Longest cook on SNS kettle?

[bbq_esq]

I have a noon party coming up where I'm cooking for a pretty big crowd. Planning to do a brisket and butt among other things. I have a PBC which I plan to use for brisket cook, because I have done it before and I know what to expect in terms of temps/cooking time.

I haven't done any really long cooks on my SNS kettle yet - with a fully loaded, or perhaps even overloaded basket, and following the low and slow lighting instructions, how long can I expect the thing to run before I'd need to fiddle with it? I plan to do the butt in the kettle so temp fluctuations aren't a big deal. Can I get 8 hours? Should I consider using something besides regular old KBB?

[HawkerXP]

I don't have the SNS but I would think it would run like my kettles.

I stir out the ash about every 2 hours adding charcoal if needed. Better to do it slowly then trying to recover.

I agree with the brisket in the PBC.

Good luck!

[Panhead John]

Question, do you have the SnS insert? Do you have any B & B briquettes? I have an SNS kettle with their insert. Using B & B briquettes I’ve gotten at least 8 hours before. Don't remember the total time exactly.

[RichieB]

+1 on using B&B.

[bbq_esq]

I don't have the SNS but I would think it would run like my kettles.

I stir out the ash about every 2 hours adding charcoal if needed. Better to do it slowly then trying to recover.

I agree with the brisket in the PBC.

Good luck!

Well that puts a damper on my overnight cook plan, fortunately my kids don't get up that often anymore lol

[bbq_esq]

Question, do you have the SnS insert? Do you have any B & B briquettes? I have an SNS kettle with their insert. Using B & B briquettes I’ve gotten at least 8 hours before. Don't remember the total time exactly.

I do have the SnS insert (Deluxe Kettle) and I can get B&B briquettes. How is the ash? That was my concern with KBB, for longish cooks before I've seen a lot of ash build up and had to give the coals a shuffle to keep airflow. Was that 8 hours uninterrupted or did it require some babysitting?

[Panhead John]

It was 8 hours without having to add any charcoal at all. I did have to make a few minor vent adjustments during the cook, but the SNS kettle does remarkably well at holding steady temps. I never had an ash problem with the B & B either. They are bigger briquettes than the KBB and seem more condensed. I never had to stir the ash out either, I just let it roll. I use 1 or 2 tumbleweeds to start the coals at one end. Once 4 or 5 coals are burning good, I put on the lid and get it to my temp.

[RichardCullip]

Weber kettle w/SNS insert I can get a good 8hrs at 225F before I need to add charcoal. Longest cook so far went 12hrs with one refill.

[Huskee]

You'll have to tunk & stir the ash out after the first three or four hours, and then it's good to do every few hours after that. You shouldn't have any trouble going 8 hours if you do that. Maybe even 10-12 if you overload the basket and it's warm weather. Keep an air space between the SnS itself and the kettle wall, don't set it tight against it. That extra insulation layer of air is helpful. You can't get around stirring the ash out if you want the fire to keep going.

[shify]

I haven't gone longer than 5-6 hours in my SnS kettle w/insert using KBB and the low and slow instructions but recall there being plenty of coals left over when I was done cooking and think I was cooking at around 275. So depending on what cook temp you are aiming for, should be in pretty good shape for 8 hours.

[bbq_esq]

You'll have to tunk & stir the ash out after the first three or four hours, and then it's good to do every few hours after that. You shouldn't have any trouble going 8 hours if you do that. Maybe even 10-12 if you overload the basket and it's warm weather. Keep an air space between the SnS itself and the kettle wall, don't set it tight against it. That extra insulation layer of air is helpful. You can't get around stirring the ash out if you want the fire to keep going.

Thanks, that was my pretty much my concern. Party would be around noon, so I may just have to try and cook the brisket and butt on the PBC and use the SNS for some of the day-of stuff.

[RichardCullip]

I use a FireBoard with fan to control the temperature. I close the bottom vents completely and the top vents 1/2 to 2/3 closed. This combo can keep the temperature rock steady at 225 and there’s no need to fiddle with cleaning out the ash. It’s allows me to cook for up to 8 hrs hands free from the comfort of indoors. Set and forget except for monitoring on the FireBoard app to keep an eye on the temperature profiles

[LA Pork Butt]

I think you will get a lower cook time using the snake or.fuse method. It gives consistent heat as it burns its way around meat. You should be able to get 12-14 hours.

[Donw]

My thought too. I like the SnS insert for most uses but the other methods mentioned can reduce the affect of ash interfering with the airflow. Just my 2¢

[bbq_esq]

That makes sense. I may have to give that a shot.