Smoking temperature?

Unknown

What dome temp should be used if I have a recipe that calls for smoking at 200-220F for four hours on a conventional smoker? Do I need to plan on adjusting the temperature or cooking time if I use a BGE instead of a metal smoker?

Unknown

PaulH,
240-250. What's cooking?
Chris

Unknown

Bature Boy,[p]I won't try to smoke anything until I get some firebricks, I guess I will have to bite the bullet and pay $6 a brick at the local fireplace supply store. All the recipes in SMOKE & SPICE by the Jamisons indicate the smoker should be at 200-220F, but the recipes all appear to be based on use of wood burning metal pit smokers. I didn't know if I should try for a higher or lower dome temp on a ceramic smoker.

The Naked Whiz

PaulH,
Are you getting the firebricks to so you can do indirect? For that much money, I'd consider a place setter instead. It can be used to do indirect, and it can be used to get pizzas up to the level of the opening. You will find it in the accessories brochure. Just a thought....[p]TNW
[ul][li]BGE Accessories Brochure[/ul]

Unknown

The Naked Whiz,[p]Will a plate setter be better for indirect cooking than firebricks? The firebricks should have more thermal mass and be a bit more durable. Is the plate setter prone to breakage unless your extremely careful with it?

jwitheld

PaulH,
lower your cook temps, ceramics will cook faster than the little tin pots[/b]

Strmn2Smoke

PaulH,
Don't know where you are, but fire bricks are $.65 cents each in these parts. They really are very useful. Try to find a brick/masonary yard near you..Good smoking..nde

The Naked Whiz

PaulH,
I think the plate setter provides adequate mass for indirect cooks. I haven't found it to be particularly fragile, either. I wouldn't drop it on one of the legs, but I think it will take a little abuse. Maybe someone else will chime in if they have broken one, but I don't remember anyone saying so. I think it would be well worth the investment. I have been very pleased with mine.[p]TNW

Bordello

PaulH,
I use the plate setter and love it, I don't consider it fragile but it is breakable if abused. Please remember the egg is also breakable if knocked over. I have never used fire bricks so cannot compare the two.
Good Luck,
New Bob

Unknown

PaulH,
You will find that the Jamisons have a lot of good recipes and info, but pit temps and times are not the case, no matter what pit you are using. Get your info here on temps and times, much improved information.
Jim

Charcoal Mike

PaulH,[p]I have both. I used firebricks for awhile before I got the plate setter. The bricks work just fine, but the plate setter is WAY easier to use. The opening on the sides also allow you to drop in smoking woods if you must, without taking apart the entire assembly like you would with bricks stacked on a grid. Combined with a pizza stone, it also makes pizza that much easier.[p]I haven't used the bricks once since I got the setter, and I can't think of a reason why I would ever need them again. In your case especially, due to the price you would be paying for bricks, I would get the setter. Also, I *did* crack a firebrick once - I set one down too fast (it was hot) on top of another one. The plate setter seems to be really durable, considering what it is and how it is made. With reasonable care it should last a really long time.[p]Hope this helps -[p]Mike

KennyG

<p />PaulH,[p]As most have mentioned, a platesetter and/or pizza stone is the best "mass" to use for indirect cooks.[p]As an alternative to firebricks, you should be able to find these Flamebusters at a home improvement stores. They do the same job as the bricks while being lighter and easier to configure. [p]As a general rule of thumb, the dome temp as indicated by a calibrated thermometer is 20-25* higher than the temp at the cooking grid. I do all of my "smoking" at 250-260*.[p]K~G

Fairalbion

I'll chime in since I dis break my plate setter. This happened when my large BGE (on its wheeled BGE table) blew across my patio in the wind one night. The whole lot fell over on to the lawn and the plate setter and ceramic chimney cap were the sole casualties. This was no fault of the plate setter and I have replaced it - since it worked so well.[p]The old one had only broken a couple of its legs so I cut off the remainder with a tile saw and filed down the sharp edges. This left me with a circular piece that I use for extra mass.