To flip or not to flip...

[SmokeWatcher]

I'm almost done building my first UDS and setting the inaugural fires, but I'm not sure about whether I should flip the meat or how often. What do you all recommend?

[Jeremiah]

Depends, what are you cooking?

If we're talking pork butts and briskets, I don't flip either of them. For me briskets go fat cap down and stay that way until they're done. Given the location of the heat source on a UDS, I would do the same on there as well.

[smooookin]

I usually start with the fat down for the first hour then turn fat cap up for the rest of the cook. The UBS turns out some darn good pork butt!!

[Meat Burner]

Try diffenent ways to see what you like. I do brisket fat cap down and dont
't flip, butts don't flip, chicken, fatties, and ribs I usually flip and baste. Sometime I foil the brisket and butts but most of the time just let er smoke. IT"S ALL YUMMY! Let us know how it works out. Good luck!

[swamprb]

Depends what you are cooking. I always flip butts, picnics, ribs and brisket. Spatchcocked chicken and thighs too.

[michiana mark]

Put me down as a never flipper. I know I'm boring.

[SmokeWatcher]

Seems like the opinions are about even. I have the first fire in her now to see how she holds up. No meats right now....just getting her seasoned. I picked up a butt for tomrrow though. 8-)

[Norcoredneck]

Usually always sleep through my cook :biggrin:. Only flip when I;m awake.

[thirdeye]

I'ma flipper. On butts and briskets, I start fat down for 2 or 3 hours then turn for a couple more, then turn back again.

First flip

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v377/thirdeye2/BDS/DSC02830.jpg

Next flip. Still about 4 or 5 hours until they are ready.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v377/thirdeye2/BDS/DSC02847a.jpg

When I cook on both levels, the lower grate cooks faster, so I start the bigger stuff there. I will rotate both racks on that first turn, and sometimes swap out stuff between racks on the next turn.

[Meat Burner]

Thirdeye, not trying to hijack SmokeWatchers thread but maybe this will stay on his topic...how much quicker does the lower rack cook. Mine has two cooking levels but I haven't done much on the lower level..only when I used the flat lid for fun and not the weber dome. Hope this is helpful to SmokeWatcher as well.

[thirdeye]

Thirdeye, not trying to hijack SmokeWatchers thread but maybe this will stay on his topic...how much quicker does the lower rack cook. Mine has two cooking levels but I haven't done much on the lower level..only when I used the flat lid for fun and not the weber dome. Hope this is helpful to SmokeWatcher as well.

My lower rack is somewhere around 24" from the basket. I much prefer cooking on the upper (31" above) but when I have used only the lower, it shaves about 1-1/2 hours off of a typical 10 hour cook. The downside is, it's harder to turn meat because it is 1' down from the rim.

When both racks are used, It's quite a bit faster, maybe as much as 25% if the conditions are right. By that I mean a full load on the lower rack robs some of the direct heat getting to the upper. That is why I rotate meats. One thing I have done when cooking 3 briskets is to start the big one on the bottom. About halfway through the cook, they have shrunk enough for all 3 to finish on the top rack.

[SmokeWatcher]

Thirdeye, not trying to hijack SmokeWatchers thread but maybe this will stay on his topic...how much quicker does the lower rack cook. Mine has two cooking levels but I haven't done much on the lower level..only when I used the flat lid for fun and not the weber dome. Hope this is helpful to SmokeWatcher as well.
YES.....inquiring minds want to know. :-D

[willkat98]

I've never flipped anything in the smoker, but I dont know enough about the UDS to give good info.

Sorry

[ipls3355]

a very wise man once said
"I don't remember flipping"


Who was that man:-?

[Meat Burner]

Thirdeye, thanks as that is very helpful. My UDS seems to be about the same deminisions as yours. I will be cooking on both levels next week for a benefit cancer patient at work. Sweet lady with a great attitude about everything. Cooking about 100# brisket and butts on 3 UDS's and want it great for her. Thanks for the help.

[biffleg]

To answer your question - listen to this quote from one of my favorite movies: click here (http://www.moviesoundscentral.com/sounds/flipya.wav)

[Mitch]

Looks Good! Do what works for U. We all have a different way to do it all. What works for U is what U should stick to. Smoke'On