Trying to get a steady 225 degrees on my offset smoker took me all Saturday

I was smoking a brisket in my backyard and thought I had the fire dialed in, but the temp kept swinging from 190 to 260. It took me about 7 hours of messing with the air vents and adding smaller wood chunks before it finally held steady. What's your go-to method for keeping temps stable on an offset?

2 comments

2 Comments

mason.paige13d agoTop Commenter

Ever think about the charcoal bed size? I found my swings happen when I let the coal pile get too small before adding more wood. I keep a deep, even layer of lump charcoal going and just lay a single split on top when I need more heat.

loganhart13d ago

Totally agree about keeping that base layer thick. I started measuring mine with a ruler like a weirdo and found two inches of coals gives me a solid hour of steady heat before I even think about adding wood. Lets me control the cook with just airflow most of the time. A thin bed turns into a frantic scramble to avoid a temp crash.