Just got done with my first smoke and heres the result!!

[commonsense]

 You guys were right I just got done with my first smoke and it was awesome to say the least!

I smoked a whole chicken!  I brined it overnight with just brown sugar, kosher salt, and water.

I used alder wood and smoked it for roughly 5 hours at 210 degrees give or take.  I then finished it off in the oven for roughly

20 minutes at 300 degrees.  I forgot to mention I seasoned it before putting it in the smoker.  I rubbed olive oil all over it, seasoned salt,

pepper, and garlic peppered it. ( Under the skin as well!) Oh my God what a wonderful tasting chicken, I am shocked.  It was so smoky and

tasty.  I chopped up the left overs for sandwiches tomorrow. Oh I cooked it till the thermometer said 180 degrees in the thigh then took

it out and let it sit for 5 minutes before cutting it up.

I forgot to take a picture I was eating it while I was cutting! 

I also need advice on how to get the residue off the smoker element and right before it?  Any ideas? How clean does it need to be?

Thanks for all the advice!

Commonsense

[Smoking Duck]

Hey Commonsense,

I only remove the residue if the bisquettes start sticking.

If you need to remove it, try some denatured alcohol or isopropyl alcohol.  Sometimes, if I'm in a hurry, I just scrape it off with a razor blade.

Congrats on the first smoke......didn't we tell you you'd be happy with the purchase ;D  I may lie to the wife to keep me outta trouble, but I NEVER lie about food  ;) ;D

SD

[Gizmo]

For cleaning the puck burner and ramp, I also use a razor blade in a holder (type for scraping paint off windows) and it works great.  Never had to go much beyond that.

[FLBentRider]

I can't say that mine gets all that dirty, or I have not noticed, but I would use a razor knife if I needed to.