OT: Smoking Meats (Donate Your Knowledge)

I know this has been a topic over the years, but bringing it back once again. Mostly because I always like learning from a lot of people on here that like smoking meats. Also it's 90+ degrees right now at 11PM on an overnight smoke, and trying to stay occupied while getting the temperature locked in just right so I can watch John Wick and fall asleep for a few hours before checking it again out of paranoia.

Some structure to this. Every smoke is different, so this should just be your ideal smoke.

  • What's your meats
  • Smoker
  • Size
  • Temp
  • Time
  • Rub (injection)
  • Leave fat or trim, cap up or down if it's something like butts, etc.
  • Chips
  • Wrap
  • Misc. spray bottle / mop, drip tray water or additions, anything else you want to throw in there

Here's mine:

  • Pork butt has always been my go to, such a long smoke, but I relish in the pain once it's done
  • Green Egg handed down from my mom, incredibly grateful, but would sleep better or any with a pellet. Temperature holds well, but 10 degree internal change in the middle of summer or cold of winter can shift the smoke by hours. My last two smokes were randomly on the coldest and hottest days of record for the year. Not fun
  • I try to only do it for special occasions, so ends up being about 15lbs, generally two 7.5lbs meats from any butcher in this area
  • I go low, try to keep it at 225 to 250, letting it drop below 225 makes it a stressful next day
  • I'm likely just an idiot, but my smokes end up taking about 2-2.5 hours per pound, have found myself in quite a bind when having company so have started earlier to avoid the stress
  • I do use yellow mustard, mostly because I think the flavor cooks off and it serves as a great way to get your rub to stick. I've spent hours going through good recipes for scratch rub, and settled on traditional seasoned salt, brown sugar, granulated sugar, paprika, garlic powder, pepper, dry mustard, cumin, and ginger. About standard, though I have mixed up the amounts based on taste. Didn't have time today and grabbed a local spice shop rub for tonight, ingredients no surprise were mostly the same, but will report back. I've injected once before, couldn't tell the difference.
  • I leave the fat and put the cap up
  • I like wood chips, and try to find the apple type (I'm heavy on apple in general)
  • Only wrap if I finish early and take the meat off, or top foil over the meat if I am running way behind. I have no experience at all with doing this or doing it well
  • I do spray after having a decent bark with a traditional 1/3rd of water / cider / apple juice. I've always had issues with my drip tray, try to keep a little bit of water in it, but had it overflow a few times toward the 2/3rd mark of a long smoke, end up having to empty it out a bit. Would be awesome to hear suggestions on that

In any case, would be great to hear thoughts.

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I told him I’d crawl on my hands and knees to be the DL coach at Virginia Tech. Now, all of a sudden, I’m sitting in this chair and I told him I’d still crawl on my hands and knees to work here. I just want to be here.
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Arkansas blew a 24-0 lead in the Belk Bowl.

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Arkansas blew a 24-0 lead in the Belk Bowl.

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I told him I’d crawl on my hands and knees to be the DL coach at Virginia Tech. Now, all of a sudden, I’m sitting in this chair and I told him I’d still crawl on my hands and knees to work here. I just want to be here.
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Directions from Blacksburg to whoville, go north till you smell it then go east until you step in it

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Arkansas blew a 24-0 lead in the Belk Bowl.

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Directions from Blacksburg to whoville, go north till you smell it then go east until you step in it

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Arkansas blew a 24-0 lead in the Belk Bowl.

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Sometimes we live no particular way but our own

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Arkansas blew a 24-0 lead in the Belk Bowl.

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Plan for the worst and hope for the best, not the other way around.

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"Why gobble gobble chumps asks such good questions, I will never know." - TheFifthFuller

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Plan for the worst and hope for the best, not the other way around.

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Plan for the worst and hope for the best, not the other way around.

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Plan for the worst and hope for the best, not the other way around.

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Directions from Blacksburg to whoville, go north till you smell it then go east until you step in it

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Directions from Blacksburg to whoville, go north till you smell it then go east until you step in it

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Directions from Blacksburg to whoville, go north till you smell it then go east until you step in it

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I have no idea why my username is VT_Warthog.

Arkansas blew a 24-0 lead in the Belk Bowl.

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Sometimes we live no particular way but our own

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Arkansas blew a 24-0 lead in the Belk Bowl.

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Sometimes we live no particular way but our own

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Plan for the worst and hope for the best, not the other way around.

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Sometimes we live no particular way but our own

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Arkansas blew a 24-0 lead in the Belk Bowl.

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Arkansas blew a 24-0 lead in the Belk Bowl.

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Arkansas blew a 24-0 lead in the Belk Bowl.

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I have no idea why my username is VT_Warthog.

Arkansas blew a 24-0 lead in the Belk Bowl.

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Arkansas blew a 24-0 lead in the Belk Bowl.

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You will see this game, this upset and this sign next on ESPN Sportscenter. Virginia Tech 31 Miami 7

His decision was made after a phone call with longtime Virginia Tech assistant coach Bud Foster. All Foster told him was, "We win. They don't."

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"Why gobble gobble chumps asks such good questions, I will never know." - TheFifthFuller

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Sometimes we live no particular way but our own

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Directions from Blacksburg to whoville, go north till you smell it then go east until you step in it

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Arkansas blew a 24-0 lead in the Belk Bowl.

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Arkansas blew a 24-0 lead in the Belk Bowl.

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I told him I’d crawl on my hands and knees to be the DL coach at Virginia Tech. Now, all of a sudden, I’m sitting in this chair and I told him I’d still crawl on my hands and knees to work here. I just want to be here.
JC Price

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2 time Longwood grad married to a Hokie.

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Directions from Blacksburg to whoville, go north till you smell it then go east until you step in it

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I told him I’d crawl on my hands and knees to be the DL coach at Virginia Tech. Now, all of a sudden, I’m sitting in this chair and I told him I’d still crawl on my hands and knees to work here. I just want to be here.
JC Price

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I told him I’d crawl on my hands and knees to be the DL coach at Virginia Tech. Now, all of a sudden, I’m sitting in this chair and I told him I’d still crawl on my hands and knees to work here. I just want to be here.
JC Price

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Bob: What would ya say ya do here?

Brad: I already told you! I iron out the minutiae so Justin doesn't have to. I have people skills dammit! What the hell is wrong with you people?

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Directions from Blacksburg to whoville, go north till you smell it then go east until you step in it

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Directions from Blacksburg to whoville, go north till you smell it then go east until you step in it

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Sometimes we live no particular way but our own

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Directions from Blacksburg to whoville, go north till you smell it then go east until you step in it

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Sometimes we live no particular way but our own

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"Why gobble gobble chumps asks such good questions, I will never know." - TheFifthFuller

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Sometimes we live no particular way but our own

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Bob: What would ya say ya do here?

Brad: I already told you! I iron out the minutiae so Justin doesn't have to. I have people skills dammit! What the hell is wrong with you people?

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"Why gobble gobble chumps asks such good questions, I will never know." - TheFifthFuller

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Bob: What would ya say ya do here?

Brad: I already told you! I iron out the minutiae so Justin doesn't have to. I have people skills dammit! What the hell is wrong with you people?

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2 time Longwood grad married to a Hokie.

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Bob: What would ya say ya do here?

Brad: I already told you! I iron out the minutiae so Justin doesn't have to. I have people skills dammit! What the hell is wrong with you people?

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2 time Longwood grad married to a Hokie.

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I have no idea why my username is VT_Warthog.

Arkansas blew a 24-0 lead in the Belk Bowl.

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I have no idea why my username is VT_Warthog.

Arkansas blew a 24-0 lead in the Belk Bowl.

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"Why gobble gobble chumps asks such good questions, I will never know." - TheFifthFuller

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"Why gobble gobble chumps asks such good questions, I will never know." - TheFifthFuller

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I have no idea why my username is VT_Warthog.

Arkansas blew a 24-0 lead in the Belk Bowl.

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"Why gobble gobble chumps asks such good questions, I will never know." - TheFifthFuller

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I have no idea why my username is VT_Warthog.

Arkansas blew a 24-0 lead in the Belk Bowl.

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I told him I’d crawl on my hands and knees to be the DL coach at Virginia Tech. Now, all of a sudden, I’m sitting in this chair and I told him I’d still crawl on my hands and knees to work here. I just want to be here.
JC Price

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Directions from Blacksburg to whoville, go north till you smell it then go east until you step in it

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Directions from Blacksburg to whoville, go north till you smell it then go east until you step in it

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

I have no idea why my username is VT_Warthog.

Arkansas blew a 24-0 lead in the Belk Bowl.

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I have no idea why my username is VT_Warthog.

Arkansas blew a 24-0 lead in the Belk Bowl.

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I have no idea why my username is VT_Warthog.

Arkansas blew a 24-0 lead in the Belk Bowl.

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"Why gobble gobble chumps asks such good questions, I will never know." - TheFifthFuller

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I have no idea why my username is VT_Warthog.

Arkansas blew a 24-0 lead in the Belk Bowl.

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Directions from Blacksburg to whoville, go north till you smell it then go east until you step in it

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"Why gobble gobble chumps asks such good questions, I will never know." - TheFifthFuller

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I have no idea why my username is VT_Warthog.

Arkansas blew a 24-0 lead in the Belk Bowl.

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2 time Longwood grad married to a Hokie.

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I have no idea why my username is VT_Warthog.

Arkansas blew a 24-0 lead in the Belk Bowl.

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Directions from Blacksburg to whoville, go north till you smell it then go east until you step in it

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I have no idea why my username is VT_Warthog.

Arkansas blew a 24-0 lead in the Belk Bowl.

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I have no idea why my username is VT_Warthog.

Arkansas blew a 24-0 lead in the Belk Bowl.

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I have no idea why my username is VT_Warthog.

Arkansas blew a 24-0 lead in the Belk Bowl.

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I have no idea why my username is VT_Warthog.

Arkansas blew a 24-0 lead in the Belk Bowl.

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"Why gobble gobble chumps asks such good questions, I will never know." - TheFifthFuller

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I told him I’d crawl on my hands and knees to be the DL coach at Virginia Tech. Now, all of a sudden, I’m sitting in this chair and I told him I’d still crawl on my hands and knees to work here. I just want to be here.
JC Price

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Arkansas blew a 24-0 lead in the Belk Bowl.

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Even when you get skunked; fishing never lets you down. 🎣

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Arkansas blew a 24-0 lead in the Belk Bowl.

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"Why gobble gobble chumps asks such good questions, I will never know." - TheFifthFuller

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Directions from Blacksburg to whoville, go north till you smell it then go east until you step in it

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Directions from Blacksburg to whoville, go north till you smell it then go east until you step in it

Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.

Plan for the worst and hope for the best, not the other way around.

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"Why gobble gobble chumps asks such good questions, I will never know." - TheFifthFuller

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Directions from Blacksburg to whoville, go north till you smell it then go east until you step in it