Cold weather and a UDS....

bigmeatbbq · 01-08-2009, 09:25 AM

I got to smoke a 16lbs. packer this Sunday to take into work on Monday. It's supposed to be a balmy 28 degrees here in west central Illinois. Has anyone here got any recommendations on cold weather BBQing with a UDS. I'm concerned about keeping temp during the smoke. Any help or tips are greatly appreciated.

Mark · 01-08-2009, 09:36 AM

Sunday may be breezy for 63101 but you shouldn't be concerned with a UDS

bigabyte · 01-08-2009, 09:38 AM

Drink your beer inside where it's warm.

Hachie Qer · 01-08-2009, 09:49 AM

I'm not speaking from experience just some ideas that occured to me. I saw a post the other day that mentioned using a blanket on a horizontal offset. A UDS may be to hot on the surface for that to be safe, but what about a water heater jacket, dishwasher insulation or duct insulation. Just be sure to handle it carefully to keep fiberglass out of the cooker and your hands.

DDave · 01-08-2009, 09:55 AM

Not speaking from a huge amount of experience here . . . my UDS is fairly new and I assume you are talking about a 28 degree high. Here if it is 28 degrees it is definitely an overnight low. But, the other morning when I lit my UDS, it was 30 degrees and it did not have any trouble at all getting up to 250°.

As long as your drum does not have any leaks, the wind shouldn't bother it either. I would be very surprised if you had any trouble at all.

Good luck.

Dave

CajunSmoker · 01-08-2009, 10:04 AM

I smoked a turkey thanksgiving morning at below freezing temps and it didn't seem to make any difference at all on the UDS. The heat is contained inside the UDS and you really aren't counting on the metal in the barrel heating up to help hold temps. My barrel is rarely too hot to touch while I'm cooking unless I have the lid off too long and let my temps get out of control.

SpammyQ · 01-08-2009, 10:04 AM

I don't have a drum yet (build is in the works), but I do have a WSM that I cooked on during a snowstorm on Dec 23rd in 26 degree weather. The wind was what was killing me that day., not the temps. I wound up wrapping the smoker in a moving blanket, and keeping the vents open. It worked great. At smoking temps, it really doesn't get hot enough to burn the blanket. I imagine a drum would be similar.

I would stay away from anything that contains fiberglass unless it is completely contained.

...Smoke... · 01-08-2009, 10:11 AM

-25f last cook! The old UDS does not cook any different, may have used a little more fuel to get through the cook, not really sure how much nothing to worry about that is for sure.:) My UDS sits inside a car port, it is open on the west side to the wind no prob.

Bob50j · 01-08-2009, 10:56 AM

No experience with the UDS yet, the build is in the works, but I did do a couple of butts on Xmas Eve on my Chargriller. Temps in the single digits and only had trouble keeping temp up when the wind howled. I layed a concrete insulation blanket over the stove and problem gone. Now from everything I read, the chargriller won't even come close to the efficiency of a UDS so I'd think you're fine.

Meat Burner · 01-08-2009, 10:57 AM

What Smoke said, maybe a little more fuel, but not much. If you can put up some kind of wind brake, that might be helpful. Otherwise, just let it rock!! Good luck and keep us posted.

Barbarian · 01-08-2009, 11:03 AM

I used a moving blanket on my offset also and it worked great. I don't see why you couldn't use one on the drum. I personally would keep it a bit above the charcoal grate level the temp should stay fine down there and it won't cover the intakes that way.

h20loo · 01-08-2009, 11:06 AM

I find that freezing rain is a temp killer but otherwise just have at 'er!
I experimented last year and found that a 4x4 piece of cardboard (with exhaust hole) put over my drum caused about a 10 degree increase in grate temp. So I went to HD and bought that silver insulation and made a coat for my barrel. Depending on the weather it runs about 25 degrees hotter. I've smoked at 350 degrees and no effect on my coat!

Bob50j · 01-08-2009, 11:31 AM

nice job of "wrapping that raskle", h20loo

tommykendall · 01-08-2009, 12:00 PM

Nice insulation mods. The moving blanket is a hoot! I'll have to try it here while it's cold outside

stlgreg · 01-08-2009, 12:33 PM

I cooked last year when the low was supposed to get down to 7 - the only difference was I didnt want to be outside as much and it used 40-50% more fuel.

Other than that cooked just like a chanp.

01-08-2009, 09:25 AM	#1
bigmeatbbq On the road to being a farker Join Date: 05-08-07 Location: Kewanee,Illinois Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Cold weather and a UDS.... I got to smoke a 16lbs. packer this Sunday to take into work on Monday. It's supposed to be a balmy 28 degrees here in west central Illinois. Has anyone here got any recommendations on cold weather BBQing with a UDS. I'm concerned about keeping temp during the smoke. Any help or tips are greatly appreciated. __________________ "The truly intelligent man always fights for the lost cause,realizing that all others are mere effect." Char-griller Smokin Pro;Mutant homemade Off-set smoker;WSM;RFUDS(Real-Farking-Ugly-Drum-Smoker). "All we're really doing is making cheap meat taste expensive."-Ted, Black Kettle BBQ "Anyplace is within walking distance,if you have the time." -- Steven Wright

01-08-2009, 09:36 AM	#2
Mark somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 08-13-03 Location: St. Peters MO Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Sunday may be breezy for 63101 but you shouldn't be concerned with a UDS __________________ Dr. Mark (STL) Ph.D. (honorary) Bovine $hitology A thin line separates paranoia from an acute understanding of reality.

01-08-2009, 09:38 AM	#3
bigabyte somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 05-10-06 Location: Overland Fark, KS Downloads: 1 Uploads: 1	Drink your beer inside where it's warm. __________________ Chris Baker For great food and and an even better time join the BBQ Brethren Throwdowns *First ever recipient of the Silverfinger Award!* Yes, I own a whole bunch of BBQ crap also. *Certified MOINK Baller & IMBAS Certified MOINK Ball Judge #0003 - Get your MOINK Certification today!* The Secret Squirrel Society doesn't exist - Zero Club member

01-08-2009, 09:49 AM	#4
Hachie Qer Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 01-02-09 Location: Newton, KS Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I'm not speaking from experience just some ideas that occured to me. I saw a post the other day that mentioned using a blanket on a horizontal offset. A UDS may be to hot on the surface for that to be safe, but what about a water heater jacket, dishwasher insulation or duct insulation. Just be sure to handle it carefully to keep fiberglass out of the cooker and your hands. __________________ Jonathan - Blue Weber One Touch Gold, rescued NBBD, Weber Smokey Joe

01-08-2009, 09:55 AM	#5
DDave On the road to being a farker Join Date: 11-24-08 Location: Far Northern California Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Not speaking from a huge amount of experience here . . . my UDS is fairly new and I assume you are talking about a 28 degree high. Here if it is 28 degrees it is definitely an overnight low. But, the other morning when I lit my UDS, it was 30 degrees and it did not have any trouble at all getting up to 250°. As long as your drum does not have any leaks, the wind shouldn't bother it either. I would be very surprised if you had any trouble at all. Good luck. Dave __________________ UDS 1.0a Brinkmann Smoke 'N Pit with Afterburner Charbroil Masterflame Maverick ET-73 Taylor 1470 Digital Thermometers Taylor 9842 Instant Read Thermometer [COLOR=blue]Blue[/COLOR] Thermapen

01-08-2009, 10:04 AM	#6
CajunSmoker is Blowin Smoke! Join Date: 02-06-07 Location: Rolling down the river between St Louis and New Orleans Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I smoked a turkey thanksgiving morning at below freezing temps and it didn't seem to make any difference at all on the UDS. The heat is contained inside the UDS and you really aren't counting on the metal in the barrel heating up to help hold temps. My barrel is rarely too hot to touch while I'm cooking unless I have the lid off too long and let my temps get out of control. __________________ Rodger How y'all are? I'm glad you got to see me I guarontee Justin Wilson 4/24/1914 - 09/05/2001 CAJUN QUE KREWE Proud ARKLAFO KCBS member & CBJ#24398 Twin CoonAss Ugly Drum Smokers Brinkman Smoke King Deluxe Brinkman Gourmet ECB with super chicken mods Weber OTS kettle

01-08-2009, 10:11 AM	#8
...Smoke... Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 06-09-07 Location: great white north Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	-25f last cook! The old UDS does not cook any different, may have used a little more fuel to get through the cook, not really sure how much nothing to worry about that is for sure.:) My UDS sits inside a car port, it is open on the west side to the wind no prob.

01-08-2009, 10:56 AM	#9
Bob50j Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 06-27-08 Location: Sharon Springs, NY Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	No experience with the UDS yet, the build is in the works, but I did do a couple of butts on Xmas Eve on my Chargriller. Temps in the single digits and only had trouble keeping temp up when the wind howled. I layed a concrete insulation blanket over the stove and problem gone. Now from everything I read, the chargriller won't even come close to the efficiency of a UDS so I'd think you're fine.

01-08-2009, 10:57 AM	#10
Meat Burner Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 02-22-07 Location: Springfield, MO Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	What Smoke said, maybe a little more fuel, but not much. If you can put up some kind of wind brake, that might be helpful. Otherwise, just let it rock!! Good luck and keep us posted. __________________ my avatar swiped fatties from the plate....look how sorry he is. ________ Meat. NB Bandera with mods Weber 22 .5" x 2, 26.75" x 1 UDS x 3 KCBS CBJ Created "The Great Spam Revelation of 2011." www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=111155

01-08-2009, 11:03 AM	#11
Barbarian is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 11-07-07 Location: Middletown California Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I used a moving blanket on my offset also and it worked great. I don't see why you couldn't use one on the drum. I personally would keep it a bit above the charcoal grate level the temp should stay fine down there and it won't cover the intakes that way. __________________ Cheers, Jerry aka Barbarian Drumhead - UDS x 2 & UDG Thermopen Keep on Smokin' KC native missin' KC IMBAS Certified MOINK Baller 2009 I also support PETA - People Eating Tasty Animals

01-08-2009, 11:06 AM	#12
h20loo is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 01-22-08 Location: waterloo ontario Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I find that freezing rain is a temp killer but otherwise just have at 'er! I experimented last year and found that a 4x4 piece of cardboard (with exhaust hole) put over my drum caused about a 10 degree increase in grate temp. So I went to HD and bought that silver insulation and made a coat for my barrel. Depending on the weather it runs about 25 degrees hotter. I've smoked at 350 degrees and no effect on my coat!

01-08-2009, 11:31 AM	#13
Bob50j Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 06-27-08 Location: Sharon Springs, NY Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	nice job of "wrapping that raskle", h20loo

01-08-2009, 12:00 PM	#14
tommykendall Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 08-13-03 Location: Long Beach, CA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Nice insulation mods. The moving blanket is a hoot! I'll have to try it here while it's cold outside __________________ tk PitBitch

01-08-2009, 12:33 PM	#15
stlgreg Take a breath! Join Date: 03-26-07 Location: St. Louis, MO Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I cooked last year when the low was supposed to get down to 7 - the only difference was I didnt want to be outside as much and it used 40-50% more fuel. Other than that cooked just like a chanp. __________________ KCBS Certified Judge #21812 FEC100 1 UDS Smoker 1 Char Griller w/o side fire box Hog's Wart School BBQ Team http://www.bbqsaucereport.com (43 sauces and counting!)

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
insulating UDS for cold weather cook	chomper's bbq	Q-talk	8	10-21-2011 05:48 PM
Cold weather and UDS	energyzer	Q-talk	24	11-18-2010 12:18 PM
Cold Weather Smoking?	cireksu	Q-talk	26	10-07-2009 08:16 AM
Cold Weather Smokin??	LOUMAFF3	Q-talk	17	01-04-2009 07:56 PM
Cold Weather Cooking	backporchbbq	Q-talk	19	12-22-2008 11:50 PM