BBQ/Smoking Journal

[BBQ Grail]

My daughter bought be a journal. She thought it would be a good idea to keep a diary as I try to learn this art form.

So today when I slathered and rubbed up a butt for tomorrow I started writing down everything I did. I think this will help me keep track and help with review.

Anyone else do anything like this? Any thoughts on what I should keep track up of other than:

Weight
Rubs
Temps
Times
Outcome

 

[Captain Caveman]

I used to do it all of the time, Now I just do it durring a contest.
You might add to your list: weather conditions, where on the smoker you put the meat, type of wood, and how much beer it took.

 

[Captain Caveman]

It's pretty funny reading my old entries. They start out nice and neat, and as the night (and beer) progresses, the writing gets sloppy.

Most of them end in my wife's handwriting, because I got drunk and forgot to finish the journal entry.:biggrin:

 

[ZBQ]

Couple of things I keep track of is where I bought the meat and if I know who the distibuter is like IBP or EXEL.

Also, was it an "enhanced/injected" product and what brand.

Any prep work such as trimming (remove fat cap, remove membrane, separate point and flat, St. Louis cut or whole etc.)

What your impressions are of the final product.
Anything to change next time.
Anything unusual that would part from the normal like weather, vent/ damper settings, ran out of X wood, brand of charcoal and any substitutions in ingredients.

Just a couple of things I think of. But that's just me.

 

[VGuilford]

Hey don't forget to have them smell your butt when its done.

 

[icemn62]

I always planned to do, tht I even did it for a little bit of time. Then the cold ones got the better of me, and I can not remember where I put the notebook..

 

[CarbonToe]

I did when I started but now I'm lazy, I just take photos and store them on OK with comments in a text file.

 

[JD McGee]

I use this one every time I fire up my WSM...at least until I get the recipes and proceedures down to a science. http://www.virtualweberbullet.com/cookinglog.html

JD

 

[BBQ Grail]

I use this one every time I fire up my WSM...at least until I get the recipes and proceedures down to a science. http://www.virtualweberbullet.com/cookinglog.html

JD

Thanks JD. That's fantastic information. I'll be able to incorporate that with no problem. Lot's of things I didn't think to include.

 

[CajunSmoker]

I use this one every time I fire up my WSM...at least until I get the recipes and proceedures down to a science. http://www.virtualweberbullet.com/cookinglog.html

JD

That's the same one I used. I used it a few times and then got lazy and quit:roll:

 

[JD McGee]

That's the same one I used. I used it a few times and then got lazy and quit:roll:

I'm waiting until I get good enough to be lazy:biggrin: LOL!
JD

 

[Puppyboy]

I keep a BBQ Book. It's a classic black & white marble notebook.

 

[Mo-Dave]

about the only notes I keep are the times I put the meat on and aprox times they should come off. Sometimes I will note if I am using a different rub. I don't really keep the notes its just for keeping track of my cooking times but I have notes scattered all over the place. I guess the best thing to do would be to make notes on my score sheets because I do keep them.
Dave