BRADLEY SMOKER | "Taste the Great Outdoors"

Recipe Discussions => Recipes in development => Topic started by: wabbq101 on January 01, 2007, 12:26:14 PM

Title: First Timer/Rub Questions
Post by: wabbq101 on January 01, 2007, 12:26:14 PM
So I am doing some 'bonless country style' pork I got from Costco.
Yeah, I know, should have gone to my local butcher, but the price was right, and it is the first time.
For the rub I used the following:

1/3c Smoked parprika
3T dry mustard
2 T onion powder
2T garlic powder
2T Basil
1T cayenne
1T Black Pepper
1/2T Ancho powder
1/2T Chipotle powder
3T Brown Sugar
1/8T Cumin (shy)
and a bit of this and that.........

I did not use any salt, and rubbed the meat (about 7 lbs) and let sit overnight in the fridge. Brought it out, let it sit out for about 2 hours, and am halfway through my first smoke.

Do I need to use salt?
I would prefer not to, as I watch that sort of thing in my diet.

Thanks  for any suggestions about either the salt, or the rub in general.
Total newbie with the Bradley, but know my way around a kitchen fairly well.
Crossing my fingers, it's noon here finally............. 8)

Title: Re: First Timer/Rub Questions
Post by: West Coast Kansan on January 01, 2007, 12:54:39 PM
I try to minimize salt as well for blood pressure...nothing special about salt beyond taste for food your going to cook and then eat today.
Title: Re: First Timer/Rub Questions
Post by: wabbq101 on January 01, 2007, 01:16:43 PM
Thanks, I was hoping to hear that.
I probably won't eat anything I smoked today, just FTC then vacuum seal for a fishing trip later this month.
Title: Re: First Timer/Rub Questions
Post by: West Coast Kansan on January 01, 2007, 02:50:34 PM
Longer term storage questions requires better advice than I can provide.
Title: Re: First Timer/Rub Questions
Post by: Habanero Smoker on January 01, 2007, 03:12:19 PM
Salt is a flavor enhancer, and is not required in rubs, though it is useful is carrying flavors into the meat. Capsaicin the chemical in hot peppers, also heightens flavors. From looking at your recipe with cayenne, black Pepper, ancho powder, and chipotle powder; it looks very flavorful to me. It just different type of taste.

Also there is nothing wrong with Costco or Sam's Club meat.
Title: Re: First Timer/Rub Questions
Post by: wabbq101 on January 01, 2007, 03:31:48 PM
Thanks, I do like Costco meat, but still prefer my local guy.
I figured for a first time, I'd save the moneyif it all went south on me.
Meats out of the smoker now, looks good, but not quite up to temp, so in the oven.
Lots of questions I had already have been answered by reading the forum over the past few weeks, a nice resource for sure.
This is gonn be fun.............. ;D
I'll try some salt with tomorrows batch, and see what it does for the meat.
Title: Re: First Timer/Rub Questions
Post by: Wildcat on January 01, 2007, 05:28:11 PM
I personally need my salt, but unless I am mistaken, it is not absolutely required unless you want to cure in a cold smoke environment.  There are experts on this forum that will probably advise you if I am wrong.  Salt helps in the smoking process (hot or cold), but like in your kitchen, if you fully cook to the proper internal temp all should be just fine. ;)
Title: Re: First Timer/Rub Questions
Post by: wabbq101 on January 01, 2007, 05:53:53 PM
Well I put them in the oven for a bit, set at 200, and they got to temp fine in just over an hour.
Sort of windy here today, and even sheltered it seemed like a was a bit cool in the box at times.
Thermometer said it was up to temp, but I sort of had my doubts.  ;)
I'll be getting a Maverick ET73 and ihopefully that will help make sure on the box temps.
Tomorrow another run through.........  ;D
Title: Re: First Timer/Rub Questions
Post by: Gizmo on January 01, 2007, 07:44:15 PM
I would agree with all the other posts, no salt is fine, costco meat is quite palitable (it's where I usually pick up my ribs and pork butts - gotta ask them behind the counter to get a big butt), and the recipe you posted is similar to many that I have used including the bit of this and that. ;) ;)

I also finish may of my ventures in the oven.  The thermometer on the Bradley is not very accurate (digital) and the use of an external is a must.  Most here use the Maverick so that would be a good choice.  I will have to pick one up some day as well.  For now, I have a dual temp probe polan that does an internal and air temp in one probe.  I really like it other than it is not remote.  The advantage is the air temp is sampled right above the surface of the meat.  I also have a Thermopen that I used to double check.  It is extremely accurate (comes with a calibration certificate) and the sensor (better version than what is found in the standard digitals) is in the very tip so you know when you insert the probe, exactly where the temp is being taken from.

Welcome and Enjoy.  Keep us up to date.
Title: Re: First Timer/Rub Questions
Post by: owrstrich on January 01, 2007, 07:52:21 PM
you will got to he11 for that wabbq101...

smoking the pig and not eating it straight away...

15 for taunting on this offense... the next offense will be the hot rails...

you have been warned...

owrstrich
Title: Re: First Timer/Rub Questions
Post by: wabbq101 on January 01, 2007, 08:58:13 PM
 ;D(Walks back 15) ;D

I will make sure to eat it next time......... did try a bit of course.
I mean, it's not like have discipline or anything when it comes to food.

Am doing a different rub tomorrow, after I get my Maverick.
It is fun, and they came out pretty damn good for a first time newbie , IMHO........ ;D
Of course, I got lots of good info here on the forum to help make come out it that way though.

Thanks.......... :)
Title: Re: First Timer/Rub Questions
Post by: iceman on January 02, 2007, 10:38:01 AM
What O said. Shame on you for teasing us. Hope you saved some low salt spam for me O. I'm hungry, stuck at work, and then I read stuff like this. I feel like the poor starving pigmy the the cable guy talks about. :D Sounds like a good rub wabbq101. ;)
Title: Re: First Timer/Rub Questions
Post by: wabbq101 on January 02, 2007, 06:39:32 PM
Well the wind and heavy rain delayed my second smoke today, and if this keeps up, may even delay my weekend fishing trip to the coast............ >:(
Oh well, there is always work I guess, a poor alternative to fishing though.

Try again tomorrow, that's my plan.
Either that or go to work.................. ;)

Title: Re: First Timer/Rub Questions
Post by: Arcs_n_Sparks on January 02, 2007, 06:41:19 PM
Yes, work is always a poor alternative.......

Title: Re: First Timer/Rub Questions
Post by: West Coast Kansan on January 02, 2007, 07:21:36 PM
speaking of poor alternatives, have you seen the 'smoke flavor' SPAM? I have not tried it but understand that if you are trapped in winter weather it is good for either food OR fuel.
Title: Re: First Timer/Rub Questions
Post by: Arcs_n_Sparks on January 02, 2007, 07:23:33 PM
I love dual-use technology.......  8) 8) 8)

Arcs_n_Sparks
Title: Re: First Timer/Rub Questions
Post by: iceman on January 03, 2007, 09:41:12 AM
Quote from: West Coast Kansan on January 02, 2007, 07:21:36 PM
speaking of poor alternatives, have you seen the 'smoke flavor' SPAM? I have not tried it but understand that if you are trapped in winter weather it is good for either food OR fuel.
My buddy Stumpy told me if you stick a string in the can of spam and light it, it makes a good candle. I guess you wouldn't want any open flames around the ole outhouse after eating some of that stuff the day before. ;D :o :D ;D LOL!!!
Title: Re: First Timer/Rub Questions
Post by: Wildcat on January 03, 2007, 02:14:24 PM
 :D :D :D :D :D ;D ;D
Title: Re: First Timer/Rub Questions
Post by: Gizmo on January 03, 2007, 08:44:31 PM
He didn't get the stumpy nickname from using the spam candle in the ole outhouse did he?
Title: Re: First Timer/Rub Questions
Post by: iceman on January 04, 2007, 01:52:46 PM
Quote from: Gizmo on January 03, 2007, 08:44:31 PM
He didn't get the stumpy nickname from using the spam candle in the ole outhouse did he?
Naw, he's just friggin short but doesn't like to be called shorty or short stuff so his wife nicknamed him stumpy. Funny thing is she giggles when she calls him that. Hmmmm.... I wonder if there's more to the story than just his height? ::) ??? ;D :D
Well I know I'm not the one that will lose sleep pondering that question! :D :D :D
Title: Re: First Timer/Rub Questions
Post by: Cajun on April 16, 2007, 05:33:04 PM
The word diet???? ;D   He has to be on the wrong channel here ::)  I've gained 18# just sitting here in front of the screen reading about the good smokes here... Oh buy the way welcome and good eats to ya!   The Cajun
Title: Re: First Timer/Rub Questions
Post by: Chez Bubba on June 08, 2007, 06:49:45 PM
Quote from: wabbq101 on January 01, 2007, 12:26:14 PM
Re: First Timer/Rub Questions

Gently up & down, a little lube helps. ;)

;D ;D ;D

Iiiiimmmm Baaaacccckkkk! :o

Kirk
Title: Re: First Timer/Rub Questions
Post by: MWS on June 08, 2007, 07:41:01 PM
That's just plain rude.......

Really glad your back Chez  ;D ;D
Title: Re: First Timer/Rub Questions
Post by: La Quinta on July 20, 2007, 12:51:11 PM
All the way back to the salt question (Although i did thoroughly enjoy reading where this ended up!) My understanding (as in brining) is that when you use salt in the rub...what the salt does over a 24 hour period is actually draw the juices out of the meat and then over the proccess actualy "re-infuse" the salt back inside the meat via (the meat's) re-absorbtion of the juices. Sounds odd I know, but I've brined turkeys before and smoked them and was "petrified" that the meat would be salty. IT WAS NOT. I too, avoid salt, but it really does add flavour inside the meat. Just one...perhaps... misguided opinion!
Title: Re: First Timer/Rub Questions
Post by: Gizmo on July 20, 2007, 03:31:00 PM
I believe there are several posts here or on the recipe site about the technical side of brining.  If memory serves me, one of the posts here mentioned a High School term we learned that dealt with the process of reaching an equilibrium between the concentration of the brine solution with the solution in the meat.  I would try to get more technical and detailed but fear I would only show my ignorance and lack of scientific knowledge.   ;D ;D
Title: Re: First Timer/Rub Questions
Post by: La Quinta on July 20, 2007, 04:43:18 PM
I agree. It is technical and for way smarter people then me to debate...But...it works! Makes for a delicious piece of meat!