Smokers, what kind do you have??

[KC612]

1. WSM 22.5" diameter

2. yes

3. charcoal

4. 4 packer briskets

5. temp doesn't effect as much as wind I've smoked in below 0 temps no prob

[thirdeye]

Getting the urge to try smoking, I've tried in the past with both an electric and a charcoal smoker, the electric one kept popping circuit breakers, the charcoal one was ok but time consuming, and hard to regulate. My dad had a homemade one that was big, like a small outhouse, that he'd use for smoking sausage, been contemplating whether I should try to build one or buy one. Seen a couple of plans on the internet that seem workable.

Some questions:

1) What kind of smoker do you have?

2) Would you buy another one just like it?

3) Is it electric or charcoal?

4) How big is it/what kind of capacity does it have??

5) Can you smoke year around? Even if its zero out?

Any other thoughts or recommendations are welcome!!

1. I have 2 Big Green Eggs, 2 Big Drum Smokers, 3 Big Chief's, a Smokey Joe Custom Tall Boy (like a mini WSM), and access to a large steel pit.

2. Yes, all of my cookers have a place and I would replace any of them.

3. My Big Chiefs are electric box smokers, all the others burn lump charcoal.

4. My Large Egg can easily cook 1 brisket, or 2 butts (more if I get creative with additional grates. My BDS can cook 2 briskets or 4 butts each, the Smokey Joe and my small Egg has a 12 or 13 grate, the Big Chief can hold something like 50# of product (they have 5 grates)

5. My Eggs are year round cookers. I have done all night cooks between

-10° and -20°. Once the ceramic gets up to temp, it doesn't know the difference. My BDS's are 3 season smokers.

[reinhard1]

Fleet Farm has a Masterbuilt Smoker for sale for a hundred bucks electric or propane. good smoker for the price. good luck.

[ameyers41]

Big green egg. Awesome and versatile.

[Fish Head]

I have the MasterBuilt that Reinhard is talking about. Its a great smoker for the money.

[lispeej]

Do you guys notice any differences in taste when comparing propane/electric/charcoal/wood smokers?

[reinhard1]

for me it's charcoal with woodchips if smoke is needed for extra flavor as far as a grill/smoker is concerned. for a smoker alone it's electric with the smoke tray. i had the propane at one time. in my opinion EVERYTHING tastes better outside.

the propane grill is convieniant and you could also get a smoke box if smoke is needed. quick to use as well. i am realy getting to like cherry wood for smoking. it has the mildest smoke flavor so far of all the woods i have used. i havent used apple much so i will get that a shot as well. if you make good food all methods would taste good, but i sure like using charcoal and wood. good luck.

[lispeej]

I was going to stop by FF to look at the smokers they have for sale.

[reinhard1]

the electric Masterbuilt is a good smoker for the price. good luck.

[Leaky]

Your right - Everything is better outside. I'm trying Cherry wood for the first time today on a corned beef brisket. It even smells lighter than hickory and even apple.

[reinhard1]

i'm using it today on beer can chicken. my wife doesn't like heavy smoke, but she sure likes this cherry wood. tommorrow i'm smoking the ham i got with it also. going cherry crazy!!! good luck.

[lispeej]

I went to FF and got the electric masterbuilt smoker today. Already done assembling. Will be smoking some tullibees tomorrow. I too will be trying some cherry smoking wood chips.

[reinhard1]

Welcome to the smoking world!!!this can be addicting and i dont know of any cure . good luck.

[Walleyehooker]

I have a Stainless Steel gas one I got at cabelas about 5 years ago. Stands about 5 feet high and maybe 16-18 inches square. I dont think they sell it anymore but it works well and is holding up well.

[Walleyehooker]

Where did you get the cherry wood ? That sounds good.

[reinhard1]

got mine at fleet farm but i see it at meynards and some grocery stores as well. good luck.

[lispeej]

FF was out of cherry wood. I got mine from lowes.

[reinhard1]

that's what got me interested in cherry wood in the first place. if you look at the display's of different chips the cherry chips were always low in stock. good luck.

[SkunkedAgain]

Man, I wasn't planning on buying one of these. I might have to go looking for an Easter Sale on one of these smokers

[Leaky]

Not sure where you are at, but Fleet Farm carries it. L & M up in Cloquet does as well.

[lispeej]

I bought the electric non programmable Cookmaster by masterbuilt. This is the one that was on sale. I cannot get the temp to go past 200F. Are others with the same unit getting the same result too? I would love to try to get it up another 20-30 degrees F if possible. It is on full blast, and that is it.

[reinhard1]

it should go hotter than that. do you have it plugged in directly to the wall or is it on a extenstion cord. it should be plugged into the wall directly with the cord on the smoker. i'm not an expert on the mechanics of it but that's what it says in the manual. just an idea. good luck.

[lispeej]

Yeah. It is directly plugged to the wall. No extension cords here. I've already emailed masterbuilt and see what they have to say.

[reinhard1]

let us know what they say. so far nobody has chimed in with the same problem. maby that one has a defect and you can get it replaced. good luck.

[KEN W]

How high can you set it?Most will set at least to 275 gegrees.If yours does and it won't go that high,you did the right thing in contacting them.They have always replied promptly.