New to the great smoking world...

[jeazor]

My name is James from NW Pennsylvania. JUst purchased a new 2012 MES 40. Have been using the serch function learning lots, great site full of GREAT people!!!

Will be doing some BB ribs this weekend. Just finished my season burn in of my MES 40, so far I really like the smoker. Temps seem to be off by 20* atleast.

First question is how long of burn time should I expect out of a cup of chips? I seemed to get about an hour or so of smoke out of the chips I put in. I just ordered Amaze N Smoker pan and pellets so hoping they will give longer burn times. Also do you guys usually want smoke the whole time your cooking?

Thanks

James

 

[ats32]

Although I've only used my MES 40 twice now I noticed that I get a better smoke with about a half of a cup every 45 min and that if you're doing something like a pork butt which takes a long time you'll need to empty the chip tray once or twice (as fast as possible so you don't lose too much heat).

I'll be ordering the a-maze-n smoker sometime to help combat those small issues.

 

[smokeringking]

Hello, welcome from Maine! I cant offer too much advice on the chip front as I use a barrel grill with no firebox and use charcoal and wood chunks. But from what I have gathered from reading around this place the half cup or 4oz addition is the reccomended amount. Keep chatting around here and you will get the advice you are looking for though, it's a treasure trove of knowledge. 

 

[s2k9k]

Hi James! 

 to SMF!!! You are going to love your AMNPS and will never go back to chips.

 

[lobo721]

from nw pa also.  looking into buying a mb 40 but waiting for new model to be sold besides cabelas

 

[smokinhusker]

Hello James and welcome to SMF! Glad to have you here and congrats on the new smoker. 

I own an MES 40 and really like it. For long smokes and smokes at lower than 200* or cold smoking, yes you definitely want the AMNPS. I use Smokehouse Brand pellets (but I need to try some of Todd's - A-MAZE-N) in my smoker and use about 1/4 - 1/2 cup every hour or so. I get longer smoke time from pellets and I do mix different flavor pellets and unsoaked chips. 

Good catch on the cabinet temperature being off...at temps lower than 180* my temps are only off a few degrees but when I'm smoking at temps higher than 200* the temps are about 22* off.

 

[scarbelly]

Hello and 

 to SMF - glad to have you here 

 

[jeazor]

I purchased mine at Bass Pro in Harrisburg, at the time they had 5. They had a great assortment of chips, rubs and other outdoor cooking items. Today I was in my local Dunhams and the had some smoking chips there also. I picked up some Hi Mountain jerky mix and want to try making some jerky this weekend.

Btw the AMNPS pellets should I use the direct over my element or indirect? I just got my order today so I will open box up and see what it says to do, I was just curious what others have done.

Thanks for the warm welcome

James