Cooking On Two Racks - UDS

-HAZARD- · 04-12-2012, 02:05 PM

I built my UDS to accommodate two racks. I don’t have the luxury of a kettle lid right now so the top rack is 6 – 7” down from the lid, and the bottom rack is 6” below that. The reason for the top rack height is I left about an inch of head room between the lid and where I determined most cuts of meat to be in height when sitting on the top rack.

Because the lower rack is 6” below the top one, the bottom grate on my charcoal basket is only about 18” from the bottom rack. I have read along the way that it should be 24”, but that just was not possible. Now I am concerned that it will be too close.

In a couple of weeks, I need to cook two racks worth of pork shoulders. Should I plan to exchange racks (swap top for bottom) sometime during the cook? Would half way between cook time make the most sense? How about flipping the meat over?

Thanks!

polishdon · 04-12-2012, 02:16 PM

You should be ok, I always like to put the fat cap side down on the lower rack to kind of protect it from from the heat. If you can rotate them from one rack to the other during your cook that would be helpful, but I've cooked (5) 9lb butts on mine and never rotated them, came out fine. Just watch your internal temps on the shoulders.

OutlawSwine · 04-12-2012, 02:16 PM

Do you have a heat diverter above your charcoal basket?

Pole D · 04-12-2012, 02:20 PM

I think you might run into trouble. The two issues I see are:

1. The bottom rack being too low. With 18 inches you aren't that far from really just grilling the shoulders. Switching out racks may help but it seems like that would be a real PIA.

2. The possibility of basically cutting off the heat to the top rack. I've tried cooking with two racks on occasion and found it works much better when I don't load up the bottom rack or I have something that is not big in size like thighs on the bottom. This lets the heat go up to the top rack.

Not saying you can't do it with shoulders but you may want to have a back up. Maybe its time for a second drum?

Jay Gee · 04-12-2012, 02:25 PM

I bet if you started check Craigslist daily you could pick up a Weber (lid) between now and then for about 30 bucks. I've snagged two (a silver and a perfect gold) in the last three weeks. Each for 30 bucks. The gold had a brand new unused double hinged grill grate to boot.

Not exactly an answer to your question but worth putting it out there anyway.

Best of luck on your cook!

-HAZARD- · 04-12-2012, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OutlawSwine

Do you have a heat diverter above your charcoal basket?

NO, but I certainly could do that. Maybe split the difference between the top of the charcoal basket and the bottom rack?

Jay Gee · 04-12-2012, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pole D

Maybe its time for a second drum?

Always time for a second... Or a third!

kevine · 04-12-2012, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -HAZARD-

NO, but I certainly could do that. Maybe split the difference between the top of the charcoal basket and the bottom rack?

I would certainly try this. I have two racks on mine too, with a third for the diverter. It works fine. If I'm cooking chicken, I put it on the bottom rack, since it's hotter closer to the fire. Also, like a previous post said, just watch your temps.

Hozman · 04-12-2012, 03:06 PM

I just place a pizza pan directly on top of my charcoal basket. I saw no need to have a rack just to set a pan on.

razrbakcrzy · 04-12-2012, 03:13 PM

I use 2 racks in all of mine I have compensated a little bit by only making my racks 5" and 5" and I made my coal basket bottom 2 in off bottom and 11 inches deep X 16" dia. I never rotate unless the upper rack comes off earlier than the bottom. Like cooking fattys on the top rack and (2) butts on the bottom. When I take the fatties off i move the butts to the top... Thats only time I rotate. If im doing briskets and butts. I do butts on bottom, brisket on top...no rotation.

nthole · 04-12-2012, 03:33 PM

Put a heat shield in, 3 bolts through the side far enough in you can still get the charcoal basket out but you can set on the ends a pizza stone, clay flower pot base, etc and you basically have yourself a two for one, uds with just the top rack and a wsm with the bottom rack and diverter. That's how mine is built as well.

04-12-2012, 02:05 PM	#1
-HAZARD- Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 04-04-12 Location: MASS	Cooking On Two Racks - UDS I built my UDS to accommodate two racks. I don’t have the luxury of a kettle lid right now so the top rack is 6 – 7” down from the lid, and the bottom rack is 6” below that. The reason for the top rack height is I left about an inch of head room between the lid and where I determined most cuts of meat to be in height when sitting on the top rack. Because the lower rack is 6” below the top one, the bottom grate on my charcoal basket is only about 18” from the bottom rack. I have read along the way that it should be 24”, but that just was not possible. Now I am concerned that it will be too close. In a couple of weeks, I need to cook two racks worth of pork shoulders. Should I plan to exchange racks (swap top for bottom) sometime during the cook? Would half way between cook time make the most sense? How about flipping the meat over? Thanks!

04-12-2012, 02:16 PM	#2
polishdon Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 10-07-09 Location: Lake View, NY	You should be ok, I always like to put the fat cap side down on the lower rack to kind of protect it from from the heat. If you can rotate them from one rack to the other during your cook that would be helpful, but I've cooked (5) 9lb butts on mine and never rotated them, came out fine. Just watch your internal temps on the shoulders. __________________ Humphrey's Battle Box;WSM; OTS; DPP Trailer Clone, Wood Fired Double Kettle Pizza Cooker

04-12-2012, 02:16 PM	#3
OutlawSwine is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 01-11-10 Location: Sylvan Springs, Al	Do you have a heat diverter above your charcoal basket? __________________ Preston - Facebook, Twitter Twisted Dixie BBQ

04-12-2012, 03:06 PM	#9
Hozman Take a breath! Join Date: 09-07-11 Location: Grain Valley, MO via Big Sky country	I just place a pizza pan directly on top of my charcoal basket. I saw no need to have a rack just to set a pan on. __________________ 18.5 & 22.5 WSM-Weber one touch. Cyber Q Wi-Fi. Head cook Thick and Thin BBQ

04-12-2012, 03:13 PM	#10
razrbakcrzy is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 09-13-11 Location: Fort Smith, Ar.	I use 2 racks in all of mine I have compensated a little bit by only making my racks 5" and 5" and I made my coal basket bottom 2 in off bottom and 11 inches deep X 16" dia. I never rotate unless the upper rack comes off earlier than the bottom. Like cooking fattys on the top rack and (2) butts on the bottom. When I take the fatties off i move the butts to the top... Thats only time I rotate. If im doing briskets and butts. I do butts on bottom, brisket on top...no rotation. __________________ [SIZE=2][B]Jim Boston[/B][/SIZE] [B][COLOR=black]Current Smoker[/COLOR][/B] [COLOR=red]"The most reliable, easiest to make at home, Smoker [B]"The UDS"[/B] W/ an Auber temp. Controller w/ 20CFM Blower.[/COLOR] [FONT=Arial][B]Future Smoker [/B][/FONT] [FONT=Arial]$5438.25 Total BYC Smoker!![/FONT] [SIZE=2]Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem. [/SIZE] [SIZE=1]Ronald Reagan, President of the United States; 1985 [/SIZE]

04-12-2012, 02:20 PM	#4
Pole D is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 09-06-09 Location: Cary, NC	I think you might run into trouble. The two issues I see are: 1. The bottom rack being too low. With 18 inches you aren't that far from really just grilling the shoulders. Switching out racks may help but it seems like that would be a real PIA. 2. The possibility of basically cutting off the heat to the top rack. I've tried cooking with two racks on occasion and found it works much better when I don't load up the bottom rack or I have something that is not big in size like thighs on the bottom. This lets the heat go up to the top rack. Not saying you can't do it with shoulders but you may want to have a back up. Maybe its time for a second drum?

04-12-2012, 02:25 PM	#5
Jay Gee Got Wood. Join Date: 11-25-11 Location: NC	I bet if you started check Craigslist daily you could pick up a Weber (lid) between now and then for about 30 bucks. I've snagged two (a silver and a perfect gold) in the last three weeks. Each for 30 bucks. The gold had a brand new unused double hinged grill grate to boot. Not exactly an answer to your question but worth putting it out there anyway. Best of luck on your cook!

04-12-2012, 03:33 PM	#11
nthole Babbling Farker Join Date: 08-11-03 Location: St. Louis	Put a heat shield in, 3 bolts through the side far enough in you can still get the charcoal basket out but you can set on the ends a pizza stone, clay flower pot base, etc and you basically have yourself a two for one, uds with just the top rack and a wsm with the bottom rack and diverter. That's how mine is built as well. __________________ Neil -- "Easy Bake Master" NB Bandera [gone to heaven...conveniently located in Long Island, NY] Rebel 23, WSM A, WSM B, UDS, Easy Bake Oven Pork Pistols BBQ MOFO Illuminati MOINK...It's what's for linner.