Merry Christmas and Best Wishes for the coming year for everyone!

Merry Christmas and best wishes all!

Hog Pen said in Meat thermometer?:

What have you guys used for meat thermometers, seem to keep going to hell… would like a multiple prong read out… what you got and where you get em?

THERMOWORKS!

I use the “Smoke” model and really like it. I have the original two-probe unit that is nearing 3 years of use. The other thermometers they offer are of similar quality I have the “POP” and “MK4” and would happily buy them again if they were stolen or were lost.

Thermoworks products are durable, high quality, and accurate. Catch one of their 20% off sales and thank me later!

For timing, I would say something pre-Thanksgiving for those of us wanting to take advantage of hunting season and the holidays to with any new skills we picked up.

For general topics: Seasonings, grind size options and reasons for them, sausage stuffer discussions along with casings, and animal breakdowns (whole hogs, beef primals).

Technique discussions for smoking and grinding are worthy topics as well.

Thanks guys! Good info in this thread.

As long as you use a thin layer of oil, you shouldn’t have any problems with seasoning or cleaning it (wiping it out). Thick oil or even a puddle will ruin the seasoning though so, be sure to pour off any excess oil and wipe it lightly with a paper towel if you apply a bit too much.

mikesr said in Rookie Questions on Smoker Sausage:

Thanks Joe1. That’s the system my research has led me to. It’s great to hear that it works as advertised. I thought about upgrading my smoker too. Only problem: it’s built in to an outdoor cook center and nothing else would fit. Sounds like the Auber Instruments is at least part of the solution. Thanks!

The older analog electric smokers can be problematic with temperature control. This doesn’t matter so much with butts, hams, etc. but, with more delicate smokes just doesn’t work well.

A small IVC (Insulated Vertical Cabinet) may fit in your fabbed in spot for the Cookshack. If take measurements, Humphrey’s from the NorthEast can custom build to fit your kitchen center. Backwoods is another possible solution.

The other option for this type of smoking is a cold smoker. You can always finish it off hotter and faster there or give it a quick blast in the Cookshack. Personally, for this type of smoke, I would start with one my WSM (Weber Smokey Mountain) where I can really throttle down for a slow smoke and then open up for a high heat finish. Craigslist and Letsgo is your friend here. I got a 14" and an 18" model both like new and gently used for $100 by watching the listings for one not being loved in someone’s garage or shed.

Austin said in Porch Pirates!!!:

I would recommend signing up for UPS My Choice.
https://www.ups.com/us/en/services/tracking/mychoice.page

For free, you get some good notifications on any shipments coming to your address. If you have a big problem with package theft, you can do more with the UPS service if you pay an extra fee, and then you have more controls on your shipments to control a few things. Including changing address, choosing specific days for delivery, change to a UPS Access Point for delivery (a much safer option than something left on your front porch), and all SurePost shipments (where USPS is the final delivery) get upgraded to Ground for free.

I know, sounds like an infomercial for UPS… I don’t pay for the “premium” version, but I definitely see the use case for certain people. I did sign up for the free version to easier track everything shipping to my house though.

I have both UPS and FedEx trackers active. Both update so slowly for me they are worthless. My relatives all INSISTED on sending gift cards and cash to me in the mail at my house mailbox. I did not get one single one! I also had a custom knife that cannot be replaced stuffed in my mailbox that would not close stolen. That one made a grinder look cheap in comparison. The mail carrier couldn’t even close the mailbox door so it was just sticking out of the mailbox for the first person to drive by. USPS would not cover insurance because they showed a GPS tracker delivery at the correct address.

Waltons really should allow PO Box deliveries or do signature confirmation.

In terms of powering a hand meat mixer, pulleys with a V-belt are pretty versatile and probably a bit easier to fab up then using something like a Pro-Cut grinder.

I live on a farm so, my perspective is probably a bit different from most people.

Tex_77 said in Porch Pirates!!!:

sidpost where do you live?

Rural East Texas between Dallas and Shreveport/Texarkana. The migration from Dallas and Houston out here has been significant and law enforcement has been stretched pretty thin with population growth outpacing law enforcement staffing. With that, financial criminals have followed to take advantage of the elderly and with that came drug use and property crime.

glen said in Pink salt for jerky?:

Your Weston should get up to temp in a hurry.
At 140F internal temp meat is pasteurized in 12 minutes and you still get more of a dehydrated and not a cooked flavor
You can store low salt jerky with a vacuum packer, just make small packs for quicker consumption
Didn’t mean to be condescending in any way, I just wasn’t aware of your experience level

No worries Glen! I appreciate your assistance as I’m new to Jerky making. At about $1 per ounce, I’m ready to try my own at this point in time. Plus, I’m a bit tired of the regular cuts of meat and want to try something a bit different for a while.

I’m up to my eyeballs in feral hogs and have a lot of beef in the freezer so, I’m looking at getting a grinder to make sausages I can’t get locally along with making some Jerky. A cold smoker is next as my stick burning offsets need to get some relief from constant use (them or the WSM’s). I’m looking to hang some hams and fish plus smoke some cheese. I might also try some cold smoke on some Jerky too.

Wow! I guess that is a much tougher grind than meat.

PapaSop said in Porch Pirates!!!:

marvsBBQ
I also have signed up with the USPS app. The one thing I can’t do with it is leave delivery instructions. They always leave it by the front door. Not good on a busy street. UPS and FedEx have that option.

Your best bet is to talk to your postal delivery person and let them know to put them behind the trashcan, behind the planter, etc.

My postal carrier leaves mine on my back porch steps.

Chef

I’m a beekeeper and had some hives by the far side of my house. One of the hives became really “HOT” as I suspect the Queen mated with an Africanized Drone. The bees are super sensitive to pheromones so I’m pretty good at not antagonizing them when they buzz me as I don’t get excited or scared.

A delivery driver would be unlikely to have this self-control and would likely be alarmed at the sight of bees setting off the chain reaction that leads to a bee attack so, I went into both the UPS and FedEx apps and put a note in for dangerous Bees at the front door and to use the back porch. Since then, UPS and FedEx have not been a problem and my packages are always waiting for me on the back porch steps! I also thank them in person when I see them.