New Owner - Best First Smoke

[msand7443]

All,

Just received my #2 today!  Wow was it packed well.  Got it setup in minutes.  Will be doing my seasoning smoke later today.

I am looking for suggestions as to what would be best for my first smoke!  I have been using a MES for a number of years (until it finally died).  It was always an adventure when smoking with it, and just when I was getting things going in the right direction, it dies.

Any suggestions?

 

[NDKoze]

You made a great choice with the Smokin-It smoker.

Some will say to smoke ribs for your first smoke. But what I did and would recommend is to smoke a Boston Butt. There are several great recipes/brines in the Pork section for Boston Butt.

The nice thing about a butt is since it is a long smoke, it really gives you a good feel for your smoker.

Good luck on your first smoke!

 

[DivotMaker]

Welcome, Mark!  Boston butt was my first smoke in the #1 a year ago, and I've recommended it ever since!  The nice, long smoke serves as a good break-in for your smoker, and shows you how it performs when it settles in for the long haul.  Plus, the Boston butt (bone it) is hard to mess up!   I see Gregg has caught onto this, too! 

Let us know if you have any questions - we're here to help!

Whatever you choose will be good! ;D

 

[swthorpe]

I cast a vote for ribs (my first smoke), but you can't wrong doing a Boston Butt!  I guess I was not willing to wait that long to get some Q out of my #2!    Another quick option (3-4hrs) is a whole chicken.  Speaking of chicken, my butcher split a couple of 4# chickens for me this weekend, and they smoked up 165IT within 2.5 hours!  Good eats whatever you choose...  Cheers!

 

[NDKoze]

Tony, you have never steered me wrong and it was on your recommendation that I did the Butt first. I am glad that I did that, which is why I now recommend it to anyone that asks. It is just hard to mess up a butt, and you want your first experience with the new smoker to be good.

But there are other options as Steve has mentioned. Ribs would be my second choice.

 

[Walt]

My 1st planned cook was a butt.  However, i brined the butt so while waiting on the butt getting ready, I smoked some sausage & then a chicken.

 

[DivotMaker]

Gregg, I think you and I are the only ones recommending butts for smoke #1!  We'll convert more with time!  lol! 8)

 

[mnsmoker]

Butts without a doubt...6-7 pound butt a little rub 225 for 10 hrs or so and...........perfection!!!

 

[DivotMaker]

Way to go, Jim!  We're going to start the "butt revolution!"  ;D

 

[NDKoze]

"BUTT REVOLUTION"!!!

You literally made me LOL on that one.

Onward with the revolution!