Long time eater, first time smoker

[slm4996]

Greetings!
I expect to receive my first smoker this Tuesday and wanted to get started in the community. I'm a Systems Administrator for a local private college in Indiana. I'm married with 3 kids and another on the way.

I ordered a Masterbuilt 40" electric smoker, the one with the front controller and RF remote. I also already have the extended smoke "cold smoking" kit i picked up from target on clearance a few weeks ago.

I have a small assortment of wood chips to be delivered tonight, a marinade injector next week. I already have a sausage grinder and stuffer.

I have a 10# pork butt I picked up during a recent Kroger sale for $11, and expect it will be my first big smoke. Any tips, any good general recipes or ideas for my setup?

Thanks in advance,
Solomon

 

[bbqwillie]

First and foremost have fun with your cook

Cook at 225 for 12-16 hours. IT is the real measure of when it's done. You want 195 to 205. Remove and pull or if you need to wait to pull double wrap and then place in a chest with blankets wrapped around it. When you're ready pull it and get the rolls ready for pulled pork samaches.

Use a good rub (Jeff makes a pretty decent one but if you have a fav use it).

Welcome to the Forum.

ETA: Here you go. Jeff did a write up..... http://www.smoking-meat.com/august-21-2014-how-to-make-smoked-pulled-pork

 

[SmokyMose]

Welcome, slm! It's nice to see another Hoosier around here. Like Willie said, be prepared for a long cook with a pork butt that size. It looks like you've been thinking about this for awhile since you're getting all your ducks in a row first. I highly suggest you pick up at least one digital thermometer probe, one to monitor the inside of your smoker and another to keep track of the meat temp. so you don't have to open the door to check. Don't trust the door thermometer that comes with the unit! Home Depot carries Mavericks. You can get a fancy 2 probe unit, or just get a couple of singles for around $15 each, which works fine for me (I'm not sure what the rf remote is you mentioned is, though).
I'm curious about the Target cold smoking kit. I've just recently gotten into sausage making and didn't know you could get anything like that at Target.
It's getting a little cold around here now (as you know) for smoking, but where there's a will, there's a way!
Welcome to the hobby/addiction![emoji]128522[/emoji]

 

[slm4996]

I highly suggest you pick up at least one digital thermometer probe, one to monitor the inside of your smoker and another to keep track of the meat temp. so you don't have to open the door to check. Don't trust the door thermometer that comes with the unit!

I have read mixed reviews as to the accuracy of the built in probes the MES come with. I plan to test mine, both main unit and meat probe, against a known good unit and compare. My hope is that if there is a inaccuracy it is consistent and I can account for it manually. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[slm4996]

As to the cold smoke kit, I'm not sure target normally stocks it. It had many extra shipping and carrier labels on it. I'm wondering if it was a special order return. I got it for $30 or $35 unopened.

 

[slm4996]

One more update, the revision of the smoker I ordered has both the internal temp controller and a meat probe that sends to the display and the RF remote. If this is accurate (or reproducibly inaccurate :-) ) I can monitor my IT from 100' away with the door closed.

 

[slm4996]

Here is the smoker (promotional photo) with the optional slow smoker attachment hooked up.

Is it to soon to be proud, do I actually have to have possession before I can call it mine? ;)

 

[bbqwillie]

You bought it, it's yours, so yea you can be proud. I'm a stick and charcoal guy and add my own temp gauges  so I can't comment on the accuracy of the gauge supplied with your unit. Personally I've never trusted the ones supplied by manufacturers. I always test them against a known calibrated gauge. But that's just me.

 

[bdskelly]

Welcome SLM. We are happy that you are here! You've got a great unit being delivered Tuesday.  Be sure to join the Masterbuilt (MES) owners group.  You will find there lots of great hints and tips on operating your new machine. 

 

[SmokyMose]

Pre installed mailbox mod! Nice!

 

[slm4996]

The best thing about the Masterbuilt smoke add-on is that it will accept a standard 3" duct to extend it further away if needed for cooler smoke.

Also, the model I am getting is the rear control, 20070311 model. After lots of research I opted for this one for several reasons.

1. Fewer instances of reported controller failure.
2. Stronger hinges.
3. Larger water pan.
4. Larger ash pan.
5. $110 cheaper.
6. Smaller window (less heat loss, less to keep looking pretty/clean).

 

[slm4996]

Bad news guys, someone dropped my smoker! Amazon offered a instant refund, and a prepaid return shipping label sobi could reorder. Not sure why they couldn't just do that on their end. Anyway, :eek:

 

[slm4996]

New smoker due to arrive Friday. Honestly if probably kept this one if the wheel would have fit one it and it still worked. Oh well, still in time for thanksgiving.

 

[SmokyMose]

Looks like they "dropped" it off the back of the truck! At least they're sending a new one quick...