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Just Got an Electric Smoker

Posted on 7/14/10 at 9:29 pm
Posted by AlaTiger
America
Member since Aug 2006
21593 posts
Posted on 7/14/10 at 9:29 pm
My friend has one and it works really well. I'm really not into standing over a smoker for hours to make sure that the heat stays even. Anyone have one of these? Any advice? I'm going to start with a couple of chickens this weekend and build up from there.
Posted by OTIS2
NoLA
Member since Jul 2008
52171 posts
Posted on 7/14/10 at 9:50 pm to
:prayers sent:
Posted by sstig
Houston
Member since Oct 2003
2909 posts
Posted on 7/14/10 at 9:58 pm to
I have had 2 over the past 10 years and they are great.Fooling with the wood or gas over 4 to 10 hours is way over rated. Plug it in and let it geaux!!! The temp stays the same, no problem. by the way, mine is an Old Smokey which has a drip bowl that some say put water or some other fluid in...if you do do not fill it more than half way because it will overflow. Pork ribs and butts are great. We never have any left overs.
Posted by AlaTiger
America
Member since Aug 2006
21593 posts
Posted on 7/14/10 at 10:31 pm to
Thanks for the advice. I'm looking forward to use it. I know that purists don't like it, but I'm not at a point where I want to do it with a would or charcoal smoker, but still want the taste.
Posted by foshizzle
Washington DC metro
Member since Mar 2008
40599 posts
Posted on 7/14/10 at 10:46 pm to
I posted here a little while ago to see if anyone had a Cookshack, thinking about getting one myself. No responses but a neighbor has one and it consistently turns out some very tasty stuff.
Posted by sstig
Houston
Member since Oct 2003
2909 posts
Posted on 7/14/10 at 11:12 pm to
Cooking with wood or charcoal takes way too much beer! I will put my ribs cooked on an electric smoker up against anyones. These electric smokers are perfect if you are cooking for a few folks...now if you are cooking for 75 to 100 folks I guess the wood monsters make a better match
Posted by lovelsu
Crowley, LA
Member since Jan 2007
780 posts
Posted on 7/14/10 at 11:28 pm to
Love mine - I call it the crock pot of smoking because you put the meat on an for the most part leave it alone.
My favorites on it are ribs and a turkey.
Posted by Ole Geauxt
KnowLa.
Member since Dec 2007
50880 posts
Posted on 7/15/10 at 5:20 am to
quote:

I know that purists don't like it,
BS, I'm a purist and I love mine. Used the charcoal and wood ones for many, many years, and STILL Do, occasionally.. But, I prefer my electric ones for the reasons already listed...Same taste, less beer, more football game, more hunting, etc. etc., just love to "plug an fahget about it"...

ETA: seasoning a Boston Butt right now, will put on the smoker a little after noon. Also, boiling eggs for deviled eggs for tonight..
This post was edited on 7/15/10 at 5:28 am
Posted by The Wood Pecker
Dixon Correctional Institute
Member since Jul 2010
434 posts
Posted on 7/15/10 at 7:51 am to
I like the way you can control the exact temp you want
Posted by wiltznucs
Apollo Beach, FL
Member since Sep 2005
9242 posts
Posted on 7/15/10 at 7:51 am to
Congrats.. A good place to start is with Boston Butts. I prefer a bone-in, many prefer a boneless.

Chickens are easy as are sausages, keep in mind that with most smokers the bones of the chicken will remain red even though the meat is thoroughly cooked. Particularly in the dark meat sections. If your smoker doesnt get above 225-250 there simply isnt enough heat to cook the bones without ruining/drying out the meat. I overcooked several chickens before someone enlightened me. For this reason, I generally pull the chicken from the bones if I'm going to be serving folks.

The Smoke Ring website has a ton of useful info..
This post was edited on 7/15/10 at 7:57 am
Posted by Politiceaux
Member since Feb 2009
17664 posts
Posted on 7/15/10 at 8:51 am to
Anybody have recommendations on a good electric smoker for a decent price?
Posted by BugAC
St. George
Member since Oct 2007
56842 posts
Posted on 7/15/10 at 8:58 am to
quote:

My friend has one and it works really well. I'm really not into standing over a smoker for hours to make sure that the heat stays even. Anyone have one of these? Any advice? I'm going to start with a couple of chickens this weekend and build up from there.


I've got a brinkman electric smoker. It is the easiest thing to do. Make sure you buy the wood chunks (not chips) and soak them for awhile. They can never be soaked enough. I've done a beef roast, pork roast, chicken, ribs, and sausage so far. It is by far, one of the best investments i made. All you do is plug it in, and the brinkman stays at a constant 250 degrees.
I did ribs and chicken one time. I took 2 chickens and split them down the middle, seasoned them lightly, and put them on the bottom rack. I then put 2 racks of ribs on the top rack. The ribs were done about 5.5 hours, the chicken took longer, about 8 or 9 hours due to my smoker being loaded up. Also, i always fill the water pan with a bottle of cheap wine (barefoot merlot) and fill the rest with water, up to 1 inch from the top of the pan.
Just be sure to check that your wood chunks are still smoking. I usually have to refill the bottom with wood chunks 3 times. The first batch smokes the longest (probably because they soak the longest).

The smoker is extremely simple. I've been extremely hungover every time i have started up my smoker. It's easy to setup, just throw your meat on, fill up water pan, add wood chunks, plug in and let it go. Check every couple hours to make sure you still have a smoke.

This is my smoker. Cost me $75 at academy. My dad's got one too. For christmas and thanksgiving he smokes a turkey on the bottom rack, and a pork roast on the top.



ETA: Also, cleanup is easy. All you really need to clean is the grates, water pan, and clean out the burned out wood chips from the lava rocks. As long as you don't overfill the smoker, where stuff runs down the side, then you don't need to clean the inside walls. The book says to cure it after each smoke after coating with oil, but after a few uses, your smoker will build up enough smoke residue it doesn't need to be cured.
This post was edited on 7/15/10 at 9:03 am
Posted by Politiceaux
Member since Feb 2009
17664 posts
Posted on 7/15/10 at 9:31 am to
quote:

Cost me $75 at academy.


Damn, didn't realize a decent one could be had for that cheap.
Posted by BugAC
St. George
Member since Oct 2007
56842 posts
Posted on 7/15/10 at 9:33 am to
quote:

Damn, didn't realize a decent one could be had for that cheap.


Me either. I watched my dad used his, so when i went to academy to look at smokers, i saw that one, and bought it. I've never had a bad meal from that thing, either my dad's or mine.
Posted by Politiceaux
Member since Feb 2009
17664 posts
Posted on 7/15/10 at 9:36 am to
Interesting. I've never really looked into them, but am now intrigued.
Posted by BugAC
St. George
Member since Oct 2007
56842 posts
Posted on 7/15/10 at 9:42 am to
quote:

Interesting. I've never really looked into them, but am now intrigued.


There's no temperature setting. U just plug it in. IT stays at a constant 250.
Posted by OTIS2
NoLA
Member since Jul 2008
52171 posts
Posted on 7/15/10 at 9:51 am to
Geauxt loves his...has 2 of 'em, I think.
Posted by sstig
Houston
Member since Oct 2003
2909 posts
Posted on 7/15/10 at 10:02 am to
Academy has another electric one that is square and has 3 stainless racks and a thermostat for $139 - $149. This is the one I will get next.
They also have 2 others that are 200 to 300 bucks
that look like wine coolers with glass fronts...not so much.
This post was edited on 7/15/10 at 10:04 am
Posted by AlaTiger
America
Member since Aug 2006
21593 posts
Posted on 7/15/10 at 10:04 am to
Thanks, guys. I'm more excited about it now than I was before. My family gave it to me for my birthday and I thought I'd ask about it here and figured I'd get a lot of ridicule for using one, but most would acquiesce and say that it did a good job. To hear folks here speak this highly of them, I can't wait to use it this weekend.

I especially appreciate the advice on the chicken.
Posted by wiltznucs
Apollo Beach, FL
Member since Sep 2005
9242 posts
Posted on 7/15/10 at 10:10 am to
Good luck... Here's a pic of some of my work to keep you focused..
This post was edited on 7/15/10 at 10:11 am
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