Any tips appreciated to avoid temp spikes on Joe Jr when doing low and slow 250f. I have a Charcole basket, I use Smaller pieces of Lump and I add the cast Iron grate back in to limit air flow. I can achieve 250f, the problem occurs when opening even though momentariky to remove and wrap short ribs and then add back in . I open and remove and close 15 seconds max and the same for adding back in.
by Sean37160554
4 Comments
Be sure to take a mental note of your bottom vent and close it up before you open, then re-establish your setting after you close the dome back up. Spikes are always going to tend to happen, especially in a smaller volume of space like the Jr., when you open because of that big rush of air you’re giving the fire. Really try to minimize the time you’re leaving it open too, and have a plan of attack for those moments.
The Jr is too small to avoid temperature swings when opening the lid. I would advise removing the basket during smoking low to lessen the airflow and swings
You get accustomed to these short spikes on the Jr and you anticipate the fluctuations. Closing the bottom vent when popping the lid works, sort of, by limiting available air to just what’s coming down from the grate. The reason I don’t bother is my bottom vent is only open 12-18mm. I do not think that’s going to make much difference compared to the volume of air flowing in because the lid is open. Fluctuations on my Jr are much less noticeable when I’ve got the deflector in place because there is only about 15mm gap all around and that seems to reduce inflow. But I’m just guessing. Maybe you could find a pizza stone that is slightly larger in diameter or find another way to reduce the gap beetween the deflector and the shell.
I don’t think anyone has performed experiments to track the effects on the bed of opening the dome. We hear “looking isn’t cooking” often but that aphorism does not apply to ceramics that have reached saturation. That is, closing the dome restarts radiant heat immediately. The opposite is true: opening the dome allows a huge inflow of oxygen that will accelerate combustion, however briefly.
Definitely don’t use a basket for anything below 400F. You’re just wasting charcoal at that point. Plus with Jr, it’s tough to keep it even as is. But the stock plate will help. A lot.