Mike Gray
TVWBB Super Fan
Thanks to all the wonderful advice I received on this board to all of my many questions my first smoke was successful. I made 3 racks of baby back ribs and smoked them for about 4.5 hours. They taste fantastic! I did have a few issues that were self imposed and could have been avoided. First off I didn't use enough charcoal when I started. I followed the BRITU method for the recipe and cooking instructions but didn't compensate for the larger smoker (22.5).
It was cold and snowing when I started but had no issues getting up to 225 - 230, but after about 3 hours I noticed the temp dropping to about 210. I messed with the vents but it wasn't making much of a difference even with them all open on the bottom so I checked the coals. They were okay, but wouldn't have lasted me through the whole session so I added a few more which did the trick.
I did have a bit of a temp spike when I tried to get the smoker up to 275 per the recipe and it topped 300 for a bit, but that was a minor issue.
The wind was the other issue. I was able to make a makeshift wind break and boy was it needed. The wind changed from 5mph to gust up to 26 mph. With the wind break I didn't notice any temp fluctuations, but I have a feeling it's how I burned my fuel too fast.
The ribs were a huge success and the family loved them! I am hooked! My wife called this my new obsession and I can't disagree.
Seasoned
On the smoker
3 hours in
Just off the smoker 4.5 hours
Smoke Ring
Ready for dinner!!
It was cold and snowing when I started but had no issues getting up to 225 - 230, but after about 3 hours I noticed the temp dropping to about 210. I messed with the vents but it wasn't making much of a difference even with them all open on the bottom so I checked the coals. They were okay, but wouldn't have lasted me through the whole session so I added a few more which did the trick.
I did have a bit of a temp spike when I tried to get the smoker up to 275 per the recipe and it topped 300 for a bit, but that was a minor issue.
The wind was the other issue. I was able to make a makeshift wind break and boy was it needed. The wind changed from 5mph to gust up to 26 mph. With the wind break I didn't notice any temp fluctuations, but I have a feeling it's how I burned my fuel too fast.
The ribs were a huge success and the family loved them! I am hooked! My wife called this my new obsession and I can't disagree.
Seasoned
![141.jpg](http://i1234.photobucket.com/albums/ff408/graymd74/First%20Smoker%20Pics/141.jpg)
On the smoker
![147.jpg](http://i1234.photobucket.com/albums/ff408/graymd74/First%20Smoker%20Pics/147.jpg)
3 hours in
![148.jpg](http://i1234.photobucket.com/albums/ff408/graymd74/First%20Smoker%20Pics/148.jpg)
Just off the smoker 4.5 hours
![156.jpg](http://i1234.photobucket.com/albums/ff408/graymd74/First%20Smoker%20Pics/156.jpg)
Smoke Ring
![158.jpg](http://i1234.photobucket.com/albums/ff408/graymd74/First%20Smoker%20Pics/158.jpg)
Ready for dinner!!
![162.jpg](http://i1234.photobucket.com/albums/ff408/graymd74/First%20Smoker%20Pics/162.jpg)