Yesterday I smoked a rack of St. Louis style ribs on my 18” WSM at 225* with a Smoke X4 and Billows. I only used the grate probe. I filled the charcoal basket most of the way evenly and added 3 pieces of apple wood. I spread 3/4 of a charcoal chimney of lit charcoal evenly across the unlit. I use a foiled water pan empty. I use the BBQ Guru and TW adapters. The ribs took 6.5 hours. I shut the top vent and put the silicon plug in the BBQ Guru. I cleaned the smoker today and still have a lot of charcoal and wood left. I’ve only used KBB so far. Outside temps were 63* to 77* between 10am to 4:30pm. Wind was light. I kept the smoker in the shade with a big patio umbrella. Billows had no problem keeping the temp at 225* plus or minus 8*.
This is my second cook without water this year smoking ribs. Last year I used the large water pan with water and used a lot more charcoal for a similar cook.
Is the amount of charcoal left over the result of using a dry water pan? I wonder if I only filled the charcoal basket half way for a 7 hour cook if there would be any left. Pics of the left over charcoal in the smoker. Also pics of the charcoal and ashes left over in 12 quart buckets. Thoughts? Thanks for any input.
Ribs were good like the last time.



This is my second cook without water this year smoking ribs. Last year I used the large water pan with water and used a lot more charcoal for a similar cook.
Is the amount of charcoal left over the result of using a dry water pan? I wonder if I only filled the charcoal basket half way for a 7 hour cook if there would be any left. Pics of the left over charcoal in the smoker. Also pics of the charcoal and ashes left over in 12 quart buckets. Thoughts? Thanks for any input.
Ribs were good like the last time.



