The Recap: Rec Tec Stampede RT-590
- Packaging - no visible or detectable damage.
- Assembly ~ 30 minutes. Just had to attach 4 legs, lower shelf, and 3 handles. 12 bolts total. Could do it in 10 minutes a 2nd time.
- Burn In - Manual recommended about an hour at 400 degrees. I decided to do yard work so I let it go closer to 2 hours.
- Cooks - Bacon, Tri Tip, wings.
Notes:
- I used Pit Boss hickory pellets which I believe are blended with oak.
- Took ~20ish minutes to hit 400 degrees for the initial burn in.
- Took only a few minutes to decrease to 300 degrees to cook the bacon.
- After the bacon I wanted to experiment so I shut the unit down completely for about 30 minutes.
- Linked my iPhone app with the cooker and my wifi. I followed the directions on Rec Tec's 3 minute youtube video for this. Piece of cake.
- Fired up the cooker set at 225 degrees and loaded the tri tip and wings.
- Achieved 225 set temp in ~10-15 minutes and produced a lot of pretty blue smoke. I determined it was proper blue smoke by watching videos about it and comparing it to my old stick burner videos. No question here.
Food:
- Bacon - followed recommendation of a fellow Pellet Fan poster and cooked it at 300 degrees on a cooking mat (Rec Tec brand frog mat) until done. I got distracted and overcooked it by just a few minutes but still fantastic.
- Tri Tip - 1.75 lbs. My first tri tip cook ever and only 2nd experience tasting tri tip. Seasoned with "Plowboys BBQ Bovine Bold". Smoked at 225 degrees until internal temp hit 130ish (a little less than 2 hours). Cast iron sear for ~2 minutes on each side. Delicious.
- Wings - wing drums marinated in Wishbone Italian salad dressing, then seasoned with "Meat Church The Gospel BBQ" seasoning. Smoked at 225 degrees for just under 2 hours (the tri tip was in charge of the set temp for this cook). Removed tri tip and set the temp at 400 to get a better crisp on the wings. Only took another 10 minutes to get them right. Dipped in "Mac's Speed Shop Red BBQ Sauce".
Delicious.
General Cooker Thoughts:
- I was happy with the speed it took to reach set temp.
- I like the app and did not experience any bugs in my limited use. I used my phone to turn the machine on and set the 225 temp.
- Actual temp stayed right on the money most of the time and never varied more than 2 degrees from set temp.
- Meat probe said the tri tip was 125 degrees when my Thermapen MK4 said it was 118 and then again at 135 & 128 respectively. Gonna need to address that meat probe if further experiences are similar. But it was my first time using the probe and the Thermapen.
General Food Thoughts:
- The bacon was awesome. But when is it ever not?
- Wings - let's just say that wings are back in style in my household!
- Tri Tip - a true revelation. This cut is new to me but I had to try it after all the positive posts on Pellet Fan. I'm a believer now and this will be a regular beef offering in our house for as long as I can get my hands on it. Just so delicious. Tender, juicy, flavorful, and very easy to handle.
Hope this feedback is useful. I know it was only one date, but I'm in love with this cooker.
