The Smoker is going......

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Old 10-19-2016, 10:07 AM
  #521  
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That's right any smoker will do that job and all have the pro's and con's. I think I would recommend a pellet smoker over the masterbuilt but they are a lot more pricey.
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Old 10-19-2016, 12:32 PM
  #522  
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So what kind of thermometers is everyone using when monitoring the smoking process, temping the meat ect?
Old 10-19-2016, 01:36 PM
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Originally Posted by Jakes_tl
So what kind of thermometers is everyone using when monitoring the smoking process, temping the meat ect?
I bought one of these when someone posted the deal a few pages back

https://www.amazon.com/Ivation-Exten...ng+Thermometer

It's not bad, I still prefer my corded one though
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Old 10-19-2016, 01:39 PM
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I have this one:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Works great and is a few bucks cheaper than the Ivation though that one is better.
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Old 10-19-2016, 01:54 PM
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what about hand held probes? These two seem to be good, anyone have them?

https://www.amazon.com/Lavatools-Jav...lin%2Bpro&th=1

ThermoPop® Digital Pocket Thermometer from ThermoWorks
Old 10-19-2016, 02:00 PM
  #526  
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for temp monitoring i currently have a cheapo but plan to invest in this one:

https://www.amazon.com/Maverick-732-.../dp/B004IMA718

It is highly recommended by a lot of BBQers.
Old 10-19-2016, 02:13 PM
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Originally Posted by Jakes_tl
what about hand held probes? These two seem to be good, anyone have them?

https://www.amazon.com/Lavatools-Jav...lin%2Bpro&th=1

ThermoPop® Digital Pocket Thermometer from ThermoWorks
50 bucks!? I think I spent 14 bucks on mine at Walmart...

I have this one and it works just fine
https://www.amazon.com/Char-Broil-48...il+thermometer
Old 10-19-2016, 02:30 PM
  #528  
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I know and if you think that's crazy, check this one out:

https://www.amazon.com/Thermapen-Pro...=thermapen+mk4

Most BBQ guys use this thermapen MK4.
Old 10-19-2016, 03:00 PM
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I have the Weber instant read, it was like $10 at HD. Works fine for me. Thermapen is awesome but there's no way I can justify that cost.
Old 10-19-2016, 03:09 PM
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Originally Posted by Jakes_tl
I know and if you think that's crazy, check this one out:

https://www.amazon.com/Thermapen-Pro...=thermapen+mk4

Most BBQ guys use this thermapen MK4.
Oh, I know... they recommend it on amazing ribs... no thanks!
Old 10-19-2016, 03:22 PM
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Actually i don't know if I say it on amazing ribs or not. I know smokingmeatforums.com and a few other sites almost all of the guys have it but it's way overpriced for me. No Thanks!
Old 10-20-2016, 10:16 AM
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Our Favorite Thermometers For Food, Cooking, Ovens, Grills, And Smokers, As Well As Ratings And Reviews Of More Than 100 Devices Review & Rating

The "Lamborghini of instant read thermometers"
You got that right for that price
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Old 10-22-2016, 11:26 AM
  #533  
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New controller fixed the issue. MB extended their warranty to a year now instead of 90 days. Currently have 12lbs of pig's ass smoking with some hickory right now.
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Old 10-24-2016, 06:16 AM
  #534  
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Glad you got it squared away! I do know MB has great customer service which is a good thing when you have a lot of electronic components.
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Old 11-04-2016, 08:37 AM
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Making smoked chicken legs tonight
Old 11-07-2016, 07:21 AM
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A friend of mine went upstate NY and caught some wild salmon so we decided to smoke one filet. This was my first time smoking salmon and it was ok. I dry brined the salmon overnight, I used 1 part kosher salt to 4 parts brown sugar (doubled the recipe because the salmon was big and i think that was a mistake because it came out sweet and salty). I used apple wood and wonder if the sweetness came from the apple wood or too much brown sugar in the brine?
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Old 11-07-2016, 07:41 AM
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Originally Posted by 97BlackAckCL
Stogie inspired me to finally try smoking some salmon, I did a dry brine, but didn't have any brown sugar so I made my own dry brine. I did hand ground pepper and sea salt, onion powder and garlic powder, and some lime juice squeezed over top and marinated them in the fridge over night.


Smoked at 225 for around 75 mins, I used foil to keep it from sticking to the grill


I started off with mesquite chips, but thought that the taste would be too strong so I switched to cherry wood chips, and I'm glad that I did


I pulled them at about an hour and checked the temp, and decided they should go a bit more on the smoke, so I threw more wet cherry chips on, this was right at an hour


And the finished product


Next time I will rinse the dry brine off, but I didn't mind having the spice on all the way through. I broke up the salmon and served it as an appetizer, everyone raved about how good it was, and the flavor was incredible.


I definitely want to try the wet brine and the brown sugar method at some point, but I honestly would do it over again the same way and be perfectly happy with the results. When it was gone, I definitely wished that I had made more than 2 fillets.
Ack - do you care to share the brine that you used for this salmon?
Old 11-07-2016, 09:23 AM
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Originally Posted by Jakes_tl
A friend of mine went upstate NY and caught some wild salmon so we decided to smoke one filet. This was my first time smoking salmon and it was ok. I dry brined the salmon overnight, I used 1 part kosher salt to 4 parts brown sugar (doubled the recipe because the salmon was big and i think that was a mistake because it came out sweet and salty). I used apple wood and wonder if the sweetness came from the apple wood or too much brown sugar in the brine?
Way too much brown sugar, I personally don't use any sugar because I like salt and spice more than sweetness.

Originally Posted by Jakes_tl
Ack - do you care to share the brine that you used for this salmon?
I'm sure I posted it before, but what I do is squeaze half a fresh lime over the salmon as my "brine liquid" then I hand grind sea salt and black pepper over the salmon and shake some onion powder on it, that's it. Everyone raves about the flavor. I usually smoke with Cherry
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Old 11-07-2016, 09:41 AM
  #539  
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I am not a fan of sugar myself. But everywhere i looked most recipes call for 4 parts brown sugar to 1 part salt or 3 parts sugar to 1 part salt. I do want to try smoked salmon again but looking to try a different dry cure / brine.
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Old 11-07-2016, 09:43 AM
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My smoked chicken legs came out fantastic, I ended up making my own rub with the following ingredients and it was amazing!
IMG_20161104_245135410_zpso1igfp8h.jpg

IMG_20161104_245142670_zps9ryec9wo.jpg

I coated them with EVOO
IMG_20161104_245642104_zps63ehbfag.jpg

And then rubbed them to sit overnight
IMG_20161104_181844060_zpsfqgjone8.jpg

Smoked those babies with Cherry wood
IMG_20161104_192833424_zpsi9n7y5xk.jpg

The final product! They were super juicy and the skin was crispy and cooked perfect. My GF isn't a big fan of dark meat, but she loved these and was impressed with the flavor!
IMG_20161104_204818856_zpslotf4jal.jpg
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Old 11-07-2016, 09:44 AM
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Originally Posted by Jakes_tl
I am not a fan of sugar myself. But everywhere i looked most recipes call for 4 parts brown sugar to 1 part salt or 3 parts sugar to 1 part salt. I do want to try smoked salmon again but looking to try a different dry cure / brine.
Yeah, I made mention of this back when i made it. Everything I saw was calling for sugar, but I went my own route. I'm all for making my own rubs and spice combinations based on what I like
Old 11-07-2016, 10:02 AM
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I agree with you, I like how you make your own rubs, seasoning. One day i would like to be that way but i have a hard time figuring out how much of what to use.
Old 11-07-2016, 10:02 AM
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Chicken legs look awesome!!
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Old 11-07-2016, 11:16 AM
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Thanks man! Having them again tonight for leftovers
Old 11-14-2016, 08:30 AM
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So who's smoking a bird for thanksgiving??
Old 11-14-2016, 09:16 AM
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Wanted to, but not this year...
Old 11-14-2016, 01:27 PM
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Why's that? or you not making a turkey at all?
Old 11-14-2016, 10:16 PM
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Still might attempt one, my family made other dinner plans, so I'm off the hook for cooking, and I was going to put it off. Was really going to wait till I get my Weber since it's bigger, but I may try and squeeze it into the Brinkmann. I may make one just for myself and make turkey noodle soup with some of it
Old 11-15-2016, 07:21 AM
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i thinking about doing a turkey test run this weekend, debating on what wood I should use: apple, cherry or hickory..
Old 11-22-2016, 06:52 AM
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My smoked turkey practice run from this past saturday. Dry brined for 2 days, smoked with pecan wood.
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Old 11-22-2016, 09:02 AM
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Looks amazing! What made you go with Pecan? Did it have too much smoke/bite?

What was your dry brine?

I just picked up a 14 pounder for Friday
Old 11-22-2016, 09:36 AM
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I used 3 tablespoons of Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt, rubbed it all over the bird and put it into the fridge for 2 days. After 2 days i rinsed it, patted it dry and then put it back into the fridge overnight uncovered. I couldn't find any Tony C's injectable marinades so I just melted one stick of butter and 1 cup of Tuscan chicken broth and injected the bird all over.

I decided last minute to use pecan wood just because this was my test run and I figured this would be a good time to see how i like pecan and I loved it! It had a very nice smoke flavor, not strong at all. Actually wouldn't mind a little more smoke on the bird.
Old 11-22-2016, 09:58 AM
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Thanks for the info, are you tweaking your approach at all for the next run?
Old 11-22-2016, 10:17 AM
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I am smoking 2 - 12# birds this Saturday for my wife's side of the family's Thanksgiving. I plan to smoke one with pecan wood and the other one with cherry wood. I did order a Tony C's butter creole injectable marinade which should come tomorrow so one of the birds will get that injection and the other will get the butter / chicken broth injection. Hoping everything turns out good.
Old 11-22-2016, 10:22 AM
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Looking forward to the results. I can't wait to smoke mine, it's defrosting in the fridge now
Old 11-22-2016, 12:18 PM
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<-Frying
Old 11-22-2016, 12:37 PM
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Ack - are you brining or injecting your bird?
Old 11-22-2016, 12:38 PM
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I've never fried a turkey but the electric butterball fryers do look pretty good. I just can't see spending 100-150 bucks on it just to use it once or twice a year.
Old 11-22-2016, 01:17 PM
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Originally Posted by Jakes_tl
Ack - are you brining or injecting your bird?
Dry brining
Old 11-22-2016, 01:47 PM
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What's your recipe for dry brining?


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