I have only had some concerns with chicken sausage. But like all else, I believe in cleaniness and being careful. It would kill me to make something and cause illness or grief to another. Foam's rule of thumb, clorox is for the win!
Here we are lucky to get a week or two of weather cold enough for me to even want to turn a furnace on. So cold (warm) smoking its 4 to 6 max, then back in the reefer till down to 37 again. Many years it doens't get cold enough to even kill off the bugs and mosquitos.
I might stretch my rules some times, but only when doing for my own consumption. And I would never chance here saying I did it and some one then taking it as ok to try it also. Its like my raw smoked andouille I love so much. I know it will always be frozen till it is cooked, its cured, but I would never suggest it to another. I just try really hard to insure everything I suggest is 100% by the book and the good folks at the FDA are with smiles on their face.
Untill lately I used the MES30 and the AMP's to "warm" smoke. Cold smoking was out of the question unless I got one of the dust tubes. No heat, no draft, no draft , no air, no air, no smoke. It was Ok because I was learning. I do prefer the "Warm smoke" or "Bearcarver" method. BUT you had better be comfortable with your unit to do it and maintain those low temps for any long period. Folks here sure helpped alot with my education, which I appreciate and hope to pass on to others, safely.
Back to the question, yes. If there is no heat in the either of my boxes, since not modified, a wide open vent and a slightly disengaged reloader tube will not furnish enough air for mine.
There simply is not enough circulation and my pellets will slowly smolder out. Just as when trying to use chips at the same time as the AMPs, there isn't enough air either. Maybe I just have tempermental boxes and don't play well with others...LOL
I love my MES, but the suction is only 3 tiny little holes in the reload tube and I keep my MES closed
My AMPs needs a good circulation. Heck mine will only burn half the time when everything is right and I have it on the two bar rack on the bottom.
I finially started using a rack on top pf the fire box which was directly in the middle of the air flow from the reloader inlet to the vent on top. Then I have had no problems.
Its just a learning curve, you have to learn what works best in your smoker, then figure out why so you can do it again. And thats terrible because then you just have to smoke more to figure it out. </insert big grin here>
I have a couple a sides frozen in the garage because its only December, its supposedly getting in the 80's tomorrow. If you believe weathermen. Childhood memories, Christmas carroled more in cut offs and t-shirts than in a jacket.
Don't get me wrong I use the AMPs a bunch, and look forward to mastering the
Masterbuilt cold smoker too! Everything has a place and a purpose.
Freaky, please except my appoligies for the hijack. Just a suggestion, you might check
Masterbuilt for their in house deals on units and acessories also.
Household smokers - There are more here, these just get all the usage here lately, <right to left> Old "Redi-Smok" analog smoker (with charcoal on top), MES30,
Masterbuilt Cold Smoke attachment, MES 40, Medium sized pipe pit. There is most definately an AMPs here, probably inside a smoker. LOL.. this is the electric section......
