Eric Larson
New member
I got my Auber ATC last weekend and finally got to use it yesterday. I have an 18.5" smoker and got the big fan (just in case).
I filled the ring with unlit charcoal and put about half a chimney of lit coals on top (too much ?). I foil lined the water pan and filled it with water (should I have left it dry?). I set the Auber to 225. The top vents were closed. I ran the probe through the bottom of the door and up to the top rack.
I was cooking two pork butts and a chicken.
It was holding temperature really well -- between 223 and 228 whenever I checked on it. After a few hours I took the chicken off (it was cooked great). The temperature on the smoker dropped to 140 or so. After that, it struggled to get up to the desired temperature again, it was lingering just below 210. I did some reading and decided to open the top vent all the way and I cranked the heat up to 250. The next time I checked it it was around 247. I decided to drop it back down to 225 for the rest of the night. I added some beans to the smoker and I added more charcoals and wood at this point. This was about 11 pm.
Got up this morning at 7 am to a 72 degree smoker and 101 degree meat. The beans had taken quite a bit of smoke so I'm guessing it held it's heat pretty well for several hours.
Last night was warm but windy. I'm guessing it was probably 50 last night but it was definitely windy.
I've always had a problem holding a consistent temperature of my smoker. That's why I got an ATC. I think part of my problem was my old probe thermometer, shoved through a cork, and inserted into a top vent wasn't very accurate. When my ATC said 225, my probe said 190.
So what should I do next time to get better results? Pick a night with less wind? I won't let Mother Nature decide when I get BBQ. Should I get a blanket for my smoker to protect it from the wind? Should I have added even more coal before going to bed (I added about half or 2/3 of a chimney of unlit coal).
The butts are wrapped in foil now and are in the oven at 275. As long as I get them up to 200, I shouldn't be too worried that they were sitting at 100 when I found them, should I?
Thanks,
Eric
I filled the ring with unlit charcoal and put about half a chimney of lit coals on top (too much ?). I foil lined the water pan and filled it with water (should I have left it dry?). I set the Auber to 225. The top vents were closed. I ran the probe through the bottom of the door and up to the top rack.
I was cooking two pork butts and a chicken.
It was holding temperature really well -- between 223 and 228 whenever I checked on it. After a few hours I took the chicken off (it was cooked great). The temperature on the smoker dropped to 140 or so. After that, it struggled to get up to the desired temperature again, it was lingering just below 210. I did some reading and decided to open the top vent all the way and I cranked the heat up to 250. The next time I checked it it was around 247. I decided to drop it back down to 225 for the rest of the night. I added some beans to the smoker and I added more charcoals and wood at this point. This was about 11 pm.
Got up this morning at 7 am to a 72 degree smoker and 101 degree meat. The beans had taken quite a bit of smoke so I'm guessing it held it's heat pretty well for several hours.
Last night was warm but windy. I'm guessing it was probably 50 last night but it was definitely windy.
I've always had a problem holding a consistent temperature of my smoker. That's why I got an ATC. I think part of my problem was my old probe thermometer, shoved through a cork, and inserted into a top vent wasn't very accurate. When my ATC said 225, my probe said 190.
So what should I do next time to get better results? Pick a night with less wind? I won't let Mother Nature decide when I get BBQ. Should I get a blanket for my smoker to protect it from the wind? Should I have added even more coal before going to bed (I added about half or 2/3 of a chimney of unlit coal).
The butts are wrapped in foil now and are in the oven at 275. As long as I get them up to 200, I shouldn't be too worried that they were sitting at 100 when I found them, should I?
Thanks,
Eric