Fire in woodbox?

The overshoot you described is pretty normal for that model. There is a program in the control that keeps the element on for 20 minutes regardless of what temp you set the oven on. If left alone, it will come back down to the set temp. The fire probably happened when you opened the door and exposed the wood to oxygen because there should not be enough oxygen inside the oven otherwise.
If you have any more questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to give me or Tony a call here at Cookshack. (800) 423-0698

Bill
Customer Service

The fire happend because you poured a bunch of wood chips in, exposing more wood to the heat.

By using chips instead of chunks, you're exposing more wood to the heat, so EACH individual piece can actually start the burn. Unlike a chuck on wood where it burns from the outside in.

Using chunks, not chips (unless you're cold smoking)

Thanks guys for your fast response. I am smoking my first beer can chicken as we speak- I used the chips again but soaked them in beer beforehand to help prevent fire. I think the fire was just a one time thing- Thanks again guys-John

Yep,your right on that the beer soaking will stop any fires.

Might want to take a look at the new users forum.

Still time to call the local pizza delivery.

jsmehil:

Take Smokin' for his word; use CHUNKS NOT CHIPS!

Are you somehow opposed to doing it the correct way, or do you just like screwing up food? CS sent you chunks for a reason. Use them.

quote:

Originally posted by jsmehil:
... but soaked them in beer beforehand to help prevent fire. I think the fire was just a one time thing-

It's not a one time thing if you throw a handful of chips in there. Soaking is a bad idea for smoke chips.

I guess you just don't want to go with the proven methods but you're certainly welcome to use your methods. If you damage the unit or get bad tasting food, you really can do it anyway you want.

BEER soaked will do nothing, but allow the chips to smolders and give off a gray, nasty smoke.

That's why real pros suggest you never soak any wood for any smoker. Gray smoke carries all the impurities from smoldering smoke, you actually want a blue, almost clearless smoke. It gives a more clean/pure smoke taste.

I find it funny sometimes how new users have to reinvent how things are done, before trying out the proven methods, but you're always welcome to do it anyway you want, that's no absolutes. Well there aren't a few, but they key is you being happy with your end results (unless you boil ribs, that's one absolute NOT to do) but what do I know, 9979 post later...

Todd. thanks for your kind words. Actually my chicken came out really good. I will use the chunks I just wanted a different flavor- but hey to each his own.

My words were actually quite kind. When someone offers you correct information and you ignore it, there is always the possibility that someone else might think you need to be shocked back into reality. I shocked gently. It's always best to learn to do something the right way before you start improvising without some kind of baseline. A simple task can be broken down into many, many separate sub tasks so that it can be taught, or it can be made hopelessly complex through the addition of layers of complexity that have no bearing on the final product.

The beer can approach won't hurt anything, it's just an added layer and a big waste in a CS. It really helps to have a reason for doing something, rather than just doing it because you read it on another forum or you just thought it sounded cool. Beer can chicken was designed to keep chicken moist in a hotter, dryer grill or oven environment. The CS is super moist and usually doesn't get hot enough to boil the beer and give off steam. Even if it did, you'd be adding water where it isn't needed. Kind of like having a shower head mounted on the wall of your swimming pool, two feet under water. But the chips I get. You enjoy the taste of creosote and the challenge of fighting the occasional fire in your smoker, and both these are completely a matter of choice. You may find the process and the smoke from chunks to be boring in comparison.

Jsmehil, don't feel that you're getting "bagged on" ...though you might think of it as initiation into the 'club.' :0)

Let me try a little different approach. You CAN make your new, expensive, toy smoke like many of the other smokers out there (grey, acrid smoke; wet, creosotey wood chips... hey, most all of us have been there at one time in our lives)...

BUT, if you take the time and read the 101's, and learn how great...and simple...the process is that will turn out smoked Q better than you've EVER had before, we think you'll be much happier.

I would say that using your new CS like an old style smoker is similar to buying a fancy new laptop computer and pounding nails with it. Yes, it will pound nails, but it will do so much more for you than you are realizing!

Oh, and welcome...friend! :0)