I think my mini is finished. I was going to smoke a chicken but i figured at around. 225 - 250 deg, at about an hour a pound with a 5 lb bird it would be too late tonight.
So i removed the pot and grilled some burgers just using the Smokey Joe.
I cooked the burgers over exactly 25 coals. After we ate, I reassembled it as a smoker to see what kind of temps I can get by adjusting the vents,
Remember this is with 25 Kingsford coals that were burning in the Smokey Joe for 15 - 20 minutes before it occurred to me to test the smoker. I am using a pie tin, no water, as a diffuser.
With top and bottom vents wide open the River Country RC-T2 read just above 375
With top and bottom vents halfway closed the temp dropped to right at 350.
With top and bottom vents only open 1/4 of the way the temp settled a hair below 300.
Vents at about 1/8 open register a temp of a bit under 250.
So I closed a bit more to where the vents are open just a sliver hoping it will go down to 225 or a bit less and see how long it will hold the temp.
I think I did this one right. Are my temps and vent adjustments consistent with what you guys have experienced?
I'll post later on how long it will hold a lower temp.
By the way the River Country gauge is great. I tested it in boiling water before I installed it and it was on the money. $13.95 on ebay, free shipping. I ordered it Tuesday night and it got here yesterday, Friday. Pretty damn good shipping for Minnesota to Florida.
How is this possible? Top and bottom vents are open about 3/16 of an inch. The temp is steady at 222 -225. Now we'll see how long it holds.
So i removed the pot and grilled some burgers just using the Smokey Joe.
I cooked the burgers over exactly 25 coals. After we ate, I reassembled it as a smoker to see what kind of temps I can get by adjusting the vents,
Remember this is with 25 Kingsford coals that were burning in the Smokey Joe for 15 - 20 minutes before it occurred to me to test the smoker. I am using a pie tin, no water, as a diffuser.
With top and bottom vents wide open the River Country RC-T2 read just above 375
With top and bottom vents halfway closed the temp dropped to right at 350.
With top and bottom vents only open 1/4 of the way the temp settled a hair below 300.
Vents at about 1/8 open register a temp of a bit under 250.
So I closed a bit more to where the vents are open just a sliver hoping it will go down to 225 or a bit less and see how long it will hold the temp.
I think I did this one right. Are my temps and vent adjustments consistent with what you guys have experienced?
I'll post later on how long it will hold a lower temp.
By the way the River Country gauge is great. I tested it in boiling water before I installed it and it was on the money. $13.95 on ebay, free shipping. I ordered it Tuesday night and it got here yesterday, Friday. Pretty damn good shipping for Minnesota to Florida.
How is this possible? Top and bottom vents are open about 3/16 of an inch. The temp is steady at 222 -225. Now we'll see how long it holds.
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