How to Use Pit Boss Smoker? Good Tips and Guides in 2024

How to Use Pit Boss Smoker? Good Tips and Guides in 2024.

The Pit Boss smoker is a popular brand of electric smokers. It has been around for more than 20 years and it continues to be a top-seller in the industry. There are many people who purchase Pit Boss Smoker and don’t know how to use it.

This blog post is going to be a guide on how to use Pit Boss smoker for beginners. We will go into detail about the best practices, what you need before using your pit boss, and different types of meat that can be cooked in a pit boss smoker. We hope this article has been helpful! Let’s read on!

1. What is a Pit Boss smoker?

The answer to this is simple, the Pit Boss Smoker is an electric smoker. It operates with electricity so there are no gas emissions. Also, it has a simple switch that you can use to activate or deactivate the heating element inside the machine. This makes it very easy for anyone to operate.

As said earlier, using your pit boss smoker requires certain preparations before actually cooking meat in it. So what do you need? Well, first of all let’s start with something that happens often; make sure you really have power supply to your smoker!

Usually, smokers are plugged into wall sockets, but beware because electricians might remove some of them during renovations and not inform people living on the house it (this has happened to me numerous times). So make sure the power is on before you try to run your smoker.

Secondly, don’t expect it to be like a gas smoker with heat and flames coming out of it. Electric smokers rely on electricity, so they can only produce smoke when there is something inside heating up the chips or chunks that generate the smoke (this will be explained later in this article).

What I am trying to say is that if you put some meat into a pit boss machine and do not plug it in, no smoke will come out. This is important because some people used to more traditional ways of smoking might think their machine isn’t working properly! Be careful about this issue.

You can see How to Use Pit Boss Smoker as below.

2. What are benefits of a Pit Boss smoker?

Compared to traditional smokers, this is a much more efficient way of smoking. You have very little fuel consumption and you can control the temperature easily. As said earlier, there are no flames inside a pit boss machine, so no propane is used either. Don’t worry about your meat being overcooked!

With an electric smoker, it isn’t too easy to overcook the meat because the heating element usually operates below 300 degrees Fahrenheit which guarantees that your food will stay tender and delicious.

We will introduce How to Use Pit Boss Smoker as below.

3. How many type of Pit Boss smoker in the market now?

There are three different flavors of the pit boss smokers – the original, professional, and extra large.

The Original Pit Boss smoker is one of their most popular products. It has a cooking capacity for between 20 to 40 pounds. It also has two adjustable cooking grates which allow you to cook in either small or big batches. If your family size is small then this should be suitable for you!

If you ever plan on having parties at home where you have lots of guests coming over, then maybe it would be wise to invest in a pit boss professional instead. The only difference with the regular Pit Boss is that this product has four full-sized adjustable racks so there’s more space for food! top of that, it also has a larger cooking capacity for between 50 to 100 pounds of meat.

This product is very popular among “big-time” grillers because it comes with 2 chrome-coated handles, one on each side. This means you can easily move it around your table by yourself!

The biggest Pit Boss smoker is called the Extra Large Pit Boss smoker. If you have lots of family members or friends that all enjoy smoking then this should be suitable for your needs. It has five full sized adjustable racks so there is even more space for food compared to the Pro version! Furthermore, it also has a huge cooking capacity which ranges from 150lbs up to 500lbs of meat at once!

The only downside about this model is that you need to have a power supply of at least 20 amps. If you only have 15 amps then I’m afraid this smoker is not suitable for your needs.

Electric smokers are getting very popular, especially the ones made by the Pit Boss brand because they are easy to use, efficient, affordable and best of all – there is no hassle with propane! Just plug it in and wait for about 4 hours until all your meat is smoked.

The technology behind it has also come a long way so there are more safety features involved which makes it even safer to use compared to traditional smokers! This review should be enough information for you to make the right decision! Good luck on choosing your new smoking machine!

There are steps on How to Use Pit Boss Smoker as below.

4. What we need to consider before buying a Pit Boss smoker?

When you are trying to buy a new smoker it can be overwhelming to look at all the different models and try to figure out which one is best suited for your needs. That’s why I have put together this article to help you find the right model that will satisfy your smoking cravings!

First of all, if you plan on smoking more than half a hog then it might not be wise buying the smallest Pit Boss model because there simply isn’t enough cooking space. On the other hand if your family size is small – go with the little guy! It has plenty of features most people would ever need and its low price tag makes it affordable for almost anyone who enjoys smoking meat or fish!

The regular sized professional version should be perfect for big families or big parties. It has four racks which gives you enough space to cook meat on all of them at once! This is my favorite model because I usually smoke at least 4 full chickens, 6 whole chickens or 8 salmon fillets so having extra room makes it easier for me.

The biggest pit boss electric smoker is the XL version which also comes with five racks. It has a huge capacity so if you do lots of gatherings and often need to cook large amounts of food at once then this one should be your best choice! You can get up to 500lbs of food inside it – that’s more than enough for 10 hungry guys!

When looking into buying an electric smoker it is important that you find out if the product you are about to purchase has a warranty. The Pit Boss smokers all come with 1 year warranty which means if anything goes wrong during that time period you can get it fixed for free!

The last thing I want to mention is the pellets used in electric smokers. Most people would agree that apple wood or cherry wood make the best flavored smoked meat compared to other types of pellets. A good rule of thumb is to go with the ones made using natural ingredients because they will let your food absorb their flavor more easily while cooking.

Please refer steps on How to Use Pit Boss Smoker as below:

5. Steps on How to use Pit Boss smoker.

Plug the smoker’s power cord into an outlet and wait for its digital display to come on. If you have a XL or XXL model then there will be four switches where you can choose between 150°F, 180°F, 200°F and 220°F. Choose your favorite cooking temperature and press the red POWER button to set it.

At this point your Pit Boss should be ready to smoke! Fill one of the water trays with about 1 inch of apple juice or other flavored liquid which will give off flavors as the meat cooks inside it. Use a foil tray instead if you want to prevent making a mess from any drippings from your food!

Place your meat on the top rack and make sure none of them touch each other to allow them enough room to cook all the way through evenly.

Add a handful of wood chips if you want to get that smoky flavor in your meat! Make sure they don’t touch the heating element and place them on top instead! Start up your smoker and enjoy how it slowly cooks your food while infusing it with its delicious juices!

The last thing I would like to mention is that once you have finished cooking everything inside it, make sure you turn off the power from its socket before unplugging it from the wall outlet. The Pit Boss electric smokers are the perfect choice for people who love smoked meats but don’t always have a lot of time during busy weeknights or weekends because they are so easy to use!

I hope you found this article useful and informative. If you have any other questions about the Pit Boss smokers please post them here and I will be glad to help you out!

6. How do you smoke on a pit boss pellet grill?

You can smoke on the pit boss grill by putting your wood chips right inside the tray. You can put them in there or wrap them up in tinfoil so they are easier to place inside it. Once you place these pellets over the heating element, your smoker will automatically give off that delicious smoky flavor even if you didn’t soak any of your chips!

It is nice to go ahead and pre-soak some chips before placing them into the machine but this is completely optional.

Pit Boss electric smokers come with a large capacity which is perfect for big gatherings like birthday parties, family reunions etc… But if your family isn’t very big then you might want to check out the Pit Boss Junior model which is just as good but has a smaller capacity. It can still fit up to 4 racks inside and smoke enough food for 12-15 people which is plenty if you ask me!

Above are steps on How to use Pit Boss smoker. Now, let’s see some tips and guides on How to use Pit Boss smoker as below.

Tips and Guides on How to use Pit Boss smoker.

1. How to clean a Pit Boss smoker?

You knew How to Use Pit Boss Smoker, now, let’s see how to clean it.

Cleaning your Pit Boss is pretty simple! Just open up the main compartment, wipe it down with warm soapy water and you are good to go! The ash pan can be emptied after each use to make sure there’s no leftover ash inside which might give off a bad taste in any pellets that are burned.

Cleaning out the drip tray isn’t as easy because your food will drip right through it into the bottom area which makes getting all that stuck on grease out of there pretty difficult. The best way to clean this part is by using aluminum foil and place it over the front lip of where this tray sits.

Your smoking meat will soak up all the juices from this tray if left over night! After removing them carefully, simply wipe the tray down and your smoker should be as good as new!

2. How to maintain Pit Boss Smoker?

Your Pit Boss smoker will need to be maintained just like any other kind of pellet grill. Make sure you empty out the ash pan after each use, check for any cracks in the machine, make sure all screws are tightly secured and you might also want to rub down your smoker with a special cooking oil or wipe down its exterior with some oil before using it next time!

This will help prevent rusting on parts where water can get trapped inside which is always a possibility when exposed to moisture!

3. Can I smoke salmon in Pit Boss Grill?

Yes, You Can Smoke Salmon in Pit Boss Grill. The most important thing about smoking salmon is that you need to use an alternative wood that has a very mild flavor and won’t overpower your fish. This is why I recommend using apple wood chips which are very mild and will give your food that extra delicious flavor it needs!

Simply place them into the tray just like you would with any other pellets and this machine will do the rest for you!

4. Does Pit Boss Grill work without electricity?

No, Pit Boss Grill doesn’t work without electricity. If you don’t have power in your home or outside area where you intend to use your grill then it cannot function well enough because even though there’s a heating element inside, if it doesn’t get enough juice from its power source than it simply won’t cook anything!

With no electricity, all these machines become pretty much useless so if you want one of these machines then make sure you have power where you are using it if you want top notch results!

There are steps on How to Use Pit Boss Smoker as above.

5. What wood pellets are best for smoking meat on a pit boss grill?

The best type of wood pellet specifically designed for cold smoking food is Alder followed very closely by Hickory. These two types of pellets will give off nice smoky flavors that will make your mouth water! There are many other types of wood pellets out there but these are the best for cold smoking/pellet smoking!

6. Does pit boss grill have temperature control?

Yes, Pit Boss Grill has temperature control. You can vary temperature on Pit Boss Grill from 100°F to 275°F which is very convenient if you’re not sure what kind of temperatures to set your machine at. There are some people who like their meat hotter than others so that’s why I recommend this setting because it gives you more freedom on adjusting the heat to suit your own personal tastes!

7. Some tips on How to Use Pit Boss Smoker.

If you need to check your meat or refill your wood pellets without opening the main cooking chamber then simply open up the lower access door instead. This allows you to reach inside with ease and see if there’s anything you might want to do without making a mess of things!

If you want to smoke some meat for more than 3 hours than it is recommended that you use apple wood chips because they are very hard, don’t produce any ash and they burn for much longer than other types of smoking pellet!

Read clearly and follow the instruction:

Always read the user manual that comes with your machine to understand completely how your Pit Boss works. If you feel like you would rather speak with customer service than reading, give them a call. They can help you out with any issues or questions that may arise when using your Pit Boss Grill!

If you want to get the best possible results from your Pit Boss Smoker make sure not to overload it! Keep in mind that these machines are all about versatility and making things easier for people of all kinds so don’t over think what you’re doing and just go on ahead and load up the machine without thinking too much into it.

Just get it all done, smoke some meat and enjoy life more because of these wonderful machines!

Don’t put off what you can do today.

Just take action and get your Pit Boss Grill in order to start cooking delicious meats like a professional pit master! It’s very likely that if you go without anything then you won’t be able to cook anything until tomorrow so why wait when you can do it today?

If I were you, I would just go ahead and get my hands on one of these bad boys so I could begin enjoying the life of smoking meat all day long! Life is way too short to not smoke any meat for even one single day so don’t hesitate, just grab yours now before someone else beats you to it!

8. Some Cooking Recipes for Pit Boss smoker.

You can refer How to Use Pit Boss Smoker then cook some foods as below recipes.

8.1. Beef short ribs:

Ingredients:

– Keilbasa sausage, cut into 1/2 inch slices.

– Italian sausage with Parmesan cheese.

Directions:  Start by removing the membrane from the ribs and then season them to taste. Apply a thin layer of mustard to each rib and set them into a roasting pan then bake for 25 minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

After that, give them some brown sugar all over both sides of it followed by chili powder on one side only. Close up your smoker completely and cook the ribs for 2 hours or until they are really tender. Next, glaze it with barbecue sauce before serving!

8.2. Chicken wings:

Ingredients:

– 3 lbs Chicken wings.

– Salt & pepper to taste.

Directions: Start by removing the wing tips and then cut the chicken wings in half. Set them into a roasting pan and season to taste before baking for 45 minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit . After that, use some cayenne pepper on all of it followed by brown sugar on one side only.

Close up your Pit Boss Grill completely and cook for 1 hour or until fully cooked through. Make sure you baste them with barbecue sauce once in a while during this time!

8.3. Pork chops:

Ingredients:

– 4 Pork chops with bone.

– Salt & pepper to taste.

Directions: Season the pork chops to taste and set them into a roasting pan. Bake for 30 minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit, then set your Pit Boss grill to smoke mode and cook for 4 hours or until tender. After that, glaze it with barbecue sauce before serving!

9. Common Mistakes on How to Use Pit Boss Smoker.

You knew How to Use Pit Boss Smoker as above guides. And there are some mistakes on How to Use Pit Boss Smoker as below:

Not reading or following the manual:

Don’t be stubborn and actually read your user manual to understand all of the ins and outs of how this machine works. It is very likely that you don’t realize all of the perks that come with using a Pit Boss Grill, but it’s good to know every little detail about them before using one, especially if it is your first time getting something like this!

You should always read the instructions on how to use these types of grills because they can make a huge difference in terms of safety and will also save you a lot of time when cooking delicious food by making things easier for you!

Overfilling the compartment with wood chips:

It may like over filling it won’t do much damage to the machine but in reality it can clog up all of the air vents and cause a lot of fumes and bad smells! Leaving these in there for too long or just when you start cooking can also give off toxic chemicals that will be harmful when consumed so it’s always good to keep an eye on how much wood chips you’re putting in at any given time.

Overfilling with water:

This is easily done by forgetting about the water compartment which will lead to a major mess, spilling over your food and wasting a ton of cooking fluids! If this happens, make sure not to use it until you clean up all of the spills because they can get wasted fast if spilled onto hot surfaces! Use a towel or an absorbent mat to clean off all of the spills and make sure you wipe it dry before re-using.

Using too much barbecue sauce:

While this provides an excellent flavor, applying too much or simply using a bottle filled with sugar can quickly ruin your food if not done properly! It’s important not to use bottles filled with anything other than pure barbecue sauce because they will only leave behind the ingredients that you don’t want when grilling your meat!

Not checking on them once in awhile:

You should always check on your meat every hour, whether it’s beef, pork chops, chicken wings or even keilbasa sausage so that it doesn’t burn easily and stay moist at all times! Check for how done it is so that you can adjust the cooking times if needed and apply more fluid to your machine every now and again by using a spray bottle filled with water.

Using heat deflectors:

This will make sure nothing burns but it’s also going to prevent the natural juices from dripping down onto the coals which will limit its flavor! You should always leave out this feature when making food because it might result in undercooked meat which you don’t want!

Not having enough room for circulation:

Your Pit Boss Grill can be a little crowded at times, especially when fitting larger racks of ribs or briskets in there but you still have to make sure everything fits before closing up completely! If any part of it gets flat against the front of the grill then it’ll get blocked by whatever is in its way and will cause more problems than you can imagine!

Not having enough ventilation:

This is important because if there isn’t enough airflow produced with your Pit Boss Grill, chances are your food won’t cook properly which is why it’s recommended to use aluminum foil when needed so that all of the vents are covered up! Sometimes even without covering them up completely they might not produce the right amount of heat or smoke so make sure to play around with these particular grills before using them again!

Forgetting about maintaining it after cooking:

It’s not hard to forget about what you have just used for cooking but only when it comes to taking care of it properly! Your grills should always be washed after using them so that all of the debris isn’t stuck onto the racks and drip pans, making sure to scrub them off with a damp cloth or any other cleaning supplies you have on hand!

After you’ve finished cleaning up, make sure to oil your cooking grates by applying high heat grill spray or even warm cooking oil before putting it away again.

Not disposing of ashes:

If your Pit Boss Pellet Grill is used for smoking then these particular ashes can act as lighters for starting fires which leads to burning everything inside of the machine. Make sure to dispose of ash into its own container once in awhile, like an empty coffee can that has been cleaned out beforehand!

If it doesn’t catch on fire while you’re using it then try cleaning out the feeding tray or even using a vacuum cleaner to suck up all of the ash that might’ve fallen into the machine!

Not having an adequate number of fans for airflow:

If your grill is smaller than other Pellet Grill Machine s, make sure to keep one fan at the bottom and another placed above it so that everything can get heated properly. This will make sure it cooks faster instead of slow cooking which should only be done during cold months when you don’t want to cook outside!

With this feature, you’ll avoid getting dry meat as well as burnt edges because both require proper heat from these appliances.

Using too much smoke flavoring:

This is another common mistake that grills make when using too much smoke flavor to cook their meat instead of doing it the right way, which means you should only use a little bit of it on your ribs for example. Once you’re done applying it on your food, let your grill burn off any excess that’s left over by turning up the heat to high and letting everything get cooked that way!

Not having all ingredients prepared beforehand:

Getting everything ready before cooking isn’t as hard as most people might think because there aren’t too many materials needed to do this properly. In some cases though, some might need an extra cutting board if they don’t want cucumbers or carrots falling into their BBQ Meat! Make sure to have everything ready beforehand, including the utensils you’ll be using for cooking as well as any extra seasonings!

Not keeping it hot enough:

If you aren’t keeping your grill at a strong heat then chances are your meat won’t cook properly which is why you should always keep it at medium high or even higher. This will make sure that all of the juices are sealed in instead of staying on top of the metal grates until they’re dry and hard to chew.

Once you’ve finished turning down the heat, make sure to open up every vent so that way all of its smokey goodness might escape into the air around us!

10. What are different between smoker and a grill?

A grill is a cooking appliance that cooks food over a heat source that uses the dry heat from wood or coal. In some cases, people use natural gas or propane as their fuel source to cook more quickly and evenly than with coals alone. A smoker box can be used to provide additional smoke flavor.

Generally speaking, grills have a single heat zone and incorporate a relatively small number of controls for adjusting cooking temperature within a given range.

Smokers produce smoke from burning wood chips or chunks, liquid smoke also can be used but liquid smoke will burn off quickly leaving the smoky flavor behind which is what we are looking for when smoking meats . With offset firebox smokers there is typically one opening on the end through which you stick the food while it is being smoked.

There are also less complex water smokers that have just one opening on the top where you place your wood chip box, and then some may not even have a dedicated wood chip burner but rather use an existing heat source like charcoal or propane to produce smoke. These types of smokers are easy to maintain at temperature (heat) once they are hot and running.

It takes some practice to properly set these up, but if done correctly can provide enough control over cooking temperature for more advanced cooks. There are things like Pit Barrel Cooker that use small exhaust ports which allow for some smoker dampers (controls) however they all work using the same concept of controlling airflow in relation to fuel combustion rate.

Smokers come in different shapes and sizes. The most popular shape is the bullet smoker which looks like a bullet. These are generally not insulated, but rather use direct heat from coals or flames to cook food. There are also box shaped smokers that use offset firebox coal chamber where you load your wood chips to generate smoke flavor during cooking process.

Other shapes include off set square firebox, Ugly Drum Smokers (UDS), Horizontal Smokers , Kettle Grills converted into smokers/grills, etc…

An important thing to consider when choosing between grills and smokers is “What kind of fuel will be used?” This will largely determine what type of equipment is necessary for smoking/grilling meat. If using gas then burner controls will be needed for temperature control during cooking process.

If using charcoal, the amount of coals is important so depending on this will determine if an ash pan or charcoal basket is needed to manage hot coals/ashes.

FAQs about How to Use Pit Boss Smoker.

1. Question: What is the best way to clean my smoker?

Answer: I would recommend using a stainless steel bristle brush and some soapy water. It should be safe to use on ceramic, as long as you avoid scratching it. Then rinse it with clear water and let it dry completely before plugging it back in.

If your cooking surface has any residue left over from previous cooks then I would recommend using something like onion juice along with the soap and water mixture. This will provide a little extra scrubbing power! Just make sure to only use high heat silicone gloves while cleaning to keep from getting burned or dropping your ceramic cooker!

2. Question: How do I know when the grill is hot enough for grilling?

Answer: You should always pre-heat your grill for at least 10-20 minutes before adding food. Ideally, you will reach a high temperature of around 350 degrees Fahrenheit while preheating for 20 minutes. The high heat is important because it helps to sear in the juices and protect against the formation of carcinogens (dangerous compounds that form when fat drips onto fire and causes flareups).

You can see How to Use Pit Boss Smoker as above.

3. Question: Does this smoker come with a cover?

Answer: Yes, Pit Boss 82400H 70-Inch Premium Cover comes standard with every unit we sell! We only carry the highest quality products available so you can be sure this cover will last a long time. It may seem like an odd accessory but it actually has an important role in outdoor cooking.

The durable fabric provides protection from the harsh sun and reduces cooking time in the winter months by reflecting heat away from your grill.

4. Question: Why do I have to soak my wood chips before using them in this smoker?

Answer: Wood chips are high in sap which can cause them to burst into flames when cooking, resulting in a burned flavor. Soaking the wood chips will allow much more control over smoke output but will take longer for it to reach optimal smoking temperature.

There are also other options like pre-soaked wood pellets or buying an electric smoking box . You should always read your manual for further instructions on how to use your specific unit.

5. Question: How long does it take to learn how to effectively run this smoker?

Answer: It takes practice! This is a skill that takes time to master and will require trial and error. We recommend practicing with ribs first as they are difficult to cook properly but very easy to eat! These smoke great and can be turned out with minimal effort during practice runs. You should also read your manual for different smoking techniques that may work better on different meats.

There are steps on How to Use Pit Boss Smoker as above.

6. Question: How do I know when the meat is done cooking?

Answer: There are multiple methods of testing for doneness on smoking/grilling meats. One popular method is to press your fingertip on the thickest part of the meat. If it feels like a soft pillow then it’s not ready, but if you can feel some resistance then give it another 10 minutes or so.

You can also use a thermometer to measure internal temperature or look for visual cues that indicate doneness. For example, with chicken it should start to turn white while grilling and have no pink near the bone.

7. Question: What’s the difference between charcoal smoking & gas?

Answer: Gas grills are much easier to control when smoking because they typically maintain a constant temperature. Charcoal grills are more difficult to control but do provide a smokier flavor that some people prefer. For beginners, it’s best to experiment on your own and see which type of grill fits your style better.

8. Question: Does the Pit Boss Wood Fired Pellet Grill have an automatic wood pellet feeding system?

Answer: No, but you can purchase the Auto-Feed Smart Smoke accessory separately . While this product is not compatible with our unit it may be helpful for other brands on the market. This device will hold about 20 lbs of smoker pellets at any time so you don’t have to refill during long smokes!

Conclusion.

Pit Boss Smokers are an excellent choice for people who want to smoke meat without having to invest in a large smoker. They are easy to use, offer the flexibility of smoking with wood chips or pellets, and can be stored away easily when not in use due to their small size.

This guide will help you better understand How to Use Pit Boss Smoker, with tips on getting started and maintaining a consistent temperature throughout all of the cooking process. You’ll also find useful information about what utensils are best for smoking meat or poultry as well as some helpful cleaning instructions at the end of this article. We hope it helps! Thanks for reading!

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