COLD outside can't get up the temp!

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brucem609

Fire Starter
Original poster
Nov 30, 2009
34
10
South Jersey
I have had my MES on now for over 3 hours. I have had the temp up to 207 degrees but it is now back down to 179 and holding. The Butt temp is climbing but not that much. I can't even open teh box to spray with apple juice or check the Brisket I have in there as well. It is in the Teens in temp here in NJ and windy. I have made a wind screen and put the smoker next to the shed, Does anybody know of any other idea to get the temps on the smoker UP? I am thinking of going to Home Depot to get an insulating blanket but the wife is concerned of fire....HELP!
 
A nice large cardboard box will help, like a sturdy double walled one that dishwashers or small refrigerators come in. Any appliance store should have one out back in their dumpsters, free for the taking.

Also, in the future, maybe consider building something like an small outhouse for it out of plywood and foam insulation board. A few members on here have done that and worked out quite well.

***update***
I have used an my big chief in the Winter here in Minnesota when the temps are past zero using a cardboard box. Have had the temp on that up to and over 200 believe it or not.
 
At this point I'd consider scrapping the smoke and thowing it in the oven. Maybe start running the oven at 300* to save the meat. You'll have some smoke flavor still. But no point in loosing the meat due to it moving too slow.
 
I'm also sorry and with Jay here too. It might just be time to throw in the towel and finish it in the oven. But you will still mantain the smokey flavor too. But by now you will be pushing that window of the 40 to 140 time limit too.
 
First, set the smoker to 275°, the smoker will not run at 275° when it's cold but see what it runs at and adjust from there and then put boiling water in the water pan, I do this in Minnesota and smoke all winter but I smoke in the garage with the door open about a foot

Some have also said to put a 12"X12" ceramic tile in there to hold the heat
 
GOOD news...Seems like all of the sudden, out of the BLUE the temp in box is going up. It is up to 235. It just started to go up like 1 - 2 degrees every 30 seconds. I am using a dual probe therm maverick ET-7, so I am confidant on that. I can guarantee you this I will be out getting a Dishwasher box and lining it with some of the foam.
THANKS FOR YOUR HELP. This is my first time with the new smoker, figures I picked the coldest day!
 
40-140 is/was the area of the Danger Zone, when things (meat especially) sit in that temp zone bacteria begins to thrive and multiply, it is ok to have food in that zone for limited amounts of time but the less time your meat remains in the danger zone the better. And after 4 hours the FDA says food is no longer safe to consume.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danger_zone_(food_safety)
 
Has to go from 40 F to past 135 F (new rule, old food code was 140 F) in 4 hours.

Whole intact muscle has some different rules. Was it cryovac packaged when you got it? Or frozen solid for more than 60 days?
 
Ahh Ok, Yeah I now unsderstand. I work in the zfood industry, I thought it was a smoking term.
Thanks once again.
 
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/THE-14125/

I have not tried this on a smoker, but I have used this product for heat barriers on my Jeep in the engine compartment... it is GREAT stuff!!! I can only imagine that this would be outstanding as an insulation around the smoker for you guys up in the cold tundra! a layer of this then a layer of thin aluminum sheeting (sort of a double wall with the insulation in the middle)...
 
a pan of playground sand will help hold heat...

the problem with that is getting it in position to NOT catch drips--
that way its reusable..........
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