Smoking Tri Tip on a pellet smoker... have a question.

2.5 lb tri tip. Gonna be gone for about 3-4 hours tomorrow. Gonna toss the tt on as I am walking out the door. If I set my Mak to smoke, how long (aprox) will it take to come up to an internal temp of 135. Smoke setting gives me a pit temp of about 170-180. Or should I set it to 200? Just need to make sure that it doesn't cook to fast.

Thinking of smoke while we are gone... knowing there is no way it'll hit 135 with Mak set on smoke... not within 3 hours at least... and then cranking it a bit when I get home... or better yet, finishing with a reverse sear.

Just looking for some experienced recommendations.

Thanks!

Have never fully smoked a tri-tip, because I like 'em a bit bloody...

Here's a pointer to a post from awhile back with pics and method I use(d) for tri-tip:
http://www.pelletsmoking.com/pelletsmoking-com-gallery-10/tri-tip-anyone-7743/

I think 3 or 4 hours will be too long, even in SMOKE mode, unless you want it to be well-done...

At 250 on our MAK it's about 2.5 hours. I think you'll be fine.

I have done a reverse sear on Tri tip with a 2 hour smoke. The IT at 2 hours of smoke (175F) on the MAK 2 is 112 to 115F. I think you will be OK at 3 hours (IT of 135F for me).

onionhead said:

I have done a reverse sear on Tri tip with a 2 hour smoke. The IT at 2 hours of smoke (175F) on the MAK 2 is 112 to 115F. I think you will be OK at 3 hours (IT of 135F for me).

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Your temps/times are kinda what I was guessing...thanks for confirming!