First smoke ever!

[J. Malte Stoeckhert]

July 2 was the day. And for added pressure the inlaws are in town for 4 weeks....!

The evening before. The spice collection. Feel like a wizard.

The rub (Chris Lilly's Six-time World Championship Pork Shoulder Rub - A bit spicy...):

Meat from Costco. 22lbs total.

Meat prepared for overnight storage in fridge:

More meat:

Next morning 5:30am.... Had the coal already laid out the night before. Use the minion method).

Meeeeaaaaatttt!

Baby light my fire... Coffee helps, too!

Close up. Used ~ 30 brickets:

Lower layer. Food probe in front. Pit probe right side:

Smoking.

A couple of hours in (fixed sewer pipe with contractor in between and other exciting stuff...).

Close up of grommet used for probe wires:

Finished meat. Smoker not nice and shiny anymore...

PULLED PORK....

Ok here is what I learned.

(A) I don't know much about smoking...

(B) Used way to much rub or better

(C) I should have bound together the various pieces of meat together in bigger pieces. Less rub and more moist meat in the middle. I assume also easier to pull.

Overall satisfied with the first smoke though.

Happy 4th to all!

Malte

 

[Lew Newby]

Good first cook.

 

[Russ Harris]

Looks good - now that you've learned a few things you could do differently next time, I bet you're just ITCHING to do it again. It can be addicting.

 

[Paul H]

Malte, If you have trouble pulling the pork it wasn't quite done yet. Should be very tender in all parts of the butt when inserting a probe.Nice looking pork.

 

[Jennifer K]

Great preparation, Malte, and the pork looks good. Those lessons will pay off big on your next butt smoke.

 

[Chris Merrill]

Great job and looks good.

Can anyone tell me if the chimney starter was upside down?

I'm new to this as well and will be trying a 6 lb pork butt tomorrow.

 

[Chris Merrill]

Nevermind...did some further research on this site and answered my own question...the chimney starter can be used upside down if you have a small amount to start.

 

[Chuck Tatham]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Chris Merrill:
Nevermind...did some further research on this site and answered my own question...the chimney starter can be used upside down if you have a small amount to start. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I think the open slats on the end are for drawing air from below during lighting. I think it is upside down in these pics.

 

[J. Malte Stoeckhert]

Chris, Yes I did it upside down. The only issue was that you had to add paper a couple of times because it burned up quickly and was too far away for the coal initially. Malte

 

[Scotty W.]

Like the idea of using the eye bolts on the bottom cooking grate. Do you use lifting hooks or lift with gloves?

 

[J. Malte Stoeckhert]

Scotty I use a glove and usually slide a finger in the eye bolts. Malte

 

[Wolgast]

A great first smoke Malte!

 

[Darryl P]

Great first smoke and what you learned about it too. That's how we all get better.

Also I love your mods wheels and all!

 

[Chuck_B]

Nice pics Malte! Congrats on the first cook! It will only get better from here but we all will fall at some point. Just get back up and keep it moving!