getting the smoke ring

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I have seen on the site that you put one lit charcoal briquette in with your wood chips and that can give you some sort of smoke ring.
 
Quick question for everyone... is it possible to get a good smoke ring inside an electric smoker?
OK, I've never used an electric smoker but the answer is maybe, but not easily.

Its not the smoke that creates the smoke ring. Its NO & CO, nitric oxide & carbon dioxide. 

Wood fires, charcoal fires produce these chemicals.

Kingsford briquettes has add sodium nitrate which can help produce NO.

So adding the briquette may do the trick, but personally I find it hard to believe you will get much of a smoke ring.

See details at: http://amazingribs.com/tips_and_technique/mythbusting_the_smoke_ring.html  
 
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Basic sentiment seems to be it's not really worth all the trouble to try and fake a smoke ring on an electric. It does nothing for the flavor or texture of the meat. If it matters that much to you to have a smoke ring, just borrow, get or build yourself a cheap charcoal smoker and see if you can tell the difference. My mini produces great smoke rings, but I'm not sure I'd care if it didn't.

You can always sprinkle tenderquick on the meat before it goes in the smoker. That'll give you a pill ring.
 
OK, I've never used an electric smoker but the answer is maybe, but not easily.

Its not the smoke that creates the smoke ring. Its the NO & CO, nitric oxide & carbon dioxide. 
Wood fires, charcoal fires produce these chemicals.

See details at: http://amazingribs.com/tips_and_technique/mythbusting_the_smoke_ring.html  
I'm aware that it's the chemical reaction of wood and charcoal. But putting any kind of charcoal in the smoker is a little difficult to keep safe right?
 
Basic sentiment seems to be it's not really worth all the trouble to try and fake a smoke ring on an electric. It does nothing for the flavor or texture of the meat. If it matters that much to you to have a smoke ring, just borrow, get or build yourself a cheap charcoal smoker and see if you can tell the difference. My mini produces great smoke rings, but I'm not sure I'd care if it didn't.

You can always sprinkle tenderquick on the meat before it goes in the smoker. That'll give you a pill ring.
I'm not really worried about a smoke ring. But a friend of mine wants to get a smoke ring using his electric smoker
 
Basic sentiment seems to be it's not really worth all the trouble to try and fake a smoke ring on an electric. It does nothing for the flavor or texture of the meat. If it matters that much to you to have a smoke ring, just borrow, get or build yourself a cheap charcoal smoker and see if you can tell the difference. My mini produces great smoke rings, but I'm not sure I'd care if it didn't.

You can always sprinkle tenderquick on the meat before it goes in the smoker. That'll give you a pill ring.
Sour Grapes?

I could see an electric smoke for cold smoking.

But I can certainly tell the difference between a stick smoked Q and  that done on an electric smoker.

The smoke ring is like curd meat. So to say the smoke ring is superfluous would be like

saying there is no difference between an uncured ham and a cured one.  

BTW sprinkling Tender Quick is a really bad idea. Sodium  nitrite curing agents

should be used in proper portions and with care. 
 
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Sour Grapes?
I could see an electric smoke for cold smoking.
But I can certainly tell the difference between a stick smoked Q and  that done on an electric smoker.

The smoke ring is like curd meat. So to say the smoke ring is superfluous would be like
saying there is no difference between an uncured ham and a cured one.  

BTW sprinkling Tender Quick is a really bad idea. Sodium nitrite curing agents
should be used in proper portions and with care. 
although electric is not conventional it will put out good food. I happen to love my electric.
 
how do you get a smoke ring in urs?
I use chips, chunks, and dust in my SmokinTex, I assume that some of the dust actually burns.  It is the only electric that I have owned, so I have never experienced no smoke ring from an electric,

Now, it does not create the 1/4" plus ring that I get from my stick burner.  

-Smoke ON!
 
Sour Grapes?
I could see an electric smoke for cold smoking.
But I can certainly tell the difference between a stick smoked Q and  that done on an electric smoker.

The smoke ring is like curd meat. So to say the smoke ring is superfluous would be like
saying there is no difference between an uncured ham and a cured one.  

BTW sprinkling Tender Quick is a really bad idea. Sodium nitrite curing agents
should be used in proper portions and with care. 
Not sour grapes at all. Electric smokers generally don't produce a smoke ring. The general consensus among those around this forum who use them is that the flavor and texture of the meat is just fine without the smoke ring, and that the effort to fake one is not worth the trouble. I don't use an electric, so it doesn't make a difference one way or the other to me. I was just trying to save the OP the hassle. We're talking about creating a smoke ring in his ELECTRIC SMOKER, so, as you so eloquently pointed out, it won't be a full on 1/4" dark red ring like you'd get burning all wood, so not really worth the effort.
And thanks for the safety lesson on nitrite cures. The amount of TQ recommended to safely cure meat (1 tablespoon per pound) is considerably more than the "sprinkling" that was often used in comps before the KCBS stopped including the smoke ring in the judging criteria. If the meat is handled in accordance with safe practices for uncured meat, the amount of cure sprinkled in with the rub is considerably less dangerous than the smoke that will be inhaled by the guy running the pit.
 
I get exactly ZERO smoke on my MES 30.  It would be nice to have one, as it looks great, but to be honest about it, its not very important to me.  I just want to put out good Q and if people complain about the lack of a smoke ring, they don't get invited back.

Just me saying, and just my two cents worth   
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Gary
 
I took like the look of it but dont really miss it in my MES.  If there was a way to create it though, I would be interested. 
 
I took like the look of it but dont really miss it in my MES.  If there was a way to create it though, I would be interested. 
 
I use a mailbox mod on my MES30, and I've gotten a satisfactory (though not huge) smoke ring by using a crushed briquette, sprinkled in my AMNPS. As a side benefit, it also helps keep the pellets going.
 
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I don't own a amnps. So if I take a briquette and crush it down a little. And use a small amount with the wood chips would it work or cause chaos?
 
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