Smoking in the Winter

I haven’t done much smoking in the winter during colder temps. Ive read that electric smokers can have trouble getting up to and maintaining temperatures. I happen to have both an electric and a propane smoker. I much prefer using the electric as, well, its a higher end model compared to the propane and its easier to work with. For those of you with experience smoking in the winter would I be saving myself some headaches by just using the propane smoker or are there some methods whereby I could still use the electric smoker effectively?

I’ve used my Bradley in the winter before…it kind of sucks not goin to lie…seems to take twice as long bc it just doesn’t hold a decent temp…wrapping a blanket of some sort around helps but I ended up running a chimney through the garage so I could use it in the winter

I’ve got the awful answer, it depends. You need to experiment.

Type of fuel may be less important than insulation, temp range, fuel delivery, wind, ambient temp, which model, etc. All the gear is different and has different optimum temp ranges.

Also if you open it to foil or mop, can the smoker recover? How long to recover?

From the pellet grill world I’ve seen people put insulation over it. Welder’s blankets or something similar. Might help extend the range.

When I used an electric model in the winter keeping heat in it was always a challenge. I made a plywood box about five inches wider on all sides and taller and glued some foil faced foam board [foil facing to the inside] to the inside walls. This box would slide over the smoker and a simple plywood cover went atop of everything. The cover had a couple paint stir sticks at each corner and the same sticks went at the corners at the bottom to allow for decent draft yet heat was kept inside pretty well. Your biggest enemy in the winter is draft from cold wind/breezes so if you can keep those at bay your smoking will go pretty good. This whole thing didn’t weigh but maybe ten pounds and was simple to slide down over the smoker when it began to put our smoke and taking it off to check things was just as easy. I think I had about 20 bucks in this rig and it made all the difference in the world when it was cold out.

The Masterbuilt 30″ digital electric I have works surprisingly well in the winter. The key is to keep the wind from pounding on it and to keep it closed as much as possible as it takes a while to heat up. For me, it generally produces a little more smoke as the heating element is pretty much always running. A good wireless thermometer or a wired one through the vent is important.

Did a turkey in my master built 40” for thanksgiving this year. Granted not cold cold like we get in deep winter but I think it was about 20 degrees. Maintained ~265 when set at 275 max temp and running my A-Maze-In Pellet smoker inside. That usually adds 10 degrees to cabinet temp.

I plan to do more deep winter testing with it but so far I’m pleased.

Like others have said though, keeping it shut as much as possible and keeping it sheltered will make a big difference.

Love brady’s Chimney idea. Totally have to do that!

Thanks for all of the suggestions and insight fellas. Sounds like I need to do some testing. Think I’ll smoke some scallops tomorrow at 180 and see how well it does. if it does ok then maybe ill try some higher temp items or just switch to the propane

Smoker blankets also help a lot if you have a cheap, non insulated smoker. My electric is dual wall insulated SS and holds temps easily in single digit weather.

http://www.smokin-it.com/

Smokers that have a low max temp range to begin with will struggle in really cold temps if not insulated. Propane at least has the advantage of being able to crank the heat to overcome some weather but you will be busy stoking the wood box.

I have a Bradley and have smoked a lot of trout in the winter. I built a three sided box out of plywood with a top to hold the heat in and wind out. Seems to work ok.

Used my 30″ masterbuilt electric Sunday morning for a brisket, no problem.

I used my masterbuilt sportsman electric on Sunday for smoked mac and cheese and the temps were single digits. It held at 275 no problem and it wasn’t even out of the wind. I think the key is keeping the door closed as much as possible.

I have smoked in -5 degrees @ 225 degrees and didn’t have a problem. (I have a smoker similar to SuperDave’s) I did have a problem making jerky at that temp cooking at 125 degrees. The internal temp was not warm enough to do the job. My jerky on the bottom was well done and top raw. About 2 hours into the jerky I heard a loud bang. The meat vanished on the top rack by the chimney. I am guessing that the smoke didn’t stay warm enough to make it out and the pressure built until it blew.

Smoked a chicken to make quesadillas for the game on Sunday.

I’ve got a Kamado Big Joe. Took a little longer to get to temp and had to open the vents a hair more. Otherwise, once it got to temp it didn’t matter that it was winter.

Buddy smoked 5 racks of ribs for the Super Bowl on his Traeger and they turned out great. He started them at 9:30 am and took them off around 6:00. He just placed the grill so that it wasn’t getting much wind blowing on it and held his temp right where he wanted it.

I’ve got an electric Cookshack. Never had a problem in the winter regardless of outside temp. If you preheat the smoker, no changes. If you don’t, it may take a few minutes longer to get up to temp as it is probably starting 50 or more degrees colder inside.

Attachments:

1. 

   CCFB5A3D-3440-4212-A916-C56B0B28023E.png
   

I’ve taken the box that a hot water heater comes in and put over the smoker before. This helps a lot. My buddy also does this now and puts it over his charcoal smoker and it works great for him. He doesn’t even vent the box.

I use my Masterbuilt electric all year long. It doesn’t have issues holding temp at -5. I’m sure it’s working hard though!