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Message
How to mantain temperature in smoker with charcoal??
Posted on 10/18/12 at 8:46 pm
Posted on 10/18/12 at 8:46 pm
I recently got a upright brinkman smoker. It came with an electric conversion kit that makes using it way too easy. This weekend I plan on using charcoal for my tailgate, but I've always been a propane cooker, never messed with charcoal too much. Especially in a smoker. So... what do I need to know? From what I've read, you definitely want to use a chimney to get the coals up to speed, then place the coals in the smoker. Also, I guess you're not supposed to add raw coals to the fire. I'm going for a 6-7 hour smoke. So I guess I'll just get the smoker up to temp adding and subtracting coals, then chimney more up as temperature drops. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.
6
Posted on 10/18/12 at 8:47 pm to Kingpenm3
Get a Big Green Egg. Thank me later.
Posted on 10/18/12 at 8:52 pm to Kingpenm3
Google the minion method.
Basically, you will fill your firebox with your unlit charcoal and smoking wood. You light 12-15 briquets of charcoal in the starter chimney. Once they have ash all around, you scatter them on top of the unlit coals, then you add your water to your pan and put the lid on. Leave your all of your dampers open, top and bottom. Once your temp is close to your target, start closing the top damper. Close it half-way and wait about 20 minutes. From there, you will know which way to adjust it. Good luck.
Basically, you will fill your firebox with your unlit charcoal and smoking wood. You light 12-15 briquets of charcoal in the starter chimney. Once they have ash all around, you scatter them on top of the unlit coals, then you add your water to your pan and put the lid on. Leave your all of your dampers open, top and bottom. Once your temp is close to your target, start closing the top damper. Close it half-way and wait about 20 minutes. From there, you will know which way to adjust it. Good luck.
This post was edited on 10/18/12 at 8:57 pm
Posted on 10/18/12 at 8:54 pm to Kingpenm3
quote:
I guess you're not supposed to add raw coals to the fire.
Correct
quote:
So I guess I'll just get the smoker up to temp adding and subtracting coals, then chimney more up as temperature drops.
Posted on 10/18/12 at 8:56 pm to Btrtigerfan
Google the minion method +1
I have a Weber and using this it maintains temp for a long time.
I have a Weber and using this it maintains temp for a long time.
Posted on 10/18/12 at 8:57 pm to Kingpenm3
quote:
So I guess I'll just get the smoker up to temp adding and subtracting coals
You need to control the airflow. It's all about the air flow. Work the dampers right and the temp will take care of itself.
Posted on 10/19/12 at 8:41 am to DownshiftAndFloorIt
One other thing that helps is to drill some holes in your charcoal pan to increase airflow. I used to have a smoker just like yours and It had a terrible problem with the ash from the top coals smothering the fire out. If you use lump charcoal instead of briquettes, it will help too becuase it produces much less ash. Once I drilled the holes I had a lot easier time keeping a consistent temp.
Posted on 10/19/12 at 8:45 am to Tigersminus21
I don't think I would try to smoke with charcoal on the Brinkman with out major modifications. I use a Weber Smokey Mountain with the minion method and get up to 16 hour cook times without adding fuel and a constant 225 degrees.
Posted on 10/22/12 at 8:52 am to ruzil
quote:
Get a Big Green Egg. Thank me later.
Green Egg is great at maintaining temps but it can definitely be done without one
Posted on 10/22/12 at 10:02 am to Kingpenm3
quote:
I'm going for a 6-7 hour smoke. So I guess I'll just get the smoker up to temp adding and subtracting coals, then chimney more up as temperature drops. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.
as others have said, the[link=( https://virtualweberbullet.com/fireup2.html)]Minion Method[/link] is want you want. i've done up to 12 hours smokes in my WSM without having to add fuel. i've never used a brinkman, though.
Posted on 10/22/12 at 10:15 am to Kingpenm3
quote:
brinkman smoker
I have tried the minion method with a brinkman before and it was pretty rough. Its still probably the best way to go but it wont last nearly as long as the WSM. You just need to be diligent in checking the temp every 2 hours or so for a long smoke. 6-7 hours isnt very long at all though so you should be fine.
Posted on 10/22/12 at 11:03 am to Catman88
quote:
I have tried the minion method with a brinkman before and it was pretty rough. Its still probably the best way to go but it wont last nearly as long as the WSM. You just need to be diligent in checking the temp every 2 hours or so for a long smoke. 6-7 hours isnt very long at all though so you should be fine.
Because the Brinkman doesn't have much for air control. People have modified them to get them to work by drilling the bottoms and putting in air dampers.
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