BRADLEY SMOKER | "Taste the Great Outdoors"

Bradley Smokers => The Digital Smokers (BTDS76P & BTDS108P) => Topic started by: Tramp on March 29, 2007, 06:26:10 AM

Title: 1st impression ..... concerned
Post by: Tramp on March 29, 2007, 06:26:10 AM
Hi all........Got my 6 rack digital yesterday, and it arrived in perfect condition.

Went togehter in 5 mins and was on the front porch "seasoning" in no time. I am a bit concerned at the aroma of the "bisquettes". I have been smoking for years with hicokry, and i bought the hickory bisquettes, but when i started to get smoke, it didnt smell anything like any hickory i had ever used, In fact it smelled like sawdust burning. Cant imagine i did anything wrong, guess i'll see how the first cook goes....that will be this weekend.
Title: Re: 1st impression ..... concerned
Post by: Wildcat on March 29, 2007, 06:36:00 AM
Welcome to the forum Tramp and congrats on the purchase.  It IS burning sawdust.  Have faith, the hickory taste WILL come through.
Title: Re: 1st impression ..... concerned
Post by: Tramp on March 29, 2007, 08:31:43 AM
Great to hear, cant wait to start cookin with this bad boy
Title: Re: 1st impression ..... concerned
Post by: Wildcat on March 29, 2007, 10:36:37 AM
Be sure to post results, preferrably with pictures.  If you have any questions, the members on this forum will help you out.  Heck, I think most of us live for the opportunity to give advice.  Just like a regular family. ;D
Title: Re: 1st impression ..... concerned
Post by: LilSmoker on March 29, 2007, 10:52:04 AM
Hi Tramp and welcome, Gizmo also has the 6 seater digital, and has done a few miles with it by now, so he can give you some pointers, i believe West Coast Kansan also has digital. As Wildcat says, always plenty of help and advice here  ;)

LilSmoker(http://www.emotipad.com/newemoticons/Tip-Hat.gif)
Title: Re: 1st impression ..... concerned
Post by: Habanero Smoker on March 29, 2007, 02:27:15 PM
Quote from: Tramp on March 29, 2007, 06:26:10 AM
Hi all........Got my 6 rack digital yesterday, and it arrived in perfect condition.

Went togehter in 5 mins and was on the front porch "seasoning" in no time. I am a bit concerned at the aroma of the "bisquettes". I have been smoking for years with hicokry, and i bought the hickory bisquettes, but when i started to get smoke, it didnt smell anything like any hickory i had ever used, In fact it smelled like sawdust burning. Cant imagine i did anything wrong, guess i'll see how the first cook goes....that will be this weekend.

Tramp;
Welcome to the forum.

During the seasoning, you are not only coating the walls of the cabinet, but also burning off any residual oils left on the metal during the manufacturing process. Hopefully that is what was giving you an undesirable odor.
Title: Re: 1st impression ..... concerned
Post by: West Coast Kansan on March 29, 2007, 06:40:34 PM
Welcome Tramp, Gizmo's like yours is bigger than mine  :o Not to worry once you get the units really seasoned the flavors are just what you want. The Bradleys are interesting units and different than what you are used to using I am sure. 

The smell is a bit different. There is never any fire and the puck will smolder not really burn. You dont get the full load of tars, soot, other cancer causing agents you get from really burning wood coals. Bradley calls it a "Clean Smoke" which does not make sense but really comes through on oysters, scallops, other foods.

Just as you say to yourself the smoke smells like smoke, you will hear a little swish sound as the puck is ejected into the water bowl and another one is automatically loaded... go easy on the smoke times especially on foods that absorb smoke easy. 

:D Way much fun ahead.  Let the members know how it is going.  ;)
Title: Re: 1st impression ..... concerned
Post by: IKnowWood on March 29, 2007, 07:41:09 PM
Tramp

As many of us know and relate. You are starting on an adventure of smells and tastes like no other when it comes to cooking.  This smoker is so versitle in meat, vegtablesl, diary and such that your adventures are what you think and learn on the boards to go for it.  If you think it, post it, we can talk about it and all grow in the adventure,

Welcome and lets have a great time.
Title: Re: 1st impression ..... concerned
Post by: West Coast Kansan on March 29, 2007, 07:44:38 PM
Tramp, Just noticed - I think NePa Smoker is close by you. A couple of others also. 
Title: Re: 1st impression ..... concerned
Post by: Tramp on March 30, 2007, 10:56:38 AM
Yes NePa is close to me, i noticed the name and checked the profile. Havent looked around at much in the way of profiles seein as how there's a TON of info on this board. As for the "aroma" issue, i think i got it. I did up some chicken last night (thighs), and a small pork butt that i finished off in the oven due to low outside temps. ( I know i said 1st cook was this weekend, but who could wait)

The chicken got way too smokey, but the butt turned out perfectly. Guess it's all a learning curve, but then that was always the fun of BB-Q'n from the get go.  ;)

Great machine, and great forums. Thank you all for the welcome, and ideas. :)
Title: Re: 1st impression ..... concerned
Post by: Tiny Tim on March 30, 2007, 11:02:17 AM
Quote from: Tramp on March 30, 2007, 10:56:38 AM
The chicken got way too smokey, but the butt turned out perfectly. Guess it's all a learning curve, but then that was always the fun of BB-Q'n from the get go.  ;)


Exactly what happened to me on my second venture, only it was ribs and a pork loin roast...the roast was perfect, but the ribs were way too smoky.

Welcome.
Title: Re: 1st impression ..... concerned
Post by: NePaSmoKer on March 30, 2007, 11:43:07 AM
Quote from: Tramp on March 30, 2007, 10:56:38 AM
Yes NePa is close to me, i noticed the name and checked the profile. Havent looked around at much in the way of profiles seein as how there's a TON of info on this board. As for the "aroma" issue, i think i got it. I did up some chicken last night (thighs), and a small pork butt that i finished off in the oven due to low outside temps. ( I know i said 1st cook was this weekend, but who could wait)

The chicken got way too smokey, but the butt turned out perfectly. Guess it's all a learning curve, but then that was always the fun of BB-Q'n from the get go.  ;)

Great machine, and great forums. Thank you all for the welcome, and ideas. :)

Hi Tramp

we should try to get together sometime.

nepas
Title: Re: 1st impression ..... concerned
Post by: Tramp on March 30, 2007, 11:46:22 AM
Maybe on one of my campin trips. I go to Hickory Run mostly.....may have to look into a site with electric now though, not sure i can bare the thought of leaving my DBS behind  ;D
Title: Re: 1st impression ..... concerned
Post by: NePaSmoKer on March 30, 2007, 11:54:32 AM
Quote from: Tramp on March 30, 2007, 11:46:22 AM
Maybe on one of my campin trips. I go to Hickory Run mostly.....may have to look into a site with electric now though, not sure i can bare the thought of leaving my DBS behind  ;D

Now you need a propane smoker  ;D

nepas
Title: Re: 1st impression ..... concerned
Post by: carnie1 on March 30, 2007, 01:11:59 PM
Maybe you guys can come visit me, I travel all over the area, was thinking about the BPS too
Title: Re: 1st impression ..... concerned
Post by: Habanero Smoker on March 30, 2007, 02:07:37 PM
Quote from: Tramp on March 30, 2007, 10:56:38 AM
Yes NePa is close to me, i noticed the name and checked the profile. Havent looked around at much in the way of profiles seein as how there's a TON of info on this board. As for the "aroma" issue, i think i got it. I did up some chicken last night (thighs), and a small pork butt that i finished off in the oven due to low outside temps. ( I know i said 1st cook was this weekend, but who could wait)

The chicken got way too smokey, but the butt turned out perfectly. Guess it's all a learning curve, but then that was always the fun of BB-Q'n from the get go.  ;)

Great machine, and great forums. Thank you all for the welcome, and ideas. :)

How much smoke did you apply. With chicken I generally keep the smoke time to 2.5-3 hours. I usuually use maple or apple.
Title: Re: 1st impression ..... concerned
Post by: coyote on March 30, 2007, 09:20:27 PM
I feel a smokers weekend in the works. 8)
Title: Re: 1st impression ..... concerned
Post by: Consiglieri on March 30, 2007, 10:07:04 PM
Chicken has a way of suckin in the smoke, kind of like a longshoreman on break (just kidding, of course). 

I've been told to use a mild/sweet wood (fruit or nut types), figure out how long you want to apply the smoke, and then cut the smoke by one quarter or one half.

The fun part about smoking is (a) the experimentation, and (b) great information those gurus here can provide.

Good luck with the Bradley experience.  I think you're going to enjoy the ride.
Title: Re: 1st impression ..... concerned
Post by: Tramp on March 31, 2007, 09:27:46 AM
Quote from: Habanero Smoker on March 30, 2007, 02:07:37 PM
How much smoke did you apply. With chicken I generally keep the smoke time to 2.5-3 hours. I usuually use maple or apple.

I hvae to play around with wood flavors. till now i have only ever used hickory, but then, i've also only ever smoker pork and beef.......for my tastebuds hickory is fine for them. However, for the chicken, perhaps hickory was not a gretat choice. :-\

Now that i have my DBS, i will be experimenting more and more with flavors and the like. As for the time smoked, it was aprox 3 hours, since i had the butt in there at the same time, and the butt was on the lower shelf (closer to the smoke)...... It's all gonna be "trial and error" which i dont mind. :P