Grilling and smoking thread

**rjs4470** · May 12, 14, 08:19 PM

I have a Traeger Wood Pellet smoker. I do Boston Butts, pork tenderloin, whole chickens and turkeys, fish (mostly salmon, tilapia and flounder), chicken wings and of course ribs. I've also done asparagus and potatoes. The Traeger is really easy to use, even in the winter time (it just takes a little longer) and pellets are no more expensive than buying propane for a gas grill. I go through about 4 bags a year, and I typically use the smoker 3-4 times a month. I've don brisket, with mixed results. There's a fine line between perfect and shoe leather. I try to keep it wrapped in foil and baste it occasionally with Bourbon (something cheap) mixed with apple juice a couple of times over the time it's smoking.

**NEERFAN** · May 12, 14, 09:56 PM

Originally Posted by JDEaston

I do a lot of Boston butts throughout the year. I do a lot of ribs too, but prefer baby backs and they are hard to find at local butcher shops unless they are pre-cooked. I have most things pork down pat.

I would like to try more beef, I have done smoked burgers before and they were the best burgers I've ever had. I have been working myself up to the brisket, but I think I'm ready to try it. Smoked fish is on my wishlist this summer too, as are breakfast "fatties."

It's funny you mention "fatties". Prior to this evening I had never heard the term. Thirty minutes ago n "Swamp People" they shwed ne and niw I see it in this thread.

**JokersWild24** · May 13, 14, 03:15 AM

Originally Posted by leatherneck

Smoked my first brisket Friday night. I'd read how hard it is. It was simple. Perhaps because I went with a smaller one (5.5 lbs). Used a Weber kettle grill. Kept it around 225 degrees. Used a pre-made dry rub purchased at Krogers. Wrapped it in foil for the last 1.5 hours.Came out extremely moist and juicy. Used it as an appetizer for a gathering of folks down the farm. It was devoured. Grilled venison burgers for the dinner, with topping choices of bacon, spam, metts and/or ham, with sides of salad and Cincy style chili on mac n cheese (basically a 3 way). Grilling season is indeed here.

Trust me, I've seen some pros mess up brisket. Most of the ones cooked in my "neck of the woods" are half-day long jobs, so there's more potential for something to go wrong.

**JokersWild24** · May 13, 14, 03:16 AM

Originally Posted by leatherneck

I always doctor them up with whatever I have handy. This time I added a little hamburger, as well as Worchestershire sause, some onion soup mix, a dash or two of A-1; dried thyme (or was it rosemary?), garlic powder, salt and pepper. The charcoal still had some apple chips left over from the brisket, so the burgers had a little smoke apple taste to them. Henry won't let me cook anything more complicated than microwaved coffee at the house, so when I get to cook down at the farm, I like to have fun cooking. I learned my lesson last year when I cooked a fancy menu for about 25 folks. Lordy, that was work. This year I kept it much simpler.

Hope I didn't offend Joker with my comment about how simple it was to smoke a brisket after he'd posted something to the effect that it can be difficult. But it was pretty simple. I may have just got lucky with my first attempt.

Hahaha... not at all, it's all good. I'm actually pretty tough to offend unless it's super personal. My cooking skills aren't something I take that way.

**Beechwoodfan** · May 13, 14, 05:25 AM

My husband has a rub that he buys from someone at work. Sometimes he tops it with jalapeños. He also cooks it very slow all day. A couple of times during the day he pours beer over it. I hate beer, but love the brisket.

**LCDAWGS19** · May 13, 14, 08:01 AM

Gonna put a pork shoulder on the smoker this weekend. Mix the rub today, and apply on Friday afternoon.

**JDEaston** · May 15, 14, 02:48 PM

Originally Posted by NEERFAN

It's funny you mention "fatties". Prior to this evening I had never heard the term. Thirty minutes ago n "Swamp People" they shwed ne and niw I see it in this thread.

I have never had or cooked them, but they sound and look great. There are a ton of different options with them.

I know it wouldn't be traditional, but I have thought about doing a fatty using Goetta as the base. I haven't found Goetta in my area though.

**JDEaston** · May 24, 14, 04:35 AM

Put my first ever brisket.on at 5am. Wish me luck hah.

**JDEaston** · May 25, 14, 10:12 AM

Brisket turned out amazing, if I could figure out how to post pictures I would post a couple of it.

**Jim Schue** · May 25, 14, 10:16 AM

Originally Posted by JDEaston

Brisket turned out amazing, if I could figure out how to post pictures I would post a couple of it.

Nice! I've been meaning to tackle a brisket for one of my gatherings.

**JDEaston** · May 27, 14, 06:52 PM

Originally Posted by Jim Schue

Nice! I've been meaning to tackle a brisket for one of my gatherings.

The brisket wasn't as hard as I thought it would be, maybe I got lucky.. we did beer injected whole chicken yesterday, it took a lot longer than I expected but turned out great.

**SportsGuy41017** · May 27, 14, 10:20 PM

My grill broke somehow

. I metal thing that goes along the back of the five burners broke off after the second burner. So I can't get it hit enough for my bison

**TAC** · May 28, 14, 07:43 AM

Time for me to do a couple beer can chickens. Love em!

**MJAlltheWay24** · May 28, 14, 07:59 AM

Never done a beer can chicken myself but had it when others cooked them.

Cooked some pork chops yesterday. Turned out great.

**JDEaston** · May 28, 14, 06:40 PM

Beer can chicken is great, that's how I usually do mine, but this time I tried injecting it with beer, tasted about the same, but took longer to cook. Anyone do spatchcock chicken?