1st Time - Jalapenos to Chipotles (Updated - Done)

[MacEggs]

These pics are from last September.  Smoked Scotch Bonnets, Chocolate habs, and maybe some Trinidad Scorpions.
I didn't grow any this year.  Started out ... then got nothing.  Anyway, crappy weather this summer - not very hot.

My intention was to grind into dust after smoking.
So, I butterflied the peppers just to give it more grill retention .. not falling thru. Some shrinkage ..
This was my first time doing this.  They turned out nice and crispy, so grinding was no problem.
I thought I would have to finish them in the dehydrator, but didn't have to.

These were done on my mini UDS, so those are SJ grates. Three levels.
I think the temperature ranged in the 180-220° range.

[1buckie]

Keith, thanks for the extra encouragement and expertise.  GREAT (grate!) tip on flipping a JJ grate for extra capacity. 

One (dumb) question I have is about halving the peppers...  I've usually tried to leave them whole, but noticed that Keith and Terry slice them in half.  Is that to expedite the drying process, or to enhance smoke retention, or both?  I was thinking about stringing up my peppers and hanging them from my fancy new hanging rack in the 18.5 WSM, but will I have a hard time getting them dry enough that way?

String 'em up & hang 'em high, Mike......Chile Ristras

http://www.nps.gov/petr/historyculture/chile.htm

[landgraftj]

Slicing them in half creates more surface area...dries faster and collects smoke. So I've been told...

[OoPEZoO]

Slicing them in half creates more surface area...dries faster and collects smoke. So I've been told...

+1.....I dry my cayennes every year by just hanging them out to air dry, but they are a thin pepper without much flesh. For the jalapeños, I was afraid they wouldn't dry out enough in the time I had to get it done. Even split in half, the jalapeños were still gummy after almost 24 hours in the smoker. I had to finish them off in the dehydrater.  I may try some whole peppers this year.....I still have plenty left over from last year if they don't turn out like I want

[1buckie]

Slicing them in half creates more surface area...dries faster and collects smoke. So I've been told...

That is actually best......the air dry works in dry climates & if you're running on Mexico / Central American time.....which is no particular rush........

[mike.stavlund]

Sent from my iPhone using my fingers

[mike.stavlund]

I am using a small snake method in the WSM to keep the temps under 200. It is working well so far, but it's gonna be a long night...


Sent from my iPhone using my fingers