How often do YOU add wood - Pork Butt

nwohiosmoke · Feb 8, 2013

I'm starting my first butt tomorrow as I just got done seasoning my new smoker. MPS. How often do you personally add wood to your smoker during a pork butt smoke? I don't plan on foiling as my wife and I like the bark too much! Do you add every hour? When it stops smoking? Through the whole smoke? What are your opinions? Thanks!

smoking b · Feb 8, 2013

I use an AMNPS from here http://www.amazenproducts.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=12 & keep the smoke going the whole time. I don't foil - I go for bark...

damon555 · Feb 8, 2013

I personally only add it once.....

EDL_4326.jpg

damon555
Feb 8, 2013

I'm not sure what kind of smoker you have but when I had my Master forge propane smoker I kept it smoking the whole time.

pgsmoker64 · Feb 8, 2013

For my electric I use an AMNS and keep it going for 6 - 8 hours. With my WSM I start out with 6 chunks - 3 cherry, 3 hickory - and if it stops smoking before 8 hours I add 2 more of each.

This is my personal preference. Once you have smoked a few, you will decide what you like best and stick with it!

Good luck,

Bill

nwohiosmoke · Feb 8, 2013

Thanks guys. Ya it's hard to decide now. When I was seasoning my Masterbuilt Propane smokehouse the wood chips seemed to burn quickly. It was at almost 400* though. They like you to season it at a hot temp. But I guess if I only run 225* then I guess they would burn slower... On a side note in the manual it says never use wood chunks...any sense to that?????.

damon555 · Feb 8, 2013

I used nothing but chunks in my master forge which was very similar to what you have. The directions said not to use chunks too. I tried chips 1 time.....never again.

JckDanls 07 · Feb 8, 2013

I don't have a gasser so I can't say which to use.... But from post's I have read everybody pretty much uses chunks.... I mix chunks throughout my charcoal and let it smoke the whole time... But I use Pecan.... it's a little milder.. you didn't mention what kind of wood you will be using... Mesquite and Hickory are a little stronger so you might want to cut back if using that.... good luck with your smoke

nwohiosmoke · Feb 8, 2013

JckDanls 07 said:
I don't have a gasser so I can't say which to use.... But from post's I have read everybody pretty much uses chunks.... I mix chunks throughout my charcoal and let it smoke the whole time... But I use Pecan.... it's a little milder.. you didn't mention what kind of wood you will be using... Mesquite and Hickory are a little stronger so you might want to cut back if using that.... good luck with your smoke

Thanks man, I plan on using hickory and apple mixed. Best way to figure this stuff out is to just do it I suppose... Haha.

chief osceola · Feb 9, 2013

NW, if you're going with hickory in your mix, I would suggest letting it burn a bit until the smoke dies down to "blue". The hard initial white smoke will likely make whatever you're cooking too smokey. I personally add wood to my MES 30" once every hour. Keep us posted on the results brother.

nwohiosmoke · Feb 9, 2013

Chief Osceola said:
NW, if you're going with hickory in your mix, I would suggest letting it burn a bit until the smoke dies down to "blue". The hard initial white smoke will likely make whatever you're cooking too smokey. I personally add wood to my MES 30" once every hour. Keep us posted on the results brother.

Will do!!

smokeusum · Feb 9, 2013

NWOhioSmoke said:
Thanks guys. Ya it's hard to decide now. When I was seasoning my Masterbuilt Propane smokehouse the wood chips seemed to burn quickly. It was at almost 400* though. They like you to season it at a hot temp. But I guess if I only run 225* then I guess they would burn slower... On a side note in the manual it says never use wood chunks...any sense to that?????.

Hey! I use a Masterbuilt XL Gas Smokehouse propane smoker and while I'm no master, I'm learning! After some trial & error I've concluded a few things regarding the manufacturer instructions regarding the chip/chunks thing, and about how much to put in the wood holder.

First, toss their instructions away! I use a mix of chips and chunks and I fill the wood thing pretty full (2 cups of chips only is what they is the max for mine model!) I do make sure my chips/chunks are well soaked. If you have the ability to "start" your hickory in an other venue, great! I don't. I start off with one or two good chunks of hickory and apple and chips from both when I'm getting up to temp, but never add more hickory chunks after my meat goes in... From there on I use hickory and apple chips and through in a chunk of apple every now and then. I usually add wood about 75 to 90 minutes.

Good luck on your Butt tomorrow! I'm doin on, too!! Post plenty of pics!!!

pgsmoker64 · Feb 9, 2013

smokeusum said:
Hey! I use a Masterbuilt XL Gas Smokehouse propane smoker and while I'm no master, I'm learning! After some trial & error I've concluded a few things regarding the manufacturer instructions regarding the chip/chunks thing, and about how much to put in the wood holder.

First, toss their instructions away! I use a mix of chips and chunks and I fill the wood thing pretty full (2 cups of chips only is what they is the max for mine model!) I do make sure my chips/chunks are well soaked. If you have the ability to "start" your hickory in an other venue, great! I don't. I start off with one or two good chunks of hickory and apple and chips from both when I'm getting up to temp, but never add more hickory chunks after my meat goes in... From there on I use hickory and apple chips and through in a chunk of apple every now and then. I usually add wood about 75 to 90 minutes.

Good luck on your Butt tomorrow! I'm doin on, too!! Post plenty of pics!!!

Great advice Alicia!!!!

There ya go NWO...one of our newer members with some expertise!

Great job!

Bill

smokeusum · Feb 10, 2013

I'm going add a little more I learned from the crew... Put play sand (from wal-mart or lowes {make sure its the PLAY SAND and not the kind used to set pavers and stuff, its a total different, toxic sand!!}) in the water tray. I have battled over and over and over again at keeping the smoker at a good, even temp. Constant spikes when wood is added and then horrible drops as it burns down. The crew kept telling me to get rid of the water. It absolutely does not add any moisture to the meat, but I liked the "barrier" between the wood and the meat. Water boils at 212 degrees and doesn't get hotter so it can really "eat your heat" and prevent getting your meat to temp.

The play sand solved the issue; it creates a uniformed heat mass, heats quickly and cools quickly... Think of how it feels walking on a beach shortly after the sun comes up, versus the middle of the day, versus after dark.

fpnmf · Feb 10, 2013

>>>>>>[color= rgb(24, 24, 24)]make sure its the PLAY SAND and not the kind used to set pavers and stuff, its a total different, toxic sand!![/color]

[color= rgb(24, 24, 24)]Got a cite for this???[/color]

[color= rgb(24, 24, 24)]I have looked some but no luck..[/color]

Home Depot doesnt mention it in a DIY thread..http://www.homedepotgardenclub.com/us/en/landscaping/projects/installing-pavers-in-sand

Safe Kids says the the play sand can be toxic....http://safemama.com/2009/05/18/faq-whats-the-deal-with-play-sand/

Yikes!!! http://www.younghouselove.com/2012/04/the-sandbox-chronicles-part-3-the-remix/

[color= rgb(24, 24, 24)] Craig[/color]

smokeusum · Feb 10, 2013

fpnmf said:
>>>>>>make sure its the PLAY SAND and not the kind used to set pavers and stuff, its a total different, toxic sand!!

Got a cite for this???

I have looked some but no luck..

Home Depot doesnt mention it in a DIY thread..http://www.homedepotgardenclub.com/us/en/landscaping/projects/installing-pavers-in-sand

Safe Kids says the the play sand can be toxic....http://safemama.com/2009/05/18/faq-whats-the-deal-with-play-sand/

Yikes!!! http://www.younghouselove.com/2012/04/the-sandbox-chronicles-part-3-the-remix/

Craig

NWO, look at Craig's last link!! Dead on, thank you!

teebob2000 · Feb 10, 2013

NWOhioSmoke said:
Thanks guys. Ya it's hard to decide now. When I was seasoning my Masterbuilt Propane smokehouse the wood chips seemed to burn quickly. It was at almost 400* though. They like you to season it at a hot temp. But I guess if I only run 225* then I guess they would burn slower... On a side note in the manual it says never use wood chunks...any sense to that?????.

It says to NOT use chunks??? That's just strange, does it give a reason for it?? I find I can get heat spikes and flare-ups using chips, especially if you let a lot of air get to the firebox so I always chunk. I have a WSM and create a semi-circle of charcoal in the firebox and light up one end, with wood laid on top so they start up as the fuel burns down.

I get the large (10 lb) chunk bags from Camerons Products on amazon.com. They carry 8 varieties of wood.. I'm a Prime and don't pay shipping for individual orders, so can't tell you what the shipping is.

Tom

davidhef88 · Feb 10, 2013

I have a master forge propane and I use inlet chunks. Used chips once, never again. I have a source where I get pieces of hickory (free) I cut them down with my mitre saw then chunk with a hatchet. I add a few of these every couple hours.

image.jpg

davidhef88
Feb 10, 2013

texfinn · Feb 10, 2013

Interesting thread! Thanks for all the suggestions.

As a relative newbie to this whole smoking thing (had my Masterbuild Gas Smokehouse for about three months now), I have also struggled a little bit with the constant smoke thing. The instructions do state that you should not use chunks, only chips, but reading the posts here it sounds like that is bunch of BS.

I have some ribs going on as I type this and as usual, the smoke kind of disappears after 30 minutes, or so and I have to add a couple of handfuls of soaked chips to keep it going. That just doesn't make sense.

I've been thinking about getting the AMNPS, but haven't invested in one yet. I guess I'll try the chunk thing next. Or are there any other suggestions?

nwohiosmoke · Feb 10, 2013

I'm glad this thread was popular. I know I wanted to know the information. I'm glad I posted this!!

smokeusum · Feb 10, 2013

NWOhioSmoke said:
I'm glad this thread was popular. I know I wanted to know the information. I'm glad I posted this!!

Soooo... How'd it go?!

How often do YOU add wood - Pork Butt

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