Pellets in hopper-leave or take out

[Pockets]

Just got my Myron Mixon Pitmaster Q3 smoker yesterday and went through the owners manual. Have also looked here and can't find the answer. Do you leave left over pellets in the hopper after the cook or do you take them out. I know it's probably a stupid question but I would like to know

 

[SoDakSmokerGolfer]

in my experience it depends... If I know I am going to be cooking again in a few days or a week then I leave them in if not then I clean the hopper out. The only issue you might run into is if they get wet or if there is a lot of moisture in the air. If they get wet, well that can be bit of a mess. They will swell up and turn to a powdery gunk. If there is a lot of moisture in the air then you might not be able to reach really high temps but they will still work.

Then again I have left pellets in the hopper for a month or so with no issue other than burning at higher temps (400+)

 

[scooter]

I've never removed pellets out of my hopper for any reason aside from changing the pellet flavor.

 

[Chili Head]

I've never taken pellets out either. It may depend on which cooker you have and if moisture can get inside the hopper.

 

[Big Poppa]

If you are not going to use it especially in the winter I highly recommend that you take them out....if you have ever had them get wet and turn into pellet crete its something you dont want to experience again

 

[Pockets]

Thanks for your answers. I live in the San Diego area and we don't have winter. We have 10 months of Summer, one month of Fall and 1 month where it might rain. I don't think moisture can get in the hopper and I also bought a good cover for the smoker.

 

[jimsbarbecue]

We live in So Cal and we don't regularly take pellets out of the MAK. If I know I wont be using it for awhile {month or more} I do use the pellet dump and empty the hopper

 

[BigKroth]

Like Scooter I really only take the pellets out of the hopper if I am changing favors. The one exception was for a week or two in May when we had a ton of rain in the Philadelphia area. I was sure that no water/ moisture would get into the hopper of the Memphis but I didn't want to take a chance.

Since the memphis doesn't have the quick pellet dump door like the MAK does I went to HomeDepot and bought a few 5 gallon buckets and a bucket head vacuum. The buckets are an excellent way to store pellets and the vacuum makes getting them out of the hopper a breeze.

 

[So Cal Smoker]

Hi Pockets, love your description of San Diego weather, I too live in San Diego (east county) and agree with Shooter change only for flavor, however, I have a covered patio and my MAK is always covered when not fired up. Good luck and good smoking.

 

[rangda]

I live in New England and the only time I've taken pellets out is when the grill sat for the winter (at which point I ran all the pellets out of the auger).