First Smoke (Game Hens)

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thenevadanstig

Newbie
Original poster
Sep 29, 2014
10
10
Reno, NV
Did our first smoke in my new MES on Saturday.. A couple of game hens, lightly coated with olive oil, salt, pepper, and onion powder, with some chopped garlic and lemon juice in the cavity. Smoked over hickory chips. 225 for about 2 1/2 hours.

Came out pretty good. Flavor was good, but they were a little overdone and dry. I am suspecting that the thermometer on the MES is fairly inaccurate, and will be checking it with a separate thermometer wen I get a chance. I didn't get to eat much as I have had a nasty stomach bug since Friday night, but the wife loved it, and if she is happy then I'm happy. Didn't even get to snap a picture before she dug into them.

 
Nice looking smoke! Having a good two (or more) probe digital therm will solve your temp issues. You can use one to monitor your pit temp and the other to monitor your food temp. Game hens are easy to over cook due to their small size. If you probe in the breast and take it to an internal yo of 165 they come out nice moist and juicy.
 
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Nice to see some game hens being smoked, I like to brine mine helps keep them moister.

Richie
 
Congrats , Nevadan , nice smoke , sorry 'bout the dryness, stock therms. are bad about that... more for decoration than use
roflmao.gif


Get a dual probe as Case was saying... or get that AND a Thermopen
biggrin.gif
.

Have fun and . . .
 
Thanks guys. The dryness wasn't too bad. It was far from being inedible. 

I just looked out on the patio now. Where the smoker is, it's currently 76 degrees. Thermometer on the smoker is reading below 50. 
 
 
Thanks guys. The dryness wasn't too bad. It was far from being inedible. 

I just looked out on the patio now. Where the smoker is, it's currently 76 degrees. Thermometer on the smoker is reading below 50. 
It has proven it is a Master built LOL mine runs 30* off most times. Get another thermo probe or 2 to monotor the chamber temp.They do cook great food when you get the temps right.

Richie
 
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