My daughter brined a turkey in orange and cranberry brine and wants me to smoke it tomorrow. My smoker is the old SM045. What wood would I use for this brine? I only use chunk wood and have many kinds.Read More...

I plan on smoking a 12 to 14 lb turkey and 2- 7 lb turkey breast. brining the turkey in smokinokies holiday brine for 48 hours. should i brine the breast for the same amount or only 24 hours. smoking in fec100 at 275 to 300. any thoughts on difference in start times between whole and breast?Read More...

Hi guys, I'm from London, UK and have recently upgraded our backyard bbq setup to a catered kitchen unit. We used to run a British made offset (BMS-5) but due to the regulation requirements for internal kitchens had to switch our setup to an electric smoker. The Cookshack made sense as we could run it indoors under the extraction hood and it's easy enough to use so that it can be operated by other staff members if I am away (this is a side gig as my day job is a medical doc/intensivist). We...Read More...

Whenever I am cooking for a smaller group for Thanksgiving, I have just been cooking the turkey breast for a while using a recipe that I got from Cook's Illustrated. I have even figured out how to make a pretty good gravy without the pan drippings (you don't really get any when just cooking the breast). With the original recipe, the brined turkey starts in a 425 oven for 30 minutes and finishes at 325. Yesterday I still put in the 425 regular oven to start, but I finished in the Cookshack at...Read More...

Just got an SM025 from the Charcoalstore. It looks like it's got a problem. I can't set it to the proper temp to season it. It's stuck on 225 (no matter which button I press) -- and then it flashes "83" and then "84" -- and then blows the circuit. I've tried two different outlets, turned off the AC, dryer -- and I'm not using an extension cord. Help! Of course, it's after 5pm CT, so I can't contact cookshack.Read More...

I've been getting an ERR message on my display from time to time on cooks. Not all the time, and if I turn it off for a few minutes, turn it back on, all is good. How do I track this down?Read More...

My Sm150 came with a baffle but I see in the online picture there's a different little pan (I assume for wood) is that needed? I want to try to smoke some bacon.Read More...

My smoker is now tripping the GFCI. I noticed this after it would stop heating. Any ideas what’s causing this?Read More...

So I tried my first Brisket overnight in my second hand Sm150. Pushed the Brisket button (225 degrees) and let it rip, when I looked in about an hour the temperature on my inkbird was at 295 degrees. I shut it down and lowered the temp to 165 (fluctuating between 180-210) What temperature fluctuations should I expect with this smoker? I guess I should have checked this first because now I have no idea what's going on with my brisket lol. Currently I have the smoker at 195 which is (205 to 262)Read More...

I have pg1000 that has stuck auger (wrong pellets used). What is best way to diagnose/disassemble? I see removing the pellet hopper in some threads but want to know best way to go about fixing the problem. Let me know if anyone can help. Thanks!Read More...

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I own a BBQ restaurant and in my 10 years of smoking thousands of pounds of meat in my SM160 I have never encountered this problem. I plug it in...normal power. Works like a charm. Then it starts smoking and is working fine. About an hour or two into smoking and then it resets itself and I am left to just chase the smoke. HELP! I am thinking it is the plug. Thermostat issues normally happen and there is a power surge. It is almost like the smoker door is open and it resets itself.Read More...

Hi all, I had a good stash of Oak Ridge BBQ Black Ops Brisket Rub before they went belly up. Now I'm out. I'm looking for another good commercial brisket rub as a stand-alone on a whole packer (one in the SM-066 tonight). Not very spicy, but rich-tasting and contributing to a nice-flavored bark. All suggestions welcomed!Read More...

Hello, I have an 6 year old SM360, and have just bought a replacement control panel (PA128 IQ5 Control Panel) Although it seems to be double the size of the original one currently there. I need to replace this panel due to damge. Does anyone have any information if the new control panel i bought can be fitted? Or have i just ordered the wrong part. Any information would be great. ThanksRead More...

Greetings fellow CookShackers. I know the SM066 has a hold feature BUT it is only for six hours, and I know that I can set the temp to 145 or 150 and walk away as well. I have been searching far and wide on the internet for holding oven ideas without dropping 4500 bucks on a real holding oven. My plan is to hold briskets at 150 degrees for at least 24 hours prior to serving. I am doing brisket over the Memorial Day weekend. In the spirit of American exceptionalism, I discovered a Canadian...Read More...

Looking to get some new equipment for my smoking/grilling/cooking and wanted to see what some of everyone’s favorite tools, pans, toys, pots, thermometers, knives, etc. we’re. Really looking to see what everyone uses other than their grill/cooker to get some recommendations for some gifts for the upcoming holiday season. Please name the product if there is something you really like. I am looking for specific products that you guys like.Read More...

I spotted several bags of Kirkland Signature "BBQ Hardwood Pellets" during my latest Costco visit. "Oak, Hickory, Maple, Cherry Premium Blend 100% Natural." Have you tried them? Are they any good and do you have any theories on who the actual producer/manufacturer may be?Read More...

I bought a prime-grade brisket from Costco before the meat craze caused prices to soar. It’s been in my freezer too long. I’ve only tried smoking a brisket once, years ago, and I bear the shame like an albatross around my neck to this day. I have an electric smoker, not a pellet, so keep that in mind. I’m a Burnt Ends fan as well. Are any brisket gurus out there? Looking for rub options and techniquesRead More...

Good morning, I have programed my SM066 for 225 degrees and it won't ever get above 190F even though the screen is showing the 225 degree range. I verified the ambient temperature and replaced the probe and verified both of those so I don't believe that is the issue. Thoughts????? P.S. This scenario occurs regardless of higher or lower temperature set points. Thanks in advance.Read More...

Hi All, Bought a large package of sliced pork belly at Costco. The slices are about 1.5 inches thick and are pretty lean in appearance. I used half of them to cure for Lap Yuk (cured Cantonese belly, what I call "Chinese bacon"), but have a bunch left to smoke somehow. I found a recipe that wants 1/4 inch slices to smoke and then pan-fry to serve, but I'm looking for other options. Any ideas or recipes appreciated. Thanks much!Read More...

hi there, on FEC 120 ( 2014) can you adjust the smoke time to be less than cook time ? thanks in advance ! cornelRead More...

I just finished smoking this chuck roast. I smoked at 250 degrees for 5 hours and 40 minutes with cherry wood (all I had). I rubbed with SPG and pulled at 206 degrees. Probed like butter and was oozing juice. The reveal will be tomorrow. I wrapped in butcher with some tallow, vac sealed, and threw in the fridge.Read More...

I did another pork belly with the chuck roast. This belly was frozen for about a week. It was good but I was having some resistance after reaching 205 degrees. The lower right side was not probing like butter but the rest of the belly was. I did not want to overcook it so I pulled a wrapped with some bacon grease, butcher paper, vac sealed, and placed in the fridge. I reheated today with the sous vide at 150 for 1 hours. The butcher paper was soaked and belly had like a glaze on the bark. It...Read More...

I own an electric cookshack model 55 smoker oven. I use this smoker primarily to smoke salmon. Usually I smoke salmon at approximately 150° for the first couple hours then I turn it up to finish cooking the fish. The problem is at 150° my chunks of wood quit smoking. I’m forced to open up the door and turn up the smoker above 200° to get the wood chunks to smoke. This process makes it difficult to get the desired amount of smoke needed and maintain the proper temperature. Does anybody out...Read More...

Watched Eddy with Jeremy Yoder on Youtube and he was talking about some new pellets. Are they available from Cookshack? If not, anyone know where? https://youtu.be/FnhDuHuH31M?si=-5VLw4yqB5iTGdfsRead More...

My Cookshack 55 seems to cook too fast/high heat? For example chicken is overcooked at 3 hours at 200 degrees as are ribs. Larger cuts like butts and brisket seem to cook too quickly. I have put 3 new thermostats from Cookshack on it with no change. Cooking low and slow is not possible. Is this right or am I missing something???Read More...

Just finished a belly for my John Deere technician. I bought a new tractor and had to have $5,000.00 dollars worth of warranty work due to a hairline cracks. Pics and notes attached.Read More...

The original 101 webpage is here: Brisket 101 webpage Here are two videos that should help, courtesy of the local paper and an event I did: Brisket MOINKSRead More...

I stuffed a 15.5 lb packer in the 025 last night at 530 and set temp to 180. Got up this morning at 530 and bumped it to 225. I suspect it's in a stall right now (0730) with an internal of 167. I want to eat it tonight around 6 pmish. If I dump the smoker and set the holding temp at 140 when the internal hits 195, how long can I "hold" it without drying it out? Or will FTC be the better option? Thanks!Read More...

I am interesting in buying a data logger. I have never used one. I would like to use it for a number of applications. Logging refrigerator and freezer and also my smoker and Big Green Egg. So, I’m thinking a temperature range of 25-850F or so. Oh, I’d also like to log my bread dough temperatures during fermentation. Is humidity a factor in purchasing the unit or probes? I would appreciate any advice and recommendations for purchase. Thanks DanRead More...

Hi all, my SM066 purchased in 2010 is tripping the GFI outlet as soon as I plug it in. We've just moved into a newer house a couple months ago and to be honest the smoker may not have been used in more than a couple years. Things happened and we moved a couple of times. Anyway I checked the FAQ and it says for this issue to plug it into a non-GFI outlet for an hour, then try the GFI outlet again. Is that really safe to do?Read More...

I have a SM066 that I just did 40lbs of pork butt in. Seems the smoker box warped downward and wedged in between the hearing element guard and bottom of smoker. I was able to get it out but the smoker box bottom cracked. Not sure why this happened. Will this affect performance?Read More...

Hey all, My auger motor has crapped out after many years. Upon troubleshooting i have determined that i just need the Eletric motor portion of the assembly the gearbox and auger are fine. the label of the motor is worn on mine so i am having a hard time finding a replacement. CS wants an insane $300.00 plus for a replacement assembly. Can anyone help me identify this motor? Thanks in advance.Read More...

I put a brand new FEC 240 in a catering truck. It arrived with a blown fuse for the lighting element. Once that was replaced I set it on and ran it to test. Not sure how exactly but the flame blew back through the chamber and melted both the blower fan and the auger motor. Support sent me new ones and they were replaced. I then tested again running the smoker for 6 hours while at a market with no issue. Then put some brisket and ribs in the other night and set using factory preset 1. I went...Read More...

Anyone had problems with a weak LCD Screen on your FEC? I spoke with Bill and he advised me to turn the pot that controls the brightness but it was already at its highest point from the factory. I cannot see the screen anymore to set times and temps making it useless till I can find a replacement LCD or as Bill advised replace the board for $1700.00+. Anyone know the part number of the LCD? I am sure it is a $2.00 part if I can find the number. Thanks for any assistance you can give.Read More...

Hey food lovers!!! I wanna try my hand at preparing a smoked brisket. Please give me the best recipe possible. Awaiting responses from all of you. Thanks a lot !!!Read More...

My 18 year old sm009 that I bought in 2005 just died. Plugged it in, turned it on, and no heat. I would like to try to get it running again, but I'm not sure where to start. Does anyone have any advice?Read More...

Well it looks like my bargin PG 1000 might not be a bargain after all, it's a 2015 needed some parts is I ordered them from cook shack, when I checked it out the controller all buttons seemed to work fine has a new ignitor so give it a try and yes we have fire. Ok so the last of the parts came today got everything in place and lets give this a test run, set the LHT and the HHT 10-100 and everything was going great until it hit set temp 225 but the temp kept rising so I lowered the HHT to 30...Read More...

My FEC PG-500 auger stopped working...I ordered a new motor from Cookshack & replaced but the auger is still inoperable. The fire pot is working & stays lit as long as I keep adding pellets. Any suggestions?? I don't know if I need to replace something else or if there are settings that need to be reset?!Read More...

Just got my new SMO45 with a rib rack. The rack has 7 slots. How many slabs of Baby Back ribs can I reasonably put in there, and expect them to cook? If I fill the whole thing with 6 or 7 racks, will circulation be a problem? Thanks in advance. Looking forward to learning from your experience.Read More...

Anybody using Grillgrates on their PG500 or 1000? Never used them before not sure if if they are even needed. Wanted to ask before I decide to buy. Thank you ErnieRead More...

I'm seeing St. Louis ribs being offered in weight categories such as 1.5Lb, 2Lb, 2.5Lb, 3Lb and3.5Lb. I've always thought 2.5Lb was pretty much normal. What would you choose and why? TNX, mmRead More...

Disregard dryness or tenderness. Has anyone really ever noticed a difference in taste on Standard Choice vs Angus Choice? ThanksRead More...

Not sure what model, think it's around 20 years old.... serial number, wheels, racks, vent, woodbox, and the back/bottom all gone lol. It takes a 14x14 rack more or less. Anyway it still works somewhat and I'm thinking of insulating it again because it doesn't really hold heat that well. Has a hard time getting above 180 in 90 degree weather so I'm thinking that's probably the issue unless the thermostat doesn't work very well. Anyone that can provide some materials that will work I'd...Read More...

I know this is a longshot but this is one of the few sites that I have been a member of for that long that may have other members who know what I am looking for. I got my CS in 2010 so I have to assume it was around that time. It was a website that required a paid subscription. It was not a fancy looking site by any means but it had videos, recipes, etc. all from some well-known award-winning BBQ masters. I had downloaded a BBQ sauce recipe from that site that I strictly used for my...Read More...

Courtesy, a comp cook from Basso's forum. As if brisket prices aren't high enough,now all the ladies will be switching from chicken breast. Don Dueling Bubbas from http://www.meatingplace.com : Beef News Healthy 'depots' offer new option for marketing beef brisket: study A Texas A and M study has found that beef brisket contains "depots," or tiny reservoirs, of healthy monounsaturated fatty acids. Those found in beef brisket may not be quite as rich a resource of monounsaturated fatty acids...Read More...

Hi all. New member/first post. Been catering barbecue since 2012 with an ugly drum and a stick burner. We are now doing a ghost kitchen and launched a food truck. Looking to streamline the labor side of our operation at the smoker. I found an SM250 from 2005, and they are asking 2k. Any advice or opinions are much appreciated. Thanks!!Read More...

Ok, heres the deal. I have been smoking with a model 50 for about 3 years. I decided to buy a 250. Tonight was the first time using it and it came out awfull. In my model 50 i would do ribs for about 5 to 5.5 hours. So i loaded up the 250 with some spares and babybacks and cooked for about 5 hours. Opened it up and they were char cooked! I mean these were the worst ribs I have ever produced. Is the 250 more powerful. it was set at the same temp I use which is 225. Im just curious if I should...Read More...

I have finally refined my recipe and process I have the texture, salt content, taste that I like and I am able to repeat it every time now. I did 2 whole bellies this time around. 12 lb - 7.5 oz 11 lb - 9.1 oz lb pork bellies. I buy them with the skin already removed: You will need kosher salt, sugar and cure #1 A.K.A. prague powder, instacure or pink salt. Its easiest to work in grams and I just found the 2nd of the two calculators below and its much simpler and cleaner than the first one...Read More...

I tried out a tenderloin tonight. I brined for 24 hours. Rubbed with SPG. Smoked with applewood at 275 degrees to 142 degrees internal. I did not keep track of the time. It was freaking amazing. I do believe this smoker likes 275 degrees.Read More...