Your First Cook

[prestonlewisjr]

Newbie again.  What do I do to the smoker before my first cook.  Will do chicken first.

[manfromplaid]

follow the manual on how to clean and season your smoker. this is an important first step. use the recipes you have our find new and interesting methods in books or on the internet. chicken can soak up the smoke flavor real quick so a lighter flavor wood is a good idea. I like hickory with my chicken. ask away you can't go wrong getting advice here.

[Habanero Smoker]

Chicken is a good choice for a first cook. As manfromplaid stated go light on the smoke time. For chicken I like to use apple, maple or pecan, applying about 1:40 to 2:00 hours of smoke. You may want to finish them on the grill or under an oven broiler to crisp up the skin.

Other good choices for a first cook are a small pork loin, or pork tenderloins. Which I like to use pecan. A small beef roast would also be good for a first smoke. For beef I like oak.