- Nov 8, 2011
- 12
- 10
Hi, another "newbie" to smokin'. This one from MN! (real name's Nancy)
Greetings :) I've been grilling for years and have always wanted to learn how to do smoking. So after seeing a show on TV about the different methods of smoking and seeing how in one they used a wooden box for a smoker, I had to try it! I decided it would be cheaper to build one out of wood then to buy one. So off went to Home Depot. I got it made, using electric hot plates for my heat source. I was wrong about the "cheaper" part! After all the time, work and cost, I think it would have been cheaper to just go buy one. But then what fun is there in that? This way I got bragging rights!
I must say I was surprised at how well it worked. (didn't burn the garage down or anything!) Of course I had to do ribs first. I had trouble getting the temp where I wanted it, so after about 4 or 5 hours of smoking I wrapped them in foil and finished them in the oven. WOW! Fall of the bone fantastic! Next I did a pork picnic roast to use for pulled pork. Same problem with the temp, although it was a little better, but still had to finish in the oven to get the internal temp to 200 degrees.
That is when I discovered this web site! AWESOME! After reading lots of blogs and articles, I learnt about "heat sinks" and the roll the water pan plays.
Next I did a turkey. It was bigger then recamended so I cut it in half and brined it over night. I filled a 2 qt pan with small rocks and wrapped it in foil. Then I took a 8" round foil pan and put water in and set it on top of the pan of rocks. (first 2 times I had the water pan directly on the heat and it boiled off right away) Turned on the heat and in about 30 or 40 min I had heat at 220. I also put the turkey in the oven FIRST at 350 for 30 min to take the chill off it. My temp stayed pretty steady between 220 and 240 the whole time till turkey reached 170 internal heat. Results? A very moist and flavorful smoked turkey.
I'm hooked! Thank you "Smoking-Meat". You have become my new favorite web site. :-))
Can't wait to smoke again!
Greetings :) I've been grilling for years and have always wanted to learn how to do smoking. So after seeing a show on TV about the different methods of smoking and seeing how in one they used a wooden box for a smoker, I had to try it! I decided it would be cheaper to build one out of wood then to buy one. So off went to Home Depot. I got it made, using electric hot plates for my heat source. I was wrong about the "cheaper" part! After all the time, work and cost, I think it would have been cheaper to just go buy one. But then what fun is there in that? This way I got bragging rights!
I must say I was surprised at how well it worked. (didn't burn the garage down or anything!) Of course I had to do ribs first. I had trouble getting the temp where I wanted it, so after about 4 or 5 hours of smoking I wrapped them in foil and finished them in the oven. WOW! Fall of the bone fantastic! Next I did a pork picnic roast to use for pulled pork. Same problem with the temp, although it was a little better, but still had to finish in the oven to get the internal temp to 200 degrees.
That is when I discovered this web site! AWESOME! After reading lots of blogs and articles, I learnt about "heat sinks" and the roll the water pan plays.
Next I did a turkey. It was bigger then recamended so I cut it in half and brined it over night. I filled a 2 qt pan with small rocks and wrapped it in foil. Then I took a 8" round foil pan and put water in and set it on top of the pan of rocks. (first 2 times I had the water pan directly on the heat and it boiled off right away) Turned on the heat and in about 30 or 40 min I had heat at 220. I also put the turkey in the oven FIRST at 350 for 30 min to take the chill off it. My temp stayed pretty steady between 220 and 240 the whole time till turkey reached 170 internal heat. Results? A very moist and flavorful smoked turkey.
I'm hooked! Thank you "Smoking-Meat". You have become my new favorite web site. :-))
Can't wait to smoke again!
