My 1st Smoke!

[moviewithnotitle]

Hi all,
I am still completely new at smoking meat, but on Friday I gave it a try. My wife picked up a 6.5lb chicken and I did a little research here on doing the prep, then just went for it!

Prep & Cook
I cleaned and washed the chicken. Created a very basic Brine (apple juice, water, salt, sugar, EVO) and soaked the bird overnight. Dried the bird and Spatchedcocked it. (This was another first for me, I actually printed out the instructions and read it a few times before doing this. I had a weird fear of cutting open the wrong side of the bird, but it worked out fine)
I used a OTC rub I got at A&P (I know, I stink, but hey, this was a first time so I needed something to fall back on)
Heated up the MES and got her to temp (255 degrees).
Added chicken.
I added some applewood chips and let her smoke. I did checks on the smoking progress every 45 min, added chips as needed and checked the water pan. All went very well. I did have a little issue in trying to 'spritz' the chicken. The spritz turned into a pour, and got all over the table, but oh well.
Total cook time was about 4 hours.

NOOB issues
- I need a good sized container for Brining, something that will fit on the lower shelf of my fridge. (I ended up using a trashcan lined with 2 trashbags. It worked, but my wife was giving me a funny eye for a while)
- I need a large low profile pan for working the bird. Spatchcocking, doing the rub and final cutting. The pizza box in the pics worked, but leaked everywhere. Tinfoil would have been better (Doh!) (The wife actually laughed at me on this one. Actually we both laughed for awhile about it)
- I need good shears for spatchcocking!
- To spritz, I will use a spray bottle from now on! (Doh! #2)
- I need good gloves for working with the smoker

The Result
This was the best chicken I have ever tasted! My wife concurred. It was juicy thru to the bone. Smoke flavor to the bone. The hints of Apple Juice and Apple smoke were everywhere. It was just AWESOME. I could say I got lucky, but I really think that my initial research on SMF is what enabled me to have such a successful result.

MWNT

Here's some photos

http://s994.photobucket.com/albums/...1st Schmoke/?action=view&current=Chick001.jpg
http://s994.photobucket.com/albums/...1st Schmoke/?action=view&current=Chick002.jpg
http://s994.photobucket.com/albums/...1st Schmoke/?action=view&current=Chick003.jpg
http://s994.photobucket.com/albums/...1st Schmoke/?action=view&current=Chick004.jpg
http://s994.photobucket.com/albums/...1st Schmoke/?action=view&current=Chick005.jpg

 

[pineywoods]

Looks like a fine job

 

[ronp]

[QUOTET]he Result
This was the best chicken I have ever tasted! My wife concurred. It was juicy thru to the bone. Smoke flavor to the bone. The hints of Apple Juice and Apple smoke were everywhere. It was just AWESOME. I could say I got lucky, but I really think that my initial research on SMF is what enabled me to have such a successful result.
[/quote]


That is what it is all about, welcome, and a great smoke you have had.

 

[scpatterson]

If you liked it and the wife liked it then well done.....Looks great and good queu view

:PDT_Arm ataz_01_37:

 

[beer-b-q]

Looks Great , nice smoker...

 

[hoser]

That's what it's all about my friend, enjoying yourself and learning new stuff day after day.

Great job!

 

[travcoman45]

First off, good job on da bird. Second, look on ebay, ya can buy regular poultry shears what er made fer that job, shop round a bit an ya can find a good deal on em. Third, go ta yer super store one what makes cakes an ask fer a frostin bucket an lid, there perfect fer brinin birds an other stuff an usually free. Fourth, I got some cookin pans that the size is bout that of a cookie sheet but the sides er a bit deeper. Picked it up at the resteraunt supply house, great fer meat work of all types, seasonin, transportin an lettin it rest after the cook.

 

[the dude abides]

Nice work! Way to tackle the spatchcocking thing on your first smoke.

for a successful first ever smoke!

 

[everyday]

I'd like to point out that I got him into smoking meat and showed him the SMF site

Nice bird dude.

And so the summer smoke off shall happen.

 

[meat hunter]

Bird looks like a winner. Great job. Now you need to figure out what your going to smoke next.

 

[moviewithnotitle]

Yes, I'm an honorable man and give credit where credit is due. Everyday DID get me into the whole smoking meat thang! He and I will be having a smoke-off this summer at the Jersey Shore! Be on the look out for pics of this much anticipated event.

MWNT

 

[fire it up]

Congrats on your first smoke and it being a success.
Careful brining in things like trash bags and other materials that are not made for foods, certain chemicals can seep out of the material and though they may not hurt you they certainly aren't good to injest on a regular basis.
Tip gave you some good advice, never thought to go to the bakery department, I get my 3 gallon and 5 gallon buckets because I know someone in the restaurant business so you could go to a local place and ask for the bucket they have their pickles or hard boiled eggs in, they usually throw them away anyway.

Any idea on what you're smoking next?

 

[mballi3011]

You did a fabulous job there MWNT. I really glad that your wife loved it too so you are golden for the next set of tricks. So great job and

for sure on the spackcocked the bird too. and all of this on your very first smoke Congrats.

 

[seenred]

Nice Job, MWNT!

It sounds like you've acquired the same disease we all have here. There is no cure, and the symptoms can only be treated with regular doses of thin blue smoke!

 

[fourthwind]

This folks on this forum are a blessing. It has saved me a ton of time in experiments! Great looking first smoke, and welcome to the forum!

 

[bman62526]

First off - welcome to the site, and great job on the bird!

Noob or not, looks like you are on the way to all KINDS of smokey goodness.

However, I have to laugh....when I saw this:

It worked, but my wife was giving me a funny eye for a while...

HA!!! You really ARE a natural. My wife gives me those looks all the time.

 

[moviewithnotitle]

Hi all,
Thanks for the kind words, and especially for the suggestions on solving some of my issues. I will be venturing around this weekend to pickup some of the items that I still need based on my first experience. Also thanks for the suggestions on the food-grade items, I really had not considered that aspect.

I'm going to try ribs this weekend (and a few cigars during the cooking), we'll see how it goes.

MWNT

 

[moviewithnotitle]

LOL, glad to see I'm not alone!