First time smoker

[Coondog Hog]

I have aquired a propane smoker and im wanting to give it a try.  What kind of meat is the best for a beginner to start with?

[PorkRinds]

I have aquired a propane smoker and im wanting to give it a try.  What kind of meat is the best for a beginner to start with?

Pork butt or whole chicken.

[cosmodrum]

Pork butt, for sure.

Rub it the day before, smoke with hickory or fruit wood. I like a blend so the smoke doesn't overpower the meat.

Smoke it at 275 until 195 degrees in the center by the bone (don't touch the thermometer to the bone). Don't open the smoker often, try to keep it at about once an hour, at most.

When it's done, let it sit for an hour to let the juices redistribute and cool down. Pull the meat, and take the fat cap and squeeze it over the meat and mix. It's something Oklahoma Joe's does and I recently started. I'm a fan.

[PorkRinds]

Great advice. Also  don't get discouraged if you struggle keeping your temp steady. It's probably the hardest part, and there's a learning curve with every smoker. Good thing is it's almost impossible to screw up a pork butt. Just don't take it off too soon or it won't pull like you want it to. You will hit a point where it seems like it won't get any hotter, but don't give up. It'll break through eventually and you will be rewarded for patience.

[ImHogginIt]

I have aquired a propane smoker and im wanting to give it a try.  What kind of meat is the best for a beginner to start with?

Pork Butt. Sam's has really good Boston Butts. Pretty hard to screw up a pork butt. Gonna smoke a couple Thursday. I love making a big salad and mixing in some pulled pork with it. Awesome meal !

[LSUFan]

Bald Eagle

[PorkRinds]

Pork Butt. Sam's has really good Boston Butts. Pretty hard to screw up a pork butt. Gonna smoke a couple Thursday. I love making a big salad and mixing in some pulled pork with it. Awesome meal !

Salad?  And here I thought you were a man!

[DeltaBoy]

Got to eat some veggies to keep the plumbing working.

[Junkyard Hog]

Definitely a pork shoulder first.  You also need to put a pack of Earl Campbell's on for the last hour or so.  I don't use my smoker without smoking a few hot links.  They're awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[twistitup]

A perfectly smoked beef brisket is tough.....but worth the effort. Pork is awesome and takes less skill than beef. Start w pork, but don't forget tri tip and brisket

[PorkRinds]

A perfectly smoked beef brisket is tough.....but worth the effort. Pork is awesome and takes less skill than beef. Start w pork, but don't forget tri tip and brisket

I've honestly never made a successful brisket.  I've made them edible, and others liked it, but I wasn't ever satisfied.  I've only done about 5 of them, and only been smoking for about 4 years.  But yeah, brisket is not easy and takes forever.  I've done some really good tri-tips though.  Pretty much anything else I can do pretty well.  Anything pork, anything chicken, and any kind of sausage I can knock out of the park.  Brisket is my weakness, and it's so darn expensive I can't bring myself to experiment very often!

[cosmodrum]

Yeah, brisket prices are fricken stupid now. They are very difficult, too. They can overcook quickly, or stall and seem to never finish.

[LSUFan]

The first thing I ever smoked was a small pig. Injected it with apple cider vinager and apple juice, you had to spoon out the back straps!

[PharmacistHog]

I've got some canadian bacon smoking right now. Been curing for two weeks.

[TomasPistola]

Was thinking about putting some corn on to smoke for a while.

[twistitup]

Smoked coon is in my future

[ImHogginIt]

Smoked coon is in my future

I reported your insensitive racist post to a modernator 

[LSUFan]

Smoked coon is in my future

Don't knock it till you try it!



[attachment deleted by admin]

[Junkyard Hog]

I reported your insensitive racist post to a modernator 

They go great with crackers

[majestic]

I thought the whole point of a gas or electric smoker was the ease of temperature control? I have a stick burner that I have to fight with to keep under 250.

A butt with some water in the pan should be infallible. Cowboy's in Batesville has some good rub.

[LSUFan]

[PharmacistHog]

I thought the whole point of a gas or electric smoker was the ease of temperature control? I have a stick burner that I have to fight with to keep under 250.

A butt with some water in the pan should be infallible. Cowboy's in Batesville has some good rub.

I always had it in my mind that those gas smokers were kinda tricky?  Seems like an electric would be no brainer, just hard to clean.

[TomasPistola]

That's what I use with a little salt and cavendar's added.

[majestic]

I always had it in my mind that those gas smokers were kinda tricky?  Seems like an electric would be no brainer, just hard to clean.

I've never used either. But if you can set a temperature and walk away, seems foolproof.

[PharmacistHog]

I've never used either. But if you can set a temperature and walk away, seems foolproof.

I was thinking I'd read somewhere about the inefficiency of the gas flame burning and the smoke not behaving the same way???  I may have dreamed it.

[majestic]

You have weird dreams

[Delicious~Dreams]

I have difficulty in using a smoker but I still try....I'm determined to cook a great brisket.

[PharmacistHog]

You have weird dreams

You can't even imagine........

[PorkRinds]

I thought the whole point of a gas or electric smoker was the ease of temperature control? I have a stick burner that I have to fight with to keep under 250.

A butt with some water in the pan should be infallible. Cowboy's in Batesville has some good rub.

Oh crap. My bad. I didn't even see that he wasn't using charcoal. 

[PharmacistHog]

Oh crap. My bad. I didn't even see that he wasn't using charcoal. 

I have an offset barrel type smoker, a smaller stick burner, and a large and small egg. I haven't lit anything besides an egg in a year and a half. I can't recommend them enough. They are expensive, but have a short learning curve and are basically set it and forget it once you get a few cooks under your belt.

[PorkRinds]

I have an offset barrel type smoker, a smaller stick burner, and a large and small egg. I haven't lit anything besides an egg in a year and a half. I can't recommend them enough. They are expensive, but have a short learning curve and are basically set it and forget it once you get a few cooks under your belt.

My next purchase is one of the primos I texted you. By the middle of the summer hopefully.

[PharmacistHog]

My next purchase is one of the primos I texted you. By the middle of the summer hopefully.

Skip the heat deflector/platesetter or whatever they call it. Buy adjustable rig from ceramic grill store instead. You will thank me.

[LSUFan]

I have difficulty in using a smoker but I still try....I'm determined to cook a great brisket.

But, can you smoke a bird?

[cosmodrum]

But, can you smoke a bird?

I just finished off the rest of the best bird I've ever made.

[civilHOG]

Skip the heat deflector/platesetter or whatever they call it. Buy adjustable rig from ceramic grill store instead. You will thank me.

^^
This. The AR is a definite must. If the primo is compatible with the spider from the ceramic grill store, I'd highly recommend that as well. The spider + Cast Iron grate was a game changer for me.

[Delicious~Dreams]

But, can you smoke a bird?

Yes I can....I did today, with BBQ Sauce and it was really good.  I was able to maintain the proper juiciness...without over cooking it...sometimes it's hard to do. 

[DeltaBoy]

School almost out and it time to try out my Beer can chicken rig I got for my Weber.

[Wildhog]

School is almost out and it is time to try out my Beer can chicken rig I got for my Weber.

fify, sort of.

[Delicious~Dreams]

I think the beer is supposed to go on the chicken not consumed by the cook. lol!

[DeltaBoy]

I going to try pineapple juice and do a Tropic Jerk bird.

[Grizzlyfan]

Does anyone have one of the ceramic grills from Sam's? The Egg knockoff.  Vision Grills Kamado they are called.

[PharmacistHog]

Does anyone have one of the ceramic grills from Sam's? The Egg knockoff.  Vision Grills Kamado they are called.

I don't, but I've looked at one thinking I might buy one for my camp.  I like some of the features of them, but they just don't seem to be quality made.  I know that just picking up the lid and then picking up the lid on my egg, theres a HUGE difference to the feel and the weight.  If I wasn't getting an egg, I'd look at Primo or Kamado Joe, personally, but that's just my opinion. 

[ImHogginIt]

Finally tried this last weekend on a couple butts. Loved it

[LSUFan]

Finally tried this last weekend on a couple butts. Loved it

[DeltaBoy]

I have been using this,

             

[Boog41]

This stuff is really good lightly sprinkled on potato salad also.

[Boog41]

I have been using this,

             

I like a sweeter taste, KC style. When I use Famous Dave's I mix in raw sugar with it so that the mix is about 2/3 FD and 1/3 raw sugar.

[Boog41]

Been mixing this myself for about the past year. I make a couple of quarts at a time so that is lasts me a while. FYI for mixing in bulk, in case you don't know, three teaspoons = one tablespoon.

[BR]

Pork butt or chicken Thighs... Easy stuff, cook to internal Temp not time...
Fruit Wood: Apple, Cherry, Peach
Rubs: Plowboys Yard Bird Rub
BBQ Sauce: If you use Store bought,  Head Country

Join BR's Food Page:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/brstikibarfoodpage/

[DeltaBoy]

I got to try Head Country cause I been using Sweet Baby Rays for the past 10 years except for using some Kraft hickory smoked as a base for a mad scientist concoction.

I also use Little Pig for smokies.

https://www.heb.com/product-detail/little-pig-barbecue-sauce/1755393