Very slow getting heat up to preset temp

I have a Traeger, not a Pit Boss, but assuming they work on the same theory, you generally want to smoke at 225-250. The "smoke" setting is usually much lower than that (for smoking cheeses and such). Once you set your temp, your auger will feed pellets into your fire box on a timed cycle determined by your heat setting or thermostat. So you'll actually only see smoke every once in awhile.

I have smoked pork roasts and shoulders for years. Even a small rear end (real word is profane on Fixya) roast needs about 6 hours at 180 degrees to get the smoke flavor deep into the meat. I typically smoke a small roast 10 hours. As for less smoking, and finishing in a slow cooker, this will work and is more convenient, but you sacrifice the amount of smokey taste. I have switched to electric smokers, as it reduces the work dramatically (not the time - just the labor). Good ones are thermostatically controlled.

This is a common complaint about Traeger grills. Some people have resolved it with smoke pipes which contain pellets that smolder during the cooking process.

Others use different pellets than Traeger pellets but they void their warranty when they do. For me, Traeger pellets seem to put out enough smoke at the low temperatures I use (less than 200 degrees) but if I get above 200, the smoke goes sway.

When I cook pork shoulders, I try to keep the temperature at 180. In ideal conditions the Traeger will fluctuate between 160 and 200, averaging 180. If I can maintain this low-slow cooking temp-speed, I get a good smoke ring and decent smoke flavor.

If I get above 200, I lose much of the flavor but usually have a smoke ring though not as intense as at the lower temps. There are lots of conversations about this on blogs at the Traeger website and at the Pelletheads website.

There are you tube videos. I temporarily take daisy vent cap off top of egg, open bottom vent door wide open, light lump coal 2-3 spots with a loof lighter (from ace hardware) and then close lid. I have one section of galvanized dryer vent from Lowes that I stick on top which accelerates preheating of egg. Once the temp gets to 500, I remove the section of vent by grabbing it with a glove or hotpad. Wait a minute or two for smoke to die down. Place daisy back on top and close bottom vent door down to 1/2" and close daisy 1/2 on top and this should drop temp to 175-250. Use fine adjustments 1/6-1/8" until desired temp is reached. Your food can go on at any time after removing dryer vent. Just burp lid by slightly lifting to allow any heat burst to escape. I also have a gas conversion that works awesome. I just add a small smoke ox over burner that provides enough smoke on front end of cooking process. Advice- keep the butts and ribs on for 6 hours.

Temperatures on the Big Green Egg are controlled by opening or partially closing, the dampers on the bottom side of the grill and the top of the grill lid. The more open, the more air gets to the coals and heats the up. Partially closing the dampers lowers the temp.

Keep in mind, the grill thermometer may be faulty. Try setting an oven thermometer (like the kind used in a regular kitchen oven, that sits on the oven rack) on top if the grill grates, when you're preheating the grill with the lid closed.

Hope this helped you to troubleshoot and solve the problem. Happy Grilling!

Low and slow is always best for smoking.

Depends on how many pounds you're smoking, as well as are they pork or beef? Country style or Baby Back? And how much smokey flavor to you want?

Baby Back Pork Ribs require the least amount of time, as they don't have as much beat on the bones as Country Style Beef ribs Never-the-less, my own personal theory of smoking meats is "Low and Slow." "Low" meaning no more than 225 to 250 degrees. "Slow" meaning at least 2 to 3 hours for Pork Baby Back Ribs. 4 to 6 hours for Beef Country Style Ribs.

The first 30 minutes to an hour time the crucial for smoking. That's when the fibers or the meat are most open and will absorb the most smoke. After that, you're basically slow cooking for tenderness.

Always wait until the last 30 minues to brush or mop on any BBQ sauce.

Seasoning the ribs prior to smoking is very important. Whether you use a dry or wet rub. The choice is yours. Once the rub is applied, warp it tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Over night is better. Take the ribs out of the frig, unwrap them and allow them to come to room temperature before placing on the smoker. That way, the meat fibers will open some.

Once on the smoker, DON'T PEEK! Every time you open the lid, you loose smoke and heat. You want to try to maintain that 225 - 250 degrees without loosing it and having to bring the smoker back up to temperature.

Once you remove the ribs or any kind of meat, for that matter, let it rest for at least 5 minutes before cutting it. That way, you won't loose all those delicious juices.

The weekend is not that far off, so start planning now and enjoy the fruits of your labors, this weekend.

Hope this helps to get you started. Please let me know how they truned out. Or better yet, send me a sample to taste. :-)

Oh boy another one who will soon have the bug. lol No, soak the chips and place them in the chip pan. As they burn down you can add more soaked chips if you like a more smokey flavor which I do. Maintain your temp at around 225. Pork butts will take 1 1/2 to 2 hours per pound.

Now that have the bug do a search on smoker forums. There is a wealth of knowledge and help available on the subject.

I hope this helps and good eating!

The unit will not turn on if the internal temp sensor is below 40 degrees. Warm it with a hot rag or hair dryer, or bring the unit inside to warm up and it will turn on. Once the unit turns on for a minute or so, it will work fine outside.

This isn't the ideal solution, but it will work. I don't know why they don't want the smoker to turn on when it is cold out (unless they are worried that the quick change in temp will damage the heating coil).

I notice you have an offset smoker. The idea is to get the coals going in the firbox (the smaller circular chamber). The heat from the coals will rise into the main smoking chamber (the large circular chamber) where the food is.

It is difficult to keep your temp set right (about 250) when smoking ribs, brisket or pork **** on a less expensive offset smoker. I don't know what kind you have but it looks like a Brinkman or Charbroil. I'm not being snobby about this as I have a Silver Smoker myself ($185 at Menards).

The solution is to modify it. Search the web for terms like "smoker mod/s". You should be able to find directions on inserting a heat deflection plate, extending your smoker pipe, even adding bricks to the bottom of the smoker chamber to hold the heat. Good luck.