Smokin in the teens outside temperature question?

[BiilLrsn]

Some family members want some ribs for a event this weekend. I am in Minnesota and the air temp will be in the teens. Anything I should know? Is it okay to use?

 

[NDKoze]

Hello, Neighbor. I live in Fargo and have smoked in -20F with zero issues other than not liking to go outside to get the smoker ready and pull the meat out when it is so dang cold.

The only issue that you may have, is that your thermometers will not register until they hit 30 or so. So you may have to dip them in a glass of hot water or use a hair dryer or some other means of heating up the probes.

Do you have a D model or an analog? If an analog, it will eventually come up to temp on its own without heating the probe. If you have a D model with the built-in Auber probe I am not sure if heating the probe is necessary or not (I have an analog #3).

But, once you get going, it may take an extra 10-20 minutes to get to temp, but once you are there it will not have a problem maintaining temp in very cold weather.

hopefully this helps.

 

[BiilLrsn]

Thats really good news.
Thanks NDKoze. I have the analog. I will let 'er buck.

 

[SconnieQ]

Hello from your neighbor on the other side. Smoking all winter long is one of my favorite things about the SI! That's exactly when you need a smoker where you put meat in, and stay warm inside until it's done.

 

[drains]

If you smoke a pork butt beware of the fat "volcano". The rendering fat will freeze if it gets cold enough. I'll bet NDKoze can attest to it.

 

[DivotMaker]

Show the picture of the fat volcano (I think of it more as a fatscicle), Gregg....funny stuff!

 

[NDKoze]

You asked for it. So here it is. I think this was from my -20 degree smoke. It was so cold that the fat was freezing as it dripped from the smoker.

 

[SconnieQ]

That's a beautiful thing.

 

[DivotMaker]

That's a beautiful thing.

...Where science enters the realm of art.