Central Iowa BBQ supplies

[DBQR4CY]

Maybe this has been covered before in another thread but got a smoker for my birthday this year and while Covid doesn't make things easy to get supplies, where do you get yours? I talking about things that help with the cook, tools, rubs, sauces, meats, and fuel (pellets, charcoal, and wood). So, where do you get yours?

Mines been between Fleet Farm (I live in Ankeny), Sam's and Amazon. No idea where to get woods.

 

[DBQR4CY]

Also share what you're cooking with. Don't be a snob and say one smoker is better or less than others or there's some kind of purity.

I have a Dyna-glow vertical offset smoker.

 

[JP4CY]

You live in Ankeny and haven't been to TNT/Hawgeyes? Not a bad little shop.
Ace/Mills/even HyVee getting into more.

 

[BCClone]

Maybe this has been covered before in another thread but got a smoker for my birthday this year and while Covid doesn't make things easy to get supplies, where do you get yours? I talking about things that help with the cook, tools, rubs, sauces, meats, and fuel (pellets, charcoal, and wood). So, where do you get yours?

Mines been between Fleet Farm (I live in Ankeny), Sam's and Amazon. No idea where to get woods.

Was at the Mason City Mills last night and they had a large wood selection of many kinds. Would think the one by you would have the same.

 

[DBQR4CY]

You live in Ankeny and haven't been to TNT/Hawgeyes? Not a bad little shop.
Ace/Mills/even HyVee getting into more.

I know of TNT, just haven't been there yet. Covid has put a damper on getting out a ton. Lol. Mills as in?

 

[MLawrence]

For rubs, I usually make them myself. For wood, I usually get that at Walmart. Walmart actually has a decent selection of wood, such as hickory, pecan, mesquite, and apple. They have chunks in all those types and splits in hickory. If Walmart doesn't have it in store, then you always get it online.

 

[DBQR4CY]

Was at the Mason City Mills last night and they had a large wood selection of many kinds. Would think the one by you would have the same.

I don't think I'll be going to Mason City. Was thinking more Des Moines Metro and close surrounding area.

 

[BCClone]

I don't think I'll be going to Mason City. Was thinking more Des Moines Metro and close surrounding area.

That is why I mentioned that I figured the one by you would have similar supplies, or you can have it shipped to that store for pickup.

 

[DBQR4CY]

For rubs, I usually make them myself. For wood, I usually get that at Walmart. Walmart actually has a decent selection of wood, such as hickory, pecan, mesquite, and apple. They have chunks in all those types and splits in hickory. If Walmart doesn't have it in store, then you always get it online.

Yeah, trying a simple rub that I made for the Pork Butt I got going right now. Salt, pepper, garlic, onion, and what paprika we had left for some color. Lol.

 

[every_yard]

I like a little jalapeño flavor as long as it’s not overpowering. Lazy Toad Blackberry Jalapeño BBQ sauce from Valentine Food Company is amazing (I got it at Fareway a few times, but wasn’t there last time I checked). Also like Countryside’s Jalapeño BBQ sauce (has a little stronger flavor). Both these are made in Iowa (or at least Iowa companies). Rib Rack also has some good BBQ sauces - Campfire Cider! For rubs, I usually just mix up different spices depending on what I’m smoking (almost always include at least some Oregano).

I have a Grilla pellet smoker (Grilla Pro).

 

[MLawrence]

Yeah, trying a simple rub that I made for the Pork Butt I got going right now. Salt, pepper, garlic, onion, and what paprika we had left for some color. Lol.

Sam's definitely helps with buying in bulk for spices. I have used my fair share of coarse kosher salt and coarse black pepper.

 

[DBQR4CY]

Yeah, been there a few times. Either their grilling/smoker area is busy or with Covid it's just hard to keep stocked. I wanted a charcoal chimney and had to order from Amazon. But they don't have or haven't had wood outside of shredded stuff in small bags.

 

[DBQR4CY]

I also looked around online and found Inkbird for tracking temps. It's their IBBQ-4T model. Have track 4 temps via WiFi and the app is easy to use.

 

[DBQR4CY]

Yeah, Sam's currently has 2-20lb bags of Kingsford charcoal for under $17. Seems like a good price considering I've gotten 16lb bags from $8.99-$10.

 

[nfrine]

Oklahoma Joe offset. Real men got wood.

 

[dmclone]

Ace has B&B charcoal for $12.

 

[BWRhasnoAC]

I like pecan wood and apple wood best. I could find it at Hy Vee when I lived there a few years ago.

 

[AgronAlum]

I normally go to hawgeyes for rubs, sauces, etc. Pretty much any of the grocery stores have the common types of chips. Meat normally comes from Sams.

 

[ianoconnor]

Fareway carries Lumberjack pellets - selection is hit or miss though. Bomgaars has them too. Cabela's pellets are solid and are made by Lumberjack.

 

[CloneGuy8]

For wood, it just depends on what you're smoking. I've found Apple wood to be the most versatile.

I'd also invest in at least 2 meat probes. One to monitor the meat temp, and another to monitor the smoker temp; most smokers have a thermometer, but they're not always the most accurate. I like these as you don't need to be outside with the smoker to monitor it.
https://tinyurl.com/y8f3eejn
This model is on Amazon for cheaper, FYI