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Just got my first smoker -- Electric Smoker requires Finishing in Oven

by Robert
(Pasadena, Calif. USA)

Just got an electric smoker. Should I use water every time I smoke or just with certain foods? Also the book that came with the smoker said to finish off ribs pork and beef in the oven. Can I just leave it in the smoker long to complete cooking?

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Just got my first smoker -- Electric Smoker requires Finishing in Oven

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starstarstarstarstar 		water in smoker
by: keeper

in response to your question about h2o in the smoker, I ALWAYS make sure I have water in my electric smoker, it makes the meat so much more moist.
I usually try to finish the meat in the smoker if possible unless the weather is bad.
Sometimes I'll wrap the meat in foil and put it back on the smoker or if it is a long cooking piece such as shoulder or a beef brisket I may finish it off in the oven overnight at around 250-275 with a pan of water below it.
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starstarstarstarstar 		Why Finish Smoke Meat In the Oven?
by: Bill

Unfortunately, it's really important with your smoker to do what the manual says and finish those meats in the oven. Most likely your smoker is a Luhr Jensen Big Chief or Little Chief smoker, but if not it must be similar.

Those smokers are designed to cook at a lower temperature than standard smokers, and while perfect for smoking fish and jerky, just don't have the heat and power for smoking meats, like ribs, briskets, hams and such. The low temperature would require too much time in the smoker to finish. The extended time would place the temperature of the meat in the "danger zone" range of 40 to 140 degrees, for too long of a time. Bacteria thrives in the danger zone, so there's more chance the meat could cause someone to get sick, especially if it weren't fully cooked.

Big Chief smokers have a thermostat that keeps the smoker temp at 170 degrees, on a calm, 70 degree day. It's manufacturer insists that larger meats are only flavored with smoke in the cooker, then finished in the oven. Your smoker, if not one of the Chief models, must be of similar design.

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