Vertical smoker...meat got covered with ash

[RR_Fisher]

Good day all, this is the first time I've posted here and am at a lost of why this happened. I've smoked multiple times on my Pitboss series 5 vertical smoker without incident. However, this time I wanted to smoke a piece of meat in the smoke position until internal temp reached 120. Once the meat reached 120, I wanted to baste the meat and saw that the outside skin was covered with ash. Would anyone know what could have caused this? It wasn't windy, wasn't cold. My only guess was that I used a different type of pellet (Mastercraft - cherry). Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!!

 

[Mike From R.I.]

Hello, it might be the pellets. I have the PBV4PS2 and never saw any ash on my food. Bear Mountain I use.

 

[RR_Fisher]

Thank you, that was my thinking. Walmart in my town was out of pitboss brand pellets and I had to settle for something different. Just needed another opinion.

 

[Mike From R.I.]

Lowes carries Pit Boss.
Tractor Supply carried Bear Mountain.
Disk's sporting goods carries Lumberjack.

 

[RR_Fisher]

Thanks, no local Lowes but a tractor supply. I'll try bear mountain next time.

 

[Steve In Pa]

Something to keep in mind. Post back here on your next smoke with another brand pellet and how that did.

 

[Cowboy1955]

Use a colander to sift out dust before loading hopper. I sift them over the trash can before loading. Keep extra clean pellets in a air tight container to keep out moisture