I picked up Brinkmann Cimarron offset smoker from Craigslist (Horizon Smoker) and today was my first time using it. I'm coming from a reverse flow Shirley smoker so I'm not completely new to using an offset smoker. This is my first traditional offset though. I purchased the Horizon convection plate and used it with the smoker this evening.
So I get the smoker stable between 250 and 275 degrees without any issue. I do a quick biscuit test and I notice the smoker runs about even the first 3/4 of the way and drops closer towards the exhaust. No biggie. I'll have to do some minor tweaking but nothing hurt. So I thought. I throw on a rack of spare ribs and I have the smoker running right around 250 the entire cook. I'm not even four hours into the cook and I have shoe leather ribs and black charred bottom. Huh?
So what gives? Why would I have shoe leather spare ribs and black charred bottom? I don't quite understand it. My rub was SPOG. I didn't have any sugar in my rub. So nothing should have burned. It had something to do with the smoker. The bottom of the smoker seems to run really, really hot under the convection plate. Almost too hot. My first guess is my thermometer is off. The thermometer would drop when my fire would drop. So I'm not totally convinced that's the issue.
I'm looking for any guidance as this style smoker is new to me. Thanks for any help!
So I get the smoker stable between 250 and 275 degrees without any issue. I do a quick biscuit test and I notice the smoker runs about even the first 3/4 of the way and drops closer towards the exhaust. No biggie. I'll have to do some minor tweaking but nothing hurt. So I thought. I throw on a rack of spare ribs and I have the smoker running right around 250 the entire cook. I'm not even four hours into the cook and I have shoe leather ribs and black charred bottom. Huh?
So what gives? Why would I have shoe leather spare ribs and black charred bottom? I don't quite understand it. My rub was SPOG. I didn't have any sugar in my rub. So nothing should have burned. It had something to do with the smoker. The bottom of the smoker seems to run really, really hot under the convection plate. Almost too hot. My first guess is my thermometer is off. The thermometer would drop when my fire would drop. So I'm not totally convinced that's the issue.
I'm looking for any guidance as this style smoker is new to me. Thanks for any help!