Good starter smoker?

Re:Good starter smoker? (Twinwillow)

Mon, 23 May 2011 23:53:37 GMT

Foodbme

I'm goin' Electric!
http://www.electricsmokerpro.com/Brinkman-Gourmet-Electric-Smoker-Grill-p/810-7080-k.htm

I have what is essentially the same electric model. I love it. It's perfect because I don't use it that often. It works beautifully. I like to fill the "water pan" with Dr. Pepper, hickory flavor liquid smoke, and some Worcestershire sauce. I also soak my hickory chunks for 24 hours so they'll smolder instead of burn.

Re:Good starter smoker? (Michael Hoffman)

Mon, 23 May 2011 23:34:40 GMT

I know. Several years ago Bradley sent me a smoker and some of their flat things. I used it a few times and had to get some more of those flat things. The price was horrendous. I sent the thing back.

Re:Good starter smoker? (mar52)

Mon, 23 May 2011 23:24:15 GMT

I used to sell The Bradley Smoker. I ran one at work and it worked like a charm.

However... Rather than pellets, it uses proprietary compressed biscuits. You are married to Bradley when you buy them. The biscuits are not cheap.

Re:Good starter smoker? (KurtSara)

Mon, 23 May 2011 23:23:40 GMT

gregys

I bought an electric last year, looks like a wsm but red. Can't control heat, too cool most of the time, weather matters. I was only doing 200 degrees. 1500 watts is a lot of heat, but escapes out the thin metal.

The one I look at that really looks liken the one I need is the Bradley, insulated and only uses 400 watts. Uses wood pellets, around $300. Door type looks easy to use.

Greg

Bradley's typically use pucks which are not cheap,I don't think they use pellets

Re:Good starter smoker? (gregys)

Mon, 23 May 2011 22:07:40 GMT

I bought an electric last year, looks like a wsm but red. Can't control heat, too cool most of the time, weather matters. I was only doing 200 degrees. 1500 watts is a lot of heat, but escapes out the thin metal.

The one I look at that really looks liken the one I need is the Bradley, insulated and only uses 400 watts. Uses wood pellets, around $300. Door type looks easy to use.

Greg

Re:Good starter smoker? (Foodbme)

Mon, 09 May 2011 16:24:00 GMT

I smoke meat on my gas grill all the time but I must admit I have a Unique Grill that I purchased Used back in 1973 for $50 Bucks!!! (I've re-built the guts several times.) It's a Kenmore made by Arkla with a Cast Aluminum housing and a grill in front and an oven in the back that can handle a rotisserie. Double doors on it. Can hold a 20# Turkey or Rib Roast. Put the Meat in the back and some smoke packets on the front grate and Walla! A Smoker!
I've cooked thousands of delicious meals on it and it's going with me in the box to BBQ Heaven!

Re:Good starter smoker? (NascarDad)

Mon, 09 May 2011 08:57:44 GMT

Yesterday I had to work in the yard, got some big stuff to do and now is the time to get started. So I didn't really have time to mess with my WSM to do the spares I picked up, but my wife definitely wanted Ribs for mother's day.

So, I used a weber charcoal basket I had used in my little Smokey Joe (RIP), put some soaked hickory and apple chunks in it in my gas grill on the fire side while I kept the ribs on the side with the burner turned off, and did myself a lazy q. I put the baket under the grate, I should have moved some of the fire bricks in my gas grill but live and learn.

Came out pretty good and had a smoke ring; not really the same but I was able to get two things accomplished yesterday afternoon instead of just making world class ribs ;) My gas grill made tasty ribs with a good pink smoke ring and my wife was happy with both the yard work and the ribs - I call that winning! As a bonus my oldest boy (who is 8) ate a half rack by himself and had a touch sauce all over his face including on his forehead over his eyebrow - that's hard to do since I don't use a lot of sauce.

So that is something to consider too for those who want to try it themselves before buying a pit - doing some lazy q on your gas grill.

Re:Good starter smoker? (mar52)

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 21:44:22 GMT

Some of the guys on that virtual Weber site (TVWBB board) I posted above use a clay flower pot saucer inside of the water pan. I never tried it.

Re:Good starter smoker? (NascarDad)

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 21:37:05 GMT

irisarbor

Starting my 3rd summer with my WSM, and I just LOVE it!
The only thing I don't like is lifting the ring, and cleaning the water pan after a cook. (and I do foil it)
It cooks like a dream, and runs for maybe 5 hours on one load of lump.

I double foil the pan , with 2 sheets of double wide foil, and so far no mess on the pan since I started doing that. I used to use sand in it for awhile but ran through sand too quickly. Granted I still have to dump the gunk.

Re:Good starter smoker? (Foodbme)

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 18:24:54 GMT

gostillerz

A good website is amazingribs.com

THANX! for the web site. It's good one!

Re:Good starter smoker? (gostillerz)

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 17:49:16 GMT

I'd suggest both an electric smoker and an offset smoker.

I have an offset smoker and while it works well, you have to tend to it for too long. When I was doing pork butts/briskets, I'd be up at 4am, and would be ready by 8pm. I was so sick of looking at the meat for that long, I'd have to wait a few days to eat it.

This way, you can let the electric smoker do more of the work (even overnight), and finish them on the grill.

A good website is amazingribs.com

Re:Good starter smoker? (Davwud)

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 13:29:54 GMT

Michael Hoffman

Wow! So, there are two things I wasn't aware of -- a grill and an oven, too.

I have similar and would suggest this. A little more room than a WSM and slightly easier to use. I had a similar to WSM and upgraded to this model. Very happy with the results.

DT

Re:Good starter smoker? (the grillman)

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 12:20:38 GMT

I use a Brinkmann Smoke n Pit offset model. Easy to use, and good results. Plus, it holds much more than a WSM.

Re:Good starter smoker? (mar52)

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 11:48:06 GMT

Just the fireplace. Well not to use, just to sell. Can't.

Re:Good starter smoker? (Foodbme)

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 03:05:07 GMT

mar52

Correct. It's a smoker, grill and oven.

Do you need to Bribe the L.A. Smog Police with BBQ Ribs in order to use it??

Re:Good starter smoker? (Michael Hoffman)

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 00:35:40 GMT

mar52

Rght. I can grill a steak or burger, bake a pizza and smoke a butt. I make chicken on it that rivals any from the local restaurants.

Can I come over for dinner?

Re:Good starter smoker? (mar52)

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 00:33:45 GMT

Rght. I can grill a steak or burger, bake a pizza and smoke a butt. I make chicken on it that rivals any from the local restaurants.

That offset smoker from Home Depot is a great place to start. You can grill and smoke with it.

Re:Good starter smoker? (Hot Dog Empire)

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 00:19:20 GMT

Or........
Maybe THIS?http://www.homedepot.com/...51&catalogId=10053

Re:Good starter smoker? (Michael Hoffman)

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 00:16:04 GMT

Wow! So, there are two things I wasn't aware of -- a grill and an oven, too.

Re:Good starter smoker? (mar52)

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 00:05:32 GMT

Correct. It's a smoker, grill and oven.

I gave away a gas grill, a Weber kettle and my WSM when I got it. My patio was a bit crowded. Now it's only semi crowded.

It's a bit expensive but I got it at a special dealer's "buy to own" price. The manufacturers like when you use what you sell.

Re:Good starter smoker? (Michael Hoffman)

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 22:35:18 GMT

Do I remember correctly you posting something a while ago about having one of those egg things? Green egg things? Isn't that a smoker?

Re:Good starter smoker? (mar52)

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 22:31:02 GMT

There is a board devoted to smoking and specifically the WSM.

It's filled with lots of good advise.

http://tvwbb.com/eve?s=98110183&a=cfrm&cdra=Y

Re:Good starter smoker? (Michael Hoffman)

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 22:01:19 GMT

If I had more than me to cook for I'd get a new smoker. Years ago I had a Coleman smoker (they don't make them any longer) and it was terrific. It could handle a huge turkey, several butts -- I mean, it was huge. Fact is, it was almost the spitting image of that Weber smoker whose virtues you all are extolling.

Re:Good starter smoker? (TooSaucedToPork)

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 21:48:18 GMT

I would go Weber Smokey Mountain (WSM)...I know people that win on them in competition, and I know people that have them in their backyard...great smoker

Re:Good starter smoker? (Foodbme)

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 18:49:07 GMT

I'm goin' Electric!
http://www.electricsmokerpro.com/Brinkman-Gourmet-Electric-Smoker-Grill-p/810-7080-k.htm

Re:Good starter smoker? (Big Frank)

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 15:03:33 GMT

Another vote for the WSM. I love mine.

Re:Good starter smoker? (irisarbor)

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 14:26:54 GMT

Starting my 3rd summer with my WSM, and I just LOVE it!
The only thing I don't like is lifting the ring, and cleaning the water pan after a cook. (and I do foil it)
It cooks like a dream, and runs for maybe 5 hours on one load of lump.

Re:Good starter smoker? (NascarDad)

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 12:37:14 GMT

I agree with the WSM recommendation. it is a great place to start. Once it is broken in it is almost set it and forget it. And break in doesn't take long.
I have made some of the most amazing Q in it. Granted its more expensive now than when I got mine about 12 years ago. But I also still have it, so it has stood up pretty well.

Re:Good starter smoker? (mar52)

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 12:30:14 GMT

I sold smokers for many years.

The WSM is a great place to start. You'll never have to upgrade when you find out that you love the taste of smoked meats.

Re:Good starter smoker? (ScreamingChicken)

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 11:10:22 GMT

seatown76

I want a small smoker....just big enough to do a pork butt or a few racks of ribs or a briskit. Nothing fancy and I know how to use lump charcoal and wood as I have used it in my grill before when doing some country style pork ribs and some tenderloins.

I also cook fairly small quantities and I switched from an offset (Char-Broil Silver Smoker) to a Weber Smokey Mountain because the offset simply had more capacity than I needed, and I've been happy with that decision. The WSM also turned out to be more fuel-efficient and its smaller size made storage a lot easier.

Brad