Going to try out a new smoker Saturday.

[GtoRA2]

I was in Wally world, and I spotted this:



I had stopped in to see if they sell parts since the firepan on my brinkman ECB rusted out.

the instructions said it needed to be cured for 2 hours with maxium heat, so I have it running empty.


The design is like a sqaure ECB, same water and fire pans, but with more ajustable vents for temp controll.   it was at 500 and turning the vents mostly closed got it to 250 in 10 minutes so I think temp controll will be allot easier.


Hopefully it works as well or better then the el cheapo!

[Debonair]

Hopefully it isn't Austrailian

[Curval]

What is that made of Gto?  Looks cool...like a safe.

You mentioned your ECB rusted out, will this do likewise eventually?

I have a real problem with rust.  BBQs last me a year max.  It is due to the humidity.  I'd like to find a really good ceramic BBQ/smoker.

[Gunslinger]

Originally posted by Curval
What is that made of Gto?  Looks cool...like a safe.

You mentioned your ECB rusted out, will this do likewise eventually?

I have a real problem with rust.  BBQs last me a year max.  It is due to the humidity.  I'd like to find a really good ceramic BBQ/smoker.

If the one he got is like mine the answer is no.  The outside of mine around the hinges has some rust but it's easily manageable.  The waterpan in these is a porcelin wich makes it easier to control.

GTO,

check your cook times in that thing.  They are nearly double that of an ECB.  Ribs in my ECB took only about 3 hours........I use the foil method and they come out to die for in about 6 with my cabinate smoker.  

Mine is the great outdoors propane version, I'm assuming that one is charcoal.  I'm going to be buying a new smoker soon, the next one I'm going to get is the charcoal on with the fire box on the side.  It can also double as a grill.

[AutoPilot]

Cool GTO i will go check those out.


Curval.sounds like you need to build a smoke house.

[GtoRA2]

Curv
 Well the firepan is the only thing that rusted on my ECB, and it did because I drilled a bunch of holes in it then let the pan sit with ash in it out in the rain for a month lol.


This new one is all steel that seems a tad thicker then the ECB.




Guns,
 Yeah this one is charcoal, I my ECB took me 5 or so hours to do ribs in too, I try and keep the temp under 210, so it takes some time.

just about to put the meat in, I will post some picks later.

[Gunslinger]

Just to let you know the "foil method" works superb in those smokers.  Mine I wrap up  about four hours into cooking and they come out so moist and tender the meat falls off the bone when you give it a dirty look.

[GtoRA2]

Well the ribs were ok, but the tri tip and pork roast was awsome.




Oddly it was very hard to keep the temp at 200.  Not sure why, maybe because I used the marinade as the water in the pan and it was very cold and took to much time to heat up.


Ill post some pics in a bit

[midnight Target]

I got a pork shoulder and some ribs smoking now. I hope they don't suck.

[GtoRA2]

Cool Mt, howl ong you going to do the shoulder?

These were the worst ribs I have done, but I am sure I can get this thing to work atleast as good as the ECB heheheh

[midnight Target]

The ribs went about 5 hours. The shoulder was closer to the heat so it was done in about 6.5. Actually I split it in 2 cause it was huge.

The ribs were pretty good. I used spare ribs so I wouldn't ruin good baby backs, and I made a crown due to a lack of rib racks. They turned out surprisingly juicy and flavorful.

The pork shoulder is wrapped up and awaiting a later meal this week. It tastes pretty good though. Very easy to do.

I went pretty light on the seasonings this 1st time. I think I'll go with a more agressive rub next time.

[Gunslinger]

Originally posted by GtoRA2
Cool Mt, howl ong you going to do the shoulder?

These were the worst ribs I have done, but I am sure I can get this thing to work atleast as good as the ECB heheheh

I'm tellin ya wrap them in foil a little more than half way through.  after 3 or 4 hours they aint gonna absorb any more smoke either way.  I had to make the adjustment as well after switching from my ECB

[Toad]

Originally posted by GtoRA2
Oddly it was very hard to keep the temp at 200.  Not sure why, maybe because I used the marinade as the water in the pan and it was very cold and took to much time to heat up.

Put the marinade/water pan in early and let it come up to temp. When you add water, add hot water. That will help.

Sounds like there's something else though. Did you have to add fuel several times or did you have enough at the start for at least half the burn time?

[Toad]

Aluminum foil; know as "the Texas Crutch" on the BBQ circuit.



It can speed things up a lot though.

Just as an aside, in the judging of BBQ, the meat isn't supposed to "fall off the bone" on the ribs. What they want is that your teeth leave a nice semi-circle cut in the meat when you bite down on a rib and that part comes away "clean" from the bone while the rest stays attached.

Not to say that that is the "right" way or that YOU should like them that way...BBQ is all about personal preference.... but that's what they look for when judging.

[GtoRA2]

Originally posted by Toad
Put the marinade/water pan in early and let it come up to temp. When you add water, add hot water. That will help.

Sounds like there's something else though. Did you have to add fuel several times or did you have enough at the start for at least half the burn time?

I think I had enough fuel to start but I think I let it burn a bit long before I put the water and meat in so it wasted alot of energy getting that water to boil.

using the Marinade I think was a mistake lol the water pan is REALLY nasty looking now lol.

Next time I am going to preboil the water and get everything in and not let the coals burn for 40 minutes before the meat goes in.

Still none of it was unedible so its all good. I just need more of that Gates seasoning hehehe