What can I say other than I LOVE IT!!
Smoked my first meat tonight, a couple of boneless, skinless, chicken breasts. Tasted a moment ago and I didn't want to swallow it. I wanted to keep chewing to enjoy the flavor. Maybe not the smartest 1st use. :o I probably used $4 worth of pucks to smoke $8 worth of meat. Would have felt horrible if I invested a bunch of cash in some nice cut of meat and end up not doing it so well.
I used the Bradley brand mesquite pucks and smoked the breasts for 3 hours and 15 minutes. It was pretty windy out tonight so I keep the slide all the way to the right. Temperature hovered around 255. Didn't feel like mixing up a special rub, so I used Emerils Chicken Rub. I think Chef Emeril would be proud.
No issues with the smoker what so ever. When it was time to turn it off, I did it in steps. Running the slide left in steps to lower the temperature a little at a time. Generally speaking, heating eliments exposed to air tend to last a little longer if they go through a cool down cycle before shutting down completely. When the ambient temperature is 50 something and you cool down something that's 1000 or so there's going to be some changing in the structure of the element. Cracks and shorts. When I get the PID, I'll probably figure a way to incorporate a cool down cycle into the programming. I've read about quite a few people having to replace their heating eliments pretty early in the life of their smoker. Maybe...................... The guys at work tomorrow will be pleased when I bring in the delicious treat I did tonight. The family will get a full on meal this weekend.
Side note. I love this forum. Really friendly folks, willing and ready to share their knowledge and experience about this wonderful way to enjoy food with a great tool for preparing it. To all that have replied to my others posts, THANK YOU. I look forward to more interaction and having fun.
Has someone told you .......... We Like Pictures? ;D
Does SOUND like you had a great first time experience.
And yes, This Forum is great and everyone is willing to help.
Some have stayed up all nite with a newbie just to make sure
their smoke went OK.
Looking forward to your future smokes with pictures. ;D
Welcome to the Forum.
Congrats on your first smoke!
Sounds like everything came out great!!
Remember we like pic's!!
Took a picture. I can't quite figure out how to get it in the post.
Welcome! :)
I think your hooked on the Bradley and this forum. ;)
It is truly a great place.
SamuelG
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Yep, you are off to a great start!
The gradual cool down of the heating element is a good idea.
[imghttp://www.flickr.com/photos/68104234@N08/6191936462/in/photostream][/img]
Ok here's an attempt at posting a picture.
Well crap! That didn't work. Can anyone coach me how to insert a picture into a post. The little button to INSERT IMAGE isn't helpful.
Thanks
Quote from: Kitchen Commander on September 28, 2011, 04:18:46 AM
Took a picture. I can't quite figure out how to get it in the post.
No excuses now. :) :D here is the link on how to post pics
http://www.susanminor.org/forums/showthread.php?488-Answers-To-Bradley-Smoker-FAQ-s&p=768#post768 (http://www.susanminor.org/forums/showthread.php?488-Answers-To-Bradley-Smoker-FAQ-s&p=768#post768)
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
(http://s456.photobucket.com/albums/qq282/Renovite/?action-view¤t=Smokedchicken.jpg&t=1317211619566)
No pictures will be posted. Instructions did not work. >:(
[quote author=Kitchen Commander link=topic=24625.msg296032#msg296032 date=1317211785]
[img]http://s456.photobucket.com/albums/qq282/Renovite/?action-view¤t=Smokedchicken.jpg&t=1317211619566[/img]
[/quote]
You're getting closer!
Click on the photo, then click 'Share', then copy the code from the IMG for bulletin boards & forums. (full size)
(http://i456.photobucket.com/albums/qq282/Renovite/Smokedchicken.jpg)
Thanks for the assist. :)
By the way squirtthecat, the frown face on a previous post wasn't to mean I was upset with you that the instructions didn't work. Hope that wasn't perceived the wrong way. I was just frustrated. I appreciate the help getting the picture posted. However the heck you did it. Funny, I'm far from computer illiterate, it's a big part of my profession, just not well versed in the forums. I'm in this one and a couple of them for RV'ing. Can't post pictures in the others either. I strain my brain all day at work and the forums are relaxing when I get home. I'm probably just being to lazy to figure it out.
You'll be posting pics in no time!
Your chicken looks good! Nice job!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Ok, so I decided that this weekend I want to do some cold smoked Ribeyes. Probably some ribs too, not cold smoked though.
Anyone done cold smoked ribeyes before? I'm figuring smoking them for 2 - 3 hours with the heat element off and a pan of ice inside if necessary to keep the heat level around 80. I'll cover them with a Montreal rub and smoke with Jeam Beam pucks I got from Cabela's. After the smoke, I'll put them on the grill and finish them to medium. Am I on the mark?
Ribs. Not problem there. 6 hours at around 180 with a home made rub and mesquite pucks. Finish with a jack daniels sauce and a couple of minutes on the grill for asthetics.
Yep, sounds like a plan.
If you could cold smoke them a day or 2 in advance, they smoke flavor will really permeate the meat.. Just wrap them up tight in plastic wrap and toss in the fridge.
They are great.
Toss them in cold for a couple hours of smoke. Then wrap in saran wrap and vac seal or ziploc. Give them a couple days to bloom and then grill ;D
Thanks for the suggestions guys. So putting them in the frige a couple of days really makes a difference huh? I didn't know that. I guess I'll smoke them tomorrow night and enjoy them Sunday for dinner.