Just got a pellet grill - looking for grilling and smoking suggestions

[JoeSelf]

On Thermapens, the MK4 is instant read. Its pricey. You can see change in temp as you go thru the meat. Look for Black Friday deals.

Thermapen® ONE

Experience rapid, precise temperature readings with ThermoWorks’ best-selling Thermapen ONE. Essential for every cook, it’s your key to culinary mastery.

www.thermoworks.com

You need a chamber probe to get true chamber temp. Food probes are designed to be in things, not the air.

 

[jark87]

Check out amazingribs.com. It’s much more than ribs and goes into great detail on the science behind smoking. They have great recipes from brines to rubs to cooking methods, such as spatchcocking or even deconstructing the turkey for a much more even cook. I’d also recommend howtobbqright.com which is Malcom Reed’s site. He’s an all around fun guy and has some great recipes!

 

[DAB942]

Smoked food is the BEST!!!! When it comes to rub makes sure to keep it simple and experiment with them same thing with the smoke different woods will produce different flavors. I have settled on post oak and my homemade rub. Pork butts are generally easy to cook try one of those. My favorite is a brisket cannot get any better than a smoked brisket.

I'm pretty sure by Texas law, you have to say that.

I just had the brisket conversation yesterday. When brisket is good, it's impossible to beat.

 

[jimim]

There is nothing better than ThermoWorks. I always talk about them here. My thermo pen is 15 plus years old and still just as accurate. I also now have the signals setup for use in my bge and whenever else I grill.
Signals is awesome. App is stable also. The wires can handle crazy hot temps. Probes are very well made.

 

[pb4uswim]

Check out amazingribs.com. It’s much more than ribs and goes into great detail on the science behind smoking. They have great recipes from brines to rubs to cooking methods, such as spatchcocking or even deconstructing the turkey for a much more even cook. I’d also recommend howtobbqright.com which is Malcom Reed’s site. He’s an all around fun guy and has some great recipes!

Another great place to get good information about smoking is The Virtual Weber Bullet.

Home - The Virtual Weber Bullet

Your best source for Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker information and discussion on the Web. Get recipes, usage tips, modification ideas, and discuss the Weber smoker with owners and enthusiasts in our online forums.

www.virtualweberbullet.com

Its focus is the Weber smoker, but a lot of the cooking process is universal. They definitely have a good section on turkey.

Also, I second the Thermoworks products. Not cheap but some of the best temperature equipment out there. If you can afford a MK4, take a look at the thermo pop.

 

[jseyfert3]

Okay I gotta get me one of those. It's insanely fast! I watched the demo video, makes my cheapo thermometer look like a toy. Backlight, auto on auto off, screen rotation. And did I say insanely fast?

 

[pb4uswim]

Okay I gotta get me one of those. It's insanely fast! I watched the demo video, makes my cheapo thermometer look like a toy. Backlight, auto on auto off, screen rotation. And did I say insanely fast?

And also recommended by America’s Test Kitchen. For whatever that’s worth.
You won’t be sorry if you get one.

 

[DAB942]

Okay I gotta get me one of those. It's insanely fast! I watched the demo video, makes my cheapo thermometer look like a toy. Backlight, auto on auto off, screen rotation. And did I say insanely fast?

On sale right now - just ordered one

 

[DAB942]

Mine was delivered today -- fast.

 

[JC707]

I am making this for Thanksgiving in my Green mountain Daniel Boone .

 

[JC707]

I LOVE ThermoWorks. Got a few thermopens and also there Smoke BBQ Remote thermometer. Works great.

Smoke® Remote BBQ Alarm Thermometer

Elevate your grilling game ThermoWorks Smoke thermometer. Monitor your BBQ from afar and stay connected with precise temperature updates.

www.thermoworks.com

 

[chiefwej]

I have an oversized beer can chicken type stand that is big enough for turkey, it allows smoke and heat to flow through the bird as well as around. I use an electric smoker, so I have direct control of heat and smoke.

I brine my turkey (kosher salt, brown sugar, maple syrup, fresh ginger, garlic and a bit of fresh thyme). Two days in brine, one day to dry the bird in the fridge. Then into the smoker set at 275, smoke for first couple hours. Continue 275 until I get internal breast temperature of 150, then cut the heat and let it rest (the temp will continue to rise to target 160). Surprisingly, due to the heat flow through and around the bird, it usually takes less time than the traditional oven method. It doesn’t make the best looking turkey you have ever seen, just the best tastin.

 

[DanF]

Check out amazingribs.com. It’s much more than ribs and goes into great detail on the science behind smoking. They have great recipes from brines to rubs to cooking methods, such as spatchcocking or even deconstructing the turkey for a much more even cook. I’d also recommend howtobbqright.com which is Malcom Reed’s site. He’s an all around fun guy and has some great recipes!

+1 on these two sites. Malcom has a great Youtube channel also. Search Amazing ribs for Meathead's smoked prime rib recipe and video. Delish.

OP - you will love your smoker!

 

[clduncan]

You are 100% correct, Texas State Legislature says upon moving to Texas you must have and enjoy smoked brisket. Once you live here a year or more you must learn and master how to cook brisket. Punishment for not doing this is eating TOFU and Soy for the rest of your life in Texas or until you prove you can acquire the skill!

 

[scdaren]

I've actually used mine to bake a lasagna when my oven was being used for something else.

Also home-made jerky is amazing, lots of recipes online.

Probably my favorite thing that I use it all the time for is tri-tip -- but I think that cut is a west coast thing, or at least it used to be, you may not have it there.

 

[scdaren]

Also you need to get the good pellets, lots of the big name brand ones use fillers and fake flavor -- these are my favorite:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00819OICI/ref=as_sl_pc_tf_til

 

[DAB942]

You are 100% correct, Texas State Legislature says upon moving to Texas you must have and enjoy smoked brisket. Once you live here a year or more you must learn and master how to cook brisket. Punishment for not doing this is eating TOFU and Soy for the rest of your life in Texas or until you prove you can acquire the skill!

Mom was born in San Antonio -- we had to drink brisket juice when we were little.

 

[woodyp]

I just bought MY WIFE a new Pit Boss pellet grill for Xmas. She seems to be unappreciative and demands that I learn to cook on it! Here I am....trying to do everything I can to make her life easier.! My model didn't come with the wifi/blutooth controller but I just ordered one they call legacy controllers for models that didn't originally come with them. I hate when she has to get up and out of the pool to check on things!

 

[woodyp]

That's a pretty good explanation on those P settings. It only works on the smoke setting.

 

[jseyfert3]

I never updated you guys, but I did pulled pork based on AmazingRibs.com. It was the best pulled pork I’ve ever had. About 8 hours in the grill