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Using large smoker for high volume event #2880378
08/16/19 08:00 PM
08/16/19 08:00 PM
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 5,747
Hoover, AL
M48scout Offline OP
12 point
M48scout  Offline OP
12 point
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 5,747
Hoover, AL
Our church is having an event where I expect perhaps 150-200 people at this time. That amount could potentially climb, I'll know more later. I have been assigned "smoking duty" since they know I like doing things like this. I'm happy to help, but a little apprehensive about the responsibility since I've never cooked for that many people.

I have rented a very large smoker that can easily handle this amount of food, and probably a lot more. Dual fireboxes, very large smoking box volume, etc. The rental comes with a load of seasoned and split hickory. I anticipate smoking perhaps 14 butts on one chamber and several chickens on the other.

What tips do you pros have for operating a large smoking like this to churn out high quality meat? I've been watching lots of YouTube videos about fire management with stick burners, but my experience (aside from pellet smokers) is limited to managing smoking on my 22" weber. Same principals, just a lot smaller chunks of wood and chamber volume. From what I understand, I should be aiming for the following:

- small fire (control fuel to set temp, not choke it)
- get a good bed of coals in the chamber to begin with, then feed using moderate diameter sticks
- good unchoked air flow
- try to get "clear to wispy blue" smoke, not white
- some knowledgeable sounding sources I've read seem to indicate these large smokers like to cruise more at 250-275 than 225. No clue.
- start a lot earlier than you think you need to … just let them rest in coolers if you get done early

So ... what practical tips can you offer? I'd really like to knock it out of the park, not just avoid disaster!

Thanks

David

Re: Using large smoker for high volume event [Re: M48scout] #2880571
08/16/19 10:43 PM
08/16/19 10:43 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,066
Chilton County
Morris Offline
Poppa Jon
Morris  Offline
Poppa Jon
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,066
Chilton County
Pm hoggin

Re: Using large smoker for high volume event [Re: M48scout] #2880684
08/17/19 08:04 AM
08/17/19 08:04 AM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 11,246
Walker county
Driveby Offline
Doing the best I can.
Driveby  Offline
Doing the best I can.
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 11,246
Walker county
I can tell you, with 200 people and 14 butts and a load of chickens, you will have lots of left overs I cooked 10 butts for a wedding last weekend, about 150 people, and the brides family took home a ton of meat. Now, church event folk are going to eat more than wedding guests though.
As far as the smoker goes, the advice you read is spot on and there's nothing I can really add. Adjust your cook times to where your smoker likes to run. I would suggest a short test run with no meat just to see where it likes to run. Mine is a reverse flow that will hold 40 butts and it will sit 250-275 all day long with a small split added every 45 minutes. 8 pound butts finish in about 7 hours. I cook unwrapped until an internal temp of 160, wrap, and finish to 195. Have fun!!!


The true mark of a man is not how he conducts himself during times of prosperity, but how he conducts himself during times of adversity.
Re: Using large smoker for high volume event [Re: M48scout] #2880715
08/17/19 08:39 AM
08/17/19 08:39 AM
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 5,747
Hoover, AL
M48scout Offline OP
12 point
M48scout  Offline OP
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 5,747
Hoover, AL
Thanks Driveby! That's great advice on the # butts. Makes me feel better on estimating volume. 14 sounds like too many then since I'll be adding chickens to the mix. And thanks for your experience with time to finish at those temps. In the past I've always used 225 and of course it takes excruciatingly long times that are tough to estimate. Cooking for a crowd, being done on time is critical, so knowing I can get done in 7-8 hours at those temps is very nice to know. I plan on picking the smoker up a day early and then just doing a run with a couple racks of ribs to get a feel for what temperature it likes to cruise.

Re: Using large smoker for high volume event [Re: M48scout] #2880720
08/17/19 08:43 AM
08/17/19 08:43 AM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 11,246
Walker county
Driveby Offline
Doing the best I can.
Driveby  Offline
Doing the best I can.
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 11,246
Walker county
Just curious.......what does rent on a smoker like that run?


The true mark of a man is not how he conducts himself during times of prosperity, but how he conducts himself during times of adversity.
Re: Using large smoker for high volume event [Re: M48scout] #2880732
08/17/19 08:56 AM
08/17/19 08:56 AM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 11,246
Walker county
Driveby Offline
Doing the best I can.
Driveby  Offline
Doing the best I can.
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 11,246
Walker county
Here is a link to a good source on figuring BBQ quantities:

https://thebbqworldofmrdodd.wordpress.com/tag/how-much-pulled-pork-to-make/

Also, it's much better to have leftovers than not enough. thumbup


The true mark of a man is not how he conducts himself during times of prosperity, but how he conducts himself during times of adversity.
Re: Using large smoker for high volume event [Re: M48scout] #2880743
08/17/19 09:08 AM
08/17/19 09:08 AM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 4,555
McCalla
H
hoggin Offline
10 point
hoggin  Offline
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Posts: 4,555
McCalla
I’ve cooked for 2-500 people a good number of times ( got started 30 years ago as a way to get rid of wild hogs without wasting them. Id cook the meat for free for about any event) and have several events that size planned for September-October. I agree that you just won’t need that many butts. I usually plan a pound of meat for every 3 people and always have to much at that. I usually cook a little sausage ( smoked or conecuh) to begin with and if I see folks consistently going heavy on meat I can always throw more sausage on and have it ready in minutes. If I’m planning on many more than 2-250 I’ll cook the butts the night before until within an hour or so of being done and plan it so that I can put them in a cooler about 10-11 that night. They’ll continue to cook a little in a good cooler and I can throw them back on the smoker when I’m ready the next day and finish them.

My smoker will run all day around 230-240 with everything closed. I never have wrapped anything to finish. My smoker has a built in steam pan that I use and sometimes mix various things ( from mesquite chips, applewood or sometimes crushed red pepper) with the water depending on who I’m cooking for or my mood


Last edited by hoggin; 08/17/19 09:12 AM.
Re: Using large smoker for high volume event [Re: Driveby] #2880758
08/17/19 09:32 AM
08/17/19 09:32 AM
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 5,747
Hoover, AL
M48scout Offline OP
12 point
M48scout  Offline OP
12 point
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 5,747
Hoover, AL
Originally Posted by Driveby
Just curious.......what does rent on a smoker like that run?


It’s $160 per day (weekend really after pickup and turn in). Never rented from him before but seems like a very nice guy.


http://www.bbqrents.com/

EDIT - also paying for him to clean it and if you want him to provide the wood, is extra

Last edited by M48scout; 08/17/19 09:35 AM.
Re: Using large smoker for high volume event [Re: hoggin] #2880760
08/17/19 09:34 AM
08/17/19 09:34 AM
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 5,747
Hoover, AL
M48scout Offline OP
12 point
M48scout  Offline OP
12 point
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 5,747
Hoover, AL
Originally Posted by hoggin
I’ve cooked for 2-500 people a good number of times ( got started 30 years ago as a way to get rid of wild hogs without wasting them. Id cook the meat for free for about any event) and have several events that size planned for September-October. I agree that you just won’t need that many butts. I usually plan a pound of meat for every 3 people and always have to much at that. I usually cook a little sausage ( smoked or conecuh) to begin with and if I see folks consistently going heavy on meat I can always throw more sausage on and have it ready in minutes. If I’m planning on many more than 2-250 I’ll cook the butts the night before until within an hour or so of being done and plan it so that I can put them in a cooler about 10-11 that night. They’ll continue to cook a little in a good cooler and I can throw them back on the smoker when I’m ready the next day and finish them.

My smoker will run all day around 230-240 with everything closed. I never have wrapped anything to finish. My smoker has a built in steam pan that I use and sometimes mix various things ( from mesquite chips, applewood or sometimes crushed red pepper) with the water depending on who I’m cooking for or my mood



Appreciate it Hoggin. I'll dial my meat estimate back a little bit then. I'll let yall know how it goes. I'm doing it toward end of September.

Re: Using large smoker for high volume event [Re: M48scout] #2880936
08/17/19 03:43 PM
08/17/19 03:43 PM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 11,246
Walker county
Driveby Offline
Doing the best I can.
Driveby  Offline
Doing the best I can.
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 11,246
Walker county
So it's going to be around $240.00 total for rent, wood, and clean up?. Heck, depending on where you are and when it is, I would just about hook up mine and come do ithe cooking for you for that.


The true mark of a man is not how he conducts himself during times of prosperity, but how he conducts himself during times of adversity.
Re: Using large smoker for high volume event [Re: M48scout] #2880948
08/17/19 04:31 PM
08/17/19 04:31 PM
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 41,957
UR 6
top cat Offline
Freak of Nature
top cat  Offline
Freak of Nature
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 41,957
UR 6
What kind of smoker do you have hoghin........ sounds like a goodun


LUCK:::; When presistence, dedication, perspiration and preparation meet up with opportunity!!!
- - - - - - - -A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take everything you have. Thomas Jeferson - - - - - - - -
Re: Using large smoker for high volume event [Re: Driveby] #2881001
08/17/19 06:12 PM
08/17/19 06:12 PM
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 5,747
Hoover, AL
M48scout Offline OP
12 point
M48scout  Offline OP
12 point
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 5,747
Hoover, AL
Originally Posted by Driveby
So it's going to be around $240.00 total for rent, wood, and clean up?. Heck, depending on where you are and when it is, I would just about hook up mine and come do ithe cooking for you for that.


That’s nice of you to offer Driveby ... If I hadn’t already rented it I would prolly talk to them and take you up on that. I may take you up on it next time around too. The guy organizing the dinner is sort of trying to turn the cooking into a team building event to get more men involved. So I’m also supposed to be recruiting other men in the church to help me.

Re: Using large smoker for high volume event [Re: M48scout] #2881052
08/17/19 07:23 PM
08/17/19 07:23 PM
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,838
West Alabama
Ant67 Offline
10 point
Ant67  Offline
10 point
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West Alabama
I Would have to make a practice run if I was you.

Re: Using large smoker for high volume event [Re: M48scout] #2881216
08/17/19 09:36 PM
08/17/19 09:36 PM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 11,246
Walker county
Driveby Offline
Doing the best I can.
Driveby  Offline
Doing the best I can.
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 11,246
Walker county
Originally Posted by M48scout
Originally Posted by Driveby
So it's going to be around $240.00 total for rent, wood, and clean up?. Heck, depending on where you are and when it is, I would just about hook up mine and come do ithe cooking for you for that.


That’s nice of you to offer Driveby ... If I hadn’t already rented it I would prolly talk to them and take you up on that. I may take you up on it next time around too. The guy organizing the dinner is sort of trying to turn the cooking into a team building event to get more men involved. So I’m also supposed to be recruiting other men in the church to help me.

That sounds like an awesome idea. I've had many good conversations sitting around the smoker.


The true mark of a man is not how he conducts himself during times of prosperity, but how he conducts himself during times of adversity.
Re: Using large smoker for high volume event [Re: M48scout] #2881357
08/18/19 06:26 AM
08/18/19 06:26 AM
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 22,473
Lickskillet, AL
Irishguy Offline
a.k.a. Dingle Johnson
Irishguy  Offline
a.k.a. Dingle Johnson
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Posts: 22,473
Lickskillet, AL
What church and what time? grin

Re: Using large smoker for high volume event [Re: top cat] #2881613
08/18/19 12:21 PM
08/18/19 12:21 PM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 4,555
McCalla
H
hoggin Offline
10 point
hoggin  Offline
10 point
H
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 4,555
McCalla
Originally Posted by top cat
What kind of smoker do you have hoghin........ sounds like a goodun


I’ve got 2 actually. One I built and one I traded for without actually getting a chance to say no. The one I traded for actually started out as a garbage dumpster ( new of course) Neither are extremely large but I can do 10–12 butts 8-10 slabs 15-20 chickens and 20 or so pounds of sausage at the same time on the big one. The other is not much smaller

Re: Using large smoker for high volume event [Re: M48scout] #2883011
08/20/19 03:01 AM
08/20/19 03:01 AM
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 201
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
T
ttownwhitetail Offline
4 point
ttownwhitetail  Offline
4 point
T
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 201
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
During your test run you will want to find out where the hot spots are in the cooking chamber. Get a can of biscuits and space them out evenly across cook chamber then after you bring pit up to temp....then watch to see the rise on the biscuits in different spots.


Mathews DXT
Remington 30-6
Remington SPS 7mm08
Re: Using large smoker for high volume event [Re: ttownwhitetail] #2883096
08/20/19 08:02 AM
08/20/19 08:02 AM
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 5,747
Hoover, AL
M48scout Offline OP
12 point
M48scout  Offline OP
12 point
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 5,747
Hoover, AL
Originally Posted by ttownwhitetail
During your test run you will want to find out where the hot spots are in the cooking chamber. Get a can of biscuits and space them out evenly across cook chamber then after you bring pit up to temp....then watch to see the rise on the biscuits in different spots.


That’s a pretty good idea

Re: Using large smoker for high volume event [Re: Irishguy] #2883112
08/20/19 08:22 AM
08/20/19 08:22 AM
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Posts: 6,043
AL
BamaGuitarDude Offline
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BamaGuitarDude  Offline
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AL
Originally Posted by Irishguy
What church and what time? grin


amen


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