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Started By
Message
Purchasing a smoker- pellet or electric?
Posted on 8/20/16 at 10:49 am
Posted on 8/20/16 at 10:49 am
Wife wants a Traeger pellet smoker. I'm okay with a MasterBuilt electric, for almost a third the price.
Pros or cons? Which is better? I've used a Cajun Cooker smoker for years, but they are hard to regulate and take lots of tending.
Sam's has a 40' MasterBuilt with Bluetooth monitoring for $329 and Costco is having a Traeger sales event today near me, so not sure what special deals they'll have until I get there but I'm guessing they'll have models ranging from $600 to $2500.
Pros or cons? Which is better? I've used a Cajun Cooker smoker for years, but they are hard to regulate and take lots of tending.
Sam's has a 40' MasterBuilt with Bluetooth monitoring for $329 and Costco is having a Traeger sales event today near me, so not sure what special deals they'll have until I get there but I'm guessing they'll have models ranging from $600 to $2500.
7
Posted on 8/20/16 at 11:01 am to HubbaBubba
If you want ease of use, the Pit Barrel Cooker is what you want. Cheaper than either of your options and so easy to use my wife that doesn't cook anything outside could produce good ribs, pulled pork, etc out of it.
Posted on 8/20/16 at 11:09 am to LNCHBOX
Thanks, but I want to get away from charcoal.
Posted on 8/20/16 at 11:19 am to HubbaBubba
I have a Traeger that was made here in the U.S. The ones nowadays are much thinner metal that the U.S. versions. They claim they have fewer problems but I like the heavier duty cookers. Yoder makes an awesome pellet cooker. Rec Tec and Green Mountain are some other good pellet cookers.
Posted on 8/20/16 at 11:37 am to Cajunate
As someone with a Smokin It 3, I would go with pellet if I had it to do over again. Perfect blue smoke production and the closest you will get to stick burner quality without doing it in a stick burner. Masterbuilts are even 100x better when combined with a AMNPS which pretty much makes it a pellet.
This post was edited on 8/20/16 at 11:40 am
Posted on 8/20/16 at 11:58 am to Dam Guide
AMNPS?
Posted on 8/20/16 at 12:03 pm to HubbaBubba
Look into the Holland grills.
Smoking using the pellet trays over the water (I add beer as well) is outstanding. Using the water allows you to control the temp for long smokes.
Smoking using the pellet trays over the water (I add beer as well) is outstanding. Using the water allows you to control the temp for long smokes.
Posted on 8/20/16 at 12:19 pm to HubbaBubba
I've been very pleased with my Yoder YS 640.
Posted on 8/20/16 at 1:04 pm to Dam Guide
quote:
As someone with a Smokin It 3, I would go with pellet if I had it to do over again
I'll chime in that I have a Smokin It 2 that I've been very happy. I have some ribs in it right now. For me it's about convenience and taste. Electric and super easy and I'm happy with the finished product. Others have different priorities like wanting to hang outside with beers and tend to smoker all day. But most importantly, OP, if your wife is going to use it and youre indifferent other than the cost, lean to what your other half wants. Mine doesn't care so I went electric.
Posted on 8/20/16 at 2:16 pm to Cajunate
quote:You are correct. I just returned from Costco. These use very thin metal. Hardly feels like it has much heft at all. Even the top line one they had there ($1099, down from $1299) my $599 stainless steel gas grill is built better.
I have a Traeger that was made here in the U.S. The ones nowadays are much thinner metal that the U.S. versions. They claim they have fewer problems but I like the heavier duty cookers.
Posted on 8/20/16 at 3:39 pm to HubbaBubba
If you're going with a pellet smoker, I'd highly recommend the Yoder. They're built in Kansas, use thick gauge steel and stand by their product with great customer service. Louisiana brand is not quite as stout as the Yoder but better than the Traeger
Posted on 8/20/16 at 4:49 pm to HubbaBubba
I have been using a Mak pellet smoker for about 5 years now and I will never go back to a stick burner. It is nice to program the smoker and go and do other things. Guys have won world championships with these against stick burners. So results are top notch. Learning curve is very small.
Posted on 8/20/16 at 4:58 pm to highcotton2
I have an electric and I smoke everything on my Weber grill...Wish I would have gotten a WSM instead. I've never used a pellet smoker, but I'm convinced electric smokers suck. So, in your case go for the pellet smoker if you not willing to save some money and get a great smoker like the WSM.
This post was edited on 8/20/16 at 5:09 pm
Posted on 8/20/16 at 5:51 pm to cssamerican
Look at the Bradley smokers
Posted on 8/20/16 at 10:33 pm to northtiger1122
I have a Rec Tec Mini and have been very pleased with it. I had an electric smoker several years ago and found that because it sealed too tight, everything came out tasting "pot roasted". Better smoke, heat and air circulation with my pellet grill
Posted on 8/21/16 at 8:24 am to mdibar
I own the Traeger I mentioned earlier but I also own a Smokin' Tex. Basically electric smokers are just electric ovens that can produce smoke to flavor the meats. Pellet cookers can be more versatile for more of a grilling type experience but realistically they will not reach the 600-700 degrees you want for grilling burgers and steaks. For that you can have a Weber type grill on the side. That said I love cooking Thanksgiving turkeys on the Traeger and pellet cookers do an awesome job with chicken.
I'll be using my Traeger later this week to smoke about 40 lbs of pork butts for someone.
Posted on 8/21/16 at 8:43 am to Cajunate
Have had a traeger for about 3 months. No complaints. I'm used to a stick burner. So nice just adding pellets and flipping a switch and not having to babysit it.
Posted on 8/21/16 at 11:21 am to HubbaBubba
The heating element went out twice on my masterbuilt electric smoker. I'm back to an ole firebox smoker. It's a lot more difficult maintaining temp but more gratifying when it's time to eat.
Posted on 8/21/16 at 3:44 pm to HubbaBubba
I have a rec tec...it's works great but you will never have the smoke flavor of a traditional smoker...mine has a extreme smoke button which helps only from 180-250
Also it can hold up to 40 lbs of pellets at a time
Also it can hold up to 40 lbs of pellets at a time
This post was edited on 8/21/16 at 3:46 pm
Posted on 8/21/16 at 3:49 pm to zztop1234
I have a rec Tec 640. Love it and I highly recommend it. Green mountain and yoder are great buys too. Traeger has thinned itself out and still has a cheap electrical board in it.
As I've had the Rec Tec, I can vouch for their customer service. Any questions I had, they always spent ample time answering them.
As I've had the Rec Tec, I can vouch for their customer service. Any questions I had, they always spent ample time answering them.
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