Towel/ T-shirt can someone explain?

[Stoker]

Being somewhat new to this,[:D] I see mention in the threads, FTC referring to foil, towel, cooler.  Can someone explain the reasoning behind the use of a towel or T-shirt or direct me to a thread that would have already explained this theory?  Thanks[^]

[bsolomon]

In the FTC, the towel jst acts as an insulator to keep the heat inside the meat.  If you just did FC, then the heat from the meat would be lost warming the airspace inside the cooler.

As to the T-Shirt method, Oldman is the king of that concept.  Basically, from what I understand it accomplishs a couple of things.  First, it keeps the smoke from directly hitting the surface of the meat, which can keep it from blackening, so in a sense the t-shirt acts as a buffer.  Second, after smoking, the key to the method is that the meat is re-wrapped back into the t-shirt and left to stand for a while (a couple of days).  This keeps a large moist mass of smokey cloth in contact with the meat, all of which help facilitate deeper penetration of the smoke flavor into the core of the meat.

Here's a couple of threads to get you started:
http://www.bradleysmoker.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=218
http://www.bradleysmoker.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=702

[Habanero Smoker]

In addition, some coolers will crack or melt when it comes in direct contact with a hot item. Wrapping the hot meat with a towel not only helps insulate, but protects your cooler.

[Stoker]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Stoker</i>
<br />Being somewhat new to this,[:D] I see mention in the threads, FTC referring to foil, towel, cooler.  Can someone explain the reasoning behind the use of a towel or T-shirt or direct me to a thread that would have already explained this theory?  Thanks[^]
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

Thanks Guys, I understand now.  I've only used the FC with all my cooking. Now I'll have to go to a hotel/motel and stock up on some towels[;)] do you think pillow cases will do if they are 100% cotton?[:o)]

[Oldman]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">pillow cases will do if they are 100% cotton?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

If not for T-Shirt method. I've used bed sheets light soda towel, but they are to "air tight." The best is an old T-shirt (not the sleevleless type.)

http://rminor.com