Ok so I am doing my first smoke with the new BDS. I saw a nice idea on here about bacon wrapped chicken breasts stuffed with ham and cheese. I was really wanting to give this new toy a run so this seemed like a nice lunch. It is still smoking and not wanting to open the door I really wanted to sneak a peek. How do you guys do this. I found that with a flashlight looking down into the vent gave me the ability to see the meat inside and cure my need to look. ;D just curious how others do it.
Welcome to the forum.
You learn quickly..... if your looking your not cooking. :)
Just close your eyes and imagine what it looks like ::)
I have a cousin who has a MES with the glass window. The first time he was smoking with it the glass was clear and he could see inside for about 10 minutes. He tried after a couple of smokes to clean it each time. It now has natural limo tint ::)
As you learn how your smoker works and the more success you have with it and learning to depend on other tools, like redi chek 732 adds up to less peeking...but most of the time when trying something new you will tend to peek more often...
One sure cure to stop you peeking is to open the door when the smoke is rolling the heaviest. Have your eyes wide open and stick your head as close to the door as possible with out getting burnt. The first time you get smoke in your eyes it will stop that urge. ;D
Well the breasts completed and we have consumed them. Wow they were awesome. A little bit over smoked but I think that will come with time next time I will smoke for less time. The nice thing is that the flashlight cuts through all the smoke and I can see the meat perfectly. I will in time not need to do that but the first one it was so hard to resist. And as far as putting my face as close as I can..... probably have to take your word for it. ;D.. Well now just to figure out what is going on this thing on Saturday. Maybe Ribs or maybe a Butt. Just need to figure out what.
Thank you for everyone on this board. Really great group and I will be hanging around. If I can figure out how to post a pic I will post one of the chicken today they really looked great.
For posting pictures
http://www.susanminor.org/forums/showthread.php?488-Answers-To-Bradley-Smoker-FAQ-s&p=768#post768
If you are going to do a butt set aside 16 - 20 hours depends on the size of the butt.
Last one I did took 18 1/2 hours.
Also smoke with fruit wood for a less strong wood smoke.
I did some ribs this weekend with 3 hrs of hickory and they were awesome. did 3-1-1 not falling off the bone but just stuck to the bone and a brush of a tooth and they were not stuck anymore. Maybe next time I will foil them for 2 hrs instead of 1 with the apple juice.