I have an electric Meco smoker
with a dial that let's you
adjust the heat. In cooler
weather

I have a hard time keeping the
heat high enough especially on
windy days. I can get the

internal meat temp up to 170
(cooking butts) but then wrap
in foil and finish in the oven

to get to 190. Comes out great
but I would rather finish it
outside. I use lump and
hickory

chunks in the bottom next to
the element. I have tried
water in the pan, sand in the
pan,

empty pan. I suspect that
maybe my element might not get
as hot as it used to. My
question

is can I go with no pan at
all?



Ric in Rock Hill

"Ric" > wrote in message
...
> I have an electric Meco smoker
> with a dial that let's you
> adjust the heat. In cooler
> weather
>
> I have a hard time keeping the
> heat high enough especially on
> windy days. I can get the
>
> internal meat temp up to 170
> (cooking butts) but then wrap
> in foil and finish in the oven
>


Sorry about the haiku format. Hopefully I fixed it.

Ric

My Meco heating element slowly burned itself out and finally quit.
Replacement of that plus the cord approached fifty bucks. I bought the
charcoal pan Meco has for the same smoker, and it will get up to 225F, or so
but no more than that.
Save the $50 for downpayment on the WSM, the next time Amazon has a free
shipping offer. You SO will give you the balance if you if you can't save it
until then.

"Ric" > wrote in message
...
>I have an electric Meco smoker
> with a dial that let's you
> adjust the heat. In cooler
> weather
>
> I have a hard time keeping the
> heat high enough especially on
> windy days. I can get the
>
> internal meat temp up to 170
> (cooking butts) but then wrap
> in foil and finish in the oven
>
> to get to 190. Comes out great
> but I would rather finish it
> outside. I use lump and
> hickory
>
> chunks in the bottom next to
> the element. I have tried
> water in the pan, sand in the
> pan,
>
> empty pan. I suspect that
> maybe my element might not get
> as hot as it used to. My
> question
>
> is can I go with no pan at
> all?
>
>
>
> Ric in Rock Hill
>
>
>
>

"Kent" > wrote in message
news
> My Meco heating element slowly burned itself out and
finally quit.
> Replacement of that plus the cord approached fifty bucks.
I bought the
> charcoal pan Meco has for the same smoker, and it will get
up to 225F, or so
> but no more than that.
> Save the $50 for downpayment on the WSM, the next time
Amazon has a free
> shipping offer. You SO will give you the balance if you if
you can't save it
> until then.
>

Thanks for the advice and confirming my suspicions about the
element wearing out.

I hope to get a WSM in the next couple of months.

Ric in Rock Hill