Let's Talk BBQ
FORUM SPONSORS => MAK Grills => Topic started by: Michigan0626 on April 06, 2018, 10:59:37 AM
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When keeping the 2 Star on low at 225, could it use a pellet tube for more smoke? Or is it one of the few pellet smokers that can bellow out the white stuff like a stick burner?
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When keeping the 2 Star on low at 225, could it use a pellet tube for more smoke? Or is it one of the few pellet smokers that can bellow out the white stuff like a stick burner?
I'll put it this way. I used to have a MAK 1 Star... sold it, and now have a 2 Star. I bought a smoke tube when I originally acquired my 1 Star. I used it maybe 2-3 times and quickly came to the realization that it is not needed. IMO, and from my experience, the MAK's are smoking machines, making the tubes completely unnecessary. PM me your address, and I will send you my tube if you need further convincing :)
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Thanks for the offer. But I am realizing I can take what everyone says on here as pretty reliable.
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Thanks for the offer. But I am realizing I can take what everyone says on here as pretty reliable.
Well, the offer still stands. If you are coming from a charcoal or stick cooker, than you may find the smoke a bit light at first. I did. After about 5 or 6 cooks, I discovered something... I could actually taste the meat and seasonings vs having smoke be the first flavor my tongue recognized. Best I can describe it is this... my food now has a very clean smoke seasoning on it vs just being SMOKED. I didn't realize how much better it tastes until I tried it. One last thing I found interesting... I have been cooking with charcoal and logs for many many years. I could not believe how many more compliments I got when I switched over to cooking on my MAK (yes, I know how to manage a maintain a clean burning fire in a charcoal/stick cooker...lol). Seriously, friends and family love the food that comes from the MAK, and I have a few friends/family that are brutally honest ;)
Just one man's experience(s)... :)
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I know when I was looking into the RT-680/700, a lot of the complaints were on smoke output. I was going to get a tube automatically.
I have only tried smoking once, and it sucked. I will say that when I eat bbq, I love a think, chewy, tasty, dark bark. I will probably separate or split briskets and Boston butts in half to double up on the bark. Is the amount of smoke the driving factor in that? Or simply the number of hours sitting at 225?
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I know when I was looking into the RT-680/700, a lot of the complaints were on smoke output. I was going to get a tube automatically.
I have only tried smoking once, and it sucked. I will say that when I eat bbq, I love a think, chewy, tasty, dark bark. I will probably separate or split briskets and Boston butts in half to double up on the bark. Is the amount of smoke the driving factor in that? Or simply the number of hours sitting at 225?
Regarding smoke and smoke output, the MAK is known for it's volume of smoke output. I am not saying that there is no other contender, but I do believe that MAK is one of the finest when it comes to smoke output. Another key ingredient I believe is quality pellets. What brand of pellets do you plan on burning? I have been using Cookin' Pellets "Perfect Blend" for quite some time now and they are awesome! I buy a bulk order directly from them (600 lbs for $370 to your door). With that said, my stash is low and I am now looking at other high quality pellets for a better price... still searching.
As far as bark... IMO, there are several variables:
1) Type of wood can affect color of bark. For example, cherry tends to give a prettier mahogany color, where something like oak a much darker color.
2) As far as the thick chewy bark that you are after, yes... low steady temps are critical (anything below 275, IMO). This will explain way better than I can: http://www.genuineideas.com/ArticlesIndex/bark.html
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For pellets I was going to get some from Rec Tec if I had pulled the trigger. Now, I'll probably grab a couple bags from Lowes or Walmart to try and experiment. I saw somewhere about MAK having hazelnut pellets and that sounded interesting, but I cannot find them on their website.
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For pellets I was going to get some from Rec Tec if I had pulled the trigger. Now, I'll probably grab a couple bags from Lowes or Walmart to try and experiment. I saw somewhere about MAK having hazelnut pellets and that sounded interesting, but I cannot find them on their website.
I do not believe that they sell their MAK branded pellets anymore. They now include Bear Mountain pellets with the purchase of a new cooker. Pretty decent pellets. Bruce talked me into buying a few bags a couple of weeks ago and giving them a try. Not bad at all for the money ($10.50ish for 20 lbs). You wouldn't happen to have a Cash n Carry store nearby, would you? That's where Bruce buys his Bear Mountain pellet from... I just so happened to have a Cash n Carry about 10 miles from my work :)
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Nope. I have a local Walmart up here in the northern mountains of NH. Its 45 minutes to 2 hours minimum to any decent size store.
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I have been using Lumber Jack 100% hardwood pellets. No oak or alder filler.
I have always done a mix of 50/50 cherry and apple.
But since I got the 2 Star I tried some Lumber Jack 100% peacn on an Easter ham. Love the ability to change pellets!
I have been very happy with the Lumber Jack pellets and have a rep. only a few miles away. And I am not affiliated with them. Just a happy customer.
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I have been using Lumber Jack 100% hardwood pellets. No oak or alder filler.
I have always done a mix of 50/50 cherry and apple.
But since I got the 2 Star I tried some Lumber Jack 100% peacn on an Easter ham. Love the ability to change pellets!
I have been very happy with the Lumber Jack pellets and have a rep. only a few miles away. And I am not affiliated with them. Just a happy customer.
Could you really tell the difference between the fruit tree pellets and the pecan? There are times that I really struggle to tell the differences in flavor from one pellet to the next (within the same brand of pellet).
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We have a Cabela's in my town. They sell their own brand of pellets which are actually made by LJ.
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I have been using Lumber Jack 100% hardwood pellets. No oak or alder filler.
I have always done a mix of 50/50 cherry and apple.
But since I got the 2 Star I tried some Lumber Jack 100% peacn on an Easter ham. Love the ability to change pellets!
I have been very happy with the Lumber Jack pellets and have a rep. only a few miles away. And I am not affiliated with them. Just a happy customer.
Could you really tell the difference between the fruit tree pellets and the pecan? There are times that I really struggle to tell the differences in flavor from one pellet to the next (within the same brand of pellet).
The cherry / apple mix seems to taste a bit sweeter than the pecan. Since I added a glaze to the ham it may not be a good test but the smoke smell was more woody...if that makes sense.
I will need to use it some more on different cooks to see for sure.
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I have been using Lumber Jack 100% hardwood pellets. No oak or alder filler.
I have always done a mix of 50/50 cherry and apple.
But since I got the 2 Star I tried some Lumber Jack 100% peacn on an Easter ham. Love the ability to change pellets!
I have been very happy with the Lumber Jack pellets and have a rep. only a few miles away. And I am not affiliated with them. Just a happy customer.
Could you really tell the difference between the fruit tree pellets and the pecan? There are times that I really struggle to tell the differences in flavor from one pellet to the next (within the same brand of pellet).
The cherry / apple mix seems to taste a bit sweeter than the pecan. Since I added a glaze to the ham it may not be a good test but the smoke smell was more woody...if that makes sense.
I will need to use it some more on different cooks to see for sure.
Makes perfect sense. Let me know after you’ve cooked a bit more using the Pecan. Interested in hearing your thoughts :)
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Guys, I split this conversation off from the "MAK 2 Star Review," Since it took on a life of its own anyway, it deserves its own thread!
Good info here for all!
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Guys, I split this conversation off from the "MAK 2 Star Review," Since it took on a life of its own anyway, it deserves its own thread!
Good info here for all!
Good move... I guess I didn’t even notice that we had totally hi-jacked Smokes MAK review thread...oops.
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When keeping the 2 Star on low at 225, could it use a pellet tube for more smoke? Or is it one of the few pellet smokers that can bellow out the white stuff like a stick burner?
MAK's never bellow out that yucky white stuff. The smoke is a lighter with that blueish gray hue to it and gives a really nice clean smoke taste. Like Robb (rwalters) said, you can actually taste the food, not just smoke.
Here's my take on 100% flavorwood pellets versus oak blended.
I will sometimes use 100% flavorwood pellets (fruitwood, pecan, hickory, etc) for low & slow cooks, BUT they do produce quite a bit more ash than an oak-blended pellet. I love Lumberjacks Competition blend (Maple/Hickory/Cherry - AKA their "MHC" blend) but I always have a lot more ash to clean out afterward.
I prefer to mix 100% Flavorwoods 50/50 with oak, especially for higher temp cooks. Oak just burns cleaner with more BTU's (more efficient), and less ash. And to be honest it's hard to tell a difference in taste because Oak has a more nondescript flavor so the flavorwood gives the influence.
It's like using hardwood lump charcoal with chunks of wood.
For grilling temps (450°+), straight oak pellets are what burn the hottest and cleanest. I'm talking A LOT lower ash!
Another great pellet for grilling temps (if you can find them) are Lumberjacks "Charblend Hickory". The charcoal mixed in allows them to burn extremely cleanly & hot with lower ash. They're hard to find, though, unless you get them in a bulk order.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it! :D
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When keeping the 2 Star on low at 225, could it use a pellet tube for more smoke? Or is it one of the few pellet smokers that can bellow out the white stuff like a stick burner?
MAK's never bellow out that yucky white stuff. The smoke is a lighter with that blueish gray hue to it and gives a really nice clean smoke taste. Like Robb (rwalters) said, you can actually taste the food, not just smoke.
Here's my take on 100% flavorwood pellets versus oak blended.
I will sometimes use 100% flavorwood pellets (fruitwood, pecan, hickory, etc) for low & slow cooks, BUT they do produce quite a bit more ash than an oak-blended pellet. I love Lumberjacks Competition blend (Maple/Hickory/Cherry - AKA their "MHC" blend) but I always have a lot more ash to clean out afterward.
I prefer to mix 100% Flavorwoods 50/50 with oak, especially for higher temp cooks. Oak just burns cleaner with more BTU's (more efficient), and less ash. And to be honest it's hard to tell a difference in taste because Oak has a more nondescript flavor so the flavorwood gives the influence.
It's like using hardwood lump charcoal with chunks of wood.
For grilling temps (450°+), straight oak pellets are what burn the hottest and cleanest. I'm talking A LOT lower ash!
Another great pellet for grilling temps (if you can find them) are Lumberjacks "Charblend Hickory". The charcoal mixed in allows them to burn extremely cleanly & hot with lower ash. They're hard to find, though, unless you get them in a bulk order.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it! :D
So, when you say you like to grill with straight oak, what brand of oak pellets are you burning? Wondering who sells straight/pure oak. I’d love to try straight oak. Earlier this week, I bought 4 bags of Bear Mountain oak pellets. But after calling them, they confirmed that they are 75% alder/25% oak. Do you think that will burn as clean a straight oak?
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Earlier this week, I bought 4 bags of Bear Mountain oak pellets. But after calling them, they confirmed that they are 75% alder/25% oak. Do you think that will burn as clean a straight oak?
Absolutely no way will they burn as cleanly as straight oak. Alder has a lower BTU rating.
Lumber Jack and BBQer's delight both make a 100% oak.
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When keeping the 2 Star on low at 225, could it use a pellet tube for more smoke? Or is it one of the few pellet smokers that can bellow out the white stuff like a stick burner?
MAK's never bellow out that yucky white stuff. The smoke is a lighter with that blueish gray hue to it and gives a really nice clean smoke taste. Like Robb (rwalters) said, you can actually taste the food, not just smoke.
Here's my take on 100% flavorwood pellets versus oak blended.
I will sometimes use 100% flavorwood pellets (fruitwood, pecan, hickory, etc) for low & slow cooks, BUT they do produce quite a bit more ash than an oak-blended pellet. I love Lumberjacks Competition blend (Maple/Hickory/Cherry - AKA their "MHC" blend) but I always have a lot more ash to clean out afterward.
I prefer to mix 100% Flavorwoods 50/50 with oak, especially for higher temp cooks. Oak just burns cleaner with more BTU's (more efficient), and less ash. And to be honest it's hard to tell a difference in taste because Oak has a more nondescript flavor so the flavorwood gives the influence.
It's like using hardwood lump charcoal with chunks of wood.
For grilling temps (450°+), straight oak pellets are what burn the hottest and cleanest. I'm talking A LOT lower ash!
Another great pellet for grilling temps (if you can find them) are Lumberjacks "Charblend Hickory". The charcoal mixed in allows them to burn extremely cleanly & hot with lower ash. They're hard to find, though, unless you get them in a bulk order.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it! :D
So, when you say you like to grill with straight oak, what brand of oak pellets are you burning? Wondering who sells straight/pure oak. I’d love to try straight oak. Earlier this week, I bought 4 bags of Bear Mountain oak pellets. But after calling them, they confirmed that they are 75% alder/25% oak. Do you think that will burn as clean a straight oak?
Bear Mountain labels them as oak, and they are 75% alder? I guess buyer beware.
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A question. Since I ALWAYS run 100% flavorwoods is the complaints about ash just because of frequent cleanup or is there a problem with ash getting on the food during the cook? I haven't noticed this yet, but figured it wouldn't hurt to ask those that have been using their MAKS more than 2 weeks.
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A question. Since I ALWAYS run 100% flavorwoods is the complaints about ash just because of frequent cleanup or is there a problem with ash getting on the food during the cook? I haven't noticed this yet, but figured it wouldn't hurt to ask those that have been using their MAKS more than 2 weeks.
It's mainly with the extra cleanup and the fact that on longer cooks, especially, it can cause extra ash build-up in the firepot. When I don't use an oak-blend there is always more ash in the firepot.
It's not really a huge problem, just something to be aware of.
Lumberjack makes both 100% flavorwoods AND oak-blended flavors. For example the 100% hickory will say 100% hickory. If it says "Hickory Flavor" or "Hickory Blend", they are a blend of 60% oak and 40% Hickory. Most of the time you are not going to be able to tell the difference in flavor between the two.
When I get in on a bulk order, I like getting the a bag of 100% oak for each bag of 100% flavorwood, and blend them 50/50 as I need them. This lets me mix up flavors the way I like, AND have 100% flavors for use in the pellet tube when cold smoking.
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I think Tent has got this dialed in.
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MAK is no longer in the pellet game.......well pellets that is :)
I really think the one brand to really avoid is Traeger.
Alder based so they do not burn hot and produce lots of ash.............................
......................and oils are used for flavoring.
Cooking Pellets
Pit Boss Comp
B & B
BBQ's Delight
Limberjack (my fave)
these are all excellent and have fun experimenting with different pellet mixtures in your hopper as well as using different brands.
Oh, a MAK does not need any smoke tube....trust The Smoke on this one......
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So my Walmart has the Pit Boss competition pellets, Camp Chef hickory, and B&B (cannot remember wood variety). How are these versions?
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I have used Pit Boss Competition pellets for well over two years now and I like them.
In fact they are the only pellets I have used so far since I got the MAK.
We have a small Wal-Mart here in Marlin, Texas and I order them on-line for around 16 bucks for 40 lbs and have them ship to store for free.
I also have a farm equipment store that is a Green Mountain Grill dealer that stocks Lumberjack pellets for about the same price.
I really can't tell the difference between the two, but Wendy thinks the Pit Boss smell better at start up.
Give em a whirl, you might just like them.
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:thumbup:
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We just got 10 bags bear mt from wilco for about $9 per 20 lb bag hickory. Works just dandy for us. Would it be awful to say there might be too much smoke? I mean, I have a dedicated grill sweatshirt.
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There are definitely some negative reviews for Pit Boss competition blend. Which makes me hesitant to try them, I have used cookin pellets and they are awesome but cost a lot. Can get lumberjack for slightly cheaper but if Pit Boss is good would love to save some coin.
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There are definitely some negative reviews for Pit Boss competition blend. Which makes me hesitant to try them, I have used cookin pellets and they are awesome but cost a lot. Can get lumberjack for slightly cheaper but if Pit Boss is good would love to save some coin.
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Have you ever considered buying Cookin’ Pellets directly from them in bulk. 15 40 lb bags of Perfect Mix delivered to your door for $370. Every bag is in its own cardboard box and super easy to stack. Much better pricing doing it this way.
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There are definitely some negative reviews for Pit Boss competition blend. Which makes me hesitant to try them, I have used cookin pellets and they are awesome but cost a lot. Can get lumberjack for slightly cheaper but if Pit Boss is good would love to save some coin.
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Have you ever considered buying Cookin’ Pellets directly from them in bulk. 15 40 lb bags of Perfect Mix delivered to your door for $370. Every bag is in its own cardboard box and super easy to stack. Much better pricing doing it this way.
Yes I have and might end up doing this, just Looking for alternative to having 15 - 40lb bags in my garbage :)
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zeuth - start a thread...and ask for any members that might live near enough to you to split a bulk order. You may be able to make it work well for you that way.
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There are definitely some negative reviews for Pit Boss competition blend. Which makes me hesitant to try them, I have used cookin pellets and they are awesome but cost a lot. Can get lumberjack for slightly cheaper but if Pit Boss is good would love to save some coin.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Have you ever considered buying Cookin’ Pellets directly from them in bulk. 15 40 lb bags of Perfect Mix delivered to your door for $370. Every bag is in its own cardboard box and super easy to stack. Much better pricing doing it this way.
Yes I have and might end up doing this, just Looking for alternative to having 15 - 40lb bags in my garbage :)
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zeuth - start a thread...and ask for any members that might live near enough to you to split a bulk order. You may be able to make it work well for you that way.
...or a friend, co-worker or family member. That’s what I did last time. I took 8, he took 7. Worked well :)
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Quote from: teesquare on Today at 08:19:51 PM
zeuth - start a thread...and ask for any members that might live near enough to you to split a bulk order. You may be able to make it work well for you that way.
...or a friend, co-worker or family member. That’s what I did last time. I took 8, he took 7. Worked well :)
Then you tell him that he now has to join LTBBQ in order to get such deals..... :D
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Guys, I split this conversation off from the "MAK 2 Star Review," Since it took on a life of its own anyway, it deserves its own thread!
Good info here for all!
Good move... I guess I didn’t even notice that we had totally hi-jacked Smokes MAK review thread...oops.
Yea....sorry about that.
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Guys, I split this conversation off from the "MAK 2 Star Review," Since it took on a life of its own anyway, it deserves its own thread!
Good info here for all!
Good move... I guess I didn’t even notice that we had totally hi-jacked Smokes MAK review thread...oops.
Yea....sorry about that.
No worries, just bring it back with a full tank of gas after you hi-jack it :) :)
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Guys, I split this conversation off from the "MAK 2 Star Review," Since it took on a life of its own anyway, it deserves its own thread!
Good info here for all!
Good move... I guess I didn’t even notice that we had totally hi-jacked Smokes MAK review thread...oops.
Yea....sorry about that.
Like Smoke said, no worries at all. It created a new thread, and that's a good thing!