smoker not reaching temperature

Any change you make will take a while to take effect. If the smoke is white, the wood may not be burning properly. I have not tried any external devices to test actual temp. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Pay attention to how long your smoker takes to warm up, and how it reacts to small adjustments to the vents. I know this sounds tedious and boring, but if this is your first time using your smoker, it is well worth the effort of taking notes. Next, check for leaks. Go for a wood like hickory or pecan, as standard oak will burn too quickly and not last the full 8 hours. Every day at wikiHow, we work hard to give you access to instructions and information that will help you live a better life, whether it's keeping you safer, healthier, or improving your well-being. This can as dangerous as it is infuriating. Other factors, such as fuel quality and weather may have an affect on the smoker's temperature. This is especially common among cheap, barrel-shaped smokers. Search for leaks if the temperature is inaccurate. Every few minutes, close your vents slowly. You can simply get a disposable fan and fill it with water. This will help combat overshooting. If your smoker tends to run too hot, leave it smoky and greasy inside. Windy day: work downwind or move the smoker next to a wall to shield it. Also make sure that you are using a dedicated thermometer. Lump charcoal tends to burn hotter and faster than coal briquettes. wikiHow's. Works like a charm, but the smoker temp just isn't reaching what I input. When it comes to outdoor smoking, there’s nothing more important than good temperature control. Firstly, check your charcoals. [Burning Questions], Wet Wood Chips vs Dry: Stop Soaking Your Wood Chips, How to Clean a Blackstone Griddle (The Easy Way), How to Put Out a Charcoal Grill (BBQ Tip). That's where a handheld thermometer comes in handy, even if it's a simple dial pocket thermometer. For example, if you need to replace the charcoal then try to refill your water pan and turn your meat (if needed) at the same time. It’s tempting to think that leaving both dampers wide open is your best way to feed your smoker. It can greatly increase the rate at which air enters your smoker, leading to a surge in internal temperature. The leaks typically occur around seams. Here’s how to regulate the temperature of your BBQ smoker. This is a tough one to answer because there are so many factors that could disrupt your smoker while you’re away from it. By now it should be clear that getting an accurate read on the internal temperature of your smoker is crucial to good smoking. Not reaching desired temps. Some smokers have built-in thermometers, but these can be off by 50 °F (10 °C). Still having trouble increasing airflow? Once you find them, seal them with gaskets or food-safe silicone. Just like with grills, smoker air vents play a crucial role in staying on … It will typically be cooler in thicker sections and hotter where it's thinner. On a nice warm summer day, you might find that your smoker has an internal temperature of around 100 F before a fire is even lit. Write down how long it takes for your smoker to reach the right temperature. The temperature will still rise, just at a slower rate. Not all fuel is created equal. It has an air probe that sits in the grill chamber near your meat, and measures the air temperature using this so that it can adjust if need be. Prop the lid open a little. This might seem like a lazy easy way out, but I love smoker controllers. Fortunately, it’s not hard to learn. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. This should give you a smoother decline in temperature without suddenly exposing your meat to thick smoke. Many modern BBQ smokers do come with inbuilt thermometers, but a lot of these have been proven to be unreliable and can even read up to 50F off the mark. Sometimes, that is all that you need to do. Regulating temperature in your smoker is crucial to perfectly cooked food. Maybe. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/72\/Control-the-Temperature-of-a-Smoker-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Control-the-Temperature-of-a-Smoker-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/72\/Control-the-Temperature-of-a-Smoker-Step-1.jpg\/aid9739190-v4-728px-Control-the-Temperature-of-a-Smoker-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"