Introduction and a Question

[KendallP]

Hello,

I'm Kendall a Real Estate Broker from Grants Pass, Oregon; best little river city on The Mighty Rogue.

Now that I've got my shameless plug out of the way...

I just stole a propane rig off the big auction site.  I'm guessing the retailer is no longer going to be listing them without minimums or without "Buy It Now" prices.

I want to thank all of you for your reviews and info on what looks to be a great machine.  I bought it mainly for camping with the idea of smoking fresh-caught Trout, Kokes, Chinook and Steelies.  Otherwise I will continue to use my trusty Chief at home.

So on to the question

I've done quite a bit of searching the boards here, but am still a bit confused about the Bubba Pucks.  I'm wondering if I really need one.  As I said, my planned use is limited to camping and if I only waste one wood puck per session, it would take quite a long time to justify one Bubba, let alone three.

I figure on loading enough pucks for hot smoking at around 200F for somewhere in the neighborhood of 3 to 4 hours or more, depending on the thickness of the meat, and letting them run out unless I decide the meat is smoky enough and call it early.

Someone please tell me what I'm missing.

Thanks,

Kendall

[NePaSmoKer]

Hi Kendall

Welcome to the forum.

Bubba pucks push the last burnt puck off the burner plate so you dont have that weird ashy taste to your food. I think it taste like kinda soury with a bite to it. I use 3 pucks that I have drilled to make them lighter. Some forum members dont drill them. My ¢2 on the bubba pucks  ;D

When I smoke I only put smoke to my food for 1.5 to 3 hrs of smoke then the rest just heat. I dont do much fish but if its like fowl it takes smoke real fast.  There are many good forum folks here that do fish that can give you the skinny on it.  I also have the BPS
Bradley Propane Smoker that I use bubba pucks with.

All sorts of folks do smokin different and you will find many aswers to your question.

Have fun and enjoy  ;D


nepas

[Kummok]

Bubba Pucks prevent you from having to sacrifice two wood pucks in order to get your complete smoke time....buy LOTS, my grandkids need the college tuition!  ;) :D  Just kidding of course....at 1-2 sacrificial pucks per year it sounds like they aren't that necessary for your needs. I hope I don't get kicked off the forum for saying this but the Chief smokers have produced some of the best smoked salmon I've ever had....Bradleys make the same GREAT stuff easier, but it's more in the process than the brand, between Bradley and Chief that is...... :o  Smoke on!

BTW....give a shoutout to the local fire marshal there....a good friend from Anchorage FD old days!

[manxman]

The only thing I would add is that the bubba pucks do help keep the heater plate a whole lot cleaner at the end of each smoke, better one of them sitting there once the smoking has finished and something is being cooked than a wooden puck IMHO which also ties in with NPS's comments.

Welcome to the forum KendallP.  :)

[Wildcat]

Welcome to the forum!  These guys have said it all.  I use 2 bubba pucks followed by one wood puck to push the bubba on the plate.

[KendallP]

Thanks for the warm welcomes, guys and the great info.  It's becoming much clearer, now.

NePaSmoKer,

So one Bubba alone won't do the job of ejecting that last puck?


kummok,

I think you may have misread "session" as "season."  I will probably camp quite a few times this "season" and smoke every day I/we catch any fish (so hopefully a lot ;).)  The wood pucks are roughly $.50 a piece so 1 per "session" might add up to 20 per "season" or 10 bucks so it may take several years to pay for 3 Bubbas.

Still, it sounds like there may be more benefits than mere wood puck savings.


Wildcat,

If the smoker is unattended will that last wood puck on top of the bubba remain unburned?  I'm going to guess no, but would prefer to hear from you guys.

[Malc]

That last wood puck will remain unburned, because it takes three pucks to make the one on the burner move off into the bowl.  If left unattended, the first Bubba puck will sit on the burner until you move it manually.  That top wood one will always be at least two away from the burner.  Hope that helps.

Malc

[KendallP]

Hope that helps.

Malc

It sure does, Malc.  Thanks!

So consensus is... 2 Bubbas plus a woodie will adequately do the job?

And the guys that have money to burn as well as Bubbas get 3?

[icerat4]

Welcome here ;D enjoy your new toy.Lots of good info here just ask ... ;D

[KendallP]

Welcome here ;D enjoy your new toy.Lots of good info here just ask ... ;D

Thanks, Ice.

Nice caption under that bad-a$$ Doo, BTW!

[manxman]

So consensus is... 2 Bubbas plus a woodie will adequately do the job?

And the guys that have money to burn as well as Bubbas get 3?

Yep, that sums it up nicely!  ;) :D

[KendallP]

So consensus is... 2 Bubbas plus a woodie will adequately do the job?

And the guys that have money to burn as well as Bubbas get 3?

Yep, that sums it up nicely!  ;) :D

Great, Manxman!  Thanks!

I've got an email into Chez Bubba with a request for 2 and 3 pack pricing.  When I get the right answer, I'll order up.

Thanks again, everyone.

I'll be sure to report my experience with the rig when the time comes.

[hillbillysmoker]

Welcome KendallP. Nice to see you on the forum.  Hope you will feel free to share your smoking experiences with us and as you have already seen, there is a wealth of knowledge provided on here by some really friendly folks.  Have fun.

bill

[KendallP]

Welcome KendallP. Nice to see you on the forum.  Hope you will feel free to share your smoking experiences with us and as you have already seen, there is a wealth of knowledge provided on here by some really friendly folks.  Have fun.

bill

Thanks Bill.

I'm afraid my smoking experiences are pretty limited.  I've always been more of a griller.  I grill roughly 3 times a week, 52 weeks a year.  So far I have only smoked my own, fresh-caught fish in my electric.  I do have the itch to expand my smoking horizons using the cold side of my grill as well as the electric.

I'm guessing the Kalua Pork Butt I rubbed with liquid smoke before grilling last summer doesn't count.  :o  It was great, though.  That luau was a huge success.

As I said, I'll try to do my part and report my opinions of the BPS.  If it's as cool as it sounds, the people need to be told about this new wonder.

Thanks again,

Kendall

[Malc]

... a woodie will adequately do the job?

I don't know how the rest of these guys do it, but a woodie usually helps ;D ;D

Sorry, I couldn't resist. ;)

Malc