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Temperature Control

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ajridge35
ajridge35 Posts: 71
edited November 2011 in EggHead Forum
I'm sorry if this has been mentioned before, or discussed before... but I'm doing my 3rd pork butt in my BGE this weekend, and every time I have done one (or a long cook for that matter) I always have a difficult time controlling the temperature. I have to monitor it throughout the duration of the cook, playing with the vents because of the change in temp. After a fair amount of research, it turns out that I need to get the temp of the BGE stabilized for a solid hour or so before I put the meat in. Tried that, and still it fluctuates and goes up and down. Long story short, I'm wondering if my problem is when I put the plate setter in w/ grid. When do I put them in - beginning of starting fire, when I hit my target temp, or when the meat goes in? Thanks for the help!
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  • lousubcap
    lousubcap Posts: 32,385
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    I add the platesetter, drip pan, grid etc once I have about a softball sized fire going in the lump.  I then shut the dome, install the DFMT and adjust it and lower vent to about the target dome temperature.  Fine tune the vents to required temperatue and wait til all is stable (around 40-50 mins) and the smoke is clear then start the cook. Works for me and I'm sure others will chime in.
    Louisville; Rolling smoke in the neighbourhood. # 38 for the win.  Life is too short for light/lite beer!  Seems I'm livin in a transitional period.
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  • ChokeOnSmoke
    ChokeOnSmoke Posts: 1,942
    edited November 2011
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    I believe in bringing everything inside the egg up to temperature together.  I get the lump going for about 10 minutes and then assemble everything I need.  Stabilize. Then add meat.
    If I'm just grilling (no plate setter or pizza stone), I might be ready to cook in 15 minutes.  If I'm doing low & slow or a pizza, it might take twice as long or more to get up to temp and stabilize.

    There's no good reason to wait an hour to stabilize.  If the smoke is clear and the smoke smells good, you're ready to cook.
    Packerland, Wisconsin

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  • stike
    stike Posts: 15,597
    edited November 2011
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    the worst way to try to adjust temps is to, well, try to adjust temps.

    although you can dial in a temp, many people new to the egg try to do it too quickly.  too high? then they clamp on the brakes.  too low? they open the thing way up.  this causes repeated overshooting and undershooting.

    it's like driving a tractor trailer as opposed to a car.  you need to start slowing well before the stop sign (desired temp).

    when doing a low and slow, try adjusting vents only by 25% at most.  never shut it or open it all the way to try to speed the temp change.

    ignore any apparent drops in temp from adding a platesetter or meat.  it doesn't matter if you start with the egg empty, or add the platesetter later.  if the egg reads 250, it is at 250.  adding 8 pounds of cold meat and then shutting the dome might show you a thermometer that says 190-200, but the fire doesn't know that. it's the same fire it was before you added the meat and cold platesetter. it's a 250-degree fire whether the dome says so or not.  give it time, and the dome temp will rise again as the platesetter warms up and the meat gets cooking.

    trick is top stop worrying, frankly.  you want 250 and the dome is 275? so what.  300 won't even hurt.  might get done a little sooner, but just shut the vents a little and see if it creeps down.

    if the temp changes within a half hour of adjusting vents, that's typical.  don't expect to see dramatic changes in five minutes


    ed egli avea del cul fatto trombetta -Dante
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  • Mugato17
    Mugato17 Posts: 26
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    I have the DIGIQ and the Pit Viper.....it is awesome!!!  

    http://www.thebbqguru.com/products/DigiQ-DX2--(Build-your-package)-.htm

    I just bought it about 2 weeks ago for all the Thanksgiving cooking.   It's a bit pricey...but worth every penny.

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  • Squeezy
    Squeezy Posts: 1,102
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    @ stike ... well stated.
    Never eat anything passed through a window unless you're a seagull ... BGE Lg.
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  • ajridge35
    ajridge35 Posts: 71
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    Just what I needed to hear. Thank you all for the help! I will try to post some pics next week. Since I have quite a following on this particular thread.. any advice on injecting my pork? I think its about a 10# bone in, and I have Stubb's and Tony C's injectable marinade. Of course I can always create my own, but since I have those on hand I figured I'd give those a shot. What I have done in the past works (hickory wood w/ paprika-based rub), but wanted to try something different
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  • Squeezy
    Squeezy Posts: 1,102
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    I like thinning a mango puree with apple juice for injecting. Peach juice is also nice.
    Never eat anything passed through a window unless you're a seagull ... BGE Lg.
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  • stevesails
    stevesails Posts: 990
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    I bought an aubers temp controller, I love it. It is worth the money, I never worry about the temp not being right. I go to bed and wake up in morning and it is at the same temp.. I have used it a 225, 250 and 325   no issues at all.
    XL   Walled Lake, MI

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  • GrannyX4
    GrannyX4 Posts: 1,491
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    Is it only for the extra large egg? I couldn't see one on their site for the large.
    Every day is a bonus day and every meal is a banquet in Winter Springs, Fl !
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  • Smoker_Guru
    Smoker_Guru Posts: 372
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    Is it only for the extra large egg? I couldn't see one on their site for the large.

    Granny here is the controller for the large BGE: http://www.auberins.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=14_27&products_id=187&zenid=2b050ff11ecd4d9723a1cd98413e9660


     

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  • GrannyX4
    GrannyX4 Posts: 1,491
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    Thanks, I don't know how I missed it. It seems pretty straight forward and easy to use. I wonder why it isn't mentioned as often as the stoker and the digiq? This looks like something I might be able to figure out.
    Every day is a bonus day and every meal is a banquet in Winter Springs, Fl !
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