Pellet smoker shut off

[cretz1876]

First time poster here, have been lurking and learning for a while now. I started a brisket at 10am today on my traeger at 225. I left home at 1pm and it was going fine. When I returned at 6pm the traeger had shut off sometime while I was gone due to the pellets getting jammed in the hopper. The internal temp of the brisket was 120F and when I used my IR thermometer the sides were like 160-180 and the top in the middle was 130. So I don’t know how long the IT was below 140 and it’s at least 90 degrees here in Texas. I hate to throw away a brisket so I thought I would ask for advice here?

 

[cretz1876]

First time poster here, have been lurking and learning for a while now. I started a brisket at 10am today on my traeger at 225. I left home at 1pm and it was going fine. When I returned at 6pm the traeger had shut off sometime while I was gone due to the pellets getting jammed in the hopper. The internal temp of the brisket was 120F and when I used my IR thermometer the sides were like 160-180 and the top in the middle was 130. So I don’t know how long the IT was below 140 and it’s at least 90 degrees here in Texas. I hate to throw away a brisket so I thought I would ask for advice here?

The grate was definitely not hot and I could touch it without pulling away.

 

[JckDanls 07]

In that situation with those numbers... First let me ask... Did you start out with the meat probe already inserted or did you insert an instant read when you found it ?

I would refire and keep on rolling ....

 

[cretz1876]

In that situation with those numbers... First let me ask... Did you start out with the meat probe already inserted or did you insert an instant read when you found it ?

I would refire and keep on rolling ....

I seasoned with salt and pepper no injections and did not have any thermometer/probe in it. I went and stuck an instant read when I found it.

 

[JckDanls 07]

Cook on ... Hopefully you fired back up right away ?

To bad you didn't have a pellet tube going ... Woulda got the extra smoke time...

 

[SmokinEdge]

Roll on with the cook.

Just a suggestion, but we get more questions here about “smoker shut off” and they all for the most part are running 225. Stop doing this. Start running 250-275. You will have less problem. There is nothing “magical “ about 225. Other than pellet cookers failing on long cooks, that’s magical. Lol

 

[cretz1876]

Roll on with the cook.

Just a suggestion, but we get more questions here about “smoker shut off” and they all for the most part are running 225. Stop doing this. Start running 250-275. You will have less problem. There is nothing “magical “ about 225. Other than pellet cookers failing on long cooks, that’s magical. Lol

Thanks for the advice guys! I’m rolling it at 275 now but thinking it may be a late night for me lol

 

[schlotz]

This is yet another reason why a good reporting thermometer that works with your wifi is essential equipment. It will warn you via phone if the grate temps drops. At least you would have known and could have decided whether to come home early in order to resolve the problem. Never leave home or go to sleep in the evening without one.
...public service announcement concluded, continue smoking

 

[normanaj]

What schlotz said can't be said enough.

 

[Parshooter]

Well first thing is NOT to leave ANY smoker alone for that long without supervision. Sure pellet smokers are pretty fool-proof, but as you found out, they can not be 100% trusted. I have a wireless temp gauge so I can monitor from my couch. I always use it so if something does happen I will know soon enough to fix the problem. Your outcome could have been much worse: FIRE.