Pork in Chief Smoker

  • 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.
SMF is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

selko

Newbie
Original poster
Feb 18, 2015
3
10
I just got a Big Chief Smoker and want to do ribs.

I have read a TON of recipes and they all call for temperature of 225F. The Chief's only have one setting and are about 145F.

My assumption is that I smoker the ribs in the big chief for 2 hours and then pit them on a low grill OR in the oven and finish them there.

I did see on Chief recipe that said to just leave them in there for a LONG time but it seems to me you would end up with rib jerky unless you put them in foil. Since its PORK you might get sick also as Pork is supposed to get up to at least 175F.

Any ideas?

Thanks!!!!
 
It's perfectly fine to smoke stuff in the Chief then transfer to your oven.... I do it all the time... My smoker is a MES 30... I don't feel the need to use it as an oven....
 
 
I just got a Big Chief Smoker and want to do ribs.

I have read a TON of recipes and they all call for temperature of 225F. The Chief's only have one setting and are about 145F.

My assumption is that I smoker the ribs in the big chief for 2 hours and then pit them on a low grill OR in the oven and finish them there.

I did see on Chief recipe that said to just leave them in there for a LONG time but it seems to me you would end up with rib jerky unless you put them in foil. Since its PORK you might get sick also as Pork is supposed to get up to at least 175F.

Any ideas?

Thanks!!!!
Pork only needs to get to 145 to be considered safe. Ribs will have to go higher to break down the connective tissue to make them tender. Since the Big Chief appears to be more geared towards "cold" smoking, you will have to finish in the oven or on the grill.
 
There is a modification you can do to that cheif to get infinite temp. control and it seems pretty low cost and easy. Do some searching with the search bar at the top of the page or maybe DaveOmak would help you out with what you need to do. That said you could smoke those ribs for quite a while in the cheif and then go to the oven if you chose to. 4 hours might give some pretty good flavor. 
 
There is a modification you can do to that cheif to get infinite temp. control and it seems pretty low cost and easy. Do some searching with the search bar at the top of the page or maybe DaveOmak would help you out with what you need to do. That said you could smoke those ribs for quite a while in the cheif and then go to the oven if you chose to. 4 hours might give some pretty good flavor. 

The easiest way is to get a temp controller.... Amazon has them pretty cheap... You'll have to read up on them... Your Chief is low enough wattage to not be a problem.... but then I don't know squat about controllers...

Below is a list/page of controllers.... Get on that is in Fahrenheit or you will have to convert.... It may need a SSR (solid state relay) a temperature probe, a power cord..... check all that stuff out.... These can also partially control a curing chamber if you get a humidity controller or they make a unit that does both...



http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref...enheit&ie=UTF8&qid=1424293623&rnid=2941120011
 
The easiest way is to get a temp controller.... Amazon has them pretty cheap... You'll have to read up on them... Your Chief is low enough wattage to not be a problem.... but then I don't know squat about controllers...

Below is a list/page of controllers.... Get on that is in Fahrenheit or you will have to convert.... It may need a SSR (solid state relay) a temperature probe, a power cord..... check all that stuff out.... These can also partially control a curing chamber if you get a humidity controller or they make a unit that does both...



http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref...enheit&ie=UTF8&qid=1424293623&rnid=2941120011
Oh I remember now it was Cmayna who did that mod to his big cheif's. I just remember seeing a knob on the bottom of yours dave.
 
A little more work would be to replace the stock heating element with a Proctor Silex 5th burner's element that has a control knob.  Yes, some modifications need to be done to both the box and electrical but to me its worth it.   Did it to both of my Big Chiefs.
 
The knob on mine is from a table top hot plate.... I put the know through the front and mounted the element inside.... It won't really control the temp... it just shuts off the element when it gets to a certain temp or something weird... and provide a bunch more BTU's for smoking here where it can get to 10 degrees really easy...

That controller will control the smoker temp and say 130.... no drifting... and if you insulate it, you could get up to 180 ish... maybe...

Any higher than that, finish in the oven.... like I do...
 
Last edited:
 
A little more work would be to replace the stock heating element with a Proctor Silex 5th burner's element that has a control knob.  Yes, some modifications need to be done to both the box and electrical but to me its worth it.   Did it to both of my Big Chiefs.
There ya go. I know my memory is shotty but..... what was I about to say?
 
SmokingMeatForums.com is reader supported and as an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases.

Hot Threads

Clicky