Hello Everyone,
Been reading the forums and decided to order the digital 4 rack... any advice on setting it up? I will simply follow the instructions for assembly and seasoning, hope everything turns out well.
I'm excited and can't wait till this weekend to smoke!
Thank you in advance for any input.
Eddie
Welcome to the forum eddieo!
Your gonna love your BS, just follow the seasoning instructions and then your good to go! I see great eats in your future...just make sure and use mesquite! ;D
C
Welcome to the forum Eddie
If you have been cruzin the forum you may have already checked out the recipe site, but if you haven't just click on the smoker in the bottom of my post and you will be taken there. Lots of tried and true recipes there for the Bradley.
Keep us posted
Mike
W E L C O M E to the Forum Eddieo!
Mr Walleye has you pointed to the recipe site, WTS is beating the mesquite drum, all I can do is welcome you.
Welcome, Eddio. You're gonna love the Bradley and this forum. I agree wholeheartedly with Mr. Walleye. Try any of the recipes on that board and you won't be disappointed. Please forgive WTS; he's a corporate shill for the MOO corporation (Mesquite Over Others). His heart is in the right place even if his taste for wood isn't ;D. In all seriousness, give mesquite and all the other woods a try. You'll find you have different favorites for different foods.
SD
Hi Eddieo;
Welcome to the forum.
Here are a few suggestions you can do while you waite for your smoker to arrive.
I just ordered my Bradley Smoker. What can I do before it arrives? (http://www.susanminor.org/forums/showpost.php?p=813&postcount=32)
Also check out the other FAQ's while you are there.
Bradley Smoker FAQ's (http://www.susanminor.org/forums/showthread.php?t=481)
Welcome to the forum. As you can already see, there a plenty of friendly folks here who are always willing to help. Please share your adventures with us also. We would love to see your results. Most of all have fun with your new Bradley.
Welcome eddieo. You should find this forum very informative. I know when I brought mine home last month I lost sleep dreaming of what I was going to smoke first. And since then its lost sleep over wondering whats next. You will love it!!!
Welcome aboard Eddieo! There is nothing more I can add to what my esteemed friends of the forum have already extended to you. Have fun and tell us all about your first smoking experience. We all love to read the first OMG posts from first time users. :D
Smoke On,
KyNola
Hi Everyone,
Thanks for all the replies. I finished the seasoning as instucted in the owners manual. The inside of the BDS appears to have a slight brownish tint. Is that sufficient seasoning?
I went to the market tonight to pick up all the stuff to make my first batch of ABTs (read so much about 'em, I gotta try it); just want to make sure the smoker is ready...? Will try and smoke them tomorrow, I'll let you all know how they turned out.
Also, I just ordered three bubbapucks and am thinking about whether or not I need a thermometer as we'll. Your thoughts?
Thanks,
Eddie
The seasoning is sufficient, as you do more smokes the inside will be black. The main function of the first seasoning is to burn off and oil residue that is on the metal.
A probe thermometer is almost a necessity, but if you are just doing ABT's you can use the door thermometers. You should get a dual probe, or dual sensor probe. Those types of thermometers will monitor both the cabinet and meat temperature. The type of thermometer most used by members is the remote dual probe Maverick ET-73.
Gotta echo Habs sentiments on the Maverick ET-73. The thing is a godsend as it has an alarm to tell you when your meat has reached the IT you desire. It sure as heck beats opening the door all the time to check on your meat. The first rule of smoking: If you're looking, you're not cooking.
SD
Welcome to the forum Eddieo. I got my BDS6 last about 1 1/2 months ago, and have loved everything that's come out of it so far. Pork loins, smoked jerky, ABT's (of course), and today's project is my second batch of ribs. If you've never had a spare rib out of a smoker, you haven't lived yet.
You will find all of the advice that you need here. There are some true experts wandering around in this forum. Good Luck, enjoy, and depite what WestTexas dude says, you may smoke with woods other than mesquite ;D
Jeff
First time smoke with BDS to try some ABTs. Also made some using turkey bacon, both were very good although the bacon did not come out crunchy as some posts have stated. I'm wondering if the vent on the top has anything to do with it, I had it open about 1/8 inch (was I retaining too much moisture?). I'm not sure how open or closed the vent should be, any rules of thumb on the vent? Anyhow, I'm looking forward to experimenting and learning more. The wife is requesting that I smoke a turkey for thanksgiving this year, so I've got to start practicing.
Thanks for all of your input.
Eddie
Before:
(http://i36.tinypic.com/2j2sqra.jpg)
After:
(http://i36.tinypic.com/10i9ir4.jpg)
Welcome to forum, eddieo!
I have my vent full open for everything (but they will tell ya I'm a bit off) and I use mesquite for everything! ;D Your ABT's look great to me, if they come out a bit lesss than crispy throw it into your oven on a quick broil!
C
Welcome eddieo...pay no mind to mesquite boy...he has a "spell"...uh...every day...when it comes to his preferred wood...nice enough fella...but...ya know ;D...ANYHOO...ABTs look great...and I echo the broiler factor...you may want to do it on chicken too! :)
If you keep the vent more open than you think you need, you are on the right track. Smoke condensing and dripping on food does not taste good, unless you like the taste of an ashtray (which is pig latin for TRASH)
Quote from: FLBentRider on September 01, 2008, 05:48:10 AM
If you keep the vent more open than you think you need, you are on the right track. Smoke condensing and dripping on food does not taste good, unless you like the taste of an ashtray (which is pig latin for TRASH)
My vent is permanently froze in the 1/2 open 1/2 closed position. In agreement with FLB on the condensed smoke moisture not tasting good. Next time you see a black telephone pole with a dark goo running down the side run over and give it a lick. That's creosote or the same nasty wood rosins that are being carried away by the steam. The smoke actually tastes PDG if it didn't, None of us would be here smoking our food. Your goal isnt to trap all the smoke in the tower to get more flavor, like you would think. You want the smoke to gently kiss your food as it passes by taking the nasty rosins with it. Hope this makes sense.
Eddieo,
Your ABT's look great. As for the vent, I typically run the vent at least half open for everything except poultry and then it goes wide open as poultry contains a LOT of moisture and will build up in the tower, run out the door(nice stain on my porch) and will hold the temp down in the tower as well. Even some fish requires a wider vent in my opinion.
Great first project in your smoker! Wait until the first time you do a pork butt. You won't believe it. :D
KyNola
Thank you all for your replies, they are all helping me to understand my new toy better.
La Quinta, when you wrote; "...you may want to do it on chicken too!", are you saying to put the chicken in the broiler after smoking? If so, I'm assuming its for the skin and will work for turkey too? How long in the broiler and at what temp?
All this info is making me want to take vacation days to try everything ;D
Eddie
EddieO,
ABT's look awesome. Better than my first effort, but they still tasted great. As far as venting goes, stick with what the experts are telling you as far as how wide, and for what type of meat. I didn't know about any of this until reading this thread..., and I'm going to be doing some chicken halves this weekend. Guess I'll open up the vent a little more.
Good Luck, and happy smoking,
Jeff
Sorry eddieo...yes...that's what i meant...and I usually leave my vent open 3/4 except with fish...just my humble opinion. With fish...all the way open...but there are fish experts on here that may disagree!! :)
Welcome EddieO
Your Abt's look delightful!!!! Getting the Bacon crispy in the bradley is tough to do unless you have higher box temps or longer cooking times. As everybody has stated. A short time under the broiler will do the trick. My vent runs half open unless I'm doing poultry and then I run it wide open. Good luck and happy smokin!!!!!!
BCD