Just got a digital 4 rack and looking to try it out this weekend. I am looking to smoke some brats, chicken and also some bacon. Any ideas or tips as rookie with no experience. Thanks
Welcome to the forum from Nebraska. Lots of good folks here very willing to help. So ask anything. Read everything you can on this forum. Go slow, be patient and keep your top vent open.
Welcome to the Forum! Are you looking to smoke all 3 at the same time for your first time? Not something I would try but if that is what you want to do we will all be here to assist.
Quote from: KyNola on February 06, 2014, 05:51:07 PM
Are you looking to smoke all 3 at the same time for your first time?
Welcome aboard. I agree with Nola on this. My first smoke ever was loaded down with about 20lbs and it was rough to say the least. However, once you get seasoned larger loads will come easy.
Your going to love the smoker and the gold that comes out of it.
Welcome from Texas, and I agree with the others pick a single meat first smoke project and let us know what help you need and we'll do our best to make your first smoke successful and memorable.
welcome, just click and read, this site is full of ideas to get you started and keep you going. i was on here for about 2 weeks or more before i purchased mine just getting ideas and since just keep finding more to try. best of luck
Welcome from Michigan
Welcome from Minnesota
I plan on smoking each item individualy.
Brats, burgers and chicken. Might not smoke anything if it stays 15 below zero
My advice would be to make Canadian bacon out of a pork loin as one of your first attempts at any kind of cured meat. I'm sure everyone has their favorite recipe, I use Mallardwhacker's maple recipe and it turns out perfect for me every time. I'm not exactly sure why this method uses 21 days of curing time when most are much less than that, but it was the first one I tried and I figure why mess with success! Very easy to do and spectacular results. You'll be hooked, guaranteed.
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And then it's "Katie bar the door" because it's kinda like a disease.
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Welcome. Keep the vent open and use patience.
My first cook was a 5# chuck roast. 4 hours of mesquite with 6 hours of total cooking (got anxious waiting for dinner to be done). Too much smoke, too little time. NOT GOOD. Thereafter, I understood that this is low and slow to the max. Best early cook was an 11# pork but. Three hours of smoke started at 9P.M. Changed the water to a baking pan (very hot), removing the spent pucks at mid-night, went to bed. Awoke, checked the remote thermometer, refreshed the water, hot as I could get it, and waited for an IT of 195*. All this took place with a cabinet temp of circa 225*. Finished at around 2 PM, FTC for 3 hours and it was great. It is easy to be patient when you are asleep.
Then ribs 3-2-1. This gives you something to do during the cook instead of simply ignoring it. Plan on other things to do during your longer cooks and it goes easier At least for me. Have fun.
How much smoke should I use on the chicken legs and how long
should I smoke for total and temp. Was thinking 210 degrees for 3-4hours with 2 of smoke.
Appreciate all the help
IMO you really have to crisp them up in a hot oven/broiler/grill. The Bradley will crisp chicken
Quote from: pondee on February 07, 2014, 07:04:19 PM
IMO you really have to crisp them up in a hot oven/broiler/grill. The Bradley will crisp chicken
I think pondee meant to say will NOT crisp chicken. Smoke it for the flavor then finish with a higher heat source for crispy skin.
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Welcome from east Texas. Enjoy your Bradley.
Quote from: tailfeathers on February 07, 2014, 08:06:30 PM
Quote from: pondee on February 07, 2014, 07:04:19 PM
IMO you really have to crisp them up in a hot oven/broiler/grill. The Bradley will crisp chicken
I think pondee meant to say will NOT crisp chicken. Smoke it for the flavor then finish with a higher heat source for crispy skin.
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Yep will NOT crisp. Bad typing skills. Sorry
At 225 for 4 hours my Bradley had no trouble crisping up my chicken skin.
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Up here in the frozen Tundra of the Dakota's I couldnt get my temp above 86 and had it in the Garage.
Off to menards to buy some insulation to try and retain some heat....
Hey Bigwalleye-
What part of the frozen Dakotas are you from? I'm in Sioux Falls. Are you sure you are getting both your heat element and puck burner powered up? Your Bradley should get much hotter than that, especially if in a garage with no wind hitting it. I'd try unplugging everything and reseating the connections. While you are at Menards pick up a couple of masonry bricks to wrap in foil and put in your smoker, this will help maintain heat. Try putting boiling water in the pan. These are all tips that I have learned from hanging around these forums.
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Quote from: tailfeathers on February 08, 2014, 09:28:33 AM
Hey Bigwalleye-
What part of the frozen Dakotas are you from? I'm in Sioux Falls. Are you sure you are getting both your heat element and puck burner powered up? Your Bradley should get much hotter than that, especially if in a garage with no wind hitting it. I'd try unplugging everything and reseating the connections. While you are at Menards pick up a couple of masonry bricks to wrap in foil and put in your smoker, this will help maintain heat. Try putting boiling water in the pan. These are all tips that I have learned from hanging around these forums.
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Hey Bigwalleye, I'm from Fargo and everything tailfeathers is telling you will help but you should be able to get it up in the 150° range after a hour or so. I left to work for a couple hours this morning and let the Bradley run. I came home and I was at 168°. Takes a while to heat up when it is 0° out. Masonry bricks are a must.
You shouldn't need insulation.
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My electric bradley wont get over 100F?
Bought bubble wrap to contain some heat and after 4 hours
Cant make it past the century mark.
Even bought a heavy duty extension cord.
My Bradley may be going back and getting a pellet smoker.
Any ideas why it wont warm up?
Quote from: Bigwalleye on February 08, 2014, 02:09:36 PM
My electric bradley wont get over 100F?
Bought bubble wrap to contain some heat and after 4 hours
Cant make it past the century mark.
Even bought a heavy duty extension cord.
My Bradley may be going back and getting a pellet smoker.
Any ideas why it wont warm up?
I think you first need to get rid of the extension cord. Try heating it up without smoke but make sure you're running the smoking element. You should have no problem breaking 200 after 4 or 5 hours. I started my smoker at 10 o'clock this morning. I put my spare ribs in at 1:00. Hovered around 160 for a while but now I'm well over 200°.
Take a look inside and see if your element is red as in red hot.
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Your heating element is apparently not functioning. There is a jumper power cord that goes from your smoke generator to the tower. Unplug it at both ends and then plug it back in using very firm pressure. Hopefully that will fix your problem.
Quote from: KyNola on February 08, 2014, 03:27:48 PM
Your heating element is apparently not functioning. There is a jumper power cord that goes from your smoke generator to the tower. Unplug it at both ends and then plug it back in using very firm pressure. Hopefully that will fix your problem.
KyNola is right... I did this the first day I bought mine. Push the cords in. I panicked when mine wasn't heating properly and realized the cord wasn't secure. Give an update, these guys can help you out a lot. Before you go buying another smoker test out Bradley customer service. They will get things straightened out for you.
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I got it running now 200F after I unplugged the little cord to the smoker and plugged it in and it is working!!!!!
Thanks for the tips
Awesome. These guys are good with their wisdom.
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Quote from: Bigwalleye on February 08, 2014, 05:26:03 PM
I got it running now 200F after I unplugged the little cord to the smoker and plugged it in and it is working!!!!!
Thanks for the tips
BOOYAH! THAT'S what I'm talking about! Now fire that boy up and get to smoking something.
Quote from: KyNola on February 08, 2014, 06:33:20 PM
Quote from: Bigwalleye on February 08, 2014, 05:26:03 PM
I got it running now 200F after I unplugged the little cord to the smoker and plugged it in and it is working!!!!!
Thanks for the tips
BOOYAH! THAT'S what I'm talking about! Now fire that boy up and get to smoking something.
Geeya!!
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bradley should make a commercial like the cell phone companies only change it to "it's the forum" vice network
Thanks for all the help everyone!
Tailfeathers I live in SF as well.
I fired up 3 kinds of brats.. beer, pineapple, and ones with bacon and cheese. Did 1 hour of smoke and cooked them at 200F for about 2 hours. Had a internal probe in one of the brats and when hit 170F and took them off. About 20 degrees before they were done hit them with some Sweet and Sassy sauce.
They were Delicious!! No more brats on the grill...I struck GOLD