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Started By
Message
Good electric smoker for a first timer
Posted on 11/28/17 at 12:03 pm
Posted on 11/28/17 at 12:03 pm
So I've always wanted to get a smoker and I figured this year for Christmas I would pull the trigger and I have a few questions I hope y'all can help me out with.
As a first timer I figured that an electric smoker would be my best bet starting out. Is this a good idea?
What are the advantages to having a charcoal burning smoker as opposed to an electric?
Does anyone have any recommendations on what to get? I figured I'd be in the $150-$200 range.
As a first timer I figured that an electric smoker would be my best bet starting out. Is this a good idea?
What are the advantages to having a charcoal burning smoker as opposed to an electric?
Does anyone have any recommendations on what to get? I figured I'd be in the $150-$200 range.
6
Posted on 11/28/17 at 12:11 pm to 87Tiger
Masterbuilt Electric 30"
Posted on 11/28/17 at 12:15 pm to mylsuhat
+1 on the masterbuilt. That’s what I started on and it did well.
Posted on 11/28/17 at 12:23 pm to 87Tiger
I have been meaning to start this exact thread the last several days. I would not need much capacity as I would mainly be using just for the wife and I. Is there anything worth buying for around a hundred bucks?
Posted on 11/28/17 at 12:23 pm to mylsuhat
The Stainless Steel 40" with the controller at the back is $299 at Academy. Was super cheap for Black Friday. It normally goes on sale again for $249 closer to Christmas. It is a Gen 1 which is a good solid smoker and the price is right.
Academy MES40
Academy MES40
Posted on 11/28/17 at 1:12 pm to convertedtiger
Ok great. Thanks for the help everybody.
Posted on 11/28/17 at 1:45 pm to 87Tiger
If you go masterbuilt, skip using the chip loader garbage. Immediately buy an AMNPS pellet smoker to put in the MES.
If you want all electric, look at a cookshack or cookshack clone smokin Tex/smokin it/etc.
Personally, I think would skip electric and get a true pellet smoker. Just as easy and far better quality.
If you want all electric, look at a cookshack or cookshack clone smokin Tex/smokin it/etc.
Personally, I think would skip electric and get a true pellet smoker. Just as easy and far better quality.
This post was edited on 11/28/17 at 1:46 pm
Posted on 11/28/17 at 1:58 pm to 87Tiger
I use the Cold Smoke attachment for all of my smokes in the MES40.
Cold Smoke attachment
I find the 40" to be perfect even for just 2 people. No cutting racks of ribs or briskets down to fit.
Cold Smoke attachment
I find the 40" to be perfect even for just 2 people. No cutting racks of ribs or briskets down to fit.
Posted on 11/28/17 at 2:23 pm to 87Tiger
Brinkmann
Posted on 11/28/17 at 4:17 pm to 87Tiger
Bought a Brinkman at a yard sale over a year ago for $10. Thing looked brand new, works great. Ribs take about 2.5 hrs and I throw in some wet wood chips about every 20 min.
This post was edited on 11/28/17 at 4:19 pm
Posted on 11/28/17 at 4:31 pm to LSUEnvy
Not a fan of wetting your wood unless you are plank cooking.
This post was edited on 11/28/17 at 4:36 pm
Posted on 11/28/17 at 4:59 pm to mylsuhat
Masterbuilt 40" [/quote]
I have one of these and it's a really good little smoker. Academy sports has some good sales on them for Xmas. I paid $199.00 for mine.
I have one of these and it's a really good little smoker. Academy sports has some good sales on them for Xmas. I paid $199.00 for mine.
This post was edited on 11/28/17 at 5:01 pm
Posted on 11/28/17 at 5:48 pm to Dam Guide
Burns too quick if not wet
Posted on 11/28/17 at 7:05 pm to Dam Guide
How much more attention do you have to pay to a pellet smoker?
I’m thinking right now it might be better for me to get a set it and forget it type rig.
I’m thinking right now it might be better for me to get a set it and forget it type rig.
This post was edited on 11/28/17 at 7:27 pm
Posted on 11/28/17 at 7:16 pm to 87Tiger
I've actually had a propane one that I've really enjoyed over the last few years. It's nice in that you can obviously take it places not limited to having electricity.
Most of my friends have electric smokers though and there doesn't seem to be a major difference.
Most of my friends have electric smokers though and there doesn't seem to be a major difference.
Posted on 11/28/17 at 8:10 pm to 87Tiger
quote:
What are the advantages to having a charcoal burning smoker as opposed to an electric?
One requires skill, the other doesn’t.
Posted on 11/29/17 at 8:52 am to Masterag
quote:
One requires skill, the other doesn’t.
Yep. But anyone could do the snake method in a Weber Kettle and get good results. I used to have a big offset smoker. I've had a larger kettle for 5 years now and I don't think I'll ever get another smoker. I just don't need to cook enough smoked meat to warrant one. I may build one back in the yard one day just for a fun project, but I wouldn't buy one just to smoke a butt or some ribs occasionally when the weber does a great job on those shorter smokes.
Posted on 11/29/17 at 9:31 am to LSUEnvy
quote:
Burns too quick if not wet
Yeah, but you aren't getting good smoke til it dries anyway. That's why I like replacing those shitty chip loaders with AMNPS.
Posted on 11/29/17 at 9:34 am to 87Tiger
quote:
How much more attention do you have to pay to a pellet smoker? I’m thinking right now it might be better for me to get a set it and forget it type rig.
Pellet smokers have the exact same skill level as an electric. You literally just load the pellets into it and set a temperature. It feeds pellets automatically and is temperature controlled.
It's actually easier than MES without using an AMNPS since you have to feed the stupid chip loader every 30 minutes or so. With an AMNPS on the MES, you load the pellets and they burn for 11 hours if you fill it up. AMNPS does take some work to figure out air flow needed to keep it lit and you do have to light it with a torch.
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