Electric Smoker help.

[lewdog]

I have a vertical charcoal smoker but I am also looking at getting an electric smoker with more room and the convenience it can provide.

I am having family from out of town and plan to do a pork butt and pork ribs next Saturday. However, with the charcoal smoker and the babysitting it requires, I have to be home most of the day to cook like I want. I'd rather set and forget the electric smoker for hours at a time so we can be out doing things rather than hanging around the house.

Anyone have any they like? I'm looking a something similar to the style posted below but not set on size or company.

How do you put the wood in these to smoke? I've read some still just put the chunks in there on the heating element and let it burn as the wood box doesn't allow much wood to be present.

Anyone have any recommendations?

[mikeyis4dcats.]

I've had a 40" Masterbuilt for a year. Love it. I recently got an Amaz-N-Smoker pellet maze and it is great for long smokes. Otherwise I use wood chips in the chip loader. Just smoked 3 turkeys and a prime rin the last 2 days with it. Easy as can be.

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Nope. Just throw them in there. Remember its a electric smoker. The wood is about 2-3 inches from the heating element.

Sometimes I soak them in water overnight. But, now I skip that step. I've learned to control the smoke. I used to mix the woods together and cook together but it seems the meat has better flavor when rotating the wood flavors.

Also, if you guess wrong on your smoke just open or close the release valve on top of the unit to correct. When your cooking at low temp like I do, opening the door throws off the temp.

Thanks, you've been a big help.

I think I'll go with the Bradley for the best of both world's. When I am around all day I'll do your method above. If I want to smoke all night or all day and do something else, I'll use the bisquettes.

[mikeyis4dcats.]

Originally Posted by lewdog

Thanks, you've been a big help.

I think I'll go with the Bradley for the best of both world's. When I am around all day I'll do your method above. If I want to smoke all night or all day and do something else, I'll use the bisquettes.

or do what I do, and not be stuck buying proprietary pucks.

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by mikeyis4dcats.

I've had a 40" Masterbuilt for a year. Love it. I recently got an Amaz-N-Smoker pellet maze and it is great for long smokes. Otherwise I use wood chips in the chip loader. Just smoked 3 turkeys and a prime rin the last 2 days with it. Easy as can be.

Originally Posted by mikeyis4dcats.

or do what I do, and not be stuck buying proprietary pucks.

Please fill my n00b self in on how that works? How long does it last once filled?

[mikeyis4dcats.]

Originally Posted by lewdog

Please fill my n00b self in on how that works? How long does it last once filled?

http://www.amazon.com/A-MAZE-N-A-maz...=amaz-n+smoker

+

http://www.amazon.com/CookinPellets-...B6N6Z8SP252DSE

[jspchief]

Originally Posted by lewdog

Please fill my n00b self in on how that works? How long does it last once filled?

It kind of depends on airflow, but you can get hours out of it. Like maybe 5+ hours from a full maze.

I usually only fill it halfway. I've only used sawdust so far, but they make pellets also. It's a just a good slow burn that puts out the thin blue smoke that most experts feel is the source of the best flavor.

[REDHOTGTO]

my vote goes for a traeger lil' tex , best smoker i've ever seen, you pay a bit more but i have neighbors who have had them for over 10 years. you wont believe how moist the meat comes out, and you dont have to screw with it at all.

p.s. you wont have to buy a new grille either, i have a badass one and dont even fire it up anymore, you can even bake on it

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by REDHOTGTO

my vote goes for a traeger lil' tex , best smoker i've ever seen, you pay a bit more but i have neighbors who have had them for over 10 years. you wont believe how moist the meat comes out, and you dont have to screw with it at all.

p.s. you wont have to buy a new grille either, i have a badass one and dont even fire it up anymore, you can even bake on it

That looks a bit over lewdog's price range as I am seeing $600+ for those.

[TimBone]

Wonderful thread, Lew. I'm asking for one of these for Christmas. I've been eyeballing them the last few years.

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by TimBone

Wonderful thread, Lew. I'm asking for one of these for Christmas. I've been eyeballing them the last few years.

Well when lewdog makes a decision on purchasing something over $100 it's like deciding on your last meal. But in this case buyer's remorse is much worse than dying for me.

I've still been researching but need to order something by tomorrow.....

[Dayze]

I've been asking for a smoker for years.
Santa hates me apparently.

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by Dayze

I've been asking for a smoker for years.
Santa hates me apparently.

Just go buy one. The one I have was like $180. And worth every dollar, especially since I can't get Q locally.

[GloryDayz]

I use this one. It's not expensive, you have to reload the chips, but I'll say this, it's easy and awesome.

As I grow older and want smoked foods, it's not always about the process and the challenge, it's about the results, and this puppy delivers that. Right outside the back door on the wood deck too!

No, it's not huge, it doesn't have temp settings (too hot for smoking fish!), but it sure is awesome for one "normal" brisket, a "normal" turkey, a chicken (or two), or a ham!

Like a Harley, I'll get one of the other once my kid's out of college!

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by Dayze

I've been asking for a smoker for years.
Santa hates me apparently.

Ya know, sometimes ya gotta take matters into your own hands, beat the shit out of that fat ****, and ho-ho-ho your own elf shit! (And get this):

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by GloryDayz

I use this one. It's not expensive, you have to reload the chips, but I'll say this, it's easy and awesome.

As I grow older and want smoked foods, it's not always about the process and the challenge, it's about the results, and this puppy delivers that. Right outside the back door on the wood deck too!

No, it's not huge, it doesn't have temp settings (too hot for smoking fish!), but it sure is awesome for one "normal" brisket, a "normal" turkey, a chicken (or two), or a ham!

Like a Harley, I'll get one of the other once my kid's out of college!

I have the charcoal version of that and it works fine but take quite a bit of checking. I'm looking for something easier in my old age here.