A
new BBQ pit should be cured like a new iron skillet. You may chose to
rub the inside of the pit with Pam, peanut oil, cooking oils, or even
bacon grease left over from bacon cooked on the stove.
Then you light
the pit with a medium fire, say 220 degrees for those of you with
smokers.
Choke the smokestack control about 1/2 and let it smoke heavily. A few
hours is good, the longer the better. A Pit will cure without oils, but
the buildup of the resin base on the doors doesn't seem to hold very
well over the years.
I
have made maybe 100,000 BBQ pits, noticing the pits seated with oils
seem to produce better results. Once again, be careful with green
woods. Some will produce very bitter tastes. Please do not ever use
green mesquite in a smoker.
I
have seen people use moving blankets to retain heat during rain storms,
and cold snaps with great success. Another interesting trick, in a
grill, is to line the charcoal up in an "S" shape, only lighting the
first end of the coals. If done properly, the charcoal should burn
"down the line" thus creating a smoker effect, making grilling and
smoking much easier.
Highly Recommended BBQ
Smokers
Barbecue
Smoker Maintenance Articles
Routine Care - Before
you do anything, you will need to know how to take care of your smoker
or pit on a day to day basis. Most smokers and pits require little
maintenance, but of course the best results will come from a clean
barbecue! Here is the low-down on how to provide basic
maintenance for your barbecue smoker or pit.
Pit Painting - Is
your smoker or pit getting flaky around the edges ? David Klose gives a
good insight into what is involved in his tips for pit
painting.
Pit Curing - Before
you use your smoker for the first time it is essential to ensure that
your pit or smoker is cured properly before use. Take a look at these
tips for pit
curing by David Klose.
Barbecue
Smoker Articles
Barbecue Hygiene -
Read this article to find out how you can improve your barbecue
hygiene and what steps you can take to ensure that your meal
is safe for both your family and guests.
Barbecue Safety -
This interesting article explains how you can improve your barbecue
safety which is one of the most important aspects of any
barbecue and is well worth reading.
