Smoking Chicken and Ribs

**JHayesLS1** · 08-31-2008, 06:38 AM

I just tested out an electric smoker. (My charcoal one couldn't seem to get where I wanted it temp wise). This electric shit works.

**0rion** · 08-31-2008, 06:43 AM

seriously.......do you want banned????

**Too Fast** · 08-31-2008, 07:31 AM

Originally Posted by bsteff

I Have found that if you wrap the entire thing in alum foil it will keep the temp up. Even in an Arizona summer I still need to wrap the damn thing.

Wrapped in aluminum foil? I thought that was to keep the government controllers from broadcasting into your head LOL. But, it is something I can try.

Originally Posted by 0rion

how are you running the vents on it? Brinkman was the one I had and I never had a problem holding temp on mine unless it was the middle of winter. I did a couple of things that helped in the winter. I found a rack that would fit in the bottom of the charcoal bowl to get the charcoal up off the bowl and drilled a couple of holes in the bowl so that at least some oxygen got to the bottom of the fire. I also use lump charcoal which burns hotter than briquettes.

Well, using the bowl the smoker came with for the charcoal it seems like they don't get enough O2, so I started using my little Weber grill instead, it has the proper venting and keeps the charcoal off the bottom. Helps somewhat. I have been thinking about drilling some holes in the bowl also.

I will try some lump charcoal, is that easily available, like at Lowe's? I have barely heard of lump charcoal, somewhere in my memory banks it sounds faintly familar. Don't have any plans soon to smoke something, but maybe I should next weekend!
Thanks.

**0rion** · 08-31-2008, 09:21 AM

Lowe's has a brand called "cowboy" charcoal that's a pretty good lump charcoal. Royal Oak makes probably the best lump I've used and wal-mart carries it but it's seasonal.

**JHayesLS1** · 08-31-2008, 05:27 PM

Originally Posted by 0rion

seriously.......do you want banned????

Haha na not really. My apartment said no open flame grills so I was like fine. I went electric.

**Too Fast** · 08-31-2008, 07:26 PM

Speaking of smoking animal flesh, I went to the rib festival here in Indy tonite, saw Jonny Lange and Ted Nugent. Ted still has a lot to say! Still rocking hard at age 60. He likes to kill it and grill it too!

**yellowv** · 09-01-2008, 12:38 PM

Originally Posted by Too Fast

Speaking of smoking animal flesh, I went to the rib festival here in Indy tonite, saw Jonny Lange and Ted Nugent. Ted still has a lot to say! Still rocking hard at age 60. He likes to kill it and grill it too!

Sounds like a good time.

**Too Fast** · 09-07-2008, 01:39 PM

So, I tried smoking again today, had excellent results. Took Orions advice about the lump charcoal, it does burn much hotter than regular charcoal and definitely adds to the flavor. The pork tenderloin was very good:

Oh yeah, I didn't even have to wrap my smoker in the aluminum foil to protect it from the government LOL!
Might have to in the winter, tho. I did use my little Weber to burn the coal in, it is a tight fit in the bottom but it burns better because of increased air flow.

**tonyjnjz** · 09-07-2008, 01:43 PM

marking this thread for future reference

**Nhra Firebird** · 09-07-2008, 04:36 PM

what smoker do you have orion?

**0rion** · 09-07-2008, 04:57 PM

Originally Posted by Nhra Firebird

what smoker do you have orion?

chargriller pro........ lowes and pretty much everyone else carries them. It's a texas style with the side box. Home Depot actually carries the same style but a better smoker. I forget the brand but I'm sure you can look it up. It looks basically the same as mine except it's a couple inches longer and not quite as big around. A buddy has that one and it seemed to hold temp much easier than mine does. I just liked his better.

**Nhra Firebird** · 09-07-2008, 05:02 PM

Originally Posted by 0rion

chargriller pro........ lowes and pretty much everyone else carries them. It's a texas style with the side box. Home Depot actually carries the same style but a better smoker. I forget the brand but I'm sure you can look it up. It looks basically the same as mine except it's a couple inches longer and not quite as big around. A buddy has that one and it seemed to hold temp much easier than mine does. I just liked his better.

this one? http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...10000003+90401

**0rion** · 09-07-2008, 07:24 PM

Originally Posted by Nhra Firebird

this one? http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...10000003+90401

yeah, that's it. The firebox side opens from the end and you can reach in with a stick and rake ash out under the fire so it keeps getting oxygen. Mine has a tray that you have to pull out and is a bigger pain in the ass to mess with. His held temp better than mine also. My next smoker though will have the chimney on the side of the big box instead of in the top. That would help hold heat and smoke in a little better. I'm going to modify my current one at some point by extending the chimney down to grate level.

**yellowv** · 09-07-2008, 09:09 PM

Originally Posted by 0rion

yeah, that's it. The firebox side opens from the end and you can reach in with a stick and rake ash out under the fire so it keeps getting oxygen. Mine has a tray that you have to pull out and is a bigger pain in the ass to mess with. His held temp better than mine also. My next smoker though will have the chimney on the side of the big box instead of in the top. That would help hold heat and smoke in a little better. I'm going to modify my current one at some point by extending the chimney down to grate level.

I used to have the chargriller and it was an excellent grill and smoker. It still gets reviews tons better than anything Char-Broil makes. I gave it to my buddy when I got my Weber. I think he's getting a gas grill soon though. If he does hes giving me the Char-Broiler back. I hope he does. You guys are making me want to smoke something.

**Nhra Firebird** · 09-08-2008, 02:23 PM

Originally Posted by 0rion

yeah, that's it. The firebox side opens from the end and you can reach in with a stick and rake ash out under the fire so it keeps getting oxygen. Mine has a tray that you have to pull out and is a bigger pain in the ass to mess with. His held temp better than mine also. My next smoker though will have the chimney on the side of the big box instead of in the top. That would help hold heat and smoke in a little better. I'm going to modify my current one at some point by extending the chimney down to grate level.

its pretty bad when you start modding your smoker.

**Nhra Firebird** · 09-10-2008, 05:14 PM

Has anybody ever made a really big burger? I bought 5 pounds of burger the other night to make one big ass cheeseburger. I would think the only way to cook the burger is in the oven, so it cooks all the way. I will take some pics after i make it

**0rion** · 09-10-2008, 05:21 PM

buy a pack of hotdogs and cut them into disks and mash into the burger before you cook it.

Those big ass burgers usually don't come out worth a shit if you try to grill it. To much water and grease and shit in them. Start it in the oven then move it to the grill the last few minutes to give it flavor. It'll be a big mushy lop of shit most likely if you just let it cook in the oven.

**Zapper2003** · 09-10-2008, 05:22 PM

About the biggest I've ever made was 1/2 lb. Usually I end up with issues holding it all together and it crumbles apart...basically becoming a grilled meatball sandwich.

**Nhra Firebird** · 09-10-2008, 05:26 PM

Originally Posted by 0rion

buy a pack of hotdogs and cut them into disks and mash into the burger before you cook it.

Those big ass burgers usually don't come out worth a shit if you try to grill it. To much water and grease and shit in them. Start it in the oven then move it to the grill the last few minutes to give it flavor. It'll be a big mushy lop of shit most likely if you just let it cook in the oven.

Have you ever tried making one? I always wanted to try it after eating at dennys beer barrel pub. I go there about once a year on my way to our camp in the mountains. http://www.dennysbeerbarrelpub.com/