WSM 14.5 Question - Lower Grate

[Vaughan]

I have never used the second level grate on my WSM 14.5. I am needing to smoke two racks of baby backs. Do the ribs on the lower rack cook the same as the ribs on the top rack - time wise and temp wise? I do not use water.....just the water pan covered with foil.

Your advice is greatly appreciated.

Vaughan

 

[timothy]

I don't have the small one but I do have a 18 and 22.
I also don't do the water just foiled pan.
If you keep temps under 275 then both grates are close but you get better color on the top so you do need to rotate.

WSM Temperature Tests - The Virtual Weber Bullet

Temperature experiments conducted with the Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker, including empty pan, water in pan, and sand in pan. Charts and graphs included.

www.virtualweberbullet.com

 

[Mark Foreman]

I don't have the small one but I do have a 18 and 22.
I also don't do the water just foiled pan.
If you keep temps under 275 then both grates are close but you get better color on the top so you do need to rotate.
If you go hotter then the bottom follows .

Totally agree. The biggest issue I had with my 14 way using water and the lower cooking grate.