1st Cook with Mini WSM, 1st Fatty, 1st Cook Thread!

[Decoy205]

Well, I fired up the mini for the first time Friday. I wanted to get it seasoned up because the plan was to cook up some ribs today.

I don't have a chimney started so I rigged one up with a coffee can and handle I had:
http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb184/decoy205/Eat%20Me/882F1738-3A2F-49BA-9125-B3314751B96A_zps806e3vlc.jpg (http://s204.photobucket.com/user/decoy205/media/Eat%20Me/882F1738-3A2F-49BA-9125-B3314751B96A_zps806e3vlc.jpg.html)

It didnt work very fast but it did the job.

Loaded up the mini with some Stubbs briquettes and got 6 or 7 coals lit.

Dumped them over the coals waited for the smoke to ease up. Oiled up the pot and grates with some Pam spray and put on the tamale pot.

Here it is getting ready for it's maiden voyage:
http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb184/decoy205/Eat%20Me/A00C0CE4-2067-460B-95A6-C86274761229_zpscv5ej6mr.jpg (http://s204.photobucket.com/user/decoy205/media/Eat%20Me/A00C0CE4-2067-460B-95A6-C86274761229_zpscv5ej6mr.jpg.html)


I let it go for about an hour and it seemed to park right at around 275* With the intakes and exhaust open.
http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb184/decoy205/Eat%20Me/485D9AC7-8B98-40CA-A9AA-C0A00455C0E9_zpsgz5mkvai.jpg (http://s204.photobucket.com/user/decoy205/media/Eat%20Me/485D9AC7-8B98-40CA-A9AA-C0A00455C0E9_zpsgz5mkvai.jpg.html)

I knew then it was naked fatty time!
http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb184/decoy205/Eat%20Me/9683A3C2-C504-49ED-A409-D78C422C9C43_zpsrqhglijd.jpg (http://s204.photobucket.com/user/decoy205/media/Eat%20Me/9683A3C2-C504-49ED-A409-D78C422C9C43_zpsrqhglijd.jpg.html)

Still cruisin along at 275*

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb184/decoy205/Eat%20Me/DE5BFC9B-04A1-4B8C-A202-8D76A6CF59DD_zpsvqjpqjhp.jpg (http://s204.photobucket.com/user/decoy205/media/Eat%20Me/DE5BFC9B-04A1-4B8C-A202-8D76A6CF59DD_zpsvqjpqjhp.jpg.html)

I left them on an hour and a half the small one ended up a @199 and the big one was right at 180*. I was happy with that since that's what Ron suggested.

I did the cut test.

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb184/decoy205/Eat%20Me/C4C355D1-C624-47DF-88D5-C0A1C1206610_zpsmd3qwcjj.jpg (http://s204.photobucket.com/user/decoy205/media/Eat%20Me/C4C355D1-C624-47DF-88D5-C0A1C1206610_zpsmd3qwcjj.jpg.html)

Nice!

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb184/decoy205/Eat%20Me/F4F06A37-8490-48BA-9D58-D70956F2D0C6_zpssz6ebyge.jpg (http://s204.photobucket.com/user/decoy205/media/Eat%20Me/F4F06A37-8490-48BA-9D58-D70956F2D0C6_zpssz6ebyge.jpg.html)

I had some but it was late so I saved it for fatty egg and cheese biscuits in the morning. Was great! I have some left ill use for tomorrow.

Next up is my first rib cook from today....

[peeps]

Great lookin' fatties and cooker! You will love the mini!!!

[Decoy205]

Today we had some family over to celebrate the wife's B day on Monday. My main goal was to make some ribs. Sadly they did not all finish at the same time because the rack on the lower grate was over done and the top was underdone so they needed more time. The family still liked the over cooked one since the meat came right off and it was soft and juicey still.

Not sure how I would use the bottom rack since it take all the heat off the top rack so I guess id have to rotate the food hourly but that would require me opening the cooker all the time and that doesn't seem right. Any advice for the noob on that?

Anywayz on to the pron!

Fired up the mini with more stubs and some applewood chunks.
Rubbed and ready
http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb184/decoy205/Eat%20Me/928D1AFF-3851-4F92-BCB1-6B58F78275FE_zpszyayj5vl.jpg (http://s204.photobucket.com/user/decoy205/media/Eat%20Me/928D1AFF-3851-4F92-BCB1-6B58F78275FE_zpszyayj5vl.jpg.html)

Cookin away
http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb184/decoy205/Eat%20Me/FD508026-B863-491B-984F-08D4F21E3F16_zpsg4g1vzdg.jpg (http://s204.photobucket.com/user/decoy205/media/Eat%20Me/FD508026-B863-491B-984F-08D4F21E3F16_zpsg4g1vzdg.jpg.html)

While that was workin made some bacon Mac n cheese. Awesome!

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb184/decoy205/Eat%20Me/C128BF97-DE66-44BC-8ECB-4A61AED49542_zps7e43kkmc.jpg (http://s204.photobucket.com/user/decoy205/media/Eat%20Me/C128BF97-DE66-44BC-8ECB-4A61AED49542_zps7e43kkmc.jpg.html)

The best rack took 5 hours at 250*

Here's how it looked:
http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb184/decoy205/Eat%20Me/BDEC9C0F-32F6-47CC-8EBC-C942AC7976B4_zpsmenyelex.jpg[/URL]

Sauced

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb184/decoy205/Eat%20Me/278FF27D-7260-4113-863E-49936DA06DBA_zpsjfjjmzg1.jpg

Cut

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb184/decoy205/Eat%20Me/430EB3EA-DCAD-4028-B480-46B9CF82B0FC_zpso5beo9sz.jpg (http://s204.photobucket.com/user/decoy205/media/Eat%20Me/430EB3EA-DCAD-4028-B480-46B9CF82B0FC_zpso5beo9sz.jpg.html)

Only cut a small one off the end cuz I gave that half to someone to take home didnt want to cut it all up. I saved this piece for me:

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb184/decoy205/Eat%20Me/1989170E-4D2B-4CFA-AD7A-B488315DDFBE_zpslez5esh7.jpg (http://s204.photobucket.com/user/decoy205/media/Eat%20Me/1989170E-4D2B-4CFA-AD7A-B488315DDFBE_zpslez5esh7.jpg.html)

All in all not bad for my first time. Next time I think ill only 2 racks on the top and I think I can get em perfect.
Thanks for all the advice guys! I'm definitely hooked. I gotta try a butt next!

-John

[Ron_L]

Great looking food!

Naked fatties rock! :rockon:

Nice improvised chimney!

[woodsider]

You are on a roll with that new WSM!! :clap: You'll get the hang of top to bottom swapping :thumb:

[cowgirl]

It all looks great! Nice job on that chimney starter too. :thumb:

[Decoy205]

Great lookin' fatties and cooker! You will love the mini!!!

Thanks man! I learn from you guys! I had a bottle of Ommegang Three Philosophers your threads inspired me to get good beer. I didnt get a chance to crack it. But will definitly enjoy that with the left overs.

Great looking food!

Naked fatties rock! :rockon:

Nice improvised chimney!

Thanks man! Means a lot from the fatty master. I tried to follow your tutorial. :thumb:

[woodbutcher1]

Nice job Decoy, get yourself a rib rack, stand the ribs on edge and forget the lower rack.

[Decoy205]

You are on a roll with that new WSM!! :clap: You'll get the hang of top to bottom swapping :thumb:

It all looks great! Nice job on that chimney starter too. :thumb:

Thanks!

Everyone was full and happy when they left so I know I did a good job!

I gotta cut more holes in the bottom of the chimney but I will probably just buy one next time I'm at the home store.

[Decoy205]

Nice job Decoy, get yourself a rib rack, stand the ribs on edge and forget the lower rack.

I did have one! The top grate had two racks on a rib rack and the bottom rack was laying flat so the bones got a bit crispy. The the top ones just needed more time but they came out pretty good! Definitely like the rack.

[mikemci]

Congrats on the new mini and first cooks!! It all looks very good! Try making bigger holes in the starter. Can't see the bottom but you need big holes there also if you don't already have some. :clap2:

[grillinguy247]

Everything looks good from here. You could try coiling the ribs and sticking a skewer through them. I did this before and all you have to do is rotate the grates and also flip the racks.

[Decoy205]

Congrats on the new mini and first cooks!! It all looks very good! Try making bigger holes in the starter. Can't see the bottom but you need big holes there also if you don't already have some. :clap2:

Thanks!
There's a bunch of holes in the bottom but I think you're right it needs more air and I wanted to put bigger holes in the side. I'll probably just buy one. :wink:

Everything looks good from here. You could try coiling the ribs and sticking a skewer through them. I did this before and all you have to do is rotate the grates and also flip the racks.

Thanks! I can't fit the ribs standing on the bottom grate. I guess I'll have to musical grates or just use the top one.