I've loved barbecue forever. I first got into it in '97 with a Brinkmann Smokin' Pit Professional with a lid thermometer, charcoal, mesquite chunks from Safeway, and occasionally some apple wood cut from the neighbor's old trees. It worked pretty well, mostly.
I moved, the pit went into storage, and I only got back into it this year, after fitting the same pit with a BBQ Guru, and cutting down the freeze-killed cherry tree in my back yard. That worked ok: I shouldn't have tried to pick up where I left off with a brisket and a log fire.
Since then, I've cooked a few chickens, some salmon, and a pork butt with charcoal and more apple wood, and the results have been steadily getting better as the Guru and I have been learning how to run that pit. It's led to a large accumulation of fruitwood in the yard, especially after a heavy snow this spring.
Last week, I bought a Traeger Texas something-or-other on clearance locally; I couldn't resist a $300 savings, and the idea that I wouldn't have to hover so close to a pit during a cook. So far, I'm unimpressed with the wild temperature swings my impulse buy got me-- my Guru does a WAY better job of controlling a fire. We'll see how it goes, I guess, but I won't be getting rid of my Brinkmann/Guru rig anytime soon. I should have done some research here first.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to picking up some wisdom here (maybe on how to control this Treager: it seemed like such a good idea...).
I moved, the pit went into storage, and I only got back into it this year, after fitting the same pit with a BBQ Guru, and cutting down the freeze-killed cherry tree in my back yard. That worked ok: I shouldn't have tried to pick up where I left off with a brisket and a log fire.
Since then, I've cooked a few chickens, some salmon, and a pork butt with charcoal and more apple wood, and the results have been steadily getting better as the Guru and I have been learning how to run that pit. It's led to a large accumulation of fruitwood in the yard, especially after a heavy snow this spring.
Last week, I bought a Traeger Texas something-or-other on clearance locally; I couldn't resist a $300 savings, and the idea that I wouldn't have to hover so close to a pit during a cook. So far, I'm unimpressed with the wild temperature swings my impulse buy got me-- my Guru does a WAY better job of controlling a fire. We'll see how it goes, I guess, but I won't be getting rid of my Brinkmann/Guru rig anytime soon. I should have done some research here first.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to picking up some wisdom here (maybe on how to control this Treager: it seemed like such a good idea...).
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