Cooking in the Cold on the WSM

[Mike in Roseville]

I'll be doing some cooking this weekend in 15-25F temps. Anything special I need to know for operating the WSM at freezing temperatures?

[morningwoodbbq]

Done that many times. Temps aren't as much of a concern as the wind. Just shield it from the wind and you should be fine.

[Kimo1]

Done that many times. Temps aren't as much of a concern as the wind. Just shield it from the wind and you should be fine.

This.

[Dmakkk]

yep agree with the above comments

[dgaddis1]

It'll burn just a bit more charcoal than with cooking at warmer temps. Probably not enough for you to notice though.

[Big George's BBQ]

My son cooked a Turkey on T Day on his WSM About 11* He used Lump- burns hotter There was very little wind He had no problems

[dadsr4]

Wind break if anything.

[smoke ninja]

you'll use more fuel so account for that.

I would avoid water in the pan as that will burn even more fuel as well

cold isn't the problem as much as wind. a wind break helps

I've cooked in under -20°F on my old WSM. it was so cold a glass of water thrown into the air would freeze before it hit the ground.

[smokin'hoogie]

I'll be doing some cooking this weekend in 15-25F temps. Anything special I need to know for operating the WSM at freezing temperatures?

Lots a Whiskey!!! helps keep your temp up!:biggrin1:

[ChrisBarb]

https://bbqguru.com/storenav?CategoryId=9&ProductId=81

[Cook]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned a wind break yet.

[Mike in Roseville]

There will be a sufficient wind break, so it sounds like I’m good! Thanks everyone!

[rus_bro]

Yep. Keep her out of the wind and probably open the vents just a little more. Im from the south but run mine in Colorado last year in 28* and had no problems...

Good luck brother.

Rb

[Ole Man Dan]

I burn more Lump during the Winter.
I smoke under a Tin Roof, and out of the wind, so I don't notice a major difference in smoking time.
I live in North Alabama... Not a lot of real Winter weather here... :)

[KB BBQ]

I'll be doing some cooking this weekend in 15-25F temps. Anything special I need to know for operating the WSM at freezing temperatures?
Wear a jacket, keep a drink in you hand at all times and take pictures for us. :icon_cool

[charrederhead]

Break wind.

[BBQchef33]

lowes or home depot or uhaul..Get a Large HD moving box. Open top and bottom flaps, put some duct tape on the corners or the flaps so they dont collapse. Perfect wind break and even keeps some heat in surrounding the WSM.

[AKMIMNAK]

Ran mine close to you in Minneapolis today. Only difference I noticed was that it took sightly longer to get up to temp, and was way easier to keep temps from spiking. I was shocked to find my charcoal lasted nearly as long as summer.

[DanB]

lowes or home depot or uhaul..Get a Large HD moving box. Open top and bottom flaps, put some duct tape on the corners or the flaps so they dont collapse. Perfect wind break and even keeps some heat in surrounding the WSM.

Hi What size moving box? Seen a few on HD website.
Thanks DanB

[smoke ninja]

Hi What size moving box? Seen a few on HD website.
Thanks DanB

if you at home depot just get an insulation material called relectix. its shiny silver. make a cylinder a few inches bigger than the cooker

[dadsr4]

Hi What size moving box? Seen a few on HD website.
Thanks DanB
Wardrobe box should be big enough. Keep everything away from your house.

[DanB]

if you at home depot just get an insulation material called relectix. its shiny silver. make a cylinder a few inches bigger than the cooker

Hi Wow relectix is not cheap? What size is good?
Thanks DanB

[dadsr4]

6Ft X 8Ft Fiberglass Welding Blanket at Harbor Freight $24.00
I just use a piece of 1/2" plywood.
https://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=1074&pictureid=11562

[Sevengoals]

I used my WSM here in Austria in the first week of December.


It was not as cold, only around 37.°F (3°C) but the thing held it's temp and cooked through the 5 hours I needed to do my ribs with no problems.


It took a tad longer to get to temp and I had two of the three vents open a bit more that I would in summer with the third vent fully closed.
I also added about 20% coal lump than I would have under warmer conditions but I noticed no major extra fuel consumption.


I'm encouraged to use it again over the winter.

[BBQchef33]

Hi What size moving box? Seen a few on HD website.
Thanks DanB
I thing the HD large is 18*18*24.

It just fits the 18 wsm. I ve sliced down one corner and extended it a few inches with duct tape to clear the handles.



Try to get the 20*20 or 24*24.. .uhaul has those.

[Ag76]

https://www.bbqguru.com/storenav?CategoryId=9&ProductId=81

I don't have one of these, but they look like they would do well in cold weather.

[upStomp]

I've never had an issue with cold. Some slight adjustments to how you would normally set up my bottom vents, maybe. Wind is another issue entirely.

I would say it's more important to ignore lid temp when it gets much below 40°. If you don't already have one, get a decent thermo for grate temp.

[EricD]

I've never had an issue with the cold, other than using more fuel. But....
Couple winters ago, my rental property's water heater died. We bought a new one that came with an new insulation blanket.
The old one was in great shape, so my WSM now has a winter jacket! I wrap it around the middle and cut a hole where the door is. Works great for cold and/or wind!

[qnbiker]

Done lots of cooks on my WSM in cold weather. Was going to jump in but the advice already given is spot on. Cold weather = block wind & drink good whiskey!

[THoey1963]

I bought some Reflectix and aluminum tape at HD and built a kind of insulator for my WSM. It doesn't go right up against the walls of the WSM, so not really a blanket, more like about 3 gap between the insulation and the WSM. There's a picture in my mods link below.

Woops, guess there isn't...

[Titch]

Dont wear Flip Flops
Thats cold weather, stay inside and sit by the heater

[dadsr4]

Dont wear Flip Flops
Thats cold weather, stay inside and sit by the heater
Wimp.:laugh:

The fun just starts at fifteen.

[qnbiker]

28 degrees last night and I'm still wearing my Bedrock sandals. Not when I'm using charcoal though.

[One Drop]

I use mine all winter, protected from winds most of the time, except for big storms. In some ways I even prefer it, I usually use lump and it makes keeping temps stable a breeze.

It also means you get a bit better convection with all of the advantages that brings, better bark, and faster cook times (this is probably why the amount of coal needed is not all that much greater).

[DanB]

I thing the HD large is 18*18*24.

It just fits the 18 wsm. I ve sliced down one corner and extended it a few inches with duct tape to clear the handles.



Try to get the 20*20 or 24*24.. .uhaul has those.

Hi I have the 22" WSM.
Thanks DanB

[dadsr4]

I thing the HD large is 18*18*24.

It just fits the 18 wsm. I ve sliced down one corner and extended it a few inches with duct tape to clear the handles.



Try to get the 20*20 or 24*24.. .uhaul has those.
The Home Depot Wardrobe Moving Box is 24 in. L x 24 in. W x 44 in. for $18.00.
15/32 in. x 4 ft. x 8 ft. Plywood Sheathing is $16.00, with one cut you have 2-4' x 4' sheets. $8.00 for 3 hinges and you are good for an excellent wind break.