Question For Americue Owners?

I have an Amerique and a Smokette. I rarely use the hold feature, but when you need it, nothing else will do.

Once you have a few cooks under your belt, you should know within 1 hour how long something will take to cook, and then adjust your planned schedule to make it possible to be around when the meat is finished. Or, you can adjust the cook temp to control when something finishes. For instance, I frequently cook butts at 200* so I can sleep through the night without them finishing. In the morning, I know they'll be close, then I crank it up to 250* and they're done real soon. A similar plan will work if you cook during the day while at work, but you'll miss the hold feature if a meeting runs late and you don't make it home when planned. Then you'll want the hold feature.

Thumper;

I've had a Q for only a month or so, no more then 10 smokes, but I tend to agree with Todd. If you're around, hold feature is not needed, but when out running around, I know that I don't have to worry about over smoking/cooking the meat. I'm also liking the probe feature, though I do run with two/three probes per smoke.

Been using my Amerique for a couple of years now, I always use my hold feature whenever I can because if frees you up to do other things while you're smoking. Only problem I've encountered is that if you're smoking prime rib which I set to 132 deg and the hold feature will bring it up to 140 deg which is in the overdone range. Even though you know around what time it takes to reach a certain temp and as a saving factor, for when errands take longer than expected. Also it is the main reason I bought an Amerique for the 'set and forget feature'.

I'm four months into my Amerique and I would definitely go that route. The probe is great because I like to cook BIG briskets, fresh hams, etc. and you never know how long it's going to take, but you don't have to worry about overcooking as much because of the hold feature. I would also recommend buying from the guys at the charcoal store www.charcoalstore.com/ . No sales tax, free shipping, and great prices along with 25 lbs of wood chunks included.

quote:

Originally posted by G Que:
...Only problem I've encountered is that if you're smoking prime rib which I set to 132 deg and the hold feature will bring it up to 140 deg which is in the overdone range...

Wouldn't call that a problem, as it's designed to hold at 140, which is the minimum Food Safe temp. You can hold hotter also.

Have had my AmeriQue for 2 years now, use it all the time....only way to go.

Thumper ordered the Americue. You guys had better be right about this thing because when Thumper makes mistakes he always blames them on others.

Thumper

quote:

Originally posted by Thumper:
Thumper ordered the Americue. You guys had better be right about this thing because when Thumper makes mistakes he always blames them on others.

Thumper

Congrats on the purchase.

Well, it will work fine if you do what WE tell you too. If you make your own choice, guess we'll blame Thumper