So I got a WSM...

[smuggs 9397]

On 1/24/2021 at 9:04 PM, UTexasFight said:

 

[jimmyjazz 47127]

What's the feeling on the built-in thermometer in the 18" lid?  Garbage?  I'm not gonna stand there with my Thermapen in the port (hey-o), but I guess I'd be OK buying a standalone temp probe that I just leave there.

[thunderlounge 8407]

Yes, garbage.

Buck up the $30 or whatever for a maverick 733 (or whatever number it is, maybe 732? shit I've slept since then)

 

 

6 hours ago, Dutch said:

@UTexasFight, to what final temp did you cook the meatloaf, and how hot did you run the WSM during the cook? 

Looks great.

 

Until it's cooked.

I run at 325* for an hour 15, to an hour and 30 minutes. Pretty much take your oven temp/time, and do it in the smoke. Smoker is like an oven in terms of temp/time, if you can keep your shit consistent. (Thanks, WSM. :))

 

[UTexasFight 9807]

6 hours ago, Dutch said:

@UTexasFight, to what final temp did you cook the meatloaf, and how hot did you run the WSM during the cook? 

Looks great.

https://kentrollins.com/best-smoked-meatloaf/
 

tried to cook it to 160-165 like the link recommended at 250-275.

Link says 2-2.5 hrs but that’s BS...at least for as large of a roll of meat that I ended up rolling. It took me 4.5 hrs and had to finish in the oven at 350, although I was running closer to 240 on the WSM for a good chunk of the time. If I had pegged it to 275, may have finished closer to 2.5-3 hrs if I had to guess.

Pretty tasty though. Smoke flavor on meatloaf is way better than straight up oven meatloaf

[dcbc 14644]

3 hours ago, jimmyjazz said:

What's the feeling on the built-in thermometer in the 18" lid?  Garbage?  I'm not gonna stand there with my Thermapen in the port (hey-o), but I guess I'd be OK buying a standalone temp probe that I just leave there.

After years of using the grill grate temp probe on the Maverick, I decided the lid thermometer was 35 degrees higher, and since I only cook at two speeds when I get to temp, i.e., one vent open pencil width or all vents wide open, I stopped bothering with the extra probe.  But lately, I've gone out there and it's seemed really low (like 150 on the lid).  So I'd adjust by opening the vents, and it would come up to 200 on the lid.  Stuff was coming out a little tougher and I was using lots of fuel.  I checked and the lid was reading 80 degrees higher now.   

But, still, for some reason, I'm lazy with the extra probe since that controller has been less than reliable lately.  So I bought a new adjustable lid thermometer.  I'll drill out the lid hole a bit and screw it on.  I'll put the grate probe in, and calibrate the lid thermometer to whatever the probe on the top grate (the hotter grate) is reading. 

TLDR, yes, the lid thermometer is junk.  I'm replacing it with something better and calibrating it to a digital probe on the grate during the next cook so I can still be lazy with my probes.

Edited January 30, 2021 by dcbc

[thunderlounge 8407]

1 hour ago, UTexasFight said:

Pretty tasty though. Smoke flavor on meatloaf is way better than straight up oven meatloaf

You’re got damn right. 

[ScooterHTX 110]

Where geographically are you? The WSM has no effective insulation so cold ambient will help you keep temps low. Otherwise, make a thin snake of coals or use a smoking tube, so you have very little burning at any one time.

I smoked the salmon in Shiner tonight. 60ish degrees.

8 - 10 oz filets. Brined for 12 hours. Let them sit to develop pellicle for 4 hours with a fan blowing on them. Smoked for 4.5 hours around 150 degrees. Pulled them around 140 degree internal temp.

Very impressed how the WSM was able to smoke at the low temp without getting too hot. Didn’t expect that. Went with the thin snake method. Only started with around 10 lit coals on one end. 4.5 hours later only about 1/4 of the way around the snake were burned.

Wish I had more pics. These were the first 2 filets I pulled. Will eat them on toasted buttery croissants with garlic cream cheese in the morning.




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[mdleast 8521]

Did a hot and fast brisket again however this time I ignored the direction (from the Weber Virtual Bullet website recipe) to flip it fat side up when I foil it during the second/last 2.5 hours of cook and ended up with much better bark this time and still the same great taste as my other hot and fast cooks. Live and learn.

[mdleast 8521]

(Duplicate post)

[jimmyjazz 47127]

Someday somebody is gonna have to clue me in on how to get a smoke ring with a WSM.  When I cooked on an offset smoker I always had a great smoke ring . . . now?  nada.  Never happens.

Flavors are good, which is what matters, but the eye test is a little lacking.

[mdleast 8521]

Santa Maria style tri-tip. Quick and delicious.

[mdleast 8521]

Santa Maria style tri-tip. Quick and delicious.

[mdleast 8521]

Santa Maria style tri-tip. Quick and delicious.

[Sam Lin 3597]

+3 Drool reps.

[Dutch 4576]

Nice char; I'd eat that until I passed out in a meat coma.  Did you disassemble the WSM and finish directly over the coals?

Edited March 1, 2021 by Dutch

[mdleast 8521]

Yes. Cooked without the water pan in place at all and then put the grate directly over the coals for around 5 minutes at the end. Definitely gonna do it again very soon. Loved how quick it all was. Around 2 hours total from lighting up the first coals.

BTW, used this spice mix as the rub which was great. In fact, we just used it again tonight on some grilled chicken and it was equally great.

[thunderlounge 8407]

I haven’t seen tri-tip here in years. Makes me have a sad. 

[mdleast 8521]

Wife bought me an assortment of rubs from Meat Church. Decided to test 4 of them by splitting two racks of pork ribs in half. While all were good, the consensus favorite was the Holy Cow (nice and spicy). Gospel was the mildest. Honey was the sweetest. Holy Gospel was kind of a mix (and was my brother and my second favorite though my wife and daughter’s least favorite).

[Cajun 11772]

Put this on the Beef Ribs thread, but hey, I did 'em on my WSM last night so...

[mdleast 8521]

Decided to do another tri-tip. Ended up leaving it on longer than intended but it was still delicious.

[Dutch 4576]

Looks great; I’d smash that. 

[TxTower 686]

Wagyu Brisket FTW


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[Cajun 11772]

JFC!

[TornACL 7792]

That is 5 star bark

[TornACL 7792]

That is 5 star bark

[dcbc 14644]

Finally bit the bullet and got a big charcoal ring.  No more reloading on long cooks.

https://www.arborfab.com/CharcoalRingforWeberSmokeyMountainGrill22.5inWSM

 

 

[Dutch 4576]

19 hours ago, TxTower said:

Wagyu Brisket FTW


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I mean...that's triple gif worthy.  I regret I have but one Surly Internet to award that stunning submission.

[Cajun 11772]

4 hours ago, TornACL said:

That is 5 star bark

That is 5 star everything.  Bark, meat, cut, presentation.

This guy fucks!

[Cajun 11772]

That fat is perfectly rendered.  When you see it, you know it.

[thunderlounge 8407]

9 hours ago, dcbc said:

Finally bit the bullet and got a big charcoal ring.  No more reloading on long cooks.

https://www.arborfab.com/CharcoalRingforWeberSmokeyMountainGrill22.5inWSM

 

 

Nice! Been thinking of getting something like that myself. Also been thinking of “upgrading” to an old country “smokehouse” from Academy as well. Still in the thinking about it phase though. 

[dcbc 14644]

1 hour ago, thunderlounge said:

Nice! Been thinking of getting something like that myself. Also been thinking of “upgrading” to an old country “smokehouse” from Academy as well. Still in the thinking about it phase though. 

I've heard the QC on the Old Country pits can be hit and miss, but the quality of the $900 models is pretty good.  In the summer, if I'm really careful with my charcoal pour, I can get 20 lbs into the factory ring and up to 18 hours of cook time, but having more than enough room is better, and the holes appear to provide more flow. 

Shipping was brutal, unfortunately. 

Edited March 18, 2021 by dcbc

[thunderlounge 8407]

31 minutes ago, dcbc said:

I've heard the QC on the Old Country pits can be hit and miss, but the quality of the $900 models is pretty good.  In the summer, if I'm really careful with my charcoal pour, I can get 20 lbs into the factory ring, but having more than enough room is better, and the holes appear to provide more flow. 

Shipping was brutal, unfortunately. 

Probably no more brutal than me kicking my wsm at the river last fall. Whoops!

The one I was looking at is $699. Took welds into consideration, but that can be fixed if needed. Would rather get a run about, but isn’t in the cards now or within 3-4 years for space or getting it to/from the back of the house. 
 

I figure I can get a lot of use out of the OC, or keep on sitting and waiting. 

[dcbc 14644]

18 minutes ago, thunderlounge said:

Probably no more brutal than me kicking my wsm at the river last fall. Whoops!

The one I was looking at is $699. Took welds into consideration, but that can be fixed if needed. Would rather get a run about, but isn’t in the cards now or within 3-4 years for space or getting it to/from the back of the house. 
 

I figure I can get a lot of use out of the OC, or keep on sitting and waiting. 

I'd rather spend an extra $900 spaced out on paypal 0% interest and get a Lone Star Grill(z).  I don't know if the weld's are the problem, but the fit can be a moving target.

[thunderlounge 8407]

9 minutes ago, dcbc said:

I'd rather spend an extra $900 spaced out on paypal 0% interest and get a Lone Star Grill(z).  I don't know if the weld's are the problem, but the fit can be a moving target.

Thought about that too, or a Jambo. But if I’m spending that much I want my trailer. 
 

This is kind of a semi upgrade (still mostly charcoal like a wsm, but can take sticks too) to tide me over for a few years until I get moved and settled. 

[dcbc 14644]

1 minute ago, thunderlounge said:

Thought about that too, or a Jambo. But if I’m spending that much I want my trailer. 
 

This is kind of a semi upgrade (still mostly charcoal like a wsm, but can take sticks too) to tide me over for a few years until I get moved and settled. 

I get the thought process, but at that point, I just upgrade the charcoal ring.

[thunderlounge 8407]

6 minutes ago, dcbc said:

I get the thought process, but at that point, I just upgrade the charcoal ring.

I’ll have to get seals, a new door, and another probe gasket at minimum to fix my wsm. So ya know. lol

 

[dcbc 14644]

17 minutes ago, thunderlounge said:

I’ll have to get seals, a new door, and another probe gasket at minimum to fix my wsm. So ya know. lol

 

Still less than $100.

[Sam Lin 3597]

Yeah, this sounds like a debate between dropping $40 on shocks to repair an old Civic or buying a new Accord.

[dcbc 14644]

7 hours ago, Sam Lin said:

Yeah, this sounds like a debate between dropping $40 on shocks to repair an old Civic or buying a new Accord.

And you already have your stereo presets, driver's seat position, and rear view mirror set up just right in the Civic.

Edited March 18, 2021 by dcbc

[77horn 216]

14 hours ago, dcbc said:

Shipping was brutal, unfortunately. 

Just how brutal was it?

[Texas St. Armadillos 1388]

2 minutes ago, 77horn said:

Just how brutal was it?

About tree fiddy.

[dcbc 14644]

3 minutes ago, 77horn said:

Just how brutal was it?

 

1 minute ago, Texas St. Armadillos said:

About tree fiddy.

Close.  Just move the decimal over to the right one place.  $35 on a $60 item.  That's why I've put off buying for so long.

[77horn 216]

That a pretty steep shipping $.  I guess its the dimensions that kill it.  Reminds me of the early days of Amazon.  They had a molded kids swimming pool priced at ~$8. Shipping was $100.

[dcbc 14644]

2 minutes ago, 77horn said:

That a pretty steep shipping $.  I guess its the dimensions that kill it.  Reminds me of the early days of Amazon.  They had a molded kids swimming pool priced at ~$8. Shipping was $100.

Coincidentally, they just credited my paypal $10.  So I guess shipping wasn't as much as the FedEx tool foretold.  Still pretty steep.  It's not small, but it's stainless steel.  So I guess there's some heft to it.

[thunderlounge 8407]

16 hours ago, dcbc said:

Still less than $100.

Only if I can work it back to round. 
 

 

7 hours ago, dcbc said:

And you already have your stereo presets, driver's seat position, and rear view mirror set up just right in the Civic.

 

yeah, but what about the oval rims and busted shocks?

[dcbc 14644]

42 minutes ago, thunderlounge said:

Only if I can work it back to round.

Roll it around the yard and see what you can do.

[thunderlounge 8407]

3 hours ago, dcbc said:

Roll it around the yard and see what you can do.

It’s getting there, but I really did a number on it. That’ll teach that fucking wind to come up in the middle of the night and burn out all my fuel, leaving an unsafe prime brisket for the fish. 😡

[Sam Lin 3597]

5 hours ago, thunderlounge said:

yeah, but what about the oval rims and busted shocks?

 

21 hours ago, Sam Lin said:

Yeah, this sounds like a debate between dropping $40 on shocks to repair an old Civic or buying a new Accord.

I literally started with replacing the shocks!

[jimmyjazz 47127]

Not sure where to put this, but at least in Austin HEB is selling packer Prime 1 briskets for $3.49/lb this week.  Good luck finding a store that's open.

[mdleast 8521]

Did another beef rib today. Decided to try wrapping in butcher paper and with wagyu beef tallow after reading about it on the brisket thread (thanks to whomever originally posted about it). Was outstanding. While I’ve always been pleased with my beef rib, this was even more moist and flavorful than usual. Looking forward to trying it on a brisket.