rib capacity FEC-100

I've used 4 rib racks, each with 10 racks of ribs. The smoke doesn't seem to flow as well plus 4.5 hr ribs ended up taking almost 6 hrs. Had to rotate them as well. We now use 3 racks and it seems to do alot better smoke wise as well as time wise.

Are you guys using the cookshack rib racks or some other rib racks?

We use the four Cookshack racks for 40 slabs,and we do rotate the racks once,which is no big deal.

Tom, how do you guys rotate the racks? Upper to lower, front to back?

I do like Tom and rotate mine top to bottom, bottom to top and spin all four 180 degrees.

Interesting.. Is it due to the amount of meat and lack of airflow due to that, so you have to rotate for even cooking?

It's not really about airflow. Like any smoker the FEC has it's hot spots. My hot spots tend to be along the left side and towards that back, which seems usual for most FEC100's. By rotating and spinning the racks you get a more consistent cook on all your meat.

Trucky is exactly right.

Got it. Thanks for the explanation!

Plus,different weights,thickness,ends are different,cut,etc.

Still nothing you'd think much about.

Ok, so it is good practice to rotate ribs in the FEC-100 then if it is fully loaded? Do you find much difference if you don't remember to rotate <maybe because you are sleeping, or mowing the lawn, or getting an ice cream cone >

Not that all these fine cooks aren't meticulous,but some of us ,that are primarily comp cooks, can get pretty anal,about our results.

Also,with 40 racks going,most of us are usually paying a moderate amount of attention.

I'd say, that after a couple cooks,you'll be able to make your own judgements,on your own experience.

Just like I did on my stick burner, I use the hot spots to my advantage.

On St. Louis, I put the thickest end toward the back and the biggest slabs on the left. Lot of times I don't have to rotate.

Other times I rotate for an excuse to visit the smoker and have another beer.

Well, seeing as that I will be competing with the FEC 100, I will keep track of your experiences and others here in this thread and forum. I tend to be pretty anal about results when in competition.

At home, that ice cream cone sounds pretty good, or a nap!

quote:

Originally posted by sksmoker:
Well, seeing as that I will be competing with the FEC 100, I will keep track of your experiences and others here in this thread and forum.

There will be differences in how I do home and how I do contests. I've been on a roll on ribs last couple of years and it's not because I just put them in the smoker as described. I'm pretty specific about how I do mine.

Just ask anything down in the comp forum you want/need that way we know it's a comp question and we'll help out.

You guy's have been a big help, thanks a lot. Now another question. If you need to hold butts in a hot box for 6 to 8 hrs is it best to wrap them in foil or plastic wrap or nothing at all. We will be holding 8 to 10 butts.
Jerry

I personally wrap mine in just foil. Plus, I always preheat the hot box or cooler or cambro, whichever one you might be using, with hot water for a half hour before draining, drying it out and putting the foil-wrapped butts in. That way, the box is not pulling heat off the butts to warm itself up.

Hope this helps.

I preheat my coolers as well with hot water. I wrap with plasic first then foil. At first I was concerned about the plastic melting but it hasn't been an issue at all. I also wrap each butt with a cloth towel and fill any remaining empty space in the cooler with towels as well. 6 to 8 hours shouldn't be a problem.

Once again,as Ribdog says,a good tight double wrap, in HD foil, is often used by comp teams,taking 4-6, eight-nine lb butts to the cambro, to hold ,to make our boxes.

Having worked with vendors,they may take the 8,10,12,16- ten pound butts,straight from the cooker to a Coleman 120 qt cooler.

They'll probably hold 6-8 hrs,and pull them out as needed.

Foil is an extra / ? expensive step that may not be needed.

They stop at the car wash and spray the racks,pans,cooler,etc,on the way home.

Hope this helps a little

Let's not threadjack. I like to ask that "new" topics get new threads. Helps people looking for answers if the topics match

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