WSM 18.5 at 350?

[mcokevin]

Hi All,

Have some family coming over tomorrow for a pool day and BBQ. It's short notice, so a long smoke is out of the question, however I am thinking of doing something like wings with a quick cook time.

All of the advice I've seen here has suggested cook temps of 325-350 to avoid rubbery skin, however I have never run my WSM 18.5 above 275-280. I have no problems holding at these temps with a full water bowl, so my thought to hit 350 is to run with an empty bowl and vents open, would think hitting those temps wouldn't be too difficult. Anyone have recommendations or experience running the WSM at these temps?

Another reason I want to run hotter is that there will be children under 10 there who won't want to wait 8 hours for me to smoke their hot dog at 225 ;). It'll also allow me the option to throw some sausages, chorizos, etc.. on for the adults.

Another option to hit these temps would be to remove the water bowl and lower cooking rack, and move the charcoal grate up into a "grilling" position under the top cooking rack, however in my experience those temps easily get to 400 at the lid and are harder to control, which is a little hotter than I'd like.

 

[phatbac]

You don't have a regular grill? if you are going to do wings and hot dogs run in grill mode 400 degree temps are fine to grill with. move your coals to one side and do your searing on that side and your slower cook on the other side(kinda 2 zone situation) on your coals you can have a wood chunk or two for smoke flavor. Good luck...

Happy Smoking (Grilling),
phatbac (Aaron)

 

[mcokevin]

You don't have a regular grill? if you are going to do wings and hot dogs run in grill mode 400 degree temps are fine to grill with. move your coals to one side and do your searing on that side and your slower cook on the other side(kinda 2 zone situation) on your coals you can have a wood chunk or two for smoke flavor. Good luck...

Happy Smoking (Grilling),
phatbac (Aaron)

I actually do not have a regular grill. Until 2 years ago I had been living in condos where nothing was permitted. When I bought my house I bought a smoker, figuring I'd buy a grill soon after. Turns out I strongly prefer long smokes to grilling so I have never bothered to purchase one.

Good thoughts on the grill configuration.

 

[phatbac]

if you ever decide to buy one and you don't want like a big Weber Kettle (real good grill and can smoke) or something , try a Weber Smokey Joe you can take it with you or use it on a balcony porch or something its small but good for a quick hot dog or steak, etc. best part they are cheap i got mine for $15 most i have seem them go for is around $40. and its a Weber so you know its quality.

Happy Smoking,
phatbac (Aaron)

 

[gmc2003]

On my 22" if I fill the ring up with unlit coals, open all the vents and dump a charcoal starter of fully lit coals spread out over the ring then I can easily achieve those temps. No water in the bowl, but leave it in to act as a deflector. Good luck is sounds like a wonderful day.

Chris

 

[troutman]

Here's a way to use your WSM as a sort of Santa Maria grill, something I have done several times. First ditch the water pan entirely, build a fire out of charcoal and real wood (like a stick burner) and use the middle and top grates as separate 'zones' if you will. To sear or cook something quick, the middle tier, then move to the upper tier for cooler temps. I sometimes do steaks this way and they turn out great !!!

Here is a typical setup, opened the door to stack the wood and show the bottom grill position, door is shut when cooking. Hope this helps with your cook !!!

 

[chopsaw]

ditch the water pan entirely,

Just did this for the first time last weekend with some thick loin chops . I set the ring up half lit , other half unlit . Worked out great , but I have a 14 . You may need to do like Trout said , and maybe figure a way to deflect one side .

 

[Taz_Pagri]

I have a 14 also and it sits at 350 really steady with the pan in but empty. Definitely do the wings at the higher temp for the skin. I think I close down some vents, wide open it will even go over 350.

 

[motocrash]

You should easily be able to achieve 350* as mentioned,I can on my 14.Another option to transform it into to a grill is use the base and the top grate/rack as the grill grate.The top leg bolts might need to be longer so the grate can sit on them,kind of like a high dome smokey Joe.

 

[chopsaw]

there will be children under 10

I've used the bottom by itself once . My opinion ,, not a good idea with people around . Lid falls off to easy .

 

[SmokinAl]

It's all about the size of the fire you build, mine will run at 350 with water in the bowl.
Course it doesn't take long to boil out, but the WSM will do just about any task you ask of it!
Al

 

[gr8day]

With chicken I used to remove the water bowl and cook directly over the coals like you would in a drum or PBC, used to run mine at 375, no problem, I like the smoke profile better too.

 

[mcokevin]

Hey all, thanks for the thoughts on running the WSM. Went with phatbac’s initial idea and the results were great. Qview of the first plate of wings below. They never made it to individual plates, everyone ate them right off the serving plate. Good result.

 

[mcokevin]

And now relaxing with a bourbon and cigar to unwind.

 

[mike5051]

Great job! Great advice from the members here, good buch of folks!

Mike

 

[phatbac]

Looks like you did alright!

Happy Smoking,
phatbac (Aaron)