Do cook times start after temp. recovery

The cook time starts when the ribs go into the smoker. Use cook times for rough estimates only and general planning. Cook to temperature to know when your meat is done. For ribs, slide a toothpick into the meat. If it slides in and out easily, it's done. I pick mine up to see how much the rib rack bends also.

As you'll read over and over again, it's done when it's done (not at 6:30 pm for instance). Read Ribs 101 and a number of the rib posts. You'll be ready for competition faster than you think.

As Pags said, times are when the meat starts, whenever that is.

Pick whenever you like, to keep your good notes.

That way,you have an idea of what you have done and where to adjust.

Our cook times may have the same effect as what color shirt you are wearing.

Ok...no kidding...prep the meat however you want to (rubs, truss, marinate, brine, etc.)... stick it in the 'magic box' along with a thermometer probe in the thickest part... crank the dial to 250 ish... go away... hear the chime from the thermometer...pull out that smokey-heavenly scented-thing of beauty and enjoy it. It's really not much more complicated than that. Oh yeah...share it with others pretend you worked up a sweat and take a bow.

Smokee - Is there a reason you are pre-heating? The meat accepts most of the smoke flavor when it is cold so you may be missing out if you try to heat it up quickly with a hot oven. (I start my ribs straight from the fridge) Also, while the unit is heating up, the element is on most of the time, producing lots of smoke you are missing. Do what tastes best to you. Like the others say, cook times can be meaningless, especially from smoker to smoker, meat to meat, etc. Try it this way and that and as Tom says (it cannot be emphasized enough) take good notes! Enjoy your new machine.

The only thing about putting meat into a smoker that's coming up to temp is that initial "dirty" smoke as the wood starts to burn. Depending on the wood, this could be very bitter.

Now we're really getting into theory going down that road.

For me, I say try it both ways and see which works for you and go with that.