Newbie tips, techniques and basic recipes

car54 · January 04, 2005, 01:04:21 AM

To Chez Bubba and all experienced members.After reading Dogstyler's questions in the meat topic, would it not be a good idea to have a locked in topic for sound and basic tips with a few recipes for the unexperienced smoker. I believe it has been suggested before and it would would make their 1st smoke a bit less unsure. Ultimately you learn from experience, but why not start them on the right foot.

JJC · January 04, 2005, 03:11:35 AM

I think this is a great idea. Maybe a Sticky for the newbies?

John
Newton MA

MallardWacker · January 04, 2005, 01:34:43 PM

maybe a "NUBES START HERE" . We could just glean some old posts about cleaning, preheating, ttimes and temps and so forth.

SmokeOn,

mski
Perryville, Arkansas
Wooo-Pig-Soooie

If a man says he knows anything at all, he knows nothing what he aught to know. But...

Chez Bubba · January 05, 2005, 03:43:13 AM

I too think it is a great idea, but what form should it take?

---A seperate forum?

---A sticky on WHICH forum?

Most of them post on the Original forum, that would probably make the most sense.

The biggest problem I have is determining when a thread should be moved to another forum. It's hard to decide when it changes from "The Original Bradley Smoker" to "Hot Smoking" to "Meat". The threads seem to change direction constantly and I am probably one of the biggest offenders![:I]

http://www.chezbubba.com
Ya think next time I check into a hotel & they ask "Smoking or Non?" they would mind?

Oldman · January 05, 2005, 04:28:49 AM

Chez,
I got an idea. In a week or so I should have more time on my hands for a project. (I have this month booked--out for the guys and only 5 open days for Feb.)

With this said, let me put together something and I will call you later when I get a sample to show you. We can test drive my idea on the backside of one of my sites--no public access. Work out any glitches--then you can copy paste it here with no access to reply. View only. We really need to bring together all of the great ideas we have in one place.

Or...and I will share this much of my idea with you now. It is to set up static pages with the information. We will use a linking system at first. Next you will get a copy of everything: HTML and info to CYA should I drop dead. Once we have this working maybe you can get Mr. Bradley to either get his Web-Master to add this to "our" recipe section here, or allow limited access so we can upload our own HTML/ Info...

Not sure about this, but maybe a program like Fileman we use on my sites will allow us to handle this ourselves without full access to the Bradley site. We use Fileman to allow upload to my sites for folks, however it only allow them to upload to one section. Good example of this is Duck-Man has access to one area of my server so he can upload his photos. This is do-able. Now that I think about it I could set up Fileman to only allow someone access to any part of my site/ server. The only problem with file man I think is it will not allow you to download...so backing up a HTML file would have to be done though View > Source codes > Save as an HTML file.

If Bradley set us up with one new area we could have access only to it, while all of the time that one area could host the links and the reciepes in a sub folder!!!! This way everything would stay Bradley hosted.

My gaming web-master, Unknown, is going to check it out and the WS FTP that he and I use to see if there is a way to limit someones access. I could be wrong about this but I don't think so. I'm hoping that WS FTP will work as backing up files would be so much easier.

Summary we can do this one of four ways.
1.) You pin a posting lets say about "Hot Smokin' And BBQ on that board. You lock the thread. That thread is a bunch of links to one of my sites that would have static pages of "how-to" info.
2.) You create several sub posting boards for each board here. Then copy / paste the info for each reciepe post it and then lock the thread.
3.) Bradley give us limited access to this site and we do our own HTML/ links/ infor.
4.) With limited access we really don't have to have a recipe section here. You could set up sub-posting board for each section and then post links to the recipe area of this site and then lock each posting.

As you see there are several ways to manage this project.

No matter which way we go we really need to get this done... Kind of reminds me of a noob (newbie) that joins a clan and if no one helps him out he leaves. We need to give folks a reason to visit and hopefull not only join us but add from their own Library Of Life.

Beside Ghost Recon 2 for a PC is not coming out until the second quarter...so I got some time on my hands after work.

After that I will be re-building my gaming community

So no matter what type of the lay-out/ format we use it has to be done by then. Once those are done then even you can handle the copy/ paste of the HTML...it is easy--if that was the route we take. Kind of like a template...you just fill in the blanks [:D] and upload. You just make sure you have a back up copy before you upload [;)] While the HTML for this type of project would be very simple HTML is not forgiving...otherwise it is Piece O Cake when you have current backups. Make a mistake...no biggie

Olds

http://rminor.com

Oldman · January 05, 2005, 01:16:38 PM

Follow up... I'm going to do this for myself so read on and pick your option. [:D]

Now that I have slept on this I think the easiest way, at first, is to set up the information as static pages on the back side of my wife's Pet site. Then you set up a sub-posting board for each topic we have here. I would think this board would allow you to do that. Below is an example of this. Now I've been say "sub-board" which is not really the term for us. The reason I use this term as you will see in the example "The Barracks" is a restricted board--in other words the general member or visitor cannot see this board. Thus for us it is a sub-board of the main topic. Only in our case both boards would be open to members/ vistors.

For example under the "The Barracks" (see picture below) the sub-title is <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"> Private forum for discussing issues among friends.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"> In our case it might say...FAQ for Hot Smoking Pork, Beef or Chicken. This would be a good starting point. However I do think that once it is all over with I could see 4 boards concern Hot Smoking and BBQ. Maybe even 5.
1.)Hot Smoking and BBQ--open posting board.
2.)Beef board--read only.
3.)Pork board--read only.
4.)Chicken board--read only.
5.)Sauage board--read only
Anyway I sure you will get the idea. Plus on most posting boards when you set up a new board is only takes about 1KB to do so. Which is almost nothing.

Ok now on to the picture example:

The top half of this picture shows you three of the game types we play. It also show you that each of them has 2 posting boards concerning that subject. The second half of his picture is the Game Ghost Recon's two posting boards.

Now by using this example you have one board that is open to posting. The second board you set up as a "read" only. It has to be read only or otherwise you will get guestions posted there and then we will not be much better off than before. Any question can be posted on the open board of a said topic.

My idea is to start with the first board this site and to read every post and glean out what is relevant. Create a static pages covering each item discussed (my site) then you post the subject with links. There would be credit given to the author of each item. On topics with multiple contributors foot note of credit would be given.

As I said,I'm going to do this for myself anyway, so you can either set it up as I have suggested or just copy my static pages and then past them here on the new board. I have given thought to linking back to the orginal posting. If I did then I would have to supply you with the static page's infor and http link info... No big deal. Again, no matter which way we go the new board has to be "read only." Just pinning/locking the thread or having 40 topics pinned on the open posting board will just not get-er-done.

I'm going to start tonight. This ought to be interesting! I'm sure glad this board has a search engine--LOL!
Olds

http://rminor.com

bsolomon · January 05, 2005, 06:24:21 PM

I think this is a great idea. I suggest that this be another forum called something like, "Bradley Smoker FAQ - New users start here!", prefereably first on the list if possible. It might be a good idea to also post a sticky thread into each of the other forums linking back to this new one, something like, "Before you ask, check here first". In any case, Chez and Oldman can work out the final details as needed.

However, if we are going to build a FAQ, we'll need a good list of topics and a structure. I'm sure this is not complete, but I think if we had all this info listed in one place, it would help immensely. Please feel free to edit and add, and then we can start putting in the actual content:

Bradley Smoker FAQ

Seasoning the smoker
Why
How
Bisquette Selection
 For Beef
 For Pork
 For Chicken
 For Fish and Seafood
Best meat selections for your first smoking experience
 Whole Chickens
 Other choices
Curing
 Why
 How (nitrates, etc...)
 When you need to cure
Smoking time vs. total cooking time
 Why smoke is (usually) applied at the start of the process
Cold smoking basics
 Tips and tricks
 Unplug cabinet heater
 Vent settings
 How much bisquette burner will raise temperature above ambient
 Ice in water bowl
 Ice tray on lowest rack
 Alternatives, such as secondary smoking chambers, dryer hoses, etc...
 Basic cheese processes
 Basic cold smoked salmon
 Basic cold smoked seafood
Hot smoking basics
 Tips and Tricks
 Rubs and marinades, mustard "glue"
 Air drying
 Taking out of the fridge and bringing temperature up before smoking
 Keeping the door closed and no peeking
 Water bowl – when to dump and refill
 Vent settings and recommendations for poultry skin
 Fat rendering and plateauing
Bacon it the top rack
 FTC – Foil, towel, cooler
 Basic chicken processes and temperatures
 Basic pork butt processes and temperatures
 Basic brisket processes and temperatures
Basic rib processes and temperatures
 Basic hot smoked fish processes and temperature
Cleaning procedures
 What to do
 Water, rag, door seal
 Cleaning racks and trays in dishwasher
 Occasional disassembly and cleaning of smoke generator What not to do
 Cleaning solutions and solvents
Accessories
 Bubba Pucks
 Trays and Racks
 Additional Racks
 Jerky Racks
 Drying/Preparation Racks
 Sausage making accessories
 Thermometers
 Maverick E-73
 Other options
 BBQGuru Options
 Tables, Stands, etc...
Books
 Smoke and Spice
Sublime Smoke
Spices, Seasonings, Rubs, and Brining
 Sources
 Recommendations
 Discussions on different salts
 Kosher (Morton and Diamond)
 Table Salt (Iodized/non-iodized)
 Pickling Salt
 Discussion on different sugars
 White Sugar
 Brown Sugar
 Turbinado sugar
 Brining 101
 Why
 How
 Basic Techniques
 Other variations

MallardWacker · January 05, 2005, 10:15:59 PM

Now thats it, where is the "HOW to MAKE BACON" thread going to be located! 

Nahhh... just kidding. This "is" a good idea. I'm just wondering when will we get out "Gift" from Mr. Bradley for the help....uhmm?

SmokeOn,

mski
Perryville, Arkansas
Wooo-Pig-Soooie

If a man says he knows anything at all, he knows nothing what he aught to know. But...

bsolomon · January 05, 2005, 10:45:31 PM

We can certainly throw that in there, but I would tend to view that as a more advanced topic. Specifically, someone had just bought a Bradley, bacon isn't the first thing that you would recommend to them to try. However, it does bring up a good point. If we have a Basic FAQ, there is no reason we couldn't also have an Advanced FAQ, and include topics like traditional bacon (with jalapeno and maple varients), buckboard bacon, and sausage making for example.

JJC · January 06, 2005, 03:13:53 AM

I think Olds and bsolomon are spot on with their thoughts! Perhaps a bit of tweaking might be needed here and there, based on the experience of newbies. I think their approach would be of enormous help to beginners! Bradley should relish helping us out, since they stand to benefit directly and indirectly from these ideas.

John
Newton MA

Oldman · January 06, 2005, 03:49:23 AM

EDIT
Now thats it, where is the "HOW to MAKE BACON" thread going to be located!


Answer: Under the Category Smoked Chicken fool~~!

Where else LMSO!

bsolomon,

Great List!!! However~~~I sure wish you have not post all of that... as you have now just scared the total CHIT out of Chez LOL~

I knew in my mind that this project, in the end, was going to be everything and more that you posted. I'm not so certain from Chez's postings he has made on a couple of thread concerning this matter that he had any idea~~~LOL!

Anyway, 1st things 1st....

http://rminor.com

bsolomon · January 06, 2005, 04:37:00 PM

Well, we all know Rome wasn't built in a day...

But seriously, the items I listed were the ones that came to mind that we seem to answer over and over again. One of the best things about this forum is that someone is always willing to answer. Many forums get insulted that you didn't read every posting ever made before asking a question, and you will get such helpful information as "use the search feature moron." However, if all of this info was compiled into a single source, I think it would help many people get their feet wet without so much fear that something is going to go drastically wrong with their first smoking attempt on a particular item.

I think the hardest part of your project will be striking the balance between enough and too much information. We want the beginners to know all of this stuff, but we don't want it to be so voluminous or complex that we scare them away either.

Good luck and let me know if I can help in any way.

MallardWacker · January 06, 2005, 06:46:34 PM

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Oldman
 EDIT
Now thats it, where is the "HOW to MAKE BACON" thread going to be located!

Answer: Under the Category Smoked Chicken fool~~!

as you have now just scared the total CHIT out of Chez LOL~

Anyway, 1st things 1st....

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

 "RACK'EM JAY STEW,: I'm out." 

For all the Jim Rome fans out there.

SmokeOn,

mski
Perryville, Arkansas
Wooo-Pig-Soooie

If a man says he knows anything at all, he knows nothing what he aught to know. But...

Oldman · January 06, 2005, 07:00:14 PM

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">"RACK'EM JAY STEW,: I'm out." <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Heh he he got ya Duck-Man.....

http://rminor.com

Oldman · January 15, 2005, 06:16:55 PM

http://rminor.com