Last Saturday's chicken was a huge success. Still some blips and bumps along the way, but overall a great experience.I stuffed each chicken with an apple and covered the top with bacon To let the fat drip down and marinate the meat. The apples were delicious afterward.My biggest challenge is the fire. I just can't seem to get it hot enough. It was better than last time, but still not hot enough. I think I'm not using enough coals to begin with. It's either that or I bothered the fire too much once I got it going. I need to learn when not to help it along. I started at about 11:00 am thinking that would be plenty of time to cook 2 - 3lb Birds. I underestimated.By 6:30 they were still about 40 degrees away from being ready - I had guests I was trying to feed, so I popped the birds in the oven to cook the rest of the way. I know smoking is about taking your time - so next time I'm just going to cook at my own pace, and not have guests over that I'm trying to feed. Learning with out an audience is a good idea.After the meat was ready we enjoyed a nice chicken dinner. We ate it too soon. With smoking you have to give the meat a chance to settle to really enjoy the flavor. In this instance Left-overs were better than firsts.The last thing I did was pull all the meat from the bones. I saved the carcasses and on Sunday made the best chicken soup I've ever made! I saved a bunch of bowls in the freezer to use as stock for other recipes.
There are many meals where leftovers are better than the firsts. Its surprising, but true. Many Mexican dishes taste a lot better the day after, the flavors take a bit of time to blend.
Some thoughts for you- The ideal temp should around 160 to 180 F. Added hard wood coals (natural charcoal) during the process works well. Don't add dry wood, that will burn off rapidly or create a flame. Also, if that is the picture of the birds, the smoker is too crowded! Need to allow the heat to get to all sides of the bird. If it's like the smoker I have- one bird is enough. Did you use a water pad?
You gotta give her props for putting bacon on the birds though!
Thanks for the tips Malcom!
Not sure what a water pad is. I have 2 bowls of water going. One is directly above the fire, the other is directly below the fire. I set it up like the instructions said to. Though it's possible I misunderstood.
As far as fire is concerned: You're saying I don't want flames, only glowing coals? Is this correct?
How much coal should I use to get the temperature up there?
My next project is to try fish. That'll be next week. Any advice you can offer to get the fire right would be appreciated.
Thanks again Malcom.