British BBQ Society Forums

I am actually struggling to get the temp over 160f at the moment using heat beads and the minion method for lighting, it just will not get to 225f not matter what i do!?

I just dont get what I am doing wrong? I have even resorted to putting firelighters on top of the heat beads

I have just put 3 Heat Beads fire lighters underneath the full fire basket and it seems to working a little better. I think that although the beads in my chimney starter looked like they were ready, maybe they were not.

I do know however that the temp gauge on the top of the Frontier is a pile of poo!!! I need to find a cheap temp probe somewhere?

I'm no expert with heat beads or your smoker, but if you are struggling to get temps up with all vents open, I'd try adding more lit coals. Doesn't look like you have tons on there.

robgunby wrote:I'm no expert with heat beads or your smoker, but if you are struggling to get temps up with all vents open, I'd try adding more lit coals. Doesn't look like you have tons on there.

I think you are right, the coals that i did put on were not hot enough. I have since put three fire lighters underneath the coals and once burned out and left for 10 minutes it is now up to 240f! I also emptied out a lot of the water in the bowl and added a clay brick, Im not sure if that did anything but its working now.

The fire basket is full, it may not look it from that angle but its up to the brim, this is only my third attempt at smoking, the last one being a miserable failure!

The meat is on and I am a happy camper!

If you are using water in the pan make sure it is boiling hot from the kettle when you put it in.

Use a higher ratio of lit to unlit coals if your fire basket is full.

I'd personally avoid using firelighters. Coals should be blisteringly hot when they come out of a starter (dunno if this is different with heat beads)

The water was from the kettle but I think the coals werent hot enough for the full basket, Im not sure but this is twice now that the heat beads initially havent been hot enough. I think it could user error though!

I use heat beads pretty much exclusively these days and I will start my WSM with about 2/3s of a small chimney starter for the minion method. From putting a fire lighter under the chimney to starting the Q is a good 30-45min process as I like the coals to be white hot through before I drop them into the unlit coals.

Patience is definitely a virtue in Q'ing.

I have a Pro Q Frontier and do not trust the lid thermometer. Mine is usually 50-75degrees out from my maverick.

Ive just started using heat beads and struggled to get the temps down to 250f
I have to say im liking the heatbeads, long burns and quite stable temps when at desired temp