Yoder Smokers Community Forum

Posted this on Facebook and no real,answer so I am asking the expert.
Cook,started with totally cleaned firebox and all pieces properly seated and seals proper

Question on Cherry Pellets..

Had an unusual experience on my Yoder 1500 yesterday.

I was cooking some ribs and tried to use BBQ delight Cherry for the cook.Found that the smoker was unable to get above 250. I suspected the humidity had caused the pellets to not burn hot enough. I changed over to lumberjack Hickory and temp immediately went back to where it should have been. What is odd is that both pellets were stored in their bags and in sealed buckets to prevent the humidity problem. I plan to only mix in some cherry for flavor. Is it possibly the case that a cherry pellet does not have enough thermal capacity to drive my smoker to 275 ? seems impossible so asking if anone has similar experience or am I looking at a humidity issue despite the sealed bucket.

Only,other thought was feed rate somehow impacted and cleaning and refilling there hopper alleviated that.

I use a 50/50 mix of BBQR's Delight pecan and cherry exclusively, and have never had an issue like you have described. I have also tested the BBQR's cherry pellets for burn rate and for maximum temperature potential, and have found them to perform like the bulk of the other BBQR's flavors, excellent burn efficiency over a given time period at a specific temperature, and able to achieve a 600+ temperature without issue.

The BBQR's pellets are 2/3 oak and 1/3 flavor wood, i.e., cherry, pecan, hickory, etc.. The consistency of the BBQR's pellets come from the oak base, which provides the constant BTU potential, with the flavor wood adding the specific species flavor and smell when burning.

If you were using a 100% cherry pellet, as with most all other 100% species wood pellets, you will consume more over a given time period, with much more temperature fluctuation because of the BTU potential difference from species to species of wood. If the pellets contain bark, these variables can become even worse and cause performance and consumption to suffer even more.

Yes, I believe that you have experienced pellet moisture contamination, which would explain your described issue. You may have properly handled and stored the pellets while in your possession, but, what has transpired before you took possession? How long were they in someone else's possession, how were they stored, etc.. If you buy pellets from a store a bag, or a few bags, at a time, never buy pellets that have been stored directly on the floor or against an outside wall.

Thanks Herb.. Probably Just one of those things..Cook went off fine..

Wont the pellets yield the moisture over the winter when humidity goes down?..

The potential is there, yes. But in my experience, once they have become moisture contaminated, it is best to cut your losses.

BTW - I have yet to find any pellet brand or flavor that performs anywhere close to the BBQR's Delight pellets. You burn less, the heat is super consistent, and they are the right size and length.