Marks From Grate

[xjcamaro]

Hey guys, I have the usual chrome plated grates in my MES. Anytime i smoke something that has cute in it, snack sticks, bacon, etc. I get marks on my meat where it touches the grate, the color tends to be dark green to black. Its not the entire length , just in spots.

It's almost like the cure is reacting with parts of the metal and it makes the spots. I just cut the spots out because it doesn't go deep, but just wanted to see if anyone else had anything like that?

And along those lines, does anyone make stainless grates for the MES smokers?

 

[smokerjim]

what do use to generate smoke, I don't know but maybe it's just creosote. i'm sure others will chime in soon

 

[xjcamaro]

When doing snack sticks I let the smoker produce the smoke. When I do bacon it's a cold smoke, I use a tin can filled with wood chips and a soldering iron.

I even put a piece of wax paper between the grate and the bacon this go round so there wouldn't be any direct contact but it made it through.

 

[smokerjim]

do you use water in your smoker,

 

[xjcamaro]

Snack sticks yes, cold smoking bacon, no.

 

[smokerjim]

ok, i'm just thinking it's creosote along with moisture collecting on the grates and getting on your meat. again i'm no pro so I could be wrong. I have a mes also and do get marks from the grates I just assumed this was what it is from. will be interesting to see some of the other answers.

 

[thirdeye]

You could always use disposable grill grates, I buy these at WalMart and get plenty of uses out of them. They are aluminum and you can trim to fit smaller smokers.

The next choice would be stainless steel cooling racks, I use these for competition cooking or anytime I don't want to risk my regular grates staining food. You need to buy a good quality stainless, like Grade 304.

 

[tropics]

The right answer is hang the sticks and bacon

Sausage/Jerky Rack MES40 w step by step

Sausage Rack MES40 Materials 2 2x24x1/2 1/2" oak 10' 1/2 dowel rods oak hickory these are food safe I used (5) 1/2"x36" 1/2" Ell shape screw Tools Miter box and saw Cooping saw Drill with 1/2" speed bit Instructions Cut the 2x24x1/2 into 2 quill...

www.smokingmeatforums.com

Richie

 

[smokerjim]

also make sure you run your smoker with top vent wide open, and I wouldn't add a water to your pan,