Cookshack SMARTSMOKER 250, SMARTSMOKER 260, 350, 360 Operator's Manual

800.423.0698 www.cookshack.com [e-mail]

OPERATOR’S
MANUAL

COOKSHACK

MODEL 250/260

SMARTSMOKER OVEN

Cookshack Model 250/260 SmartSmoker Oven

Version: 10.1

Model 250/260

Serial No:

800.423.0698 www.cookshack.com [e-mail]

Dear Cookshack Customer:

Your Model 250/260 Cookshack SmartSmoker oven will produce great
barbecue and smoked foods. It is easy to operate, clean, and maintain. Use this
Operator’s Manual to familiarize yourself with the smoker and its operation. If you
have a question or problem not covered in the book, write to us at 2304 N. Ash
St., Ponca City, OK 74601, or call Cookshack Customer Service at (580)765­3669, Monday through Friday, 9am to 4pm.

You must observe safe operating practices when using the smoker. It is an
electrical appliance, and is therefore potentially dangerous!

Cookshack, INC., assumes no responsibility for results of careless
and dangerous operations of COOKSHACK smokers or other
products

All warranties are null and void if the practices described in the Operator’s

Manual are not observed.

Read the following instructions thoroughly and completely before
using your smoker! Observe the instructions carefully. Be certain that
you understand completely how it operates before attempting to
operate it.

This smoker oven is intended for use as a food smoker. It generates heat
from an electric heating element. It is not intended for any use not specifically
described in this manual. Misuse of this smoker can result in serious injury and a
fire hazard.

With those cautions in mind, enjoy your smoker and the delicious foods it will
produce.

The Folks at Cookshack, Inc.

Sales & Customer Service: 580/765-3669
Toll Free Orders: 800/423-0698
24 Hr. Fax: [phone]

Cookshack Model 250/260 SmartSmoker Oven

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

COOKSHACK SmartSmoker® OVEN

MODEL 250/260

Version 10.1

July 13, 2010

SETTING UP

Choosing a Location ............................................................................................................... 4

Ventilation .............................................................................................................................. 4

Electrical Power Connection .................................................................................................. 4

COOKING

Seasoning of Oven ................................................................................................................. 5

Wood Selection ...................................................................................................................... 5

Preparing the Oven for Cooking............................................................................................. 6

Smoker Oven Loading Capacity ............................................................................................ 7

Loading the Oven with Meat .................................................................................................. 7

Setting the Cooking Temperature ......................................................................................8-10

Holding ................................................................................................................................. 11

Shutdown Procedure ............................................................................................................ 12

Cleanup ........................................................................................................................... 12-13

Maintenance ......................................................................................................................... 14

TROUBLESHOOTER’S GUIDE

Operations and Cooking .................................................................................................. 14-16

APPENDICES

A. Limited Warranty Policy ................................................................................... 17

B. Return Merchandise Policy ........................................................................... 18-19

C. Electrical Diagram .............................................................................................. 20

D. Smoker Illustration ............................................................................................. 21

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SETTING UP

Choosing a Location

Your smoker must be operated inside. Placement will be determined by convenience to
rest of cooking operation, ventilation, wiring connection, and clearance from flammable
materials.
Do not place flammable or combustible materials on or adjacent to the smoker.

Ventilation

A small amount of smoke will escape from the vent hole in the top of the oven, and from
around the door. The oven should be placed under a hood or near a door or window with
an outside exhaust.
A simple wall vent fan is adequate in many locations. Fasten no pipes to oven vent.
An optional vent hood for your smoker is available from C00KSHACK.The stainless
steel Smokehood incorporates a removable grease filter and an exhaust fan. It mounts
directly on top of the smoker and removes the smoke vented during normal
smoke/cooking.

Electrical Power Connections

WARNING: All warranties are null and void if the installation of the
power receptacle is not done in strict compliance with these
instructions, NEMA codes, and any other applicable electrical codes

COOKSHACK Model 250/260’s have a dual burner system using 208/240V AC single
phase power. Connect these ovens to the power supply by connecting to a receptacle with
a NEMA L14-20R pin configuration plug (Leviton P/N 71 420- FR or Hubbell P/N 241

0) with a 208/240V AC single phase power supply protected by a 20 ampere fuse or
circuit breaker.

Note: Due to the expense of this equipment and the risk of damage
to the electrical system contained within this equipment, installation
of power receptacles should be done only by a qualified electrician.

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COOKING

Seasoning of Oven

The interior of your oven should be “broken in” or seasoned before you cook your first
load of meat. Place wood (see Wood Selection, below) in the Wood Box. Close and latch
the oven door. Set temperature to 225°, and turn the smoker on. Let the oven smoke,
without meat, for a minimum of four hours. Further seasoning will occur as you cook in
the oven.
Don’t be alarmed if the oven temperature climbs somewhat higher than the setting. That
is normal. When oven is loaded, the meat will absorb the extra heat.

Wood Selection

You may use any fruit or nut hardwood in your smoker, as long as it has good flavoring
abilities. The most popular woods for smoking are hickory, mesquite and apple. Any of
these will work in your smoker and are available from Cooks hack.
Other regional favorites are alder, beech, cherry, apple, pecan, maple, oak, buttonwood,
and mangrove. Use local woods only if logs are selected and sized properly and if you are
satisfied with their flavoring abilities.

Caution: The maximum amount of wood to be used in your
Cookshack Model 250/260 smoker oven is 12 ounces. Do not overload
Wood Boxes.

Use only dry wood. You will get the best results in finished product with dry wood. Wet
wood will release acids that will damage heating elements and reduce the length of their
life.

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Preparing the Oven for Cooking

CAUTION - Operation of a dirty oven may create a fire hazard. Do
not allow debris to accumulate in oven interior or on oven grills. Such
I debris may create a fire hazard! Follow all shutdown and cleaning
instructions carefully

1. Place properly loaded Wood
Boxes in oven as shown. Do not
remove the Wood Boxes from the
oven bottom during cooking cycle.

IMPORTANT: Do not operate oven without Wood Boxes in proper

position.

2. Line the bottom of the oven with aluminum foil and punch a hole in the foil
corresponding to the drain hole. Cover the Deflector with foil for easy cleaning. Discard
the foil after each cooking and replace with fresh foil.

3. Place drain pan beneath the drain holes located in oven bottom and in the trough at
bottom front of the smoker. This drip pan should be emptied after each cooking.

4. Notice that the grills in your smoker can be rearranged to accommodate different sizes
of meat.

When you are smoking thicker items such as turkeys or large hams remove alternate
grills.
When hang-smoking ribs, remove all except the top and bottom grills, and raise side
racks to highest position.

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Smoker Oven Maximum Load Capacity

IMPORTANT: Do not overload your smoker. Use the Smoker Oven Maximum Load
Capacity chart below to determine the maximum capacity of your smoker.
The following chart shows maximum cooking capacities, per load, of various Cookshack
smoker ovens.

Ribs Brisket Pork Butt Chickens Jerky

Model Lbs. Lbs. Lbs. Each Lbs.

250/260 100 200 240 40 24

Capacities are based on 3 lb. ribs, 8 - 1 0 lbs. of heavy cuts, and 3 lb. chickens. Capacities
are specifically limited by the amount of heat available. Fill smoker 50% to 100% of
maximum capacity for best results.

Loading the Oven with Meat

1. Keep meat approximately 1" away from the back and side oven walls at all

times.

2. Arrange meat with fewer cuts on lower grills. Heavy loading of bottom grills
will block heat and prevent smoke from traveling to the top of the oven. This will
result in undercooked meat on upper grills. (Allowances are made for loading
arrangements when oven capacities are calculated.)

3. Load only half full the first time you cook, and gradually increase to a full
load with successive batches. Monitor closely to determine what cooking time
and load amount produce the results you desire. Best results are obtained by
loading the smoker from 50% to 100% of maximum capacity.

4. When possible, cooking schedules should be arranged so that the same
amount of an item is cooked each time. This allows full use of the automatic
operation of the oven; it will save time; a better and more consistent product will
be obtained.

When the oven is loaded according to the above instructions close and latch

the oven door. Fasten the door latches securely.

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Setting the Cooking Temperature

Your Cookshack Model 250/260 has the new Cookshack IQ4 control system.
This controller has the same great cook & hold features as previous models of
the IQ controller, but with an additional feature that allows you to cook with a
meat probe. This optional probe plugs into the unit and allows you to set the
internal temperature to which you want the product cooked. If you did not
purchase the meat probe with your unit, call Cookshack Customer Service at
[phone] to order your probe.

1. Turn Master Switch on the oven control panel to the ON position.

2. Choose the desired operating mode by pressing the MODE button while
pushing the up or down arrow until the desired mode flashes: Cook Mode for
standard operation, which automatically drops into the preset hold temperature
after the preset cooking time is completed; Probe Mode if cooking with the
optional meat probe. The default mode is Cook Mode.

3. Set cooking temperature by pressing and holding the COOK
TEMP button while using the ADJUST TIME OR TEMP buttons to change
settings.

4. Set holding temperature by pressing and holding the HOLD
TEMP button while using the ADJUST TIME OR TEMP buttons to change
settings.

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5. If using the Cook Mode, set cooking time by pressing and holding the COOK
TIME button while using the ADJUST TIME OR TEMP buttons to change
settings.

6. If using the Probe Mode, set probe temperature by pressing and holding the
PROBE TEMP button while using ADJUST TIME OR TEMP buttons to change
settings.

7. Press START.
To use the meat probe, simply insert the jack into the RCA receptacle on the
controller panel. Place the probe end through the vent hole on the oven top and
press into the largest piece of meat in the smoker oven. The oven will cook at the
set cooking temperature until the internal temperature of the meat reaches the
temperature at which the probe is set. At that point the controller will change to
the set holding temperature and remain there until the unit is manually shut
down. An audible signal indicates that the cook cycle is complete and that the
oven is going to the Hold Temperature Mode.
If cooking in the default Cook Mode the smoker will cook the product at the
selected cooking temperature for the selected cooking time and then change to
the selected holding temperature until it is shut off manually.
During the Cook Mode the LCD display of the IQ continually displays oven status
after the cook cycle has been started. Using these features any kitchen staff can
easily determine the status of the load in progress.
Please note that the oven temperature displayed while the oven is running is the
actual air temperature inside the oven. The probe temperature displayed is the
internal temperature of the product. In order to see the set cooking temperature,
probe temperature, or holding temperature, briefly press the corresponding
button.

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The IQ controller is equipped with two preset buttons for easy selection of
common settings for popular foods. Pressing the button marked Ribs/Chickens
will make the following settings.

CookTemp 225

HoldTemp 140

Cook Time 3:00
Pressing the button marked Briskets will make the following settings:

CookTemp 225

HoldTemp 140

Cook Time 12:00

Once one of these preset buttons has been pushed you may start a Cook
cycle using these settings by simply pressing Start.

The IQ controller is equipped with a power backup system to prevent your
Smoker from ‘forgetting’ what it is doing in the case of a power failure. The lQ will
wait out power failures of up to 10 minutes and resume normal cooking. This
backup system means that turning off the Master Switch will not cause the IQ to
forget its current instructions. The Reset button may be used to clear these
current instructions and cause the lQ to start over from the beginning.

The IQ controller is also equipped with a door position sensor. If the oven
door is open, the oven heating elements are disabled an alarm sounds and the
display reads door open. Please contact your Cookshack Service Representative
for assistance if you experience this problem. The door position sensor is a
safety feature and must be kept in working order. Recommended cooking times
and temperatures are based on full loads with no holding cycle. Larger or smaller
loads or the addition of holding time may require adjustment of cooking time and
temperature.

When you think the product is finished, turn the switch to the OFF position.
Wait ten minutes before opening the oven door to check the product for
doneness. When the product is done to your satisfaction, remove from the
smoker.

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Holding

Meat should always be wrapped or sealed immediately upon removal from
your smoker, and held this way until ready to serve.

To minimize the danger of food becoming contaminated, follow a few key
steps.

The most important step is hand washing. Employees can easily transmit
germs to clean food if they don’t follow basic personal hygiene. It is very
important to wash after touching raw meat, fish, poultry, or dirty utensils.

Refrigerated cases should keep food at 38°F or below. Hot display cases
should keep food above 140°F

Some microorganisms, which can cause disease when present in low
numbers, don’t require temperature abuse to be dangerous. To avoid these
diseases, exclude infected personnel from foodservice operations, use clean
utensils when handling food, practice clean personal hygiene, and use the proper
containers when covering food.

Remember, these are basic guidelines only and are not intended to replace
laws, regulations, or restrictions concerning the handling and processing of food
products. For further information, use your local health department guidelines to
determine the best method for holding product, hot or cold.

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SHUTDOWN PROCEDURE

Safety First

A. Press reset button then turn On/Off switch to OFF position.

B. Wait at least 5 minutes before opening door.

C. Open door slowly. This allows the wood and element to cool sufficiently

so that a fire will not occur when the cold air rushes into the oven.

IMPORTANT!! If oven is to be left unattended with the door open:

Remove the Wood Boxes from the oven using the wood box handle and
douse the contents with water.

FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONSMAY RESULT IN A
FIRE HAZARD!

Cleanup

Always disconnect the oven from its electrical supply before

cleaning or servicing.

Your Cookshack smoker must be kept clean. Loose grease and scale should
be removed regularly to prevent buildup, which may cause strong fumes. It is
desirable to allow seasoned coating, such as that found on a well-seasoned cast
iron skillet, to remain on the oven walls. For this reason we do not recommend
attempting to restore the oven walls to a “like new” state after each cooking. The
use of detergent, chemical cleaners or “oven cleaner” is not advised

IMPORTANT: Caustic oven
cleaners may damage heating
element and grills. Use of
oven cleaners or other caustic
cleaners will void the warranty
on heating element and grills

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Follow this procedure after each load:

* Disconnect oven from power supply.
* Allow the oven to cool.
* Remove the grills and racks; scrape and wash with soap and water.
* Empty Wood Box. (Remember it’s hot!) Use the Wood Box handle supplied

with oven.
* Discard aluminum foil.
* Remove all grease from interior of oven.
* Empty drip pan.

* Leave door slightly ajar when oven is not in use

* Refer to safety precautions above.
* Replace Wood Box to correct position.

Follow this procedure every 4 - 5 loads:

* Remove grills and racks; scrape and wash.
* Empty Wood Box. (Remember it’s hot!)
* Scrape loose grease and scale from walls with flat edge scraper.
* Replace racks and grills.
* Replace Wood Boxes to correct position.

IMPORTANT: Reverse the above cleaning instructions after each
cleaning to re-assemble the oven correctly. Do not operate oven
without Wood Boxes in proper position.

IMPORTANT: Bottom of oven must be kept clean. Change foil in
bottom of oven and from top of Heat Shield after each cooking and
remove all excess grease from interior of oven. Drain hole must be
open at all times. If drain becomes plugged, oven bottom can fill with
grease and a fire hazard may occur!

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MAINTENANCE

 Periodically check electrical plug and wire for any type of wear or damage.
 Twice annually put two drops of lightweight oil on the hinge pins to prevent

binding.

 Check casters for free movement.

TROUBLESHOOTER’S GUIDE

PROBLEM POSSIBLE CAUSE SOLUTION

Uneven cooking Improper meat loading See loading instructions.

Strong grease fume
“charcoal” flavor

Meat sticks to lower grill. Heavy “blanket” loading Load with ample room for

Smoke coming from top of
door.

Product gets too done on
the bottom grills; product
on top grills is raw or
underdone.

Door alarm sounds when
door is closed.

Although smoker is set with
the same time and
temperature as always,
product is now taking
longer to cook.

Actual oven temperature
reads 5 to 20°higher or
lower than set temperature.

Excessively dirty oven See cleaning instructions

upward passage of heat

Normal

Improper loading. Load lighter at the bottom

for efficient heat and smoke
circulation

Door Closed switch is
malfunctioning.

Malfunction in heating
element.

Normal

Clean door switch. Call
Cookshack customer
service for instructions.
Have electrician change
element.

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TROUBLESHOOTER’S GUIDE

PROBLEM POSSIBLE CAUSE SOLUTION

Poultry too dark. Too much wood Use less wood. Poultry

absorbs smoke easily so
start with the minimum
amount suggested and
gradually increase quantity
with successive loads until
desired flavor is reached.

Bitter skin on poultry Too much wood Use less wood

Fish too dark Too much wood Use less wood

No smoke taste Not enough wood Use more wood

Ribs too dry Oven humidity too low Increase cooking

temperature and decrease
cooking time.

Skin cracking on poultry Rub with vegetable oil,

butter, or mayonnaise
before smoking. Use a
Cookshack Water Magazine
to increase oven humidity.

Fish falls through grills Overcooking; grill spacing

too large to support fish.

Ribs fall off Rib Hooks Ribs not securely fastened. Review Rib Hook

Overcooking Cook for shorter time.

Poultry not getting done Overloading Review loading and

Cook for shorter time. Use
Cookshack Seafood Grills.

instructions; make sure ribs
are securely fastened.

Capacity instructions.

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TROUBLESHOOTER’S GUIDE

Dry product Oven humidity too low Use Cookshack Water

Magazine to increase
humidity. Purchase product
with fat on.

Load cooks unevenly. Improper loading Follow smoker oven

loading instructions in
Operator’s Manual. Always
load bottom shelves lighter
than top. Do not use sheet
pans in the smoker as they
will block even circulation

of heat and smoke.
Brisket on bottom cooks too
fast.

Improper loading. Load bottom grill with

fewer briskets and load with

fat side down.

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APPENDIX A

LIMITED WARRANTY POLICY

Cookshack Smoker Ovens are guaranteed to be free from defects in material
and workmanship under normal use and when installed in accordance with
factory recommendations.

This limited warranty includes parts and labor for the first 90 days. Following
the 90 day period, the two (2) year limited warranty is for parts only.

Cookshack, Inc.’s obligation under this warranty shall be to repair or replace
at its option any part deemed defective upon examination by Cookshack, Inc., or
its authorized agent, for a period of two (2) years from the date of sale.

Customer must obtain approval from Cookshack, Inc. before performing any
service. Cookshack, Inc. is not responsible for any unauthorized service work.

1. The Limited Warranty extends to the original purchaser only.

2. To make claim or request for the Limited Warranty, the original purchaser
must notify Cookshack, Inc. Customer Service for instructions as to the repair or
replacement of the defective merchandise prior to attempting or contracting for
repair of the oven. (See following page for Return Merchandise Policies).

3. The model number and serial number of the Cookshack Smoker Oven
must accompany any request for service to the oven.

4. The Limited Warranty shall not apply if the merchandise has been
improperly installed, damaged due to abuse, misuse, misapplication, accident, or
as a result of service or modification by any other than an authorized Cookshack,
Inc. service agent.

There are no express warranties other than the limited warranty stated herein
above. No warranties whether express or implied, including, but not limited to,
any implied warranties of merchantability of fitness for a particular purpose, shall
extend beyond the respective warranty periods described above.

Cookshack, Inc. shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, special,
consequential, incidental, or punitive damages; lost profits or loss of use or
interruption of business regardless of the form of action or theory of liability
resulting from any defect in or use of the Cookshack smoker oven, accessories
and/or heating elements.

Additional information on obtaining service under this Limited Warranty is
available on the following page or by contacting a Cookshack, Inc. Customer
Service Representative directly at [phone].

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APPENDIX B

RETURN MERCHANDISE POLICY

If you have merchandise that you believe is defective and requires repair or
replacement:

1. Call Cookshack, Inc. at [phone]
Service Representative. Have your Smoker Oven model number and serial
number ready.

If you are advised to return the merchandise to the factory for repair or

replacement, please observe the following procedures.

2. You will be issued a return number
will issue you a return number and/or mail you an instruction form (called a
Return Merchandise Authorization) for returning the merchandise with the return
number on it.

All return merchandise must have a return number. Do not return

merchandise without a return number.

3. Attach the return number to the merchandise.

If you were sent a Return Merchandise Authorization, attach it to the

merchandise you are returning.

If you were issued an RETURN NUMBER by phone and not sent a Return
Merchandise Authorization, attach a note to the merchandise with your name,
address and RETURN NUMBER.

Print the RETURN NUMBER on the outside of the return packaging.

4. Ship the merchandise back to Cookshack

Return the merchandise to Cookshack, Inc., shipping prepaid, F.O.B.
destination, in the original container or equivalent.

. Ask to speak to a Customer

. A Customer Service Representative

.

All return merchandise must be shipped to: Cookshack, Inc., 2304 N. Ash
St., Ponca City, OK, 74601.

You assume the risk of any loss or damage that occurs during transit due to
improper packaging of the returned merchandise. Use the original container that
the merchandise was shipped in or equivalent.

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5. Repair or replacement of merchandise under warranty.

Replacement or repairing defective merchandise is at Cookshack, Inc.'s
option.

If repair of merchandise is deemed necessary by Cookshack, Inc. you will be
instructed as to the necessary arrangements in order to affect the repair of the
merchandise.

If replacement merchandise is deemed necessary by Cookshack, Inc. you will
be invoiced for the replacement merchandise upon shipment. Credit for
merchandise under warranty deemed to be defective by Cookshack, Inc. will be
issued upon return of the defective merchandise.

Credit may be denied if the returned merchandise is not found to be defective
by Cookshack, Inc.; if it is not under warranty; if it is not received at Cookshack,
Inc. 30 days after your RETURN NUMBER is issued; if it is damaged due to
abuse, misuse, misapplication or accident; if it has been serviced or modified by
any other than an authorized Cookshack, Inc. service agent; is not returned with
an RETURN NUMBER; is not in clean condition; is not complete; is damaged or
lost in transit.

Replacement merchandise is sent to you via UPS Ground or common carrier.
If you request replacement merchandise to be sent by faster service than UPS
Ground or common carrier you shall incur the cost of shipping.

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APPENDIX C

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APPENDIX D

Inside Back Panel

Vent Assy. Behind Controller
Nipple PV143
Bushings PV157
Washers PV152

Door Switch PV366

Transformer PV625
Relay PV682
Power Cord PV462 5ft
Plug PV482

Controller PV684
Keypad Label LA152
Switch PV696
Probe Jack PV535
Probe Jack Cover PV536

Latch PV169

Grill PV013

Side Rack PM025

Probe PV718

Limit Switch PV551

Woodbox PM305

Seal Kit PA230

Element PV325

Casters
Front PV175
Back PV176

Drain Pan PV702

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