Any Recommendations For Insulated Cover For Searwood Winter Use? Need To Do Some Smoking On Sunday!

[Slapshot]

I've had my Searood since late last summer and its worked extremely well for smoking (and a small bit of grilling). With previous smokers I owned, without an insulated cover, they would simply not function properly in terms of keeping temperatures usable due to the cold temperatures (20-35 degree range). Weber still does not offer an insulated cover for the Searwood, and I have not yet located something that looks like it would work well for the Searwood offered by anyone else.

I have two beautiful pork tenderloins to smoke this coming Sunday, but it's going to be 25 degrees. Any suggestions? I have had such great success smoking these on the Searwood that I don't think I could stand the idea of preparing them any other way. Thanks for any help!

 

[Slapshot]

Well, zero replies, this doesn't look good. My wife has already informed me that they oven is no go, as she will be requiring it for appetizers and other things for the people we have invited. If it's not possible for me to smoke the two tenderloins it looks like I'm going to have order a carryout as the main course. And unfortunately the use by dates on the pork tenderloins expires next Wednesday, and temperatures aren't going to be any warmer by then. I may have to donate them to a friend or neighbor.
Very disappointing.

 

[BeardedRetroGuy]

I smoked a brisket while it was fairly cool outside, low 40s Fahrenheit . It was able to keep temperature just fine without a cover, but I think it burns your wood a bit faster maintaining the temps if it's a lot colder outside. Just be prepared to burn through more pellets than you might typically expect if it was warmer outside.

 

[Slapshot]

I smoked a brisket while it was fairly cool outside, low 40s Fahrenheit . It was able to keep temperature just fine without a cover, but I think it burns your wood a bit faster maintaining the temps if it's a lot colder outside. Just be prepared to burn through more pellets than you might typically expect if it was warmer outside.

Thanks for your thoughts. I'm not so much concerned about pellet use ramping up, but suspect that the Searwood won't be able to maintain temperature in weather this cold. I've grilled successfully a number of time in the high 30's, low 40's, but below that is the area where things change a great deal. Thus the need for an insulated cover to address that.

 

[Slapshot]

Well, I have had a real stroke of luck. A friend had a pellet grill that gave out on him after only a couple years. He threw out the grill, but when I was there recently, I saw the cover for it folded up on a shelf. It was quite a nicely made one. He gave it to me, and said to see if it fit my new pellet grill/smoker (my Searwood). It actually fits it quite well. I'll likely eventually pay the piper and drop the money for the actual Weber made for it, but honestly, the one my friend gave me works quite well on it's own. But the story gets better.

He called me today, as they are in the process of selling their house, and packing and cleaning up everything. He was out going through things in the garage to get ready, and came across a brand new thermal blanket that he had originally purchased to use with his grill. Shortly after that was when it failed and after going through trying to get it fixed, gave up on it. He had completely forgotten about the thermal blanket, still sealed in it's original packaging. I had mentioned to him about my dilemma regarding using the smoker this weekend because of the cold temperatures. When I answered the phone, he said, I have the perfect solution for your weekend smoking issues. I drove over, and he handed me this really well made heavy duty thermal blanket. And since the cover for that same grill fits the Searwood pretty well, the thermal blanket should also be just fine!

I thought I might mention this for any of you also faced with the same issue of grilling/smoking in cold temps. The thermal blanket is available from Green Mountain Grills. I'll report back on how it performs on Sundays.

 

[Bob H in Cowtown]

Welder's blanket. Cheap and works fine for me.

 

[Wrigley]

I've had my Searood since late last summer and its worked extremely well for smoking (and a small bit of grilling). With previous smokers I owned, without an insulated cover, they would simply not function properly in terms of keeping temperatures usable due to the cold temperatures (20-35 degree range). Weber still does not offer an insulated cover for the Searwood, and I have not yet located something that looks like it would work well for the Searwood offered by anyone else.

I have two beautiful pork tenderloins to smoke this coming Sunday, but it's going to be 25 degrees. Any suggestions? I have had such great success smoking these on the Searwood that I don't think I could stand the idea of preparing them any other way. Thanks for any help!

I've done a few overnight cooks with temps in the 20s. Searwood worked fine with no insulation.

 

[Tom049]

I got my SearWood when my SmokeFire had issues before Christmas 2024. I did 2 overnight smokes (Christmas and New Year’s) with low ambient temps. The SearWood performed very well. Christmas was a brisket and the other was a pork shoulder.

 

[Dalwhinnie]

I've had my Searood since late last summer and its worked extremely well for smoking (and a small bit of grilling). With previous smokers I owned, without an insulated cover, they would simply not function properly in terms of keeping temperatures usable due to the cold temperatures (20-35 degree range). Weber still does not offer an insulated cover for the Searwood, and I have not yet located something that looks like it would work well for the Searwood offered by anyone else.

I have two beautiful pork tenderloins to smoke this coming Sunday, but it's going to be 25 degrees. Any suggestions? I have had such great success smoking these on the Searwood that I don't think I could stand the idea of preparing them any other way. Thanks for any help!

I've got a smokefire and live in Canada. I use mine outside year round with many temperatures at -25c with no problems. I've done the xmas turkey, pork shoulder and many smaller cooks.

 

[Bulkman]

I'm in Minnesota and I've never worried about temps when I want to cook. I've used my Searwood XL in temps as low as -16 f without issues, never used any kind of insulation or blanket. In fact, my overnight pork shoulders and briskets were all done this winter and the XL held temps just fine and finished on time. Coincidentally, I did 2 pork tenderloins a few weeks back when it was about -5 and they turned out fantastic. This cooker has a cast aluminum base, so once it heats up, it retains the heat. The lid is double wall, so that helps as well. IMO, cooking blankets just get in the way & are unnecessary.

 

[Slapshot]

Thanks for all the input about Searwoods functioning well in the cold.

 

[Slapshot]

Smoking the tenderloins went off without a hitch at 20 degrees. Very impressed with the fact tha Weber apparently designed the unit to effectively grill or smoke despite cold temperatures. None of the other three smokers that my brother, my friend and I previously owned would work in the cold without insulating blankets.

 

[Bulkman]

Smoking the tenderloins went off without a hitch at 20 degrees. Very impressed with the fact tha Weber apparently designed the unit to effectively grill or smoke despite cold temperatures. None of the other three smokers that my brother, my friend and I previously owned would work in the cold without insulating blankets.

Yep, Weber hit a homerun with the Searwood! Party on, Garth!