Yeah, I had to acknowledge to Little Man today that my smoker is a toy. Sure, its a tool and the way one plays with it is different, but it is still a toy.
I decided I wanted a smoker several years ago, and my cousin recommended “Franklin Barbecue: a meat smoking manifesto” as the place to start. So, when my father-in-law found the main grill part on deep discount, I jumped for it. I purchased the side fire box and a grill thermometer and waited impatiently for their visit, and the delivery of the grill.
Its Time!
I waited and waited, and finally the day came. The in-laws were visiting and with them came that grill! I was glad to see them, for sure, but I was also super excited for my new toy.
Making Plans
I knew I needed most of a day to smoke a piece of meat, so I was planning for today, Saturday. I had pork loin in the freezer, I had stacks of wood out back. I’d lengthened the stack with metal tubing, I’d added a thermometer at meat level. I was ready to go.
Saturday morning I woke to… rain. Well, it was to Little Man asking to go outside first, next coffee, and then I realized it was raining. :::sigh::: I thought my day to smoke meat was gone.
The Cook
But the day cleared long enough for me to get the fire going and smoke a pork loin! I used instructions from this blog on smoking a pork loin, and my experience held quite true to what he described. 2 hours at 225′ to get the pork loin to 145′. I was patient with getting the fire going, and it took about an hour to get a nice bed of coals that kept the wood burning until it was all gone. Once I had that fire going it wasn’t too hard to keep things at the right temp.
I’m hooked. I have plans to get a nice thermometer, and I have more ideas for making the smoker just a bit nicer to use. Next up? Beef ribs? Pork ribs? I’ll have to see what is on sale at HEB! I’m already thinking out the Thanksgiving feast…
Rachel, I think we left there too early. Glad it’s working well
Love Barb