen tube or tray burning dust will eliminate your issue. The only issue you may have is where to place it as I'm not familiar with your particular smoker.

 

[normanaj]

Propane? Can you send pics of the vents?

It's an electric.

 

[JckDanls 07]

always fill the chip tray up full.

Lets start here ... Next time DO NOT fill the tray full of chips... Instead just put a SMALL handful in the chip loader (it does have one to load from the side, correct?) ... you'll have to do this about every 30 minutes or so (when ever it stops smoking) ... This should get you much better results to start with ...
Also the exhaust vent issue is going to need to be solved ... (some pictures of the vents would be very helpful)

Most people will use the A MAZ N Pellet Tray in the electric smokers... This produces a much cleaner (TBS, thin blue smoke) and can smoke for up to 10/12 hrs without reloading... Unlike chips every 30/45 minutes ... It makes it truly a Set n Forget unit ...

 

[Mopartech9]

Propane? Can you send pics of the vents?

.
No, it's electric.

 

[Mopartech9]

Theres no loader on the side, it's a little pan over the element that has a dish for water or juice on one surface de and chips on the other. I looking into one of those tubes though!

 

[JckDanls 07]

That's strange, there is NO other air vents (intake) ?? Thinking the tube (or tray) will have a hard time staying lit without air ....

can we get some pics of the inside too ??

 

[civilsmoker]

Chop has you covered... as an FYI the little chief brand smoker sells a fine chipped wood for that very type of smoker. Larger chips don’t work as well. Fill one (maybe a second if you want heavy smoke) pan for smoke at the start and that’s all that is needed. You don’t need to smoke the whole time. The meat stops taking smoke when it reaches about 150 after that is just surface and bark.

I had a big chief for a very long time and got very nice smoke flavor out of just one or two initial pans of fine chips.

 

[civilsmoker]

here is a pic of the wood, see how it is shredded not chipped. This is what you want to use..

 

[Mopartech9]

OH cool, it's almost shredded wood eh? I'm going to try and just use a little bit tommorrow and see how it comes out

 

[clifish]

My smoky Hollow electric is similar, I drilled bigger a vent hole on the upper back side and a bigger hole on the bottom. I use pellets or dust exclusively now. I also find the tube stays lit much better than the tray.

 

[Mopartech9]

I was thinking of drilling a hole on top and bottem side and putting a flap over it so I can adjust it?

 

[Bearcarver]

OH cool, it's almost shredded wood eh? I'm going to try and just use a little bit tommorrow and see how it comes out

One thing I like to preach----Light thin smoke is Great for as long as you want, but Heavy "Thick" smoke is not good, even for short times.

Bear

 

[Papa's Smokehouse]

here is a pic of the wood, see how it is shredded not chipped. This is what you want to use..
View attachment 525575

I have an old unit I still use on e in a while and I use pellets in my tray with no issues.....and ua don't smoke the whole time