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A-maze-N-Smoker Tutorial

The Cen-Tex SmokerThe Cen-Tex Smoker Posts: 18,760
edited November 2013 in EggHead Forum
I've had good luck with the AMS but have noticed lots of people saying it goes out or they have to season the pellets in the oven to keep it lit. So here is how it's worked for me. Hopefully it will work for you the same way.

Step 1) fill it up with pellets and light it on fire. I only had my weed burner handy (It was a bit of overkill). A propane/MAP torch is preferred.

image

Once it gets going, I let it burn for 5-10 minutes. It looks like this:



image

After about 5 minutes it looked like this:

image

I usually have to blow it out at this point but this one went out at 5 min 38 seconds. As long as it's 2-3" in and has a good bed of coals going, I'm good with that:

image

If I have lump in the box, i push it toward the edges to expose air holes for flow. Then I put my small cast iron grid in the bed so there is no chance of igniting the lump:

image


image





Once it's in, I add my AR and oval stone and I have never had one go out. It smokes for about 12 hours.


image

image

image

Hope this helps. I did it all on my iPhone so I'm sure a the photos will be sideways or upside down. Hope you get the drift anyhow.

Bacon for breakfast tomorrow :).

"I believe that life is based on belief-systems. The Way I see it, folks just need to have something that they can really believe in."

"I believe I’ll have another beer."

- Hondo Crouch

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Comments

  • henapplehenapple Posts: 15,986
    No wonder... @Mickey told me to soak the pellets overnight. :[email protected]
    Green egg, dead animal and alcohol. The "Boro".. TN 
  • SkiddymarkerSkiddymarker Posts: 8,433
    Only a bit of overkill with the weed burner, ya think? Good advice. Son has one he uses for cold smoke in a an old Masterbuilt electric that is not electric anymore. 
    Delta B.C. - Whiskey and steak, because no good story ever started with someone having a salad!
  • calikingcaliking Posts: 12,059
    Stop it already. I already used up my holiday points with SWMBO to get the SV demi. Now you go and plant this in my brain. Curses!

    Wait... she needs a Hanukkah gift... bookmarked.

    #1 LBGE December 2012 • #2 SBGE February  2013 • #3 Mini May 2013
    A happy BGE family in Houston, TX.
  • calikingcaliking Posts: 12,059
    Quick question - that's a large egg, right?

    #1 LBGE December 2012 • #2 SBGE February  2013 • #3 Mini May 2013
    A happy BGE family in Houston, TX.
  • The Cen-Tex SmokerThe Cen-Tex Smoker Posts: 18,760
    edited November 2013
    caliking said:

    Quick question - that's a large egg, right?


    Yep. Large egg. The AMS is only $40. Really cheap to turn your egg into a cold smoker. You can probably mod one for $10 and 50 hrs labor :))

    "I believe that life is based on belief-systems. The Way I see it, folks just need to have something that they can really believe in."

    "I believe I’ll have another beer."

    - Hondo Crouch

  • MickeyMickey Posts: 18,989
    henapple said:

    No wonder... @Mickey told me to soak the pellets overnight. :[email protected]

    No Sir, what I said was to soak your Egg in water for 30 min's before using.
    Salado TX Egg Family: 3 Large and a very well used Mini, added a Mini Max when they came out (I'm good for now). 

  • DMWDMW Posts: 13,565
    Thanks for the tutorial. I'm planning to order one. Do you find that pellets work better than dust?

    Morgantown, PA

    XL BGE - S BGE - KJ Jr - HB Legacy - BS Pizza Oven - 30" Firepit - King Kooker Fryer -  PR72T - 18.5" WSM - WSJ - BS 17" Griddle - XXL BGE - Akron Jr - BS SS36" Griddle
  • calikingcaliking Posts: 12,059
    The Cen-Tex Smoker said:
    Yep. Large egg. The AMS is only $40. Really cheap to turn your egg into a cold smoker. You can probably mod one for $10 and 50 hrs labor :))
    You know me too well :) $50 is my limit - then I bust out the aluminium flat bar and mad bending skills. Luckily, Amazon has this. There is a good chance I could sneak this in to the garage and it would blend in. She still hasn't found the second big azz comal i bought a while ago :D

    What else does one do with one of these? I'm guessing cheese and fish. 

    #1 LBGE December 2012 • #2 SBGE February  2013 • #3 Mini May 2013
    A happy BGE family in Houston, TX.
  • The Cen-Tex SmokerThe Cen-Tex Smoker Posts: 18,760
    DMW said:

    Thanks for the tutorial. I'm planning to order one. Do you find that pellets work better than dust?


    Never tried the dust. I bought this size to use the pellets. I use traeger pellets and they work great.

    "I believe that life is based on belief-systems. The Way I see it, folks just need to have something that they can really believe in."

    "I believe I’ll have another beer."

    - Hondo Crouch

  • EggcelsiorEggcelsior Posts: 14,211
    caliking said:


    The Cen-Tex Smoker said:



    Yep. Large egg. The AMS is only $40. Really cheap to turn your egg into a cold smoker. You can probably mod one for $10 and 50 hrs labor :))

    You know me too well :) $50 is my limit - then I bust out the aluminium flat bar and mad bending skills. Luckily, Amazon has this. There is a good chance I could sneak this in to the garage and it would blend in. She still hasn't found the second big azz comal i bought a while ago :D

    What else does one do with one of these? I'm guessing cheese and fish. 


    Neighbor's yappy dog?
  • Little StevenLittle Steven Posts: 28,817

    Sausages! I like sausages.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sON0He2mTC8

    Steve 

    Caledon, ON

     

  • The Cen-Tex SmokerThe Cen-Tex Smoker Posts: 18,760
    2 hrs in and going strong with no added heat.

    image

    "I believe that life is based on belief-systems. The Way I see it, folks just need to have something that they can really believe in."

    "I believe I’ll have another beer."

    - Hondo Crouch

  • henapplehenapple Posts: 15,986
    Mickey said:

    henapple said:

    No wonder... @Mickey told me to soak the pellets overnight. :[email protected]

    No Sir, what I said was to soak your Egg in water for 30 min's before using.
    Ugh... My bad.
    Green egg, dead animal and alcohol. The "Boro".. TN 
  • calikingcaliking Posts: 12,059
    Eggcelsior said:
    Neighbor's yappy dog?
    Neighbor's dogs are actually pretty well behaved. Other neighbor feeds a few feral cats and now they have taken to pooping in our front flower beds. I would love to do something incendiary to those felines...

    #1 LBGE December 2012 • #2 SBGE February  2013 • #3 Mini May 2013
    A happy BGE family in Houston, TX.
  • HibbyHibby Posts: 605
    Which specific size is that smoker? And is your egg a large? Thanks for the post - very informative. Looking forward to getting one myself.
    I cook. I eat. I repeat. Thornville, Ohio
  • The Cen-Tex SmokerThe Cen-Tex Smoker Posts: 18,760
    It's the biggest AMS and my egg is a large.

    "I believe that life is based on belief-systems. The Way I see it, folks just need to have something that they can really believe in."

    "I believe I’ll have another beer."

    - Hondo Crouch

  • The Cen-Tex SmokerThe Cen-Tex Smoker Posts: 18,760
    4 hrs in. Trucking along. image

    "I believe that life is based on belief-systems. The Way I see it, folks just need to have something that they can really believe in."

    "I believe I’ll have another beer."

    - Hondo Crouch

  • calikingcaliking Posts: 12,059
    Riding the night train? 

    #1 LBGE December 2012 • #2 SBGE February  2013 • #3 Mini May 2013
    A happy BGE family in Houston, TX.
  • The Cen-Tex SmokerThe Cen-Tex Smoker Posts: 18,760
    caliking said:

    Riding the night train? 

    Always.

    "I believe that life is based on belief-systems. The Way I see it, folks just need to have something that they can really believe in."

    "I believe I’ll have another beer."

    - Hondo Crouch

  • GriffinGriffin Posts: 7,758
    =D> Great tutorial. It's on my wish list.

    Rowlett, Texas

    Griffin's Grub or you can find me on Facebook

    The Supreme Potentate, Sovereign Commander and Sultan of Wings

     

  • The Cen-Tex SmokerThe Cen-Tex Smoker Posts: 18,760
    Here it is at 7:30 am. I suspect it finished between 5 and 6 as I usually get about 12 hrs out of it.

    imageimage

    "I believe that life is based on belief-systems. The Way I see it, folks just need to have something that they can really believe in."

    "I believe I’ll have another beer."

    - Hondo Crouch

  • calikingcaliking Posts: 12,059
    Lookin good. 

    How big is the one you have? The one on Amazon says its 5"x8". Sounds kinda small, but then it wouldn't be the first time that the description on Amazon has been wrong.


    #1 LBGE December 2012 • #2 SBGE February  2013 • #3 Mini May 2013
    A happy BGE family in Houston, TX.
  • henapplehenapple Posts: 15,986
    @Caliking... That's what I bought... Last forever
    Green egg, dead animal and alcohol. The "Boro".. TN 
  • calikingcaliking Posts: 12,059
    The 5"x8" one holds enough pellets for a 10-12hr smoke? Cool. It's on the list then. SWMBO is gonna love her Hanukkah gift.

    #1 LBGE December 2012 • #2 SBGE February  2013 • #3 Mini May 2013
    A happy BGE family in Houston, TX.
  • The Cen-Tex SmokerThe Cen-Tex Smoker Posts: 18,760
    Yep- the 5x8". i've gone as long as 14 hours with pellets. averages around 12. For $40 it's a great tool to have for your egg. You could even use it in that old gasser or upside down flowerpot you may have lying around. turns anything into a smoker

    "I believe that life is based on belief-systems. The Way I see it, folks just need to have something that they can really believe in."

    "I believe I’ll have another beer."

    - Hondo Crouch

  • JRWhiteeJRWhitee Posts: 5,098
    Thanks @Cen-Tex this is on my Christmas list. As for the photo's, I use my iphone as well, I hold it sideways with the flash/lenz on the top left and my photo's always come out right side up and never sideways. Give it a try.

                                                                
    _________________________________________________
    Don't let the truth get in the way of a good story!
    Large BGE 2006, Mini Max 2014, 36" Blackstone, Anova Sous Vide
    Green Man Group 
    Johns Creek, Georgia
  • billyraybillyray Posts: 1,179
    @ DMW I have the same one as CT and have used both pellets and dust. The pellets seem to burn hotter than the dust. I grind up my pellets in an old electric coffee grinder, when I want dust. It's cheaper than buying dust by inself.
    Felton, Ca. 2-LBGE, 1-Small and waiting on a mini
  • calikingcaliking Posts: 12,059
    One more question - which brand pellets have you found to work the best? May as well order those at the same time. Its getting cooler down here, so I may tr to smoke some cheese.

    #1 LBGE December 2012 • #2 SBGE February  2013 • #3 Mini May 2013
    A happy BGE family in Houston, TX.
  • billyraybillyray Posts: 1,179
    edited November 2013
    Traeger has a good variety of different woods, but they're packaged in 20 lb. bags. Still it is way cheaper than buying the small sizes from some of the smoking web sites on a per ounce basis.
    Felton, Ca. 2-LBGE, 1-Small and waiting on a mini
  • BizGreenEggBizGreenEgg Posts: 301
    I just ordered one of these from their site with the coupon code VETSDAY2013 and got 20% off. It said it went thru 11/11 but still worked for me. 
    Large BGE & mini stepchild & a KJ Jr.
    The damp PNW 
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