BRADLEY SMOKER | "Taste the Great Outdoors"

Recipe Discussions => Meat => Topic started by: GusRobin on December 22, 2014, 10:12:14 PM

Title: Ham for Christmas
Post by: GusRobin on December 22, 2014, 10:12:14 PM
Bought a 35 lb raw ham a few days ago.
(http://i1047.photobucket.com/albums/b476/gusrobin/IMG_1650.jpg)

Trimmed off the leg.
(http://i1047.photobucket.com/albums/b476/gusrobin/IMG_1651.jpg)

Brined it for 5 days and it is time to begin the ham. I took the 35 lb ham (now about 30ish after trimming) out of the brine.  After rinsing it off, it went into the netting.
(http://i1047.photobucket.com/albums/b476/gusrobin/IMG_1688.jpg)

Next I set the PID to 12 hrs at 120*; 8 hrs at 140* (with smoke); then 170* until IT reaches 142*.  Should be a total of about 36 hours. Plan to have it done on Christmas Eve and put it in the fridge until Christmas morning. Then I'll glaze and reheat it in the oven for Christmas dinner.

Hanging in the 6 rack Bradley. Glad I have the Bradley in a cabinet since we are supposed to have intermittent rain the next couple of days.
(http://i1047.photobucket.com/albums/b476/gusrobin/IMG_1689.jpg)
(http://i1047.photobucket.com/albums/b476/gusrobin/IMG_1692.jpg)

To be continued in about 36 hours ----------
Title: Re: Ham for Christmas
Post by: Gafala on December 22, 2014, 10:40:34 PM
WoWis all I can say. :)
Title: Re: Ham for Christmas
Post by: dave01 on December 23, 2014, 12:17:16 AM
Make sure you post the end results
Title: Re: Ham for Christmas
Post by: GusRobin on December 23, 2014, 10:21:07 AM
UPDATE:

After 12 hours at 120*, bumped the temp up to 140* and started rolling the smoke. Will smoke for 8 hours.

(http://i1047.photobucket.com/albums/b476/gusrobin/IMG_1695.jpg)
Title: Re: Ham for Christmas
Post by: RedJada on December 23, 2014, 02:32:37 PM
Man, that is looking good....
Title: Re: Ham for Christmas
Post by: bushrat on December 23, 2014, 03:49:43 PM
That will feed a lot of people at the food bank I volunteer at. Nice looking ham.
Title: Re: Ham for Christmas
Post by: Orion on December 23, 2014, 04:35:58 PM
Thanks for posting such a great thread GR. Fine details, pictures, doesn't get any better! Watching with interest!
Title: Re: Ham for Christmas
Post by: Maximus1959 on December 24, 2014, 01:20:02 PM
Great job.
Title: Re: Ham for Christmas
Post by: dave01 on December 24, 2014, 01:23:45 PM
I'm wondering what the black box is behind the PID
Title: Re: Ham for Christmas
Post by: GusRobin on December 24, 2014, 07:14:33 PM
Quote from: dave01 on December 24, 2014, 01:23:45 PM
I'm wondering what the black box is behind the PID

It is a box I built (with tons of patient help from Beefman)
What it does:
The Bradley cabinet you see is a damaged 6 rack unit I bought. (Had a dent on back corner.)
I run it with the OBS smoke generator that is hooked to a cold smoke box I built.
I moded the cabinet to add a second element. Instead of having both elements connected to the single plug at the back of the cabinet, I added a second plug so each element has its own plug.
So how this all works is that the power cord goes from the outlet to the black box. The PID is plugged into the box and gets its power from the box. Instead of connecting the PID to the Bradley cabinet, the PID power goes back to the box where it controls two plugs, one each connected to each of the cabinet plugs. In that circuit in the box, each element has its own on/off switch plus its own dimmer dial if you just want to decrease power to either of the elements.
The box also has a plug for the fan that is installed in the Bradley and a plug to power light in the shed. Both have their own on/off switch. The box also has a main power switch to turn everything off and a circuit breaker.
Hope that was clear - but it works great. But as I said, it would not have been possible without the help of Beefman.
Close up
(http://i1047.photobucket.com/albums/b476/gusrobin/IMG_1187.jpg)
Top part left to right- dimmer switch for element# 1; on/off for #1; on/off and Dimmer for # 2
Bottom L -R : switch for fan; for light; power on light; main power switch;PID on/off; circuit breaker.
Title: Re: Ham for Christmas
Post by: GusRobin on December 24, 2014, 07:42:58 PM
UPDATE
After 35 hours, it is done.

Hanging in the Bradley before I took it out.
(http://i1047.photobucket.com/albums/b476/gusrobin/IMG_1697.jpg)

Netting removed and in the pan
(http://i1047.photobucket.com/albums/b476/gusrobin/IMG_1699.jpg)

Now I'll wrap it in saran wrap and into the fridge until tomorrow morning when I'll throw it in the oven with some glaze and have it for Christmas dinner. Of course I had to do a quality control check.

(http://i1047.photobucket.com/albums/b476/gusrobin/IMG_1701.jpg)

Based upon the sample, it was well worth the time and effort. It tastes fantastic.
Title: Re: Ham for Christmas
Post by: ragweed on December 25, 2014, 03:00:54 AM
Congratulations!!  Looks fantastic!!  The pics sure show what a professional and well controlled operation you have.  Thanks for sharing and I know you and yours will have a Merry Christmas with that ham as a focal point!   Joe
Title: Re: Ham for Christmas
Post by: pensrock on December 25, 2014, 05:48:53 AM
Thats a great looking ham you made Gus. I know the whole family will love it for Christmas.
Merry Christmas,
Pens
Title: Re: Ham for Christmas
Post by: barbquebec on December 25, 2014, 07:05:25 AM
...looks awesome...great job GusRobin! 8)
Title: Re: Ham for Christmas
Post by: iceman on December 25, 2014, 12:56:49 PM
Fantastic job Gus!! That has got to be a treat!
Title: Re: Ham for Christmas
Post by: dave01 on December 25, 2014, 01:48:24 PM
Thanks for the updates, the ham looks great
Title: Re: Ham for Christmas
Post by: oldsmoker on December 26, 2014, 12:05:46 PM
Great looking ham. did you smoke it for 8 hours and what wood did you use. Thanks for the help. Would like to do one for easter.
Title: Re: Ham for Christmas
Post by: WoodlawnSmoker on December 26, 2014, 02:30:34 PM
Yup, that's OK!  Got any pics after the glaze?  any more details are appreciated, I've been talking to my butcher about getting me a whole leg, he's excited that I want to smoke one and will get one in any time I want.

As an aside, did you do anything with the leg you cut off?  Just wondering if there's anything worthwhile there or if my dogs will get a fantastic treat.
Title: Re: Ham for Christmas
Post by: GusRobin on December 26, 2014, 02:51:24 PM
Quote from: WoodlawnSmoker on December 26, 2014, 02:30:34 PM
Yup, that's OK!  Got any pics after the glaze?  any more details are appreciated, I've been talking to my butcher about getting me a whole leg, he's excited that I want to smoke one and will get one in any time I want.

As an aside, did you do anything with the leg you cut off?  Just wondering if there's anything worthwhile there or if my dogs will get a fantastic treat.
Basically followed 10.5's hamzilla recipe in the recipe site.
http://www.susanminor.org/forums/showthread.php?799-A-Tenpoint5-Ham-aka-Hamzilla (http://www.susanminor.org/forums/showthread.php?799-A-Tenpoint5-Ham-aka-Hamzilla)
No pics after the glaze, started eating and forgot.
Cut the leg of, then cut the hock off the leg and put in the freezer for another day. Threw the foot out.
Used hickory. When I have done one using the bradley pucks I smoke for 8 hours. This time I used the amazn smoker tube and did it for 4 hours.
Title: Re: Ham for Christmas
Post by: OldHickory on December 26, 2014, 03:26:03 PM
A fantastic and beautiful job.  I can only imagine how good that must taste.