First cooking on new cooker

kenny · 03-25-2008, 08:30 PM

This past Friday my brother (Charlie) and I cooked on our new home built cooker. I wont go so as far to say it was a diaster, but it was close. We leared a lot about reverse flow cookers. Our new rig is a offset firebox, reverse flow. Our old cooker is a single pass offset firebox. We use to cook at temps in the 250-275 degree range. With the new cooker our ribs were done in 3 hours, (we usually go 5 hours) we had butts done in 8 hours, (normal cooking time is 12-16 hours). Any suggestions would be appreciated. With reverse flow cookers what are expected cooking temps and times.

More pictures to come.

Kevin · 03-25-2008, 08:54 PM

If you're sure that the temperature, at cooking grate level, was equal to your old cooker, then the difference could be the convection (increased air flow) of your reverse flow design. Just my .02.

jrb03 · 03-25-2008, 09:07 PM

I would suggest double checking your temps at grate level where your food is. You say it was a disaster, why? Was the food not good? I would love for my ribs to be done in 3 hours! Every cooker cooks differently, the fun part is learning them.

FatDaddy · 03-25-2008, 09:15 PM

I recently rebuilt my 5' offset as a reverse flow. Things definitely cook alot quicker. Ive noticed that trimmed spares take about 4.5-5 hours at 225-240 if i foil em for a while left unfoiled they take a little longer. I havent done any bigger cuts of meat in it lately cause im lazy and use my WSM for my briskets or butts. but this summer i will be doing some over nighters just to enjoy the weather. IT will take ya some time to get used to it. It also amazes me at the reduced amount of fuel i have to use. i used 10 lbs of RO lump and about 9-10 logs for a 6 hour cook. id used to burn double that amount.

icemn62 · 03-26-2008, 04:01 PM

this may be dumb, but what is reverse flow?

butts · 03-26-2008, 04:06 PM

Quote:

this may be dumb, but what is reverse flow?

http://www.cookersandgrills.com/our_products.html

Click on the link that says, "What is a reverse-flow system."

kenny · 03-26-2008, 06:49 PM

Thanks for the replies. I believe the temp is the difference. The old smoker was much larger, with more wall area. The more wall area, the more heat loss? It wasnt that the Butts, chicken, and ribs were bad, it just surprised us how fast they cooked. Shouls have payed closer attention. We did notice also that we used much less wood, thats always a good thing.

03-25-2008, 08:54 PM	#2
Kevin Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 02-06-05 Location: Southern Minnesota	If you're sure that the temperature, at cooking grate level, was equal to your old cooker, then the difference could be the convection (increased air flow) of your reverse flow design. Just my .02. __________________ Kevin

03-25-2008, 09:07 PM	#3
jrb03 Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 09-08-05 Location: TX	I would suggest double checking your temps at grate level where your food is. You say it was a disaster, why? Was the food not good? I would love for my ribs to be done in 3 hours! Every cooker cooks differently, the fun part is learning them. __________________ Pitmaker Vault Pitmaker Grill-Meister Backwoods Party Backwoods Chubby Weber Performer WSM Weber Smokey Joe Gold Good Riddence Peppercookers Trailer Offset Chargriller Tailgate Grill

03-25-2008, 09:15 PM	#4
FatDaddy is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 04-04-06 Location: Wichita Falls, Tx	I recently rebuilt my 5' offset as a reverse flow. Things definitely cook alot quicker. Ive noticed that trimmed spares take about 4.5-5 hours at 225-240 if i foil em for a while left unfoiled they take a little longer. I havent done any bigger cuts of meat in it lately cause im lazy and use my WSM for my briskets or butts. but this summer i will be doing some over nighters just to enjoy the weather. IT will take ya some time to get used to it. It also amazes me at the reduced amount of fuel i have to use. i used 10 lbs of RO lump and about 9-10 logs for a 6 hour cook. id used to burn double that amount. __________________ HALF DIAMOND RANCH BBQ Home made 5' reverse flow smoker Lg BGE WSM 18.5 WSM 22.5 Weber Kettle 22 1/2" silver series Weber Copper Smokey Joe Gold 14.5" GPS trackable RED super fast thermopen http://www.facebook.com/jtempleton2

03-26-2008, 04:01 PM	#5
icemn62 Babbling Farker Join Date: 07-10-04 Location: Los Angeles, CA	this may be dumb, but what is reverse flow? __________________ Weber Kettle, WSM, Dyna-Glo Offset, George Foreman Grilll I AM LOVING THE SMOKE WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may create the illusion that you are tougher,smarter, faster and better looking than most people.

03-26-2008, 06:49 PM	#7
kenny Got Wood. Join Date: 07-22-07 Location: Newport news, va	Thanks Thanks for the replies. I believe the temp is the difference. The old smoker was much larger, with more wall area. The more wall area, the more heat loss? It wasnt that the Butts, chicken, and ribs were bad, it just surprised us how fast they cooked. Shouls have payed closer attention. We did notice also that we used much less wood, thats always a good thing. __________________ [FONT=Impact][B]:icon_smilTar River 2[/B][/FONT]

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Contest Cooker(s) vs. Home Cooker(s)	kcquer	Competition BBQ	11	06-01-2005 08:23 AM