Minion in an offset

Smoothsmoke · 02-04-2011, 01:36 PM

Silly question but what the heck. Will the minion method work on a cheap-o offset like my brinkmann? Should I lay a chimney full of briquettes and some lit on top or hows the best way to go about it?

btcg · 02-04-2011, 01:36 PM

Why not?

SmokinAussie · 02-04-2011, 01:51 PM

Yes, it works fine, especially if you use a firebasket. You will still go through more fuel than a UDS, but you do get a more stable run that you otherwise would.

Cheers!

Bill

Mister Bob · 02-04-2011, 01:51 PM

My big offset doesn't get up to temperature until I have a good bed of coals going and has to be tended hourly. If I set mine up like you described (and I have), all the coals would be fully lit within the hour anyway. Too much airflow is required to move the heat through the cooker. I do use a firebasket.

I don't know how it would work in a small one, but I think the minion method is much better suited to upright smokers than offsets.

Hopefully someone with personal experience with that particular smoker will chime in!

btcg · 02-04-2011, 01:54 PM

Bob,

Did you ever try one o' them "Ring of Fire's"? But if it isn't getting up to temp without the full bed of coals, maybe it wouldn't make a diff.

SmokinAussie · 02-04-2011, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mister Bob

My big offset doesn't get up to temperature until I have a good bed of coals going and has to be tended hourly. If I set mine up like you described (and I have), all the coals would be fully lit within the hour anyway. I do use a firebasket. Too much airflow is required to move the heat through the cooker.

I don't know how it would work in a small one, but I think the minion method is much better suited to upright smokers than offsets.

Hopefully someone with personal experience with that particular smoker will chime in!

Yes, I should have mentioned... my offset is a small BBChef, pretty much the same thing as a Braunfels from what I have seen of pics through the Brether forum here and there. I read up about Minion method in general, consulted with a few brethren and gave it a shot when I did my first really long smoke for a full chuckie. It worked very well. I agree if you've got a monster size offset, you'd be hard pressed to get temps up.

Mister Bob · 02-04-2011, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by btcg

Bob,

Did you ever try one o' them "Ring of Fire's"? But if it isn't getting up to temp without the full bed of coals, maybe it wouldn't make a diff.

I did try a back and forth maze once, it seemed like a good idea, but it didn't work. Just about all the coals were lit anyway in about two hours, and all I accomplished was that it took me longer to get up to temperature.

Most of the big cookers don't get to temp without a good hot fire. It doesn't have to be big, but it does have to be hot.

I prefer the hot clean burning fire anyway, but I do go through a full chimney of lump and a couple of chunks an hour. There are advantages and disadvantages to each of the different types of cookers, that's why I have so many!

btcg · 02-04-2011, 02:19 PM

Gotcha.

jimmyinsd · 02-04-2011, 03:59 PM

yep it works, i use the grates that came in the offset turned verticle on top of the coal grate as sides for the "fire basket" and then load it up with coal until it starts to spill over the end of the grate. i then add about 1/2 of a chimney of lit coals to the cooking chamber side of the unlit coals and let it burn its way towards the fresh oxygen away from the cooking chamber.

as a side note, have you done mod that extends the exhaust down to the grate level? how much more effecient is it? does it effect the operation when you are using it for a direct grill?

CarolinaQue · 02-04-2011, 07:10 PM

The first smoker I built was an old 55 gallon drum that I made into an offset. I did the minion method frequently and averaged between 6 to 8 hours out of it. Mainly because the fire box was pretty small. But it worked well for me.

RedPig · 02-04-2011, 07:27 PM

I agree with the others here that minion method will work fine for your cooker. If your having trouble getting up to temp fast enough, I'd just add extra hot coals to the pile at the beginning.

wickedbbq'r · 02-04-2011, 07:43 PM

I have tried it with a basket in my Char-Griller. Works ok, but it's still is one hungry beast. Needs a lot of coal in the beginning and still burns through it fast. I could never set it and forget it. Do yourself a favor like I did. Get yourself a WSM. The money you save in coal will have it paid for in no time.

Skidder · 02-04-2011, 07:52 PM

Build yourself a charcoal basket and raise it up so the ash doesn't snuff out your fire seal your cooker from as many leaks as you can build a minion fire and run with it.

The Grill Sergeant · 02-04-2011, 10:07 PM

I don't know what brand my son has, but I've tried Minion with just a few coals & was saatisfied - 4 hr burn.
I'm Q'n on it again 2moro and I will add lump on the far end of the fire box & put hot coals nearest the meat. Betcha it works betr.
Also, I find I go through a third the wood chips if I put them in a little "smoker box" - one of those cast iron thingies - & no flame.

olewarthog · 02-05-2011, 10:45 AM

I have a CG Smokin Pro & it works really good for me. I have a basket & start with the basket full of unlit charcoal except for the front corner away from the side vent.

I fill a chimney about 3/4 full & light it. When the chimney is going good, I dump the hot coals in the open space

I have both the side & top vents all the way open. Mine has an ash drawer on the SFB & I pull it open a couple of inches to get the heat moving thru the cooker. When the cooking chamber temp hits about 210-215, I close the drawer & close the side vent 3/4. Temp will stablize in the 225-240 range. Depending on the weather conditions, I can get 2.5-3 hours burn time maintaining 225-240. I make only small adjustments to the side vent & give it at least 15 mins to take effect. After a couple of hours, the temp will begin to drop. Before it drops below 225, open the SFB & shake the basket to dislodge ash & rake the remaining coals to the cooking chamber side & fill the basket back with unlit charcoal. If you lose too much heat reloading, open the vents back all the way until the temps begin to rise above 215 again.

02-04-2011, 01:36 PM	#1
Smoothsmoke Babbling Farker Join Date: 01-20-10 Location: Monterey, CA	Minion in an offset Silly question but what the heck. Will the minion method work on a cheap-o offset like my brinkmann? Should I lay a chimney full of briquettes and some lit on top or hows the best way to go about it? __________________ Kamado Big Joe [COLOR=Red]Kamado Classic Joe Kamado Joe Jr. [/COLOR] A bunch of Webers

02-04-2011, 01:36 PM	#2
btcg Babbling Farker Join Date: 02-28-10 Location: North Potomac, MD	Why not? __________________ Graduate: Jack's Old South BBQ School, Smokin Triggers BBQ School, Paul Kirk BBQ School

02-04-2011, 01:51 PM	#3
SmokinAussie somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 10-19-09 Location: Gold Coast, Queensland! (Finally Escaped Melbourne) Name/Nickname : Bill	Yes, it works fine, especially if you use a firebasket. You will still go through more fuel than a UDS, but you do get a more stable run that you otherwise would. Cheers! Bill __________________ A butterflies wings. About to bring down everything...

02-04-2011, 01:51 PM	#4
Mister Bob Babbling Farker Join Date: 06-15-09 Location: Scituate, RI	My big offset doesn't get up to temperature until I have a good bed of coals going and has to be tended hourly. If I set mine up like you described (and I have), all the coals would be fully lit within the hour anyway. Too much airflow is required to move the heat through the cooker. I do use a firebasket. I don't know how it would work in a small one, but I think the minion method is much better suited to upright smokers than offsets. Hopefully someone with personal experience with that particular smoker will chime in! __________________ Mister Bob, Pitmaster - Smokestack Lightning, Bad Ass Barbecue. KCBS CBJ #31759 - IMBAS Certified MOINK Baller

02-04-2011, 01:54 PM	#5
btcg Babbling Farker Join Date: 02-28-10 Location: North Potomac, MD	Bob, Did you ever try one o' them "Ring of Fire's"? But if it isn't getting up to temp without the full bed of coals, maybe it wouldn't make a diff. __________________ Graduate: Jack's Old South BBQ School, Smokin Triggers BBQ School, Paul Kirk BBQ School

02-04-2011, 02:19 PM	#8
btcg Babbling Farker Join Date: 02-28-10 Location: North Potomac, MD	Gotcha. __________________ Graduate: Jack's Old South BBQ School, Smokin Triggers BBQ School, Paul Kirk BBQ School

02-04-2011, 03:59 PM	#9
jimmyinsd Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 05-11-10 Location: Twin Brooks, SD	yep it works, i use the grates that came in the offset turned verticle on top of the coal grate as sides for the "fire basket" and then load it up with coal until it starts to spill over the end of the grate. i then add about 1/2 of a chimney of lit coals to the cooking chamber side of the unlit coals and let it burn its way towards the fresh oxygen away from the cooking chamber. as a side note, have you done mod that extends the exhaust down to the grate level? how much more effecient is it? does it effect the operation when you are using it for a direct grill? __________________ COS, SS gasser,10-10-10 UDS,and 4-4-11 her twin sister, 22.5 silver, and others.

02-04-2011, 07:10 PM	#10
CarolinaQue is Blowin Smoke! Join Date: 06-23-07 Location: North Berwick, ME	The first smoker I built was an old 55 gallon drum that I made into an offset. I did the minion method frequently and averaged between 6 to 8 hours out of it. Mainly because the fire box was pretty small. But it worked well for me.

02-04-2011, 07:27 PM	#11
RedPig Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 10-09-10 Location: Hampton Roads, VA	I agree with the others here that minion method will work fine for your cooker. If your having trouble getting up to temp fast enough, I'd just add extra hot coals to the pile at the beginning. __________________ RedPig, Swing Dings, KCBS Member, KCBS CBJ, BGE, Peoria Custom Offset, WSM, Weber Kettle, Traeger Lil Tex, UDS x 2, Stoker 2.0

02-04-2011, 07:43 PM	#12
wickedbbq'r Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 08-27-09 Location: Fairfield County, CT	I have tried it with a basket in my Char-Griller. Works ok, but it's still is one hungry beast. Needs a lot of coal in the beginning and still burns through it fast. I could never set it and forget it. Do yourself a favor like I did. Get yourself a WSM. The money you save in coal will have it paid for in no time. __________________ [FONT=Comic Sans MS][COLOR=green][B]Green[COLOR=black]witch Que Co. BBQ Team[/COLOR][/B][/COLOR][/FONT] KCBS Member & CBJ. NEBS Member Viking SS Gravity-Fed Smoker Meadow Creek TS120P 1-22" WSM 1-22" Weber Performer

02-04-2011, 07:52 PM	#13
Skidder Babbling Farker Join Date: 02-02-08 Location: Westfield,Ma.	Build yourself a charcoal basket and raise it up so the ash doesn't snuff out your fire seal your cooker from as many leaks as you can build a minion fire and run with it.

02-04-2011, 10:07 PM	#14
The Grill Sergeant Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 08-24-10 Location: Omaha, NE	I don't know what brand my son has, but I've tried Minion with just a few coals & was saatisfied - 4 hr burn. I'm Q'n on it again 2moro and I will add lump on the far end of the fire box & put hot coals nearest the meat. Betcha it works betr. Also, I find I go through a third the wood chips if I put them in a little "smoker box" - one of those cast iron thingies - & no flame.

02-05-2011, 10:45 AM	#15
olewarthog Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 01-07-10 Location: Hazlehurst, GA	I have a CG Smokin Pro & it works really good for me. I have a basket & start with the basket full of unlit charcoal except for the front corner away from the side vent. I fill a chimney about 3/4 full & light it. When the chimney is going good, I dump the hot coals in the open space I have both the side & top vents all the way open. Mine has an ash drawer on the SFB & I pull it open a couple of inches to get the heat moving thru the cooker. When the cooking chamber temp hits about 210-215, I close the drawer & close the side vent 3/4. Temp will stablize in the 225-240 range. Depending on the weather conditions, I can get 2.5-3 hours burn time maintaining 225-240. I make only small adjustments to the side vent & give it at least 15 mins to take effect. After a couple of hours, the temp will begin to drop. Before it drops below 225, open the SFB & shake the basket to dislodge ash & rake the remaining coals to the cooking chamber side & fill the basket back with unlit charcoal. If you lose too much heat reloading, open the vents back all the way until the temps begin to rise above 215 again.