Author Topic: Cold Smoking DISASTER  (Read 29810 times)

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Offline ACW3

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Cold Smoking DISASTER
« Reply #-1 on: January 08, 2016, 01:57:44 PM »
Well, I tried to use my new Red Box Smoker to cold smoke some cheese yesterday.  There are NO PICTURES to document this disaster!!  I am posting this for your information.

The outside temperature got up to about 53 degrees.  I put some Italian Blend flavored pellets in my A-Maze-N maze smoker.  Lighted it from both ends (may have been a mistake on my part).  Since it was relatively cool outside, I put the maze smoker in the charcoal tray and the cheese on one of the shelves covered with a frog mat.  I did not add water or ice to the water tray.  Maybe another mistake on my part.  The fire was out on the maze, but the smoke was rolling.  After talking with Tee earlier today, I am beginning to think that the double-walled construction may have worked against me.  I didn't put the cabinet probe in to monitor temperatures because I was "cold smoking".  Well, I was apparently HOT SMOKING!!  The cheese all melted down into the water tray.  A real mess.  Now you understand (I hope) why I didn't document this with pictures.

I plan to do another cold smoking test, without the cheese this time, but with the cabinet probe in place to record the temps inside the box.  Any other suggestions would be appreciated.

Art 
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Offline Pam Gould

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Re: Cold Smoking DISASTER
« on: January 08, 2016, 02:14:38 PM »
OMG..I hate to hear that.. now for a suggestion..Put the smoking thingi on the bottom to one side.  Freeze a couple gallons of water and set over the smoker thingi.  It keeps the cabinet cooler, I only smoke for 2 hours and put the cheese on the opposite side from the smoker. Cheese shouldn't melt below 80 - 90º. big blocks of ice work also, like 9 x 13 baking pans work well,  just sayin.  Pammie  .☆´¯`•.¸¸. ི♥ྀ.
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Offline Smokin Don

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Re: Cold Smoking DISASTER
« Reply #1 on: January 08, 2016, 02:14:57 PM »
The couple of times I cold smoked cheese I did it in my Traeger with the amazin tube and used a clothes pin to have a gap in the lid at the bottom. I don't remember the temps but it came out good. I don't know if this helps or not Art, Just sayin! Next time put some Taco chips in the bottom and if it melts all won't be lost! Sorry I couldn't resist! Don
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Offline muralboy

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Re: Cold Smoking DISASTER
« Reply #2 on: January 08, 2016, 02:52:06 PM »
Oh noooooooo - bet that was a pain to clean up.
Keep Calm And Smoke On

Offline tlg4942

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Re: Cold Smoking DISASTER
« Reply #3 on: January 08, 2016, 03:38:04 PM »
 Put toast under your cheese next.... :D No I cant go there....  ::)
Sorry to hear of the disaster Art. I've had Pam's smoked cheese and I can tell you I would go with her idea here. That was some really good cheese. 
Terry "Way down in Alabama"

Offline muebe

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Re: Cold Smoking DISASTER
« Reply #4 on: January 08, 2016, 04:50:16 PM »
Ice ice baby 8)

Keep that cabinet temp cool with a tray of ice...
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Offline ACW3

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Re: Cold Smoking DISASTER
« Reply #5 on: January 08, 2016, 05:08:44 PM »
The thing that really p*ssed me off was that I have cold smoked cheese before and had it come out great.  I guess there is a learning curve for the new box.

Art

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Offline Big Dawg

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Re: Cold Smoking DISASTER
« Reply #6 on: January 08, 2016, 05:47:44 PM »
Well, since I was just getting ready to PM you for some cold smoking ideas, I guess I'd better pay attention to this thread.





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Offline muralboy

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Re: Cold Smoking DISASTER
« Reply #7 on: January 08, 2016, 05:59:51 PM »
I suppose the other option is an external cold smoker such as a mail box mod or Smoke Daddy?  That's such a sweet looking box, I'd hate to put a hole in it though.
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Offline Pam Gould

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Re: Cold Smoking DISASTER
« Reply #8 on: January 08, 2016, 06:26:01 PM »
I suppose the other option is an external cold smoker such as a mail box mod or Smoke Daddy?  That's such a sweet looking box, I'd hate to put a hole in it though.
I use the smoke daddy that I added to a cooler..ice in the bottom and smoke daddy at the top. works great but I do most of mine when it's below freezing here in Ohio.  .☆´¯`•.¸¸. ི♥ྀ.
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Offline RAD

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Re: Cold Smoking DISASTER
« Reply #9 on: January 08, 2016, 06:31:34 PM »
SUCKS!!!

You will be finding cheese for months
Love to cook and eat

Offline hikerman

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Re: Cold Smoking DISASTER
« Reply #10 on: January 08, 2016, 07:05:40 PM »
Sorry to hear this Art. Tough luck buddy! I think you know what you need to do. But remember....a failure can breed much success! Go get 'em Art! ;)

Offline teesquare

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Re: Cold Smoking DISASTER
« Reply #11 on: January 08, 2016, 07:36:41 PM »
I think what threw you off - is that we are used tot eh level of insulation in typical box smokers like Bradley and Masterbuilt. They use spray foam. I think the Red Box uses an industrial  type of insulation ( mineral wool or similar ) and it does not take much of a heat source to create a warm cabinet.....Ice would be my guess as the fix too.
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Offline TwoPockets

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Re: Cold Smoking DISASTER
« Reply #12 on: January 08, 2016, 11:28:22 PM »
I suppose the other option is an external cold smoker such as a mail box mod or Smoke Daddy?  That's such a sweet looking box, I'd hate to put a hole in it though.
I use the smoke daddy that I added to a cooler..ice in the bottom and smoke daddy at the top. works great but I do most of mine when it's below freezing here in Ohio.  .☆´¯`•.¸¸. ི♥ྀ.

That gives you at least six months for smoking cheese.
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Offline sparky

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Re: Cold Smoking DISASTER
« Reply #13 on: January 09, 2016, 12:16:55 AM »
OMG..I hate to hear that.. now for a suggestion..Put the smoking thingi on the bottom to one side.  Freeze a couple gallons of water and set over the smoker thingi.  It keeps the cabinet cooler, I only smoke for 2 hours and put the cheese on the opposite side from the smoker. Cheese shouldn't melt below 80 - 90º. big blocks of ice work also, like 9 x 13 baking pans work well,  just sayin.  Pammie  .☆´¯`•.¸¸. ི♥ྀ.

This is the same thing I do.
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