Yoder Smokers Community Forum

We have had many requests to provide training on the Yoder Smokers cookers. Along with this, we field thousands of support calls from around the world on usage and performance. The articles below were created to fulfill the questions and comments we have compiled.

YS480 and YS640

Part 1 - Introduction to Yoder Smokers: viewtopic.php?f=62&t=1920

Part 2 - Grate temperature, suspended air temperature and the effects of metal objects placed in the cooker: viewtopic.php?f=62&t=1921

Part 3 - Yoder Smokers factory temperature test and measuring temperatures with meat in the cooker: viewtopic.php?f=62&t=1924

Part 4 - Follow up to Part 3 showing the dramatic difference of proper placement for Fireboard ambient temperature probes in the cooker: viewtopic.php?f=62&t=1927


YS1500

Part 1 - Introduction to Yoder Smokers: viewtopic.php?f=62&t=1920

Part 2 - Grate temperature, suspended air temperature and the effects of metal objects placed in the cooker: viewtopic.php?f=62&t=1939

Part 3 - Yoder Smokers factory temperature test and measuring temperatures with meat in the cooker: viewtopic.php?f=62&t=1941

Part 4 - Follow up to Part 3 showing the dramatic difference of proper placement for Fireboard ambient temperature probes in the cooker: viewtopic.php?f=62&t=1942

This should be very useful to new owners. Great job Herb.

Yoder_Herb wrote:We have had many requests to provide training on the Yoder Smokers cookers. Along with this, we field thousands of support calls from around the world on usage and performance. The articles below were compiled to fulfill the questions and comments we have compiled.

Part 1 - Introduction to Yoder Smokers - viewtopic.php?f=62&t=1920

Part 2 - Grate temperature, suspended air temperature and the effects of metal objects placed in the cooker: viewtopic.php?f=62&t=1921

Part 3 - Yoder Smokers factory temperature test and measuring temperatures with meat in the cooker: viewtopic.php?f=62&t=1924

Three great articles. Thank you.

Great articles. I'm guilty of foiling my heat deflector AND putting an aluminum cookie sheet on top of the foil (below the lower grates). I've learned where my hot spots are and realize that I'm probably messing up the designed heat distribution.

My question, would you recommend just running the heat shield "naked"? If so, how you recommend cleaning up the deflector? I can't stand starting up any cooker with gunk from the last cook. I feel like scraping with a putty knife wouldn't be good enough. Just curious about your thoughts on cleanup of the deflector.

Thanks, Herb.

patrickd26 wrote: My question, would you recommend just running the heat shield "naked"? If so, how you recommend cleaning up the deflector? I can't stand starting up any cooker with gunk from the last cook. I feel like scraping with a putty knife wouldn't be good enough. Just curious about your thoughts on cleanup of the deflector.

If you are worried about cleaning your Yoder, I recommend you cook in foil pans. I do most long cooks in pans and the difference between panned and non panned is negligible in my opinion. You can also buy small wire racks to use in the pan if you want some air circulation under the meat, but I really don't see much of a difference.

A cleaning with a putty knife or griddle scrapper is all you need. The residual drippings will burn off while you are preheating the grill.

I scrape mine with a 4" taping knife. The 350 startup will burn most everything off. Never put anything in the cooker until it has stopped puffing smoke from the burn off.

Do I remove the heat management plate on my YS1500 when using the searing grates

Gnsolman1 wrote:Do I remove the heat management plate on my YS1500 when using the searing grates

Yes, the left side HMS plate must be removed to properly use the optional grill grates.

Thanks Herb I found it in the Operation Instructions after I posted the question

This helped me a lot. I was looking for this.

This was very helpful information, I can see I need to change the way I start up my YS 640. Thanks for all your hard work and input for us.

Thanks! This is awesome.

Thanks you for sharing great information. I love cooking on Yoder Grill.