Smoking in the Winter

SmokeyDrew · January 21, 2011, 06:32:34 PM

Quick question everyone...How easy or difficult is it to hot or cold smoke during the winter in COLD weather? Living in Chicago, the winter months are a little chilly. For example, when I woke up this morning (8:00AM) it was 0 with a windchill of -18. Thanks in advance for your answers. I do have a garage which will make it a little warmer.

Thanks,

Drew

wyoduke · January 21, 2011, 07:07:41 PM

Im in wyoming and if you can get out of the wind it will help but i smoked in a blizzard with a umbrella

Smokin Coop · January 21, 2011, 07:30:49 PM

I've only actually done a couple of smokes but both in some pretty frigid weather...made sure I stayed out of the wind and snow and only smoked at lower temps. Looking forward to warmer weather for easier temp control

DTAggie · January 21, 2011, 08:16:28 PM

The garage should help

watchdog56 · January 22, 2011, 04:16:26 AM

I am in Minnesota and smoke in the winter a lot,I just keep it in the garage and open the window. Main thing is to keep it out of the wind. I have a buddy who just told me he wrapped his Bradley with a moving blanket and his recovery temps were fast so I am going to try that super bowl weekend when I do 3 butts.

KyNola · January 22, 2011, 07:53:00 AM

Wind is your enemy, not so much the cold temp. Wind blowing across the top of your Bradley will literally suck the heat right out of your Bradley. Block the wind and you should be good to go. Don't try closing the vent. That causes a whole different problem in addition to knocking down the heat in your Bradley.

schneep · January 22, 2011, 01:24:19 PM

I'm just 90 miles north of Chicago, and I smoke all winter long, just finished 20 pounds of bacon and the outside temp never went above 10 F.
Wind is your biggest problem.

Fernslinger · January 22, 2011, 08:50:44 PM

Glad I am in California ;D

bears fan · January 23, 2011, 05:39:02 PM

I agreee with the earlier posts. The cold is no problem, it's the wind that will get you.

Caneyscud · January 24, 2011, 10:57:06 AM

"The cold is no problem, it's the wind that will get you."

That sounds just like those folks (including me) that say something about it being a "dry heat" - claiming the heat out west is not as hot as the heat in the South and East! ;D ;D ;D ;D

Naw, they are right, the cold will affect you more than it will the smoker. Wind is another thing. Some controllers have trouble with the cold. Not that they don't work, but their programs don't know what -5 degrees is!

kinyo · January 24, 2011, 11:23:05 AM

I'm from Montreal and I can tell that the cold is not a problem!

Keep the smoker out of the wind and you won't have any problem.

But this morning it was really cold here, -20F and with the wind -36F (ouch!) !!! :'(

watchdog56 · January 24, 2011, 11:59:53 AM

Caney- as far as heat everyone says "but it is a dry heat so it's not bad' well put your head in an oven at 110 and keep it there,tell me that is not bad?

umbrellalady · January 25, 2011, 07:23:51 PM

I live in Manitoba and am finding that it is the wind that is the problem as well. I smoked some tenderloin a couple weeks ago when the temperatures were running at about -28C and my smoker had no problem until the wind came up. I had also wrapped it in an insulated blanket and have a brick on the bottom.

La Quinta · January 26, 2011, 12:19:14 AM

Amen Watchdog!!! Amen... :(

Jim O · January 26, 2011, 06:38:46 AM

I smoke in winter in Central Ontario,and it get's pretty cold here!

The garage helps alot.

Just a suggestion - in cold temps,take your SG in the house overnite before you smoke.

I've had mine be a bit "cranky" re advancing the pucks,and this seemed to solve the problem.

Jim O :)