Nice! What's the setup? I've not done a ton of stuff on mine. Looking to get a brisket here soon. I've done a handful of turkeys, whole chicken, chicken breast, wings, pork shoulder, ribs a few times. The best thing I ever did was a prime grade rib roast... killer. Have been doing salmon lately but parmesan/panko crusted in the oven.
I'm using the Weber smokey mountain 18". I got this as a starter kit, but I've been using it for a few years now. I usually do the snake method where I stack coals around the outside, and typically use hickory chunks. I haven't done any mods to it other than taping the door shut to keep smoke in.
I usually just mix my own rub/seasoning in a shaker that I stole from Franklin BBQ's youtube vids. No fancy thermometer setup either, just a basic one. I also use a brine on the birds that I got off youtube.
Thought I had a pic of a turkey I did but can't find it. Wings tonight were bomb, too busy eating them to take a pic.
First smoker was a homebuilt offset I got off Craigslist. It was way too big and had its issues. Had no clue and was using split oak to fuel. Did two sessions and let it sit a while.
While at my buddy’s dad’s place, who just got a high end Memphis, I asked what he was doing with his smaller old/well loved New Brunsfield offset. Said he was going to put it on the curb and post it free on Craigslist. I asked, and took it home that day. Sold the home brew on CL for $75 more than I paid 10mo before.
I used it about 15-20 times per year, and had things down to a mostly a science. I smoked all year, even MN winters. Some screwups here and there, like two thanksgivings ago I ended up making two half-done turkeys. Ended up doing a few mods to the firebox, reroute of chimney, and was close to making some heat plates and a thermal blanket. I started to slow down with my smoking when my younger kid turned 3 last year. The offset was consuming lots of time I’d rather spend with kids and wife. Couple that with a pile of unfinished projects, I just didn’t have the time to pretend to be the old timey steam train fireman... adjusting airflow here, adding fuel there, more smoke, less smoke, oops, need more fuel and smoke wood... all day/night. It was relaxing, but I’d be focused on smoking all day.
Then one day this fall my wife and I were discussing new mods/heat plates, new legs, new shelfs, seals, and she broached the subject of a, gasp, pellet grill. Her arguments were solid and well informed. I guess she’d been researching a while and a coworker was pushing a bit.
I researched, and figured a Traeger was the one for me, but that price tag. Two weeks later I get a random call to bring the Tacoma to her office, she wants to show it to her coworker thinking about broverlanding. When I arrive I’m pulled into the warehouse where she says “is this the right one?”
Yup!
We assemble it that night after kids go to bed and I park it next to the old offset. I planned on keeping the offset because it’s “real smoking” right? After my fourth smoking session with pellet’s modern design, WiFi, and automation, I gifted the offset to a buddy who wanted to move up from his Weber kettle.
While I feel like I am cheating the system, I like the fire-and-forget nature of it. I can toss on a brisket, set the cook sequence with my phone, and go to bed. Wake up the next day, paper wrap, and by diner I have 16hr smoked perfect brisket, every time. This means more smoking, AND more time for family and rest of life.
Having learned/perfected on the offset, I’m able to apply that knowledge to the pellets, and have better and way more consistent outcomes. Since getting the Traeger last November, the tritip above was the first flub-up so far, and it was still good.
TL/DR: Traeger Ironwood 650.
