Cold weather cooking

DMDon · 11-13-2008, 01:30 PM

Any tried and trued advice to helping a smoker retain more heat on a cold and windy day? I plan to cook on Sat and the forecast is low 30's and windy. I know enough try and block as much wind as possible. I was thinking of covering the smoker with a hot water heater blanket or something fireproof or cooking in the garage close to the open door and running a fan to blow the smoke out. I will be cooking on a Country smoker whole hog and using just one side. Andy,Bentley,Ray feel free to offer some advice. Thanks

Dr_KY · 11-13-2008, 01:41 PM

My UDS is nearly faultless in those conditions.

Markbb · 11-13-2008, 01:44 PM

Try a welders blanket.....

BBQ Grail · 11-13-2008, 01:48 PM

When the temp drops down to the high 50's around here I pretty much just put a sweater on and off we go.

BBQ Bandit · 11-13-2008, 01:48 PM

My gear is far from insulated... running a hotter fire is needed in low temps due to heat loss.

BBQ_Mayor · 11-13-2008, 02:48 PM

I did pork last year for wedding in December. Remember that snow storm we had on the 23rd of December? That was the day.

I put up the easy up with sides and that was it. It ran great all night. Used a bit more pellets but ran fine.

If I did it agian, i would get a water heater or welding blanket and give that a shot.

I've cooked in the cold a couple of times.

By that way, that a frozen lake I'm standing on.

DSCF2993.jpg

Smokin' Joe · 11-13-2008, 03:02 PM

Ray...Did you make the stand for the backwoods or can you buy something like that?

barbefunkoramaque · 11-13-2008, 03:39 PM

Welders bankets. Bought two 5 by 5's off the internet. Sewed them into a cozy that snaps on. I have a big stick burner smoker but it saves me a lot of money in fuel and helps on the product I think.

Bought three more so I could also have it hanging on the trailer... the side openings on the deck I set the smoker on are roughly 5 or so feet across and up. I block these sides, not all the way, but enough to block the wind a bit. Theres plenty of air that leaks past but just enough to get the smoke out.

I can leave the door open in the commissary and heat the entire 21 feet or so of kitchen and bedroom/head and such. Pretty comfortable until you get to about 20 degrees.

People always think I am hanging canvas over my smoker or on the trailer.

HoDeDo · 11-13-2008, 05:19 PM

You can use a moving blanket and definately use an EZup with sides. Wind is what kills you. It will use a little more pellets than normal, but not much, unless you cook really hot. Once you get it dialed in, you will find it behaves much the same as usual... just with a little bit more feed dialed in. :)

barbefunkoramaque · 11-13-2008, 05:47 PM

The Ho is right.. I meant to add that covering my trailer to guard against cold winds entering the smoke deck actually did about as good as covering the whole thing. Plus your blankets don't get smoky and stained.

You can see the area to cover in this shot with the smoker on the deck rails.

So yeah... wind blocking does pretty good.. at least until it gets REAL cold.

11-13-2008, 05:55 PM

i'd say get an egg or other ceramic. cold weather is where they excel. they don't care if it's cold or windy. i'm looking forward to this winter and smoking a lot of butt.

are you cooking for yourself or a 'for others' thing?

Panther5150 · 11-13-2008, 07:25 PM

You can always use a water heater blanket from the home depot. They are insulated and come with tape to hold 'em to the barrel.

JD McGee · 11-13-2008, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick's Tropical Delight

i'd say get an egg or other ceramic. cold weather is where they excel. they don't care if it's cold or windy. i'm looking forward to this winter and smoking a lot of butt.

are you cooking for yourself or a 'for others' thing?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Panther5150

You can always use a water heater blanket from the home depot. They are insulated and come with tape to hold 'em to the barrel.

Ditto on both counts...

Norcoredneck · 11-13-2008, 08:44 PM

Welding Blanket.

Brian in So Cal · 11-13-2008, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BBQ_Mayor

I put up the easy up with sides and that was it. It ran great all night. Used a bit more pellets but ran fine.

If I did it agian, i would get a water heater or welding blanket and give that a shot.

I've cooked in the cold a couple of times.

By that way, that a frozen lake I'm standing on.

Attachment 20946

Mayor, What is that white stuff on the ground? Salt? I don't think I have ever seen it out here in So cal.

11-13-2008, 01:30 PM	#1
DMDon Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 05-08-07 Location: Ankeny, IA	Cold weather cooking Any tried and trued advice to helping a smoker retain more heat on a cold and windy day? I plan to cook on Sat and the forecast is low 30's and windy. I know enough try and block as much wind as possible. I was thinking of covering the smoker with a hot water heater blanket or something fireproof or cooking in the garage close to the open door and running a fan to blow the smoke out. I will be cooking on a Country smoker whole hog and using just one side. Andy,Bentley,Ray feel free to offer some advice. Thanks __________________ Boondoggle BBQ American Royal Open Grand Champion 2009 FEC-100, GMG Bowie, Weber kettle 22.5 w/rotisserie KCBS CBJ #23234

11-13-2008, 01:41 PM	#2
Dr_KY Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 12-15-07 Location: England	My UDS is nearly faultless in those conditions. __________________ www.drsweetsmoke.com Slappin that bass like some delerious funky preist!!! UDS, Half Pint (Mini UDS), Weber, ProQ 20, Kegrilla 250 gallon cooker- 'The Meat Beast!!' British BBQ Championships Grand Champion 2008 ~~~~ British BBQ Society - Southern Championship Grand Champions 2009

11-13-2008, 01:48 PM	#4
BBQ Grail somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 08-11-03 Location: Rocklin, CA	When the temp drops down to the high 50's around here I pretty much just put a sweater on and off we go. __________________ Larry Soon to be a Texafornian. For a limited time I will be issuing Moink Ball Certificates. I'm working on a special COVID 19 Verson. Email me for details.

11-13-2008, 01:48 PM	#5
BBQ Bandit Babbling Farker Join Date: 02-15-08 Location: Harrisburg, PA	My gear is far from insulated... running a hotter fire is needed in low temps due to heat loss. __________________ Custom Klose Backyard Chef... of Snot, and a 22.5 WSM Former smokers; Lang 84 Deluxe kitchen, Lang 60 Mobile - The Damsel II, Lang 48 Patio - The Damsel, Bubba Keg Grill - RIP, Double Barrel Smoker and a BSKD

11-13-2008, 02:48 PM	#6
BBQ_Mayor is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 05-14-07 Location: Cambridge,Ia	I did pork last year for wedding in December. Remember that snow storm we had on the 23rd of December? That was the day. I put up the easy up with sides and that was it. It ran great all night. Used a bit more pellets but ran fine. If I did it agian, i would get a water heater or welding blanket and give that a shot. I've cooked in the cold a couple of times. By that way, that a frozen lake I'm standing on. DSCF2993.jpg __________________ Ray Smokehouse 72 Competition Cooking team Visit our Facebook page - Smokehouse72 WSM, Whole Hog Lousianna pellet Smoker IPT pellet Smoker and Gateway Drum CBJ #4643

11-13-2008, 01:44 PM	#3
Markbb is Blowin Smoke! Join Date: 10-17-06 Location: Oklahoma	Try a welders blanket.....

11-13-2008, 03:02 PM	#7
Smokin' Joe is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 02-03-08 Location: IOWA	Ray...Did you make the stand for the backwoods or can you buy something like that? __________________ TippyCanoe BBQ Crew www.tippycanoebbq.com Memphis Pro Backwoods Fatboy Backwoods Party

11-13-2008, 03:39 PM	#8
barbefunkoramaque Babbling Farker Join Date: 11-11-07 Location: Gone	Welders bankets. Bought two 5 by 5's off the internet. Sewed them into a cozy that snaps on. I have a big stick burner smoker but it saves me a lot of money in fuel and helps on the product I think. Bought three more so I could also have it hanging on the trailer... the side openings on the deck I set the smoker on are roughly 5 or so feet across and up. I block these sides, not all the way, but enough to block the wind a bit. Theres plenty of air that leaks past but just enough to get the smoke out. I can leave the door open in the commissary and heat the entire 21 feet or so of kitchen and bedroom/head and such. Pretty comfortable until you get to about 20 degrees. People always think I am hanging canvas over my smoker or on the trailer. __________________ Popdaddy is Dead - 1933-2011 - Pitmaster T is a free agent

11-13-2008, 05:19 PM	#9
HoDeDo Babbling Farker Join Date: 02-19-06 Location: Kansas City	You can use a moving blanket and definately use an EZup with sides. Wind is what kills you. It will use a little more pellets than normal, but not much, unless you cook really hot. Once you get it dialed in, you will find it behaves much the same as usual... just with a little bit more feed dialed in. :) __________________ Andy /Smoke on Wheels Competition BBQ - www.smokeonwheels.com

11-13-2008, 05:47 PM	#10
barbefunkoramaque Babbling Farker Join Date: 11-11-07 Location: Gone	The Ho is right.. I meant to add that covering my trailer to guard against cold winds entering the smoke deck actually did about as good as covering the whole thing. Plus your blankets don't get smoky and stained. You can see the area to cover in this shot with the smoker on the deck rails. So yeah... wind blocking does pretty good.. at least until it gets REAL cold. __________________ Popdaddy is Dead - 1933-2011 - Pitmaster T is a free agent Last edited by barbefunkoramaque; 04-03-2011 at 02:34 PM..

11-13-2008, 05:55 PM	#11
Rick's Tropical Delight Guest	i'd say get an egg or other ceramic. cold weather is where they excel. they don't care if it's cold or windy. i'm looking forward to this winter and smoking a lot of butt. are you cooking for yourself or a 'for others' thing?

11-13-2008, 07:25 PM	#12
Panther5150 On the road to being a farker Join Date: 11-11-08 Location: Glendale, AZ by way of Pittsburgh, Pa	You can always use a water heater blanket from the home depot. They are insulated and come with tape to hold 'em to the barrel.

11-13-2008, 08:44 PM	#14
Norcoredneck somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 07-11-06 Location: Norco, Ca.	Welding Blanket. __________________ *Low and Slow.....* *The Prontologist is in...* *Ok let's see your Butt!*

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