Looking For A New Smoker

Any tips on a new smoker for my house?? Thinking about electric like the Cookshack from Cabelas. Whats everyone think?

I use a standard off set cooker by New Braunfels (Silver Smoker I think) that I'm happy with, but it requires a fair amount of monitoring to maintain a consistent temp over a long cook. Thats fine with me as its a good excuse to spend the day BBQing, ie, sitting in a chair under a tree with a frosty beverage and fiddling with the cooker vents occasionally while maintianing a look of intense focus and concentration. I've also used the Weber Smoky Mountain. Thats a great low maintenance cooker. You can pretty much load it with fuel, fill the water tray, slap the meat on and forget about it for hours. It feels like cheating to me, plus you end up having to do stuff like cut the grass while its working. They retail for around $180. Happy Qing.

Vayo con Queso

Are you looking for a water smoker or a barbecue pit? If the former, I've had a Brinkman for years that works just fine, though I only use it for low-temp smoking for things like poultry & fish.

If the latter, I can't recommend Klose (www.bbqpits.com) highly enough.

You might try asking this question at a strictly BBQ site. This one is pretty friendly and knowledgeable. pb
http://www.barbecuenews.com/forum/default.asp

The best smokers are made by "Southern Pride",they make some small ones you could use in your house.Check out the web site.I don't know the w.w.w add.

quote:

Originally posted by rjb

Are you looking for a water smoker or a barbecue pit? If the former, I've had a Brinkman for years that works just fine, though I only use it for low-temp smoking for things like poultry & fish.

If the latter, I can't recommend Klose (www.bbqpits.com) highly enough.

rjb, I too have an older Brinkmann and am pretty happy with it. In looking at the newer models though, I would have to say that the quality has dropped off dramatically. Much thinner, very flimsy metal and construction. If you're looking at a Brinkmann, you're better of trying to find a used one that is at least 10 years old and in good condition.

If you're looking to buy new, New Braunfels seems to be the smoker of choice these days.

If money is no object, drsmoke is correct, Southern Pride makes an outstanding product.

Buddy

I think the best variety of smoker owners and advice givers are located at

www.bbq-4-u.com

you'll need to register to see all the topics. Free and open and
mostly civil discussion on this kind of topic...the board has no sponsors so we can discuss freely. Every type of el cheapo brand
to the expensive Klose and Gator models are owned and discussed.

That said, my favorite Q joint in Myrtle Beach, Little Pigs on
62nd Ave. N. and Hwy 17 Bypass uses the Cookshack, and they are
excellent.

Get the Weber Smokey Mountain.

And, here's a website for WSM aficionados. http://www.virtualweberbullet.com/

I think the Cookshacks are excellent smokers. I personally have a Fast Eddy Cookshack 100 pellet smoker and love it. But I use it for competitions and catering.

If you are looking for less money, I started out on a Weber Smokey Mountain and feel it is an excellent smoker.

John

quote:

Originally posted by Bushie

Get the Weber Smokey Mountain.

And, here's a website for WSM aficionados. http://www.virtualweberbullet.com/

Bushie, I have heard that the WSM was among the best and the easiest to use?

Thanks for the link.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

quote:

Originally posted by Bushie

Get the Weber Smokey Mountain.

And, here's a website for WSM aficionados. http://www.virtualweberbullet.com/

I'd never seen one of these before. It's amazingly similar to the Coleman smoker that was discontinued back in the mid-1980s. In fact, except for the short legs on the Weber they could be twins. I wonder if that's where the Coleman disappeared to.

I like my Big Green Egg.

You've got a BGE? I think your "Poverty" sobriquet is more than a little inaccurate.

Buddy

Buddy, Buddy, Oh, ye of little faith!

Was it the price of the BGE that put you into the "Poverty" class?

You can't go wrong with a Cookshack. Sure wish they made a home version of the FEC 100 pellet smoker.

I love my cookshack and use it almost every week. I have attached some photos some of which I've shared here before:

I feel the WSM is the best back yard smoker for its cost avaliable. It does limit you in size. But, so will every other smoker in that price range. Cookshack also makes great smokers. But, they are going to cost you a little bit more. they are more convenient.

If you are going to cook a small amount of food a WSM is a great smoker but if you need more room a Char-Griller Pro is the way to go. I have one and can fit 4 14 pound briskets on it.

Once my homebuilt offset smoker finally dies I'm buying one of these:

http://www.traegergrills.com/index.htm

That or possibly building a trailer mounted rig, but I'm leaning towards the lazy option


Dave Klose makes some awesome stuff as well.

myself i can't really decide which is best.
the smokers i use at work while getting my business running are both southern prides with gas kickers. excellent units to use.
my own smokers consists of an fec100 and two sm150's.
so i guess if i put my mouth where my money is i would go for the cookshacks
jack

I don't know if it's too late or not to give you my 2 cents worth. If you're still looking for a smoker, I would second ohman's recommendation
of the Char Griller Super-Pro! I've had mine for about a year now, and love it! It is extremely versatile- you can use it as an offset smoker, and as a grill as well, w/ indirect or direct heat. From pulled pork to ribs to pizza to burgers, and everything else in between, it consistently cooks the best food my family, friends, and I have ever had!

The easiest to use with great results are the Cookshacks, very short learning curve. They retain a lot of humidity making them excellent for Brisket and Butts, I usually put Chicken and Ribs on the gas grill for a few minutes after smoking to crisp them up.

John

Those Traegers look nice but they sure are pricey.

MikeS.

If I could afford one, I'd replace my CharGriller with this one: http://www.peoriacustomcookers.com/new/Backyard/index.html

Until then, the old CharGriller will have to do!

Purchased a WSB and used it for the first time last weekend! It is pretty much idiot proof! Took the finished product to a retirement party and everyone licked their chops until the platter was bare. Can't wait to try some baby backs next week.

Oops! I meant the Weber Smokey Mountain (WSM) previously!

For a free standing purchased unit you will be happy w/ a WSM. I encourage you to build a pit however.

quote:

Originally posted by ohman

If you are going to cook a small amount of food a WSM is a great smoker but if you need more room a Char-Griller Pro is the way to go. I have one and can fit 4 14 pound briskets on it.

Ohman, I agree on the Char-Griller Pro. I've had one for a number of years now and it does an excellent job. It's not too expensive either. ~$150 at Lowes w/ a fire box(probably one of the best deals for a unit that size). It takes a lot of monitoring, but that's what good bbq is all about. Get a decent temp probe and don't rely on the cheap thermometer on the unit (although, it seems to be fairly accurate).
My friends say my bbq is the best they've ever had. I usually do a few racks, a butt or two and fill in the rest of the space with some split chickens and some sausage, but I've smoked about everything. hickory from the hillside and a little bit of Apple to finish off with. Sometimes a bit of cherry. They say you can't tell the difference between different types of smoke, and I think I agree, but it sounds good when I tell people about it.
BTW: Some things are just not meant to be smoked.

I looked at one of the Char-Griller Pros today at Lowe's and it seemed cheap and flimsy. I know steel prices have really shot up but I sure couldn't recommend the one I saw today.

MikeS.