r/OklahomaJoe

New to smoking but not grilling in general. Recently received the OK Joe Highlander as a gift and feeling a little intimidated lol. Any good tips for getting started using it?

I’ve done a couple cooks on it so far, just starting out with chicken but having trouble holding temp. I feel like I’m putting splits in every 5ish minutes.

SN: read some reviews and watched some vids on recommended mods. Went with the gasket tape to help hold in heat along with the lava lock clamps and got a dual probe TempPro for monitoring temp. Planning to get the baffle/tuning plate soon.

Used full basket of lump charcoal with 3 tumbleweed starters to cook 2 beef ribs and 2 short beef ribs. Initial temps 250f and adjusted dampers to maintain 225. Took about 2-2.5 hrs to finish and was amazed as my previous set up of a hacked grill took 6 hours with a fight to maintain temps. I placed a small drip pan on the deflector which started half full and ended 1/4 full with beef juices. I think it reinforced the seasoning in the beef as everyone said they tasted more flavorful. Thanks for all the advice as I’d been lurking and garnered tips before the smoke.

Kids pitched in and got me a smoker for father's day, me and my oldest sons first time using smoker for tri tip

My grandfather gifted me his old Oklahoma Joe Highland Smoker and MAN this thing is awesome! It holds heat so well and I only had to add a bit more charcoal after about 2 hours of consistent heat.

It was in rough shape when I got it, but I wire-brushed it and applied high temp paint, changed out a broken dial, added grill gasket, and am looking for new spring handles. Any reccs?

I made the best chicken yet. I didn’t realize how much I was actually struggling on my previous Char-Griller Smokin Champ.

Before and after, with a Chicken pic of course.

Picked up this rack from Walmart. Smoked on my Oklahoma Joe around 300°-315°. Just Zavala’s Beef Rub from BBQDistro.com. Best heavy pepper rub I’ve found, and trust me buddy, I have looked

Used the hanging method with the baffle plate. Next time I’ll try without. They turned out great.

I added a 32” smoke stack and definitely a game changer. Using a 14” vortex plate from Hunsaker.