Getting more smoke out of my MES

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cyberb0b

Newbie
Original poster
Dec 15, 2014
9
10
I love the ease of my MES, but it isn't giving me the smoke flavor  I want in meats. Beans seem to absorb the flavor pretty well, but I have done a few butts and briskets and nothing is giving me what I want. I currently use lump charcoal and hickory chips in the tray, and I use a home made version of the AMNPS with pecan pellets. The homemade AMNPS keeps going about 3-4 hours, and I replenish chips every 25-30 minutes, and and a lump of charcoal every other chip load. 

Any other tips?
 
 
I love the ease of my MES, but it isn't giving me the smoke flavor  I want in meats. Beans seem to absorb the flavor pretty well, but I have done a few butts and briskets and nothing is giving me what I want. I currently use lump charcoal and hickory chips in the tray, and I use a home made version of the AMNPS with pecan pellets. The homemade AMNPS keeps going about 3-4 hours, and I replenish chips every 25-30 minutes, and and a lump of charcoal every other chip load. 

Any other tips?
I use the AMNPS in my MES 30 Gen 1 and get plenty of smoke; too much if I'm not careful. I've smoked ribs, beef brisket, beef chuck roast, cheeses and kosher salt and all were loaded with as much smoke as I chose to impart to them.

Lump charcoal adds almost nothing of smoke flavor--it's what I frequently use in my Weber charcoal grill (but never in my MES) to give meat that really good backyard BBQ flavor--but it won't give the smoky flavor that chips and pellets do. It might not even give you a smoke ring--if that's your goal. I read that charcoal briquettes give off much more CO and NO than lump charcoal does.

Pecan is a hugely popular wood for smoking in the South since I've read it goes well with pork. I've also read that it's also good to pair it with a fruit wood like apple. But pecan and apple are going to give more subtle smoke flavors than hickory, oak, or mesquite in my opinion. Those hardwoods are the big three I go with when I want upfront smokiness.

Can you upload a photo of your homemade AMNPS? I'd love to check it out.
 
 
I use the AMNPS in my MES 30 Gen 1 and get plenty of smoke; too much if I'm not careful. I've smoked ribs, beef brisket, beef chuck roast, cheeses and kosher salt and all were loaded with as much smoke as I chose to impart to them.

Lump charcoal adds almost nothing of smoke flavor--it's what I frequently use in my Weber charcoal grill (but never in my MES) to give meat that really good backyard BBQ flavor--but it won't give the smoky flavor that chips and pellets do. It might not even give you a smoke ring--if that's your goal. I read that charcoal briquettes give off much more CO and NO than lump charcoal does.

Pecan is a hugely popular wood for smoking in the South since I've read it goes well with pork. I've also read that it's also good to pair it with a fruit wood like apple. But pecan and apple are going to give more subtle smoke flavors than hickory, oak, or mesquite in my opinion. Those hardwoods are the big three I go with when I want upfront smokiness.

Can you upload a photo of your homemade AMNPS? I'd love to check it out.
The charcoal is just to keep the chips going when the heating element turns itself off. Here is the pic:

 
 
The charcoal is just to keep the chips going when the heating element turns itself off. Here is the pic:

Bearcarver's the expert on all the prototypes and permutations of Todd's AMNS, etc. and this kind of looks like it could have been one of those. What gets loaded in the center and in the two side sections? It's an interesting concept. Would also love to see a photo of it in action.

The lifespan of a burning wood chip is akin to a Mayfly which can live and die in a little as 5 minutes. Wood chips burn out because...they're burnt out. This is why I prefer wood pellets. I prefer the AMNPS because I'm neither inventive like you and Todd and not as handy with power tools.

Todd and I made a bargain: I paid him money and he sold me a pellet smoker which made using my MES more fun with a lot less hassle. I think I got the better end of the deal because by now Todd's spent the money but I still have the AMNPS!
 
So many people think that BearCarver is SOO knowledgeable about SOO much stuff like the AMNPS.  The root problem is he really IS that knowledgeable, due to his expertise and experience.  He set me on the path about pellet smokers and I have been very pleased with mine.

daRicksta is correct, I no longer have an MES for now, but the AMNPS is still a favorite tool.

Good luck!!!
 
 
So many people think that BearCarver is SOO knowledgeable about SOO much stuff like the AMNPS.  The root problem is he really IS that knowledgeable, due to his expertise and experience.  He set me on the path about pellet smokers and I have been very pleased with mine.

daRicksta is correct, I no longer have an MES for now, but the AMNPS is still a favorite tool.

Good luck!!!
Loves me my Bearcarver...
 
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