BRADLEY SMOKER | "Taste the Great Outdoors"

Smoking Techniques => Hot Smoking and Barbecuing => Topic started by: Nomad on December 14, 2009, 08:10:02 AM

Title: Smoking in extreme cold
Post by: Nomad on December 14, 2009, 08:10:02 AM
I have the bradley digital. Does anybody have any idea how hot it will get with outside temperatures around -35 C(-31F) with wind chill down to -50C(-58F). I have some turkey I need to smoke. I've waited a couple of days for it to warm up but looks like it's not going to happen.
Title: Re: Smoking in extreme cold
Post by: NePaSmoKer on December 14, 2009, 08:16:12 AM
Quote from: Nomad on December 14, 2009, 08:10:02 AM
I have the bradley digital. Does anybody have any idea how hot it will get with outside temperatures around -35 C(-31F) with wind chill down to -50C(-58F). I have some turkey I need to smoke. I've waited a couple of days for it to warm up but looks like it's not going to happen.

You might have some trouble with the digital control working. -31f /-58f wc WOWSERS to cold for this guy to be out smokin.

Title: Re: Smoking in extreme cold
Post by: Tenpoint5 on December 14, 2009, 10:40:17 AM
You might want to set the digital up and smoke inside the garage. The controller may have some issues with it being that cold outside. As well as the puck pusher. The grease may not want to let things move like they should. I will let one of the way north fella's give you a better answer.
Title: Re: Smoking in extreme cold
Post by: OU812 on December 14, 2009, 10:45:13 AM
WOW -31 F makes my knees hurt just thinking about it.
Title: Re: Smoking in extreme cold
Post by: JT-MO on December 14, 2009, 12:19:52 PM
I wouldn't think it would work in that temp, that is pretty cold!

I would try to rig up a heated garage, shed, or something similar with like some sort of vent hood installed to suck out the smoke.

Title: Re: Smoking in extreme cold
Post by: Nomad on December 14, 2009, 01:34:13 PM
Thanks for the replies. The cold is here for another few days so I'm not going to risk damage to the smoker. I'll cook the turkey in the slow cooker.
Title: Re: Smoking in extreme cold
Post by: hal4uk on December 14, 2009, 04:48:26 PM
Hi Nomad, Welcome to the forum!

B-B-B-B-B-B-B-BRRRRRRRRRRR....
Minus WHAT???...

Well, this is slightly involved, but it will work: 
1) Set the Smoker in the middle of the biggest room you have.
2) Wrap it up with old towels, newspaper and such.
3) Carefully, put the whole thing in a cardboard box and tape it shut.
4) Do the same thing thing with all the rest of your stuff.
5) Call a moving van.
Title: Re: Smoking in extreme cold
Post by: Huntnfreak on December 14, 2009, 05:34:56 PM
Nomad- welcome to the forum and I thought I had it bad!  I'm dealing with about -16* F.  Where are you at?  I won't get those temps for another month or so.  The good thing is it will give you lots of time to fill the freezer with things to smoke.  The nice thing about being below freezing for 5 months here in Minnesota is that I have a really big freezer right outside my back door!  Good luck getting a "warm" day and happy smoking!!
Title: Re: Smoking in extreme cold
Post by: Mr Walleye on December 14, 2009, 07:28:52 PM
Nomad

We are at a nice balmy -44C tonite. Just about time to my winter jacket out.  ::)

At these temps the wind is your enemy. As the others have indicated you really need to protect the unit from the wind. I have mine setup in a heated garage because of our winters (Saskatchewan). I have also added a second element and I also control them with a PID so I have no problem getting up to temp. One thing to do is remove the generator and store it in a plastic tote in the house. This way the smoke generator will already be warm. Another thing you will have to do is allow plenty of time for preheating and open the as little as possible.

Yup... -44C tonite and it's supposed to be +2C on Thursday!  :o

Talk about having temp swings!  ::)

Mike
Title: Re: Smoking in extreme cold
Post by: RAF128 on December 14, 2009, 07:46:02 PM
Quote from: Mr Walleye on December 14, 2009, 07:28:52 PM
Nomad


Yup... -44C tonite and it's supposed to be +2C on Thursday!  :o

Talk about having temp swings!  ::)

Mike

You must be in Calgary.   Only place I know where temp change that much.
My smoker is set up in the heated garage and although it's -30 C outside, it's +15C (60F) inside ;) and in the morning I'm smoking some pepperoni beer sticks.
Title: Re: Smoking in extreme cold
Post by: Mr Walleye on December 14, 2009, 08:16:03 PM
The Sticks sound great RAF!  ;)

Moose Jaw is home for me... We pretty much get all the weather that flows through Calgary though. If I remember correctly your in 'Toon Town. Your probably having similar weather to us.

Mike
Title: Re: Smoking in extreme cold
Post by: Hopefull Romantic on December 15, 2009, 01:31:54 AM
Man I sure am glad I only hear about those temps and have to live with them. -44 C, holly crap that is cold.

HR
Title: Re: Smoking in extreme cold
Post by: RAF128 on December 15, 2009, 06:50:03 AM
Sounds to me that you're a walleye fisherman.    No finer fresh fish in my mind.    Someday, if I ever have any left over ;), I'll smoke some.
Title: Re: Smoking in extreme cold
Post by: Nomad on December 15, 2009, 11:18:54 AM
Quote from: hal4uk on December 14, 2009, 04:48:26 PM
Hi Nomad, Welcome to the forum!

B-B-B-B-B-B-B-BRRRRRRRRRRR....
Minus WHAT???...

Well, this is slightly involved, but it will work: 
1) Set the Smoker in the middle of the biggest room you have.
2) Wrap it up with old towels, newspaper and such.
3) Carefully, put the whole thing in a cardboard box and tape it shut.
4) Do the same thing thing with all the rest of your stuff.
5) Call a moving van.

LOL, But what would I do with my snowblower and all my snow shovels?

Title: Re: Smoking in extreme cold
Post by: Nomad on December 15, 2009, 11:26:43 AM
Quote from: Huntnfreak on December 14, 2009, 05:34:56 PM
Nomad- welcome to the forum and I thought I had it bad!  I'm dealing with about -16* F.  Where are you at?  I won't get those temps for another month or so.  The good thing is it will give you lots of time to fill the freezer with things to smoke.  The nice thing about being below freezing for 5 months here in Minnesota is that I have a really big freezer right outside my back door!  Good luck getting a "warm" day and happy smoking!!

I live in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta which is just outside of Edmonton up here in the Great White North. We're setting all kinds of temperature records right now. We hit -46*C the other night. We could use a little global warming up here.  ;D
Title: Re: Smoking in extreme cold
Post by: Nomad on December 15, 2009, 11:38:03 AM
QuoteI have also added a second element and I also control them with a PID so I have no problem getting up to temp

Mr Walleye, thanks for the post. I will try what you mentioned, but what is a PID?
Title: Re: Smoking in extreme cold
Post by: FLBentRider on December 15, 2009, 12:27:40 PM
Quote from: Nomad on December 15, 2009, 11:26:43 AM
Quote from: Huntnfreak on December 14, 2009, 05:34:56 PM
Nomad- welcome to the forum and I thought I had it bad!  I'm dealing with about -16* F.  Where are you at?  I won't get those temps for another month or so.  The good thing is it will give you lots of time to fill the freezer with things to smoke.  The nice thing about being below freezing for 5 months here in Minnesota is that I have a really big freezer right outside my back door!  Good luck getting a "warm" day and happy smoking!!

I live in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta which is just outside of Edmonton up here in the Great White North. We're setting all kinds of temperature records right now. We hit -46*C the other night. We could use a little global warming up here.  ;D

We're getting all the warming down here!  Click Here for My Weather (http://"http://weather.rdharner.com/wx.htm)

Title: Re: Smoking in extreme cold
Post by: HawkeyeSmokes on December 15, 2009, 06:41:46 PM
Quote from: Nomad on December 15, 2009, 11:38:03 AM
QuoteI have also added a second element and I also control them with a PID so I have no problem getting up to temp

Mr Walleye, thanks for the post. I will try what you mentioned, but what is a PID?

Hi Nomad, a PID is a proportional–integral–derivative controller . In a nut shell, it's a very precise temperature controller for the smoker. Here's a link to some reading. PID (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PID_controller)

This is a popular one for the Bradley smoker. Auber PID (http://www.auberins.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=8&products_id=72)
Title: Re: Smoking in extreme cold
Post by: Mr Walleye on December 15, 2009, 06:43:08 PM
Nomad

A PID is a very accurate temperature control device. Most here use the Auber. Here is a link...
http://www.auberins.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=8&products_id=72

You can also build your own. Here is a link to plans....
http://www.susanminor.org/forums/showthread.php?p=504#post504

Here is the write up I did on adding the second element...
http://www.susanminor.org/forums/showthread.php?p=910#post910

Mike
Title: Re: Smoking in extreme cold
Post by: hal4uk on December 15, 2009, 10:45:08 PM
Nomad, you should be able to unload the snowblower on EBay, But ya just never know...
My cats have been on there for 3 years now, and I haven't had a single bid  ;D
Title: Re: Smoking in extreme cold
Post by: Father Tom on January 01, 2010, 09:11:31 AM
Minus 45* F and still smoking.  What a group!!!! Diehards to the end.  I tried smoking 10 cornish game hens Wednesday.  BS in Garage with door open.  OT was 20*.  Hens at room temperature of 60*  Vent 3/4 open.  Two large bricks in smoker.  IT never got over 140* in eight (8) hours.

As someone has said.  Put in two elements.  will do this month.  Hens were ok if BBQ"ed or microwaved for 5 minutes. :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[

FT
Title: Re: Smoking in extreme cold
Post by: MPTubbs on January 04, 2010, 06:15:41 AM
Quote from: Father Tom on January 01, 2010, 09:11:31 AM
Minus 45* F and still smoking.  What a group!!!! Diehards to the end.  I tried smoking 10 cornish game hens Wednesday.  BS in Garage with door open.  OT was 20*.  Hens at room temperature of 60*  Vent 3/4 open.  Two large bricks in smoker.  IT never got over 140* in eight (8) hours.

As someone has said.  Put in two elements.  will do this month.  Hens were ok if BBQ"ed or microwaved for 5 minutes. :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[

FT

I did four 5 pound chickens (2 beer can and 2 flat on their backs) and it took 13 hours.

Poltry has a lot of moisture in them and it takes awhile to do a great job.
Title: Re: Smoking in extreme cold
Post by: KyNola on January 04, 2010, 06:29:38 AM
mptubbs,
What was the tower temp during the 13 hour period?  That seems like a REALLY long time to do chickens.  I would have brought those kids in after the smoke period and finished them in the house oven.

I'm an alarmist but 13 hours of poultry in a low temp environment would scare the heebie jeebies out of me.

KyNola
Title: Re: Smoking in extreme cold
Post by: MPTubbs on January 04, 2010, 07:06:51 AM
Quote from: KyNola on January 04, 2010, 06:29:38 AM
mptubbs,
What was the tower temp during the 13 hour period?  That seems like a REALLY long time to do chickens.  I would have brought those kids in after the smoke period and finished them in the house oven.

I'm an alarmist but 13 hours of poultry in a low temp environment would scare the heebie jeebies out of me.

KyNola

I don't have my notes with me at this time but I'm think'n the tower never got over 190*. 190* was the highest temp towards the end.

We ate and everyone thought that it was the best chicken they ever had!

P.S. Nobody got sick! ;D
Title: Re: Smoking in extreme cold
Post by: KyNola on January 04, 2010, 07:11:22 AM
Glad to hear it all worked out well for you.

KyNola
Title: Re: Smoking in extreme cold
Post by: MPTubbs on January 05, 2010, 09:07:26 AM
My next smoke will be Friday or Saturday and I'm do'n baby backs.

High will be -1* with 4 more inches of fresh snow on the ground.  :o
Title: Re: Smoking in extreme cold
Post by: Dr. Evil on January 15, 2010, 08:47:40 PM
Quote from: Nomad on December 15, 2009, 11:26:43 AM
Quote from: Huntnfreak on December 14, 2009, 05:34:56 PM
Nomad- welcome to the forum and I thought I had it bad!  I'm dealing with about -16* F.  Where are you at?  I won't get those temps for another month or so.  The good thing is it will give you lots of time to fill the freezer with things to smoke.  The nice thing about being below freezing for 5 months here in Minnesota is that I have a really big freezer right outside my back door!  Good luck getting a "warm" day and happy smoking!!

I live in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta which is just outside of Edmonton up here in the Great White North. We're setting all kinds of temperature records right now. We hit -46*C the other night. We could use a little global warming up here.  ;D

Hey buddy - Im just down the road from ya....in Sherwood Park...cool to see someone local....

Sorry for the thread derail....
Title: Re: Smoking in extreme cold
Post by: Quarlow on January 15, 2010, 10:22:32 PM
Hello Dr. I really liked Sherwood park. Use to stop at the new petro-can truck stop when I trucked through there when I work for Penner International. The truck stop was brand new then.
Title: Re: Smoking in extreme cold
Post by: MrsHoss on January 16, 2010, 08:58:27 PM
Quote from: hal4uk on December 14, 2009, 04:48:26 PM
Hi Nomad, Welcome to the forum!

B-B-B-B-B-B-B-BRRRRRRRRRRR....
Minus WHAT???...

Well, this is slightly involved, but it will work: 
1) Set the Smoker in the middle of the biggest room you have.
2) Wrap it up with old towels, newspaper and such.
3) Carefully, put the whole thing in a cardboard box and tape it shut.
4) Do the same thing thing with all the rest of your stuff.
5) Call a moving van.


That's what I would do.lol ;D