Electric smokers

[Sixpence]

http://www.basspro.com/servlet/catalog.TextId?hvarTextId=16264&hvarTarget=search&hvarAID=&cmCat=2222206

good enough?

[Gunslinger]

Hinged side door gives easy access to the contents inside

I find that this is not exactly true.  I have the charcoal version of this wich I have modded big time to use propane instead.  I didn't see if it hada  temperature guage or not but that's something I had to add.

These "bullet" type smokers aren't bad, and they do make some good stuff but my experience with mine is that you have to modify it and they are still a PITA to work with
In addtion I'd be weary if this thing is adjustable or not.

This is the next one I plan to step up to

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=1978617



This one doesnt seem that bad either

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=3342513#long_descr
.

EDIT:

and especially after looking at the price I would go with a gass "cabinate" type.  Unless you are looking for something that's a little more portible.

[Sixpence]

What are the pros and cons of gas?

[Gunslinger]

Originally posted by Sixpence
What are the pros and cons of gas?

well if you are ding this mostly at home AND you have a natural gas hook up in your back yard...not much.

my deep fryer stand turned smoker heat source used up maybe a quarter of the tank.  Propane is relativly cheap here and most places but can be a hassle to fill up.

I've never had this happen but it would be of nightmare preportions to run out of gas mid-smoke.  (for me at least)

Other than that propane isnt that bad to work with at all.  If you wanted to go charcoal that's another story for me.  I can't smoke with charcoal for beans.

The main thing I'd consider is not getting one of those "bullet" types.  They really can be a pain.

1.  You have to remove the top rack and it's contents to get to what ever you put on the bottom.
2.  That little door on the side is NOT enough space to really do anything of use (except to add water to the pan via some type of funnle system.  Personally, I use beer cans)
3.  Adding chips to that would probably be a pain as well.  even if the top part came off, you are still  lifting the entire thing (meat, water, and all) to gain access to what ever type wood chip box you had in there.
4.  If it has one...the "warm" guage it has on the lid is usless and must be replaced by a real thermometer.

Don't me wrong I and many others on this board have smoked some good meats in these things but they just arent very user friendly.
Here's some other helpfull threads
http://www.hitechcreations.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=115356&highlight=smoker
http://www.hitechcreations.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=127034&highlight=smoker

[Sixpence]

Yeah, that's what I was worried about, running out of gas. Here are some reviews http://www.epinions.com/pr-Fryers-Great_Outdoors_Grill_36-inch_Propane_Smoker_3600G/display_~reviews  most seem positive. The one con I read more than anything was the chip holder being small, but one guy bout a 12" cast iron pan and cut of the handle, they also said covering chips with foil helps

[mora]

Fancy cadgets... A real smoker uses wood and is self made from an old sauna stove or a washing machine.

[Gunslinger]

I have yet to run out of propane...but then again I allways fill it up before smoking.  I've never cooked with electric.   Here's a pic of my modded brinkman.  The door shows you how much so called "easy access" it gives you





From that page....this seems to be the biggest advantage of LP.  Temp control is mighty important from what I've learned so far.

The advantage of this smoker is that with LP gas, you can maintain a constant temperature and after rotating your meat or checking it's internal temp., you can get back up to temp pretty quick so you're not adding 15 mins. every time you open the door, like conventional charcoal smokers.

[rabbidrabbit]

I lean towards electric for control over a 4-8 hour smoke session.

[Toad]

This is the king of the "bullet smokers". It doesn't really need mods and the access is much better than Brinkmanns.

Of course, it's ~ $175 instead of $35 like a Brinkmann.

It's the Weber Smokey Mountain.

[Sixpence]

Originally posted by Toad
This is the king of the "bullet smokers". It doesn't really need mods and the access is much better than Brinkmanns.

Of course, it's ~ $175 instead of $35 like a Brinkmann.

It's the Weber Smokey Mountain.

Toad, I read it was charcoal, how do you get the temp you want and keep it there? Could you recommend a good electric? I am a novice at this to say the least and I don't think I could pull it off. Or do you like gas better than electric? You know, I have a gas grill, i'll post some pics tomorrow, maybe I could rig it to smoke?

[culero]

Originally posted by Sixpence
snip
Yeah, that's what I was worried about, running out of gas.

Small gas bottles are cheap. Do what I do - own two. One's full all the time, in case the one in use runs out. It takes approximately, oh, hmm, say 30 seconds to switch bottles

culero

[Sixpence]

Originally posted by culero
Small gas bottles are cheap. Do what I do - own two. One's full all the time, in case the one in use runs out. It takes approximately, oh, hmm, say 30 seconds to switch bottles

culero

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. Gonna research some more reviews and find out a little more. Never smoked before and I am looking forward to it. I always wondered how some places got their ribs to just fall off the bone, never knew what smoking was.

[rabbidrabbit]

You get the meat soft like by BBQing ... not grilling.  Most people call grilling bbq but its not.  Go low and slow for a long run and it will drop right off.